ZimaOS has evolved from its roots in CasaOS to become a robust, community-driven operating system tailored for NAS and homelab enthusiasts. In our review of the ZimaCube, we highlighted its dual-purpose design as both a NAS and a local cloud hub, offering users a comprehensive out-of-the-box experience.
Building upon this foundation, IceWhale, the team behind ZimaOS, has announced the release of version 1.5. This update introduces significant enhancements, including expanded hardware support, mobile access, and a new paid plan.
ZimaOS 1.5: What to Expect?
This release makes it easier than ever to manage your NAS on the go. With full mobile support for iOS, Android, and Windows, you can check system status, back up files, and access your data anytime and anywhere.
The new 3-2-1 backup strategy takes the headache out of protecting your data. By combining local NAS storage with cloud backups, it keeps your files safe without you needing to juggle multiple apps or complicated setups.
More importantly, privacy is at the heart of this release. ZimaOS now creates accounts locally without requiring an email or phone number, so your data stays secure while still working seamlessly with smart home setups and creative projects.
Storage management is more flexible too. Expanded RAID options, including Btrfs give you more ways to organize disks.
What's the Paid Plan About?
Alongside the free Community Edition (CE), ZimaOS 1.5 introduces an optional Plus Edition for $29 lifetime access, unlocking unlimited apps, disks, and users. The CE Edition users retain core features, cloud support, UDisks, and up to 10 apps, 4 disks, and 3 users.
Community members who have used ZimaOS before version 1.5 automatically receive the Plus Edition at no cost. This free upgrade window remains open until June 30, 2026, ensuring long-time users can access all Plus features without paying. Official Zima hardware (ZimaBoard1/2, ZimaBlade, ZimaCube) also unlocks Plus benefits immediately.
If you were wondering, this optional license approach supports infrastructure costs, ongoing development, and ensures the project’s sustainability while keeping the CE Edition fully free for the rest of us.
As a side note, we at It’s FOSS also offer a lifetime membership, which helps sustain the publication and support our ongoing work.
Abhishek Prakash
Get ZimaOS 1.5
You can download ZimaOS 1.5 from the official website. For help or to access the source code, visit the documentation and GitHub repository for the project.
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Abhishek Prakash
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