Let's be honest—most of us in the self-hosting community have dashboard fatigue. You set up a beautiful dashboard, it works great for a few months, then you notice your server's RAM is constantly maxed out or your DNS queries are through the roof. That's exactly where I found myself in early 2026, staring at Homarr consuming more resources than half my actual services combined.
I'd been using Homarr for about a year. Loved the widgets, appreciated the community integrations, but man, that RAM usage just kept creeping up. And the DNS requests? My Pi-hole logs looked like Homarr was trying to map the entire internet. So I did what any frustrated sysadmin would do—I started looking for alternatives.
That's when I discovered Glance. And honestly? The switch has been transformative. Not just for my server's performance, but for my entire approach to dashboard management. This isn't just another "tool X vs tool Y" comparison—it's a real-world migration story with actual performance data, configuration headaches, and ultimately, a much happier self-hosting setup.
The Dashboard Dilemma: Why Performance Matters
Before we dive into the specifics of Glance, let's talk about why dashboard performance actually matters. See, when you're running a home server or small business setup, every megabyte of RAM counts. Especially if you're using something like a Raspberry Pi or an older mini-PC. These aren't enterprise servers with 128GB of RAM to spare.
Homarr, for all its strengths, has what I'd call "feature creep." It started as a simple dashboard but kept adding more and more functionality. Widgets that pull from external APIs, real-time monitoring, weather integrations—each one adds a little more overhead. And before you know it, you're looking at 300-500MB of RAM usage just for your dashboard. That's more than some of my actual applications!
Then there's the DNS issue. Homarr makes a surprising number of external requests. Some are for checking service status, others for widget data, but they add up. On a typical day, my Homarr instance was making 2,000+ DNS queries. That's not just a performance hit—it's a privacy concern too.
Enter Glance: The Minimalist's Dashboard
Glance takes a completely different approach. It's built from the ground up to be lightweight and efficient. The core philosophy seems to be: "Show me what I need, nothing more." And in 2026, that's exactly what many of us are looking for.
When I first spun up Glance, I was shocked at the resource usage. We're talking 50-80MB of RAM on average. That's 80% less than what Homarr was consuming. The difference is immediately noticeable on resource-constrained systems. My server fans actually quieted down—no joke.
But here's the thing about minimalism: it doesn't mean lacking features. Glance has all the essentials. Docker container management, service status monitoring, quick links, even some basic widgets. It just implements them more efficiently. The interface is clean, responsive, and doesn't try to do everything. It does what a dashboard should do—give you a quick overview of your system.
The Migration Process: What You Need to Know
Now, let's get real about migration. The original Reddit post mentioned it took "considerable time and effort" to make Glance look and function similar to Homarr widgets. That's absolutely true—but it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Glance uses a YAML-based configuration system. If you're comfortable with Docker Compose or similar configuration files, you'll feel right at home. If not, there's a learning curve. But here's my perspective: that configuration complexity is actually a feature. It forces you to think about what you actually need on your dashboard.
With Homarr, I'd just click to add widgets. Easy, but I ended up with a cluttered mess. With Glance, each addition requires editing a config file. That friction makes you ask: "Do I really need this?" The result is a more intentional, purpose-built dashboard.
The GitHub config shared in the original post is gold. It shows real-world examples of how to recreate common Homarr widgets in Glance. Bookmark links, service status indicators, even some basic monitoring. The community has really stepped up with configuration examples.
RAM Consumption: The Numbers Don't Lie
Let's talk specifics. After running both dashboards for several weeks and monitoring with Prometheus, here's what I found:
Homarr consistently used 300-500MB of RAM, with spikes up to 700MB during widget refreshes. Glance? 50-80MB stable. That's not just a minor improvement—it's game-changing for small servers.
Why such a big difference? Architecture. Homarr is built on a more complex stack with more dependencies. Glance is purpose-built for efficiency. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but what it does have, it does with minimal overhead.
For those running on Raspberry Pis or low-end VPS instances, this difference means you can actually run your dashboard alongside your applications without constant memory pressure. No more OOM killer terminating your actual services because your dashboard got greedy.
DNS Requests: The Silent Performance Killer
This was my biggest surprise. Homarr was making thousands of DNS queries daily. Some were legitimate (checking external services), but many seemed unnecessary. Glance? Almost zero external DNS queries by default.
The difference comes down to design philosophy. Homarr tries to be smart—checking services, pulling external data, updating statuses. Glance takes a simpler approach: you tell it what to monitor, and it does just that.
For privacy-conscious users, this is huge. Fewer external requests mean less data leakage. For performance, it means faster load times and less network overhead. And for those of us using Pi-hole or similar DNS filtering, it means cleaner logs and fewer false positives.
Configuration Deep Dive: Making Glance Work For You
Okay, let's get practical. If you're considering switching, here's what you need to know about Glance configuration.
First, the structure. Glance uses a main config.yaml file that defines your entire dashboard. Sections for services, bookmarks, widgets—all in YAML. It's verbose but clear. Each service entry includes name, URL, icon, and status check method.
Widgets are where things get interesting. Want a CPU monitor? You'll need to set up an external metrics source (like Prometheus) and point Glance at it. Want weather? You'll need to integrate with an API. This extra setup might seem like a hassle, but it gives you complete control over what data flows where.
Pro tip: Start simple. Get your basic services and bookmarks configured first. Then add one widget at a time. Test each addition thoroughly. This incremental approach prevents configuration headaches and helps you understand exactly how each piece works.
Common Migration Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
Based on my experience and community feedback, here are the most common issues people face when switching:
1. Icon overload: Glance doesn't have Homarr's massive built-in icon library. You'll need to source your own icons or use URLs. The community has compiled some great icon packs, but expect to spend time on this.
2. Status monitoring confusion: Glance's status checks are simpler but less automatic than Homarr's. You need to explicitly define how to check each service. HTTP checks are easy, but TCP or custom checks require more configuration.
3. Widget expectations: If you're used to Homarr's rich widget ecosystem, Glance will feel limited. The trade-off is performance. You need to decide what's more important: fancy widgets or a responsive, lightweight dashboard.
4. Mobile experience: Glance's mobile interface is functional but basic. If you do a lot of dashboard management from your phone, test this thoroughly before committing.
The Community Factor: Why This Matters
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough: community support. When I was struggling with Homarr's resource usage, the common response was "just add more RAM." Not helpful when you're running on hardware constraints.
The Glance community, while smaller, is focused on efficiency. Discussions are about optimization, minimal configurations, making things work within limits. It's a different mindset—one that aligns perfectly with the self-hosting ethos of doing more with less.
The GitHub repository for Glance configurations has grown significantly since the original Reddit post. People are sharing their setups, troubleshooting together, building a knowledge base. That community support makes the migration much less daunting.
When You Might Want to Stick with Homarr
Let's be fair—Glance isn't for everyone. If you have plenty of resources and love Homarr's widget ecosystem, switching might not make sense. Homarr still has advantages:
- Richer widget selection out of the box
- More automatic service discovery
- Better mobile experience
- More frequent updates (though this can be a double-edged sword)
The key is knowing your priorities. If you're running on limited hardware or value privacy/performance over features, Glance is worth serious consideration. If you have resources to spare and love tinkering with widgets, Homarr might still be your best bet.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Lightweight Dashboards
As we move through 2026, I'm seeing a clear trend toward efficiency in the self-hosting space. Tools like Glance represent a shift away from "feature-first" development toward "performance-first" thinking.
The rise of ARM-based systems, energy efficiency concerns, and privacy awareness are all pushing us toward lighter, more intentional tools. Dashboards don't need to be Swiss Army knives—they need to be reliable, efficient information displays.
Glance's development continues to focus on core functionality rather than feature bloat. Recent updates have improved Docker integration and added more configuration options without sacrificing performance. That balance is hard to maintain, but so far, the project seems committed to it.
And honestly? That's refreshing. In a world where every app seems to get heavier with each update, finding tools that prioritize efficiency feels like discovering an oasis in the desert.
Getting Started: Your Migration Checklist
Ready to give Glance a try? Here's my recommended approach:
1. Test in parallel: Don't replace Homarr immediately. Run Glance alongside it for a week or two. Compare performance, test functionality.
2. Export your Homarr config: Use it as reference for what services and bookmarks you actually use. You'll be surprised how much cruft accumulates.
3. Start with basics: Configure your essential services first. Get the core dashboard working before adding widgets.
4. Monitor resources: Use tools like htop or docker stats to compare actual resource usage. The numbers might surprise you.
5. Join the community: Check the Glance GitHub discussions and Reddit threads. The community configurations are incredibly helpful.
Remember—the goal isn't to recreate Homarr exactly. It's to build a dashboard that serves your needs efficiently. That might mean different widgets, a different layout, even different information displayed.
Final Thoughts: Why the Switch Was Worth It
Looking back on my migration from Homarr to Glance, the effort was absolutely worth it. Not just for the performance gains (though those are significant), but for the mindset shift.
Glance forced me to think intentionally about my dashboard. What information do I actually need at a glance? What's just noise? The result is cleaner, faster, and more focused.
My server runs cooler. My DNS logs are cleaner. My dashboard loads instantly. And honestly? I don't miss the fancy widgets. The essential information is there, presented clearly, without resource hogging.
If you're feeling dashboard fatigue, if Homarr's resource usage is bothering you, if you value efficiency over features—give Glance a serious look. The migration takes effort, but the payoff is a dashboard that works for you, not against you.
The self-hosting journey is all about finding tools that match your needs and values. For me, in 2026, Glance hits that sweet spot of functionality and efficiency. It might just do the same for you.
