Why Merka Vault Starts as Software
We used to describe Merka Vault as a finished hardware appliance. That is still where the product is headed. It is no longer where we start.
Today, Merka starts as software. You run it on the computer you already have. You set up your identity, try the native apps, and decide later whether dedicated hardware is worth it.
That matters, because real ownership should not start with a checkout page.
The real issue is not the cloud. It is custody.
Cloud services are convenient. They make hard things easy. Photos sync, files appear everywhere, and recovery usually works. Most families do not want to run their own infrastructure. They want their data to be there when they need it.
The problem is what that convenience costs you.
- Your account becomes the gatekeeper for your memories, your documents, and your ability to get everything back.
- Your keys and recovery rules often live with the provider.
- Your data spreads across rented systems you cannot inspect.
- The bill grows as your life does, and you still do not own your data.
Merka is built on a simple promise. Your data stays with you. Support never costs you control.
Start free
The free version is not a demo or a limited trial. It is the real product.
You can start on Windows, macOS, or Linux. You get the same identity model and the same native apps as the hardware. Try it with your real data. Decide whether it fits your life before you spend anything.
Use the free version to learn the product, test it, and make sure the model works for you.
If you already have always-on hardware, you can use that too. Multi-user access depends on supported hardware. We do not sell shared access before we can make it safe.
Upgrade when the tradeoff is worth it
Dedicated Merka Vault hardware is for anyone who wants an always-on home for their data with no assembly required.
The current hardware paths:
- Merka Vault — one factory-built appliance for 24/7 home and professional use.
- Merka Vault Business — a three-node appliance set for continuity, practices, and teams.
Both come in Core, Plus, and Max specs, built on the Dell Pro Max Micro. Merka Vault includes your first year of the 2 TB plan. Merka Vault Business includes your first year of the 6 TB plan. After that, subscriptions cost about the same as the cloud storage you already know. Privacy does not add a premium.
Hardware is not free, and we do not pretend it is. The goal is a clear tradeoff. Pay once for a home for your data. Keep the ongoing service simple and predictable.
Native apps only
Merka is not another web dashboard for your sensitive data.
We build native apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. That is more work and it takes longer. It is also the right call for trust. Your most important data must not depend on a browser tab or a web admin page.
Native apps also make Merka feel like a real product, not another server-management dashboard.
Recovery without a single provider
You should not have to depend on one company forever to recover your data.
Merka encrypts backups before they leave your control. The backups can live with standard storage providers, but the keys stay with you. The goal is simple. If hardware is lost, stolen, or replaced, you recover your data without giving Cosmic Rocks or a storage provider custody of it.
That is why we are strict about recovery. This is not only about privacy. It is about your ability to get your data back.
What Merka is for
Merka is for people who want the convenience of the cloud with real ownership.
- Family memories that should not sit trapped in an account.
- Documents and records that need a long life.
- Native apps that do not give the provider the keys.
- A path that starts free and adds hardware only when you need it.
That is the Merka Vault story right now. Start with software. Keep your data in your own hands. Move to hardware when always-on ownership matters to you.
Your data. Your keys. Your path.
Merka Vault 2026, made with love by Cosmic Rocks. Merka Vault is a trademark of Cosmic Rocks. Go to Cosmic Rocks GitHub repo.