Yes, you can absolutely self-host the open-source version of Strapi for free. However, please bear in mind that while the Strapi software doesn't come with a cost, associated services like cloud hosting or a virtual private server (VPS) would typically involve their own charges. That said, Strapi also has an Enterprise Edition which includes added features like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Single Sign-On (SSO), and Support Level Agreement (SLA) backed support. This edition isn't free and would require a paid subscription.