Koel
Media ServersPersonal music streaming server with an elegant interface
Replaces Spotify
Best API Media Servers for self-hosting
The 51 best API media servers you can self-host, ranked by community traction.
Beets
Media ServersMusic library organizer and metadata management tool
Replaces iTunes
PeerTube
Media ServersDecentralized federated video hosting with P2P streaming
Replaces YouTube, Vimeo
Stremio Web
Media ServersSelf-hostable web frontend for the Stremio media center
Replaces Plex
Jellyseerr
Media ServersMedia request and discovery tool for Jellyfin and Plex
Replaces Plex Requests
Feishin
Media ServersModern cross-platform music player for self-hosted servers
Replaces Spotify
Streama
Media ServersSelf-hosted streaming media server with a clean web interface
Replaces Netflix, Plex
Mopidy
Media ServersExtensible music server that plays from many sources
Replaces Spotify
Tube Archivist
Media ServersSelf-hosted YouTube media server with metadata and search
Replaces YouTube
Lidarr
Media ServersMusic collection manager and download automation tool
Replaces Spotify
MediaCMS
Media ServersModern video-sharing and content management platform
Replaces YouTube, Vimeo
musikcube
Media ServersTerminal-based music player with a built-in streaming server
Replaces Plexamp
Ant Media Server Community Edition
Media ServersOpen-source low-latency streaming server
Replaces Wowza, Twitch
Tdarr
Media ServersDistributed transcoding system for media library optimization
Replaces Handbrake
Dispatcharr
Media ServersModern IPTV and stream management dashboard
Replaces Cable TV
Dim
Media ServersSelf-hosted media manager with automatic library scanning
Replaces Plex
AzuraCast
Media ServersAll-in-one self-hosted web radio management suite
Replaces Live365
Ampache
Media ServersWeb-based audio and video streaming application
Replaces Spotify
Tvheadend
Media ServersTV streaming server and recorder for DVB and IPTV
Replaces TiVo, Cable DVR
ErsatzTV
Media ServersIPTV streaming server that creates custom TV channels
Replaces Cable TV
ytdl-sub
Media ServersSubscribe to and download media into a self-hosted media library
Replaces YouTube Premium
Polaris
Media ServersMusic streaming server focused on speed and simplicity
Replaces Spotify
Funkwhale
Media ServersFederated music streaming and sharing platform
Replaces Spotify
Tunarr
Media ServersCreate live TV channels from your Plex and Jellyfin libraries
Replaces Cable TV
Gonic
Media ServersLightweight Subsonic-compatible music streaming server
Replaces Spotify, Plex
OwnTone
Media ServersMedia server with AirPlay, Chromecast and Spotify support
Replaces Spotify, Apple Music
Kyoo
Media ServersOpen-source media browser for movies and TV shows
Replaces Plex, Netflix
Unmanic
Media ServersLibrary optimizer that automatically processes media files
Replaces Handbrake
Jellystat
Media ServersStatistics and analytics dashboard for Jellyfin
Replaces Tautulli
Reiverr
Media ServersUnified interface for Jellyfin, Radarr, and Sonarr
Replaces Plex
Maintainerr
Media ServersRule-based media cleanup tool for Plex, Sonarr and Radarr
Replaces Plex Meta Manager
xTeVe
Media ServersM3U proxy and HDHomeRun emulator for live TV streaming
Replaces Cable TV
Recyclarr
Media ServersSync TRaSH guide quality profiles to Sonarr and Radarr
Replaces Notifiarr
Maloja
Media ServersSelf-hosted music scrobbling and listening statistics server
Replaces Last.fm
Threadfin
Media ServersM3U proxy that emulates an HDHomeRun tuner for IPTV
Replaces Cable TV
Jellyfin Vue
Media ServersExperimental modern web client for Jellyfin
Replaces Plex Web
LMS
Media ServersLightweight music server with Subsonic API support
Replaces Spotify
PinePods
Media ServersSelf-hosted podcast management with cross-device sync
Replaces Pocket Casts
Castopod
Media ServersSelf-hosted podcast hosting platform with federation
Replaces Anchor, Buzzsprout
LibreTime
Media ServersRadio automation and broadcast scheduling platform
Replaces Live365
Shoko Server
Media ServersSelf-hosted anime collection manager with automatic identification
Replaces MyAnimeList
Airsonic-Refix
Media ServersModern responsive web client for Subsonic music servers
Replaces Spotify
Stremio Server
Media ServersSelf-hostable streaming server backend for Stremio clients
Replaces Plex
gpodder.net (mygpo)
Media ServersSelf-hostable podcast subscription sync service
Replaces Apple Podcasts sync
Olaris
Media ServersMedia manager and transcoding server for personal libraries
Replaces Plex
Supysonic
Media ServersLightweight Subsonic-compatible music streaming server
Replaces Spotify
AntennaPod gpodder Sync Server Nextcloud GPodder
Media ServersNextcloud app providing a gpodder-compatible podcast sync API
Replaces Apple Podcasts sync
M3U Stream Merger Proxy
Media ServersProxy that merges multiple IPTV M3U playlists into one
Replaces xTeVe
NextPVR
Media ServersPersonal video recorder for live and recorded television
Replaces TiVo
Podverse
Media ServersOpen-source podcast platform with sync across devices
Replaces Spotify Podcasts, Pocket Casts
Crossonic
Media ServersSelf-hosted music server implementing the Subsonic API
Replaces Spotify, Navidrome
No apps match these filters.
At a glance
| App | Deploy effort | Difficulty | Min. RAM | License | ★ Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koel | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 512 MB | MIT | 17,279 |
| Beets | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 256 MB | MIT | 15,791 |
| PeerTube | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 2,048 MB | AGPL-3.0 | 15,361 |
| Stremio Web | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 256 MB | GPL-2.0 | 14,599 |
| Jellyseerr | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 512 MB | MIT | 12,893 |
| Feishin | ≈5-minute setup | Easy | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 10,141 |
| Streama | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 1,024 MB | MIT | 9,820 |
| Mopidy | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 256 MB | Apache-2.0 | 8,597 |
| Tube Archivist | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 2,048 MB | GPL-3.0 | 8,514 |
| Lidarr | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 512 MB | GPL-3.0 | 5,744 |
Quick picks
- Most adopted: Koel (17,279 GitHub stars).
- Lightest footprint: musikcube (from 64 MB RAM, against 2,048 MB for the heaviest here).
- Fastest to deploy: Feishin (verified single-container compose).
- Licensing: 16 of 51 use GPL-3.0; check the rest individually if you plan to modify and redistribute.
Every option here is open-source and self-hostable, tagged API within the media servers category. Deploy effort is graded from published container recipes, not vendor claims — see the methodology.