Airsonic-Advanced vs Tempo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Airsonic-Advanced | Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 20 · At risk |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,404 | ★ 2,240 |
| First released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify, Plexamp |
What are Airsonic-Advanced and Tempo?
Airsonic-Advanced
Airsonic-Advanced is a community-maintained fork of Airsonic providing music streaming with Subsonic API compatibility. It targets users wanting a stable Java-based music server. It is deployed via Docker or a JAR file.
- Subsonic API compatible
- Multi-user music streaming
- Podcast support
- Transcoding
Tempo
Tempo is a free and open-source music streaming client for Subsonic-compatible servers such as Navidrome and Airsonic. It features a Material You interface, offline downloads, and Android Auto support.
- Subsonic API support
- Material You theming
- Android Auto
- Offline downloads
Airsonic-Advanced vs Tempo: key differences
Airsonic-Advanced is written in JavaScript, while Tempo is built with Java. Tempo is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Airsonic-Advanced. Airsonic-Advanced is the more established project (first released 2019), while Tempo arrived in 2022. Airsonic-Advanced lists first-class Docker deployment; Tempo does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Airsonic-Advanced if…
- Works with many clients
- Mature feature set
- Multi-user
Watch out for
- Heavier Java runtime
- Slower development pace
Choose Tempo if…
- Modern Android design
- Works with multiple servers
Watch out for
- Android only
- No video support
Frequently asked questions
Is Airsonic-Advanced or Tempo better?
Tempo is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Airsonic-Advanced if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Airsonic-Advanced and Tempo free and open-source?
Yes. Airsonic-Advanced is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tempo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Airsonic-Advanced and Tempo with Docker?
Airsonic-Advanced: yes. Tempo: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Airsonic-Advanced or Tempo?
Tempo has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Airsonic-Advanced. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.