Airsonic vs Ampache
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Airsonic
Free, web-based media streamer derived from Subsonic
VS
Ampache
Web-based audio and video streaming application
| Feature | Airsonic | Ampache |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,045 | ★ 3,815 |
| First released | 2017 | 2001 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
Why pick each one
Choose Airsonic if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Airsonic or Ampache better?
Neither is universally better. Ampache has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Airsonic and Ampache free and open-source?
Yes. Airsonic is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Ampache under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Airsonic and Ampache with Docker?
Airsonic: yes. Ampache: yes.