Ampache vs Amperfy
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Ampache | Amperfy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Swift |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,832 | ★ 1,761 |
| First released | 2001 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify, Apple Music |
What are Ampache and Amperfy?
Ampache
Ampache is a web-based audio and video streaming application and file manager that lets you access your music from anywhere. It supports the Subsonic API, sharing, and a wide range of clients.
- Subsonic API support
- Audio and video streaming
- Sharing and playlists
- Many client apps
Amperfy
Amperfy is a free and open-source iOS music streaming app that connects to Ampache and Subsonic-compatible servers. It supports offline playback, playlists, and CarPlay for self-hosted music libraries.
- Ampache and Subsonic support
- Offline playback
- CarPlay integration
- Playlist sync
Ampache vs Amperfy: key differences
Ampache is written in PHP, while Amperfy is built with Swift. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Ampache versus GPL-3.0 for Amperfy. Amperfy is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Ampache. Ampache is the more established project (first released 2001), while Amperfy arrived in 2021. Ampache has the considerably larger community, at 3,832 GitHub stars versus 1,761. Ampache lists first-class Docker deployment; Amperfy does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Ampache if…
- Long-established project
- Flexible catalog options
Watch out for
- Configuration can be complex
- Dated areas of the UI
Choose Amperfy if…
- Native iOS experience
- Supports two server APIs
Watch out for
- iOS only
- Music only
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or Amperfy better?
Neither is universally better. Ampache has the larger community, while Amperfy is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ampache and Amperfy free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Amperfy under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and Amperfy with Docker?
Ampache: yes. Amperfy: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Ampache or Amperfy?
Amperfy has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Ampache. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.