Ampache vs Gonic
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Ampache | Gonic |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,832 | ★ 2,554 |
| First released | 2001 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify, Plex |
What are Ampache and Gonic?
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
Gonic
Gonic is a fast, lightweight music streaming server compatible with the Subsonic API. Written in Go, it works well on low-power hardware and supports podcasts and multiple music folders.
- Subsonic API compatible
- Very low resource use
- Podcast support
- Multiple music folders
Ampache vs Gonic: key differences
Ampache is written in PHP, while Gonic is built with Go. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Ampache versus GPL-3.0 for Gonic. Gonic 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 Gonic arrived in 2019.
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 Gonic if…
- Runs on Raspberry Pi easily
- Works with many Subsonic clients
Watch out for
- No built-in web player polish
- Minimal admin UI
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or Gonic better?
Neither is universally better. Ampache has the larger community, while Gonic is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ampache and Gonic free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Gonic under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and Gonic with Docker?
Ampache: yes. Gonic: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Ampache or Gonic?
Gonic 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.