Ampache vs Jellyfin

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?
FeatureAmpacheJellyfin
CategoryMedia ServersMedia Servers
LicenseAGPL-3.0GPL-2.0
LanguagePHPC#
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metaldocker, bare-metal, binary
GitHub stars★ 3,815★ 55,528
First released20012018
ReplacesSpotifyPlex, Emby

Why pick each one

Choose Ampache if…

  • Long-established project
  • Flexible catalog options
Ampache details

Choose Jellyfin if…

  • No subscription or account needed
  • Active community development
  • Wide client support
Jellyfin details

Frequently asked questions

Is Ampache or Jellyfin better?

Jellyfin is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Ampache if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Ampache and Jellyfin free and open-source?

Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Jellyfin under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Ampache and Jellyfin with Docker?

Ampache: yes. Jellyfin: yes.

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