Ampache vs LMS
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?
Ampache
Web-based audio and video streaming application
VS
LMS
Lightweight music server with Subsonic API support
| Feature | Ampache | LMS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,815 | ★ 1,654 |
| First released | 2001 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
Why pick each one
Choose LMS if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or LMS 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 Ampache and LMS free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and LMS under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and LMS with Docker?
Ampache: yes. LMS: yes.