Ampache vs mStream
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
mStream
Personal music streaming server with mobile apps
| Feature | Ampache | mStream |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,815 | ★ 2,366 |
| First released | 2001 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or mStream better?
Neither is universally better. Ampache has the larger community, while mStream is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ampache and mStream free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and mStream under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and mStream with Docker?
Ampache: yes. mStream: yes.