Ampache vs Navidrome
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Navidrome
Modern music streaming server for your collection
| Feature | Ampache | Navidrome |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 97 · 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 | ★ 23,761 |
| First released | 2001 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
What are Ampache and Navidrome?
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
Navidrome
Navidrome is a lightweight music server and streamer that is compatible with Subsonic API clients. It suits music collectors who want to stream their own library anywhere. It is deployed via Docker or a single binary.
- Subsonic API compatibility
- Fast modern web player
- Multi-user with playlists
- Low resource usage
Ampache vs Navidrome: key differences
Ampache is written in PHP, while Navidrome is built with Go. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Ampache versus GPL-3.0 for Navidrome. Navidrome 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 Navidrome arrived in 2019. Navidrome has the considerably larger community, at 23,761 GitHub stars versus 3,832.
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 Navidrome if…
- Very lightweight
- Works with many mobile apps
- Easy to set up
Watch out for
- Music only
- No video support
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or Navidrome better?
Navidrome 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 Navidrome free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Navidrome under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and Navidrome with Docker?
Ampache: yes. Navidrome: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Ampache or Navidrome?
Navidrome 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.