Ampache vs OwnTone
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
OwnTone
Media server with AirPlay, Chromecast and Spotify support
| Feature | Ampache | OwnTone |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,815 | ★ 2,535 |
| First released | 2001 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify, Apple Music |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or OwnTone 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 OwnTone free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and OwnTone under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and OwnTone with Docker?
Ampache: yes. OwnTone: yes.