Ampache vs Polaris
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Polaris
Music streaming server focused on speed and simplicity
| Feature | Ampache | Polaris |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 75 · Good |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,832 | ★ 2,731 |
| First released | 2001 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
What are Ampache and Polaris?
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
Polaris
Polaris is a self-hosted music streaming application written in Rust, designed to be fast and easy to set up. It lets you browse and stream your music collection from a clean web interface or compatible clients.
- Written in Rust for speed
- Simple setup
- Last.fm integration
- Collection browsing
Ampache vs Polaris: key differences
Ampache is written in PHP, while Polaris is built with Rust. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Ampache versus MIT for Polaris. Polaris 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 Polaris arrived in 2017.
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 Polaris if…
- Low resource usage
- Single binary deployment
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Fewer client options
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or Polaris better?
Neither is universally better. Ampache has the larger community, while Polaris is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ampache and Polaris free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Polaris under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and Polaris with Docker?
Ampache: yes. Polaris: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Ampache or Polaris?
Polaris 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.