Ampache vs Sonixd
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Ampache | Sonixd |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,832 | ★ 1,915 |
| First released | 2001 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
What are Ampache and Sonixd?
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
Sonixd
Sonixd is a cross-platform desktop music player for Subsonic-compatible servers including Navidrome, Airsonic, and Funkwhale. It provides queue management, theming, and scrobbling for a desktop listening experience.
- Subsonic-compatible client
- Advanced queue management
- Theming
- Scrobbling support
Ampache vs Sonixd: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Sonixd's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Ampache is actively maintained. Ampache is written in PHP, while Sonixd is built with TypeScript. Sonixd is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Ampache. Ampache is the more established project (first released 2001), while Sonixd arrived in 2021. Ampache has the considerably larger community, at 3,832 GitHub stars versus 1,915. Ampache lists first-class Docker deployment; Sonixd does not.
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 Sonixd if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Watch out for
- Desktop client only
- No longer actively developed
Frequently asked questions
Is Ampache or Sonixd better?
Neither is universally better. Ampache has the larger community, while Sonixd is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ampache and Sonixd free and open-source?
Yes. Ampache is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Sonixd under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ampache and Sonixd with Docker?
Ampache: yes. Sonixd: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Ampache or Sonixd?
Sonixd has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Ampache. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.