Amperfy vs mStream
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Amperfy | mStream |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,759 | ★ 2,396 |
| First released | 2021 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Spotify, Apple Music | Spotify |
What are Amperfy and mStream?
Amperfy
Amperfy is a free and open-source iOS music streaming app that connects to Ampache and Subsonic-compatible servers. It supports offline playback, playlists, and CarPlay for self-hosted music libraries.
- Ampache and Subsonic support
- Offline playback
- CarPlay integration
- Playlist sync
mStream
mStream is a personal music streaming server that you can run on any computer to access your music from anywhere. It includes mobile apps for offline downloads and playlist syncing.
- Cross-platform mobile apps
- Offline song downloads
- Playlist sync
- Lightweight server
Amperfy vs mStream: key differences
Amperfy is written in Swift, while mStream is built with JavaScript. Amperfy is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for mStream. MStream is the more established project (first released 2016), while Amperfy arrived in 2021. MStream lists first-class Docker deployment; Amperfy does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Amperfy if…
- Native iOS experience
- Supports two server APIs
Watch out for
- iOS only
- Music only
Choose mStream if…
- Easy to install
- Good mobile experience
Watch out for
- Basic web UI
- Slower release cadence
Frequently asked questions
Is Amperfy or mStream better?
Neither is universally better. mStream has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Amperfy and mStream free and open-source?
Yes. Amperfy is licensed under GPL-3.0 and mStream under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Amperfy and mStream with Docker?
Amperfy: check the project docs for container support. mStream: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Amperfy or mStream?
Amperfy has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for mStream. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.