Finamp vs Tempo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Finamp | Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 74 · Good | 20 · At risk |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Dart | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,279 | ★ 2,240 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Plexamp, Spotify | Spotify, Plexamp |
What are Finamp and Tempo?
Finamp
Finamp is a free and open-source music client for Jellyfin built with Flutter for Android and iOS. It allows downloading albums and playlists for offline listening and supports gapless playback and transcoding.
- Offline music downloads
- Gapless playback
- Transcoded streaming
- Cross-platform mobile
Tempo
Tempo is a free and open-source music streaming client for Subsonic-compatible servers such as Navidrome and Airsonic. It features a Material You interface, offline downloads, and Android Auto support.
- Subsonic API support
- Material You theming
- Android Auto
- Offline downloads
Finamp vs Tempo: key differences
Finamp is written in Dart, while Tempo is built with Java. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Finamp versus GPL-3.0 for Tempo. Tempo is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Finamp.
Why pick each one
Choose Finamp if…
- Reliable offline mode
- Active community
Watch out for
- Mobile only
- Requires Jellyfin server
Choose Tempo if…
- Modern Android design
- Works with multiple servers
Watch out for
- Android only
- No video support
Frequently asked questions
Is Finamp or Tempo better?
Neither is universally better. Finamp has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Finamp and Tempo free and open-source?
Yes. Finamp is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Tempo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Finamp and Tempo with Docker?
Finamp: check the project docs for container support. Tempo: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Finamp or Tempo?
Tempo has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Finamp. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.