Funkwhale vs Tempo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Funkwhale
Federated music streaming and sharing platform
VS
Tempo
Material You Subsonic music client for Android
| Feature | Funkwhale | Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,700 | ★ 2,240 |
| First released | 2017 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify, Plexamp |
What are Funkwhale and Tempo?
Funkwhale
Funkwhale is a self-hosted, federated music server for streaming and sharing audio, including support for podcasts and community libraries. It targets musicians and communities wanting a social music platform. It is deployed via Docker.
- ActivityPub federation
- Music and podcast streaming
- Subsonic API compatibility
- Community libraries
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
Funkwhale vs Tempo: key differences
Funkwhale is written in Python, while Tempo is built with Java. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Funkwhale versus GPL-3.0 for Tempo. Tempo is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Funkwhale. Funkwhale is the more established project (first released 2017), while Tempo arrived in 2022. Funkwhale lists first-class Docker deployment; Tempo does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Funkwhale if…
- Federated and social
- Subsonic client support
- Podcast support
Watch out for
- Heavier setup
- Federation adds complexity
Choose Tempo if…
- Modern Android design
- Works with multiple servers
Watch out for
- Android only
- No video support
Frequently asked questions
Is Funkwhale or Tempo better?
Neither is universally better. Funkwhale has the larger community, while Tempo is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Funkwhale and Tempo free and open-source?
Yes. Funkwhale is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tempo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Funkwhale and Tempo with Docker?
Funkwhale: yes. Tempo: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Funkwhale or Tempo?
Tempo has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Funkwhale. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.