LMS 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 | LMS | mStream |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,680 | ★ 2,397 |
| First released | 2014 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
What are LMS and mStream?
LMS
LMS is a lightweight, self-hosted music streaming server with a focus on performance and a built-in recommendation engine. It exposes the Subsonic API for compatibility with a wide range of clients.
- Subsonic API compatible
- Music recommendations
- Low resource use
- Scrobbling support
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
LMS vs mStream: key differences
LMS is written in C++, while mStream is built with JavaScript. LMS is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for mStream. LMS is the more established project (first released 2014), while mStream arrived in 2016.
Why pick each one
Choose LMS if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Web UI is functional but plain
Choose mStream if…
- Easy to install
- Good mobile experience
Watch out for
- Basic web UI
- Slower release cadence
Frequently asked questions
Is LMS or mStream better?
mStream is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider LMS if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are LMS and mStream free and open-source?
Yes. LMS is licensed under GPL-3.0 and mStream under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LMS and mStream with Docker?
LMS: yes. mStream: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, LMS or mStream?
LMS 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.