LMS vs Sonixd
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
LMS
Lightweight music server with Subsonic API support
VS
Sonixd
Cross-platform desktop client for Subsonic music servers
| Feature | LMS | Sonixd |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,654 | ★ 1,919 |
| First released | 2014 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
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++
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
Frequently asked questions
Is LMS or Sonixd better?
Sonixd 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 Sonixd free and open-source?
Yes. LMS is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Sonixd under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LMS and Sonixd with Docker?
LMS: yes. Sonixd: check the project docs for container support.