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.
| Feature | LMS | Sonixd |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| 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 | ★ 1,680 | ★ 1,915 |
| First released | 2014 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify |
What are LMS and Sonixd?
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
Sonixd
Sonixd is a cross-platform desktop music player for Subsonic-compatible servers including Navidrome, Airsonic, and Funkwhale. It provides queue management, theming, and scrobbling for a desktop listening experience.
- Subsonic-compatible client
- Advanced queue management
- Theming
- Scrobbling support
LMS vs Sonixd: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Sonixd's repository is archived and no longer developed, while LMS is actively maintained. LMS is written in C++, while Sonixd is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for LMS versus AGPL-3.0 for Sonixd. LMS is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Sonixd. LMS is the more established project (first released 2014), while Sonixd arrived in 2021. LMS lists first-class Docker deployment; Sonixd does not.
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 Sonixd if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Watch out for
- Desktop client only
- No longer actively developed
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 Sonixd 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.
Which is lighter on resources, LMS or Sonixd?
LMS has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Sonixd. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.