Sonixd 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 | Sonixd | Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 20 · At risk |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,915 | ★ 2,240 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Spotify | Spotify, Plexamp |
What are Sonixd and Tempo?
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
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
Sonixd vs Tempo: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Sonixd's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Tempo is actively maintained. Sonixd is written in TypeScript, while Tempo is built with Java. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Sonixd versus GPL-3.0 for Tempo. Tempo is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Sonixd.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Tempo if…
- Modern Android design
- Works with multiple servers
Watch out for
- Android only
- No video support
Frequently asked questions
Is Sonixd or Tempo better?
Neither is universally better. Tempo has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Sonixd and Tempo free and open-source?
Yes. Sonixd is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tempo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Sonixd and Tempo with Docker?
Sonixd: check the project docs for container support. Tempo: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Sonixd or Tempo?
Tempo 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.