Submariner vs Supersonic
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Submariner | Supersonic |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 2,371 |
| First released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Spotify desktop | Plexamp, Spotify desktop |
What are Submariner and Supersonic?
Submariner
Submariner is a native GNOME desktop client for Subsonic-compatible music servers such as Navidrome and Airsonic. It integrates with the GNOME desktop and supports browsing, searching, and streaming music libraries.
- Native GNOME integration
- Subsonic API support
- Library browsing and search
- Streaming playback
Supersonic
Supersonic is a lightweight cross-platform desktop client for Subsonic and Jellyfin music servers, built with Go and the Fyne toolkit. It offers gapless playback, a modern interface, and scrobbling support.
- Gapless playback
- Subsonic and Jellyfin support
- Scrobbling integration
- Modern UI
Submariner vs Supersonic: key differences
Submariner is written in Python, while Supersonic is built with Go. Supersonic has the considerably larger community, at 2,371 GitHub stars versus 200.
Why pick each one
Choose Submariner if…
- Fits GNOME desktop
- Simple and focused
Watch out for
- Linux desktop only
- Small feature set
Choose Supersonic if…
- Fast and lightweight
- Active development
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Music only
Frequently asked questions
Is Submariner or Supersonic better?
Neither is universally better. Supersonic has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Submariner and Supersonic free and open-source?
Yes. Submariner is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Supersonic under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Submariner and Supersonic with Docker?
Submariner: check the project docs for container support. Supersonic: check the project docs for container support.