Supersonic 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 | Supersonic | Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 20 · At risk |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,371 | ★ 2,240 |
| First released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Plexamp, Spotify desktop | Spotify, Plexamp |
What are Supersonic and Tempo?
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
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
Supersonic vs Tempo: key differences
Supersonic is written in Go, while Tempo is built with Java.
Why pick each one
Choose Supersonic if…
- Fast and lightweight
- Active development
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Music only
Choose Tempo if…
- Modern Android design
- Works with multiple servers
Watch out for
- Android only
- No video support
Frequently asked questions
Is Supersonic or Tempo 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 Supersonic and Tempo free and open-source?
Yes. Supersonic is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tempo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Supersonic and Tempo with Docker?
Supersonic: check the project docs for container support. Tempo: check the project docs for container support.