Tool profile
Ampache: cost, fit and limits
Ampache is a free, open source web server for music, podcasts, radio and video, maintained by the Ampache.org project under the AGPLv3 license since 2001, that serves one catalog to many client apps through several API protocols.
What to know first
Ampache has been around since 2001 and is licensed AGPLv3. Its homepage lists one native API plus Subsonic, OpenSubsonic, Jellyfin-compatible, DAAP and UPnP or DLNA backends, so many different apps can read the same catalog. It also keeps video, podcasts and live radio beside music. The sonic similarity feature uses the AudioMuse plugin, and the homepage does not label it AI. Donations are optional.
Ampache at a glance
| Maker | Ampache.org project (no company named), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | Yes |
| Category | Best AI Media Server Software in 2026, rank 6 of 13 |
| Website | ampache.org |
Who Ampache is best for
Self-hosters with several client apps
One catalog answers to Subsonic, Jellyfin-style and UPnP clients, so an old speaker, a phone app and a desktop player can all read the same library.
Listeners who mix music with podcasts and radio
Podcasts sync on a schedule and live radio streams play beside the library, which replaces separate podcast and radio apps.
Households with shared speakers
Democratic playback and Localplay let several people queue music for a shared speaker, which suits an office kitchen or a living room party.
Ampache plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open source server | Free | AGPLv3 license, free since 2001. Optional donations are accepted through the donate page, with no paid tier or vendor support plan mentioned. |
Checked November 2026.
What Ampache does
- Multiple API backends
- The homepage lists a native API plus Subsonic, OpenSubsonic, Jellyfin-compatible, DAAP and UPnP or DLNA backends, which widens the choice of client apps considerably, so clients written for any of those protocols can connect.
- Video in the music catalog
- Video is kept in the same catalog as music, so a household can store concerts or clips alongside albums without a second server, which keeps everything searchable in one place.
- Podcasts and live radio
- Podcast feeds sync on a schedule, and live radio streams play beside the library, which keeps spoken audio and music in one interface, which saves a separate podcast app on the phone.
- Per-user catalog filters
- Multi-disc albums, multi-artist tagging and catalog filters per user help organize large libraries and keep some folders private to certain accounts, which keeps a shared server tidy for several listeners.
- Sonic similarity plugin
- The homepage describes sonic similarity through the AudioMuse plugin, which finds tracks that sound alike. The page does not call the feature AI, so you must install the plugin first.
How Ampache handles your data
Ampache is self-hosted on your own server, according to the homepage, so the catalog, users and play history stay on hardware you control. The pages we read state no retention period, no certifications, and no policy on training models, so the vendor's policy was not checked for those. The project is run by Ampache.org with no company named. Remote catalogs can be pulled in from another Ampache server, a Subsonic server, Beets or SoundCloud, which means data from those sources then passes through your install.
Where Ampache falls short in practice
- Plugin-dependent similarity. Sonic similarity relies on the third-party AudioMuse plugin rather than a built-in engine, so it needs its own installation and follows that project's schedule, so it is installed and updated apart from the server.
- Client apps are separate projects. Many API clients are independent projects that the donate page asks users to support, so app quality and upkeep vary from one client to the next.
- Self-hosted chores. Installing, upgrading and securing a web application falls on you, a bigger chore than a desktop app, and the pages we read include no managed hosting or paid support tier.
Works with
Alternatives to Ampache
Ampache: common questions
Which client apps work with Ampache?
The docs list clients that use Ampache's own API or its Subsonic, OpenSubsonic and Jellyfin-compatible backends, and the homepage names apps such as Finamp, Symfonium and DSub. Support quality depends on each separate project, so install a client on your phone and test it with a few albums first.
Is Ampache the same as Navidrome?
They overlap but differ. Ampache's site publishes a comparison page with Navidrome, and Ampache offers more backends, video and radio in one catalog. Navidrome is lighter and focused on music. If you want the widest client choice, look at Ampache first, and if you want the simplest install, try Navidrome.
Does Ampache support video?
Yes. The homepage says video is kept in the same catalog as music, next to podcasts and live radio streams. It is not built as a movie-centered library with artwork and show seasons the way Jellyfin is, so film collections are usually better served by a dedicated video server.
Is Ampache free to use?
Yes. The homepage says it has been completely free and open source since 2001 under the AGPLv3 license, and the donate page asks for optional contributions. You pay only for hardware and hosting. If you donate, the page says money helps projects behind the API clients as well.
Does Ampache use AI to recommend music?
The homepage describes sonic similarity through the AudioMuse plugin, which finds tracks that sound alike, but it does not call this AI. Treat it as a plugin-based feature to test yourself, since the pages do not say what models or data the plugin uses.