Alternatives to Spotify
Play music you own, with players and servers that ask for nothing.
Ranked by score out of 30, most convivial first.
Navidrome
Your own music library, streamed to your phone from your server.
Strawberry
A music player and library organiser for large collections of files.
Mopidy
A music server you can control from your phone, with extensions for many sources.
Ampache
A web app that streams your own music collection to any device.
Funkwhale
A federated audio platform where communities host their own music.
For comparison
The big names these tools are measured against. We review them as benchmarks, so they sit outside the directory.
About these tools
Streaming services rent you the music and learn from what you play. Navidrome streams your own files to your phone, Ampache does it from a long-running web app, Strawberry organises a big library on your computer, Mopidy is a music server you can shape, and Funkwhale lets communities host audio for each other.
All of them work best with music you own, which is the trade: you do the collecting, and nobody can take it away.
How to choose
If you already have your music as files, Strawberry on a computer or Navidrome for streaming to your phone will feel familiar. If you like tinkering, Mopidy gives the most control. Expect to supply your own music.
Frequently asked questions
What is an alternative to Spotify?
Navidrome streams your own music files from a server you run, and Funkwhale is a federated option.
Can I stream my own music to my phone?
Yes. Navidrome and Ampache serve your collection to apps on your phone.
What organises a big music library?
Strawberry handles tags, playlists and large collections on your computer.