Navidrome vs Subsonic: Which Should You Self-Host?
Quick Verdict
Navidrome is the better choice. It’s free, open-source, lighter on resources, actively maintained, and compatible with the same Subsonic API clients. Subsonic (the original server) has been stagnant since around 2016, requires a paid license after 30 days, and has no Docker image. Navidrome is effectively the modern successor to Subsonic.
Overview
Navidrome is a lightweight, open-source music server written in Go. It implements the Subsonic API, which means it works with dozens of existing Subsonic-compatible client apps (Symfonium, Ultrasonic, play:Sub, DSub, Sublime Music). Navidrome also has a built-in web player. It uses embedded SQLite, runs as a single binary or Docker container, and uses ~50 MB of RAM at idle.
Subsonic is the original music streaming server, created by Sindre Mehus around 2005. It pioneered the API that bears its name — the Subsonic API that dozens of clients implement. Subsonic is written in Java, requires a JVM, and has been largely unmaintained since ~2016. After a 30-day trial, Subsonic requires a paid license ($1/month or $12/year). The source code was open at one point but is now proprietary.
Navidrome exists because Subsonic stagnated. Several forks (Airsonic, Airsonic-Advanced) attempted to continue development, but Navidrome rewrote the concept from scratch in Go, delivering better performance and modern architecture.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Navidrome | Subsonic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (open-source) | $1/month or $12/year (after 30-day trial) |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Docker support | Official Docker image | No official Docker image |
| Web UI | Modern, responsive | Dated (2010s design) |
| Subsonic API | Full implementation | Original (the standard) |
| Multi-user | Yes | Yes |
| Transcoding | Yes (FFmpeg) | Yes (built-in) |
| Star ratings | Yes | Yes |
| Playlists | Yes | Yes |
| Internet radio | No | Yes |
| Podcast support | No | Yes |
| Last.fm scrobbling | Yes | Yes |
| Jukebox mode | No | Yes |
| DLNA | No | Yes |
| RAM usage (idle) | ~50 MB | ~200-500 MB (JVM) |
| Startup time | Seconds | 30-60 seconds (JVM warmup) |
| Active development | Yes (regular releases) | No (stagnant since ~2016) |
| API client compatibility | Excellent (all Subsonic clients) | Excellent (it’s the original) |
Installation Complexity
Navidrome runs as a single Docker container. Configuration is minimal — mount your music directory, set a few environment variables, start. No database setup needed (embedded SQLite). No JVM, no dependencies.
services:
navidrome:
image: deluan/navidrome:0.54.5
container_name: navidrome
restart: unless-stopped
user: "1000:1000"
ports:
- "4533:4533"
volumes:
- ./data:/data
- /path/to/music:/music:roSubsonic requires Java (JVM) installed on the host. No official Docker image exists. Installation varies by platform — download a .deb, .rpm, or standalone package from the Subsonic website, configure file paths, and start the service. More manual steps, more potential for configuration issues.
Winner: Navidrome (significantly simpler Docker deployment).
Performance and Resource Usage
| Resource | Navidrome | Subsonic |
|---|---|---|
| RAM (idle) | ~50 MB | ~200-500 MB (JVM) |
| CPU (idle) | Minimal | Low-moderate (JVM overhead) |
| CPU (scanning) | Moderate | Moderate |
| CPU (transcoding) | ~0.5 core per stream | ~0.5 core per stream |
| Disk (application) | ~50 MB | ~100 MB + JVM |
| Startup time | 2-5 seconds | 30-60 seconds |
| Database size | ~1 MB per 1,000 tracks | Similar |
Navidrome’s Go binary is dramatically lighter than Subsonic’s Java application. The difference is especially noticeable on low-power hardware like Raspberry Pis, where JVM overhead is a significant burden.
Winner: Navidrome (4-10x lighter on RAM, much faster startup).
Community and Support
| Metric | Navidrome | Subsonic |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 13,000+ | N/A (proprietary) |
| Last release | 2025 (active) | ~2016 (stagnant) |
| Community | Active (Discord, GitHub) | Inactive |
| Documentation | Good (official docs) | Dated |
| Bug fixes | Regular | None |
| Security patches | Yes | Unknown |
Subsonic has not received meaningful updates in years. Security vulnerabilities may exist with no patches forthcoming. Navidrome is actively maintained with regular releases.
Winner: Navidrome (active development vs abandoned).
Use Cases
Choose Navidrome If…
- You want a modern, actively maintained music server
- Docker deployment is preferred
- You’re on a Raspberry Pi or low-power hardware
- You don’t want to pay a recurring license fee
- You want a clean, modern web UI
- Security patches matter to you
Choose Subsonic If…
- You need internet radio streaming (Navidrome doesn’t support this)
- You need podcast management integrated with your music server
- You need Jukebox mode (play music through the server’s audio output)
- You need DLNA support
- You’re already running Subsonic and have no reason to migrate
Final Verdict
Navidrome is the clear successor to Subsonic. It does everything Subsonic does for music streaming — compatible with the same clients, same API, same workflow — but it’s free, lighter, faster, actively maintained, and Docker-native. The only reasons to choose Subsonic are niche features (internet radio, podcast, jukebox mode, DLNA) that Navidrome doesn’t implement.
For new deployments, there’s no reason to choose Subsonic over Navidrome. If you’re currently running Subsonic, Navidrome is a straightforward migration — your client apps connect the same way, just point them at the Navidrome URL.
FAQ
Will my Subsonic clients work with Navidrome?
Yes. Navidrome implements the Subsonic API. Any client that works with Subsonic works with Navidrome — Symfonium, DSub, Ultrasonic, play:Sub, Amperfy, Sublime Music, and others. Just change the server URL in your client settings.
What about Airsonic and Airsonic-Advanced?
Airsonic was a fork of Subsonic that kept the Java codebase. Airsonic-Advanced was a fork of that fork. Both have largely stalled. Navidrome rewrote the concept from scratch in Go, which is why it’s so much lighter. For new deployments, Navidrome is the recommended choice over all Subsonic/Airsonic variants.
Does Navidrome support podcasts?
No. Navidrome is music-only. For podcasts, use Audiobookshelf (which also handles audiobooks) or a dedicated podcast app on your phone.
Can I migrate my Subsonic data to Navidrome?
Your music files transfer directly — just point Navidrome at the same music directory. Play counts, star ratings, and playlists don’t transfer automatically. Some community scripts exist for partial migration, but most users start fresh since Navidrome rescans and rebuilds its database quickly.
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