Modern Music Server and Streamer, compatible with Subsonic/Airsonic.
- GPL-3.0
- Go
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Music Streaming comparison
Navidrome vs Jellyfin: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick Navidrome if you only stream music and want a light server with many Subsonic apps; pick Jellyfin if you want one server for movies, TV, music and more.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
Media server for audio, video, books, comics, and photos with a sleek interface and robust transcoding capabilities. Almost all modern platforms have clients, including Roku, Android TV, iOS, and….
- GPL-2.0
- C#
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Head-to-head
Navidrome vs Jellyfin, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  Navidrome |  Jellyfin |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language/stack | Go, single binary with an embedded web UI | C# on .NET with a web client |
| Scope | Music only | Movies, TV, music, books, photos and live TV |
| Client apps | Web UI plus any Subsonic API compatible app on Android, iOS and desktop | Official apps for Android, iOS, Android TV, Roku and more, plus third-party clients |
| Hardware needs | Very light; runs well on a Raspberry Pi | Heavier, especially when transcoding video; hardware acceleration is supported |
| GitHub stars | 23,986 | 57,817 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 814 | 2,025 |
| Last commit | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Latest release | v0.64.2Sep 24, 2026 | v12.2Oct 5, 2026 |
| Main language | Go | C# |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | navidrome/navidrome | jellyfin/jellyfin |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
Navidrome is purpose-built for music: it is a single Go binary, uses few resources and works with the large ecosystem of Subsonic-compatible clients. Jellyfin is a full media server with transcoding and apps for TVs and phones, so pick it if music is only part of your library, or run both side by side.
Best for
Choose Navidrome for
Music libraries streamed to phones and desktops via Subsonic apps.
Best for
Choose Jellyfin for
Households that want one server for films, TV, music and photos.
Deploy either in minutes
Not sure yet? Spin up a small VPS or a managed instance, try both for a week, and keep the one that fits.
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Can Jellyfin replace Navidrome for music?
It can play music well, but Navidrome is lighter and has better support for Subsonic-compatible music apps. Many people run both.
What apps work with Navidrome?
Any client that speaks the Subsonic API, such as popular Android, iOS and desktop players. The built-in web UI also works on mobile browsers.
Does Navidrome transcode?
Yes. Navidrome can transcode audio on the fly with ffmpeg to lower bitrates for mobile streaming.
Which is more popular on GitHub, Navidrome or Jellyfin?
Jellyfin has 57,817 GitHub stars against 23,986 for Navidrome. Over the last twelve months Navidrome received 814 commits and Jellyfin received 2,025, so Jellyfin is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.