Funkwhale
A federated audio server for libraries, podcasts, and publishing
Our verdict
Tied #3 of 4 in Self-hosted music servers · For a server other people can follow
Pros
- Podcast RSS import and multi-artist tracks
- Changelog 2.0.13 is dated 2026-10-30
- Docker and Debian install paths
Cons
- PostgreSQL 12 or newer
- Needs its own domain, and ports 80 and 443 for federation
Who should skip:Anyone who cannot give the server its own domain name.
Rankings and alternatives
- Tied #3 of 4 Self-hosted music servers For a server other people can follow
- Lightweight Music Server #1 Best for a tagged library
- Navidrome #2 For a small computer
- Ampache Tied #3 For every kind of player
Self-hosted music servers scores
Evaluated Nov 8, 2026 Evidence ↓- Setup 2
2/5 means: An application, a database server, and its own domain name
Install paths are Docker or Debian. Version 2.0 requires PostgreSQL 12 or newer, and the install page requires a dedicated domain plus ports 80 and 443 for federation.
- Players 4
4/5 means: The Subsonic or OpenSubsonic API, and the project names phone, desktop, or podcast apps
A web player, Subsonic clients, OpenSubsonic support, podcast apps, and a desktop app built with Tauri.
- Catalog 4
4/5 means: Several extras, such as separate libraries, podcasts, video, or scrobbling
Podcast RSS import, multiple artists on tracks and albums, and ActivityPub sharing between servers. The pages checked do not document MusicBrainz release groups or composer and conductor roles.
- Playback 4
4/5 means: Transcoding and one other listening feature, or scrobbling to two services
Last.fm scrobbling and ListenBrainz scrobbling are both listed. The pages checked do not document on-the-fly transcoding.
- Recent release 5
5/5 means: Within the last month
The changelog's newest heading is 2.0.13 (2026-10-30), nine days before this evaluation.
Evidence and sources
Self-hosted music servers scores
Setup 5 quotes
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“Install Funkwhale using Docker”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked -
“Install Funkwhale on Debian”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked -
“BREAKING CHANGE: postgre 12 or higher is required”
docs.funkwhale.audio/changelog.html · checked -
“A dedicated domain or subdomain – you can’t run Funkwhale in a subdirectory of a domain. You need to run it on a domain or a subdomain.”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked -
“Access to ports 80 and 443 – Funkwhale uses these ports for federation.”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked
Players 3 quotes
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“Listen to your music and podcasts from your web browser, or a wide range of compatible apps for every platform. This includes the Subsonic client of your choice and your favourite podcast app.”
funkwhale.audio · checked -
“Extend Subsonic API with OpenSubsonic support (#2270)”
docs.funkwhale.audio/changelog.html · checked -
“Build desktop app with Tauri”
docs.funkwhale.audio/changelog.html · checked
Catalog 3 quotes
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“Support multiples artists for tracks and albums (#1568)”
docs.funkwhale.audio/changelog.html · checked -
“Funkwhale uses the ActivityPub protocol to talk to other apps across the Fediverse.”
docs.funkwhale.audio · checked -
“Podcasts RSS import”
dev.funkwhale.audio/funkwhale/funkwhale · checked
Playback 2 quotes
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“Last.fm scrobbling”
dev.funkwhale.audio/funkwhale/funkwhale · checked -
“ListenBrainz scrobbling and favorites”
dev.funkwhale.audio/funkwhale/funkwhale · checked
Recent release 1 quote
-
“2.0.13 (2026-10-30)”
docs.funkwhale.audio/changelog.html · checked
Facts
License 1 quote
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“LICENSE Fix #280: AGPL-3 licence 8 years ago”
dev.funkwhale.audio/funkwhale/funkwhale · checked
Runs on 2 quotes
-
“Install Funkwhale using Docker”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked -
“Install Funkwhale on Debian”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked
Needs 3 quotes
-
“BREAKING CHANGE: postgre 12 or higher is required”
docs.funkwhale.audio/changelog.html · checked -
“A dedicated domain or subdomain – you can’t run Funkwhale in a subdirectory of a domain. You need to run it on a domain or a subdomain.”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked -
“Access to ports 80 and 443 – Funkwhale uses these ports for federation.”
docs.funkwhale.audio/administrator/installation/index.html · checked
Other quotes
Not cited by a score or fact 1 quote
-
“Free software build by the community using standard protocols and open-source technology.”
funkwhale.audio · checked