mStream
The small, installable music server for people who do not want a media empire.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-11
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- desktopmobilewebself-hostedone-click install
- Installation
- Prebuilt Windows/macOS/Linux server binary or Docker image
- Operational Setup
- Browser access away from home still requires DNS, TLS and port forwarding; the easier Quick Sync path currently works only with its native clients
- Where Your Data Lives
- Audio stays in folders on the host; mStream keeps its server configuration, index and generated caches in local application directories or mapped Docker volumes
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It has no licensed catalogue, editorial discovery, Spatial Audio, or Apple ecosystem integration, and its clients and library tools are much smaller in scope.
Replaces 4 paid apps
up to $48.96/mo ($588/yr) in subscriptions
mStream FAQ
Common questions
Is mStream free and open source?+
mStream is an open-source tool licensed under GPL-3.0 that runs on self-host. The small, installable music server for people who do not want a media empire.
What paid software does mStream replace?+
mStream serves as a free replacement for 4 paid SaaS applications: Apple Music, Spotify Premium, TIDAL, YouTube Music Premium, saving up to $48.96/month ($588/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up mStream?+
Installation: Prebuilt Windows/macOS/Linux server binary or Docker image. Setup notes: Browser access away from home still requires DNS, TLS and port forwarding; the easier Quick Sync path currently works only with its native clients
What is the catch or trade-off with mStream?+
It has no licensed catalogue, editorial discovery, Spatial Audio, or Apple ecosystem integration, and its clients and library tools are much smaller in scope.