Music Player Daemon

Self-Hosted

Lightweight open-source audio streaming daemon

Overview

Music Player Daemon (MPD) is a server-side audio player that runs in the background, enabling control from multiple clients (desktop, mobile, web). It supports a wide range of audio formats, gapless playback, playlist management, and network streaming. Deployable on Linux, macOS, BSD, or embedded devices, MPD integrates with clients like MPDroid, ncmpcpp, and Cantata. Ideal for self-hosting personal audio libraries, it offers low resource usage and full customization via plugins, letting users access their music from any device on the network without cloud dependencies.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  music_player_daemon:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: music-player-daemon
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Multi-client control support across devices
Wide compatibility with audio formats & playlists
Gapless playback and library management
Low resource footprint for servers/embedded systems

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Music Player Daemon hard to install?

Installation is straightforward on most Linux distros (via package managers like apt or yum). For self-hosting, you’ll need to configure a config file (specify music directory, network settings) and set up a client. Docker images are available to simplify deployment, reducing setup complexity for beginners.

? Is it a good alternative to Spotify?

Yes, if you prefer self-hosting your personal music library. Unlike Spotify (cloud-based), MPD streams your own collection from a server to any client. It lacks on-demand cloud content but offers full data control and no recurring costs.

? Is it completely free?

Absolutely! MPD is open-source under the GPL license. All features are free to use, modify, or distribute—no hidden fees or premium tiers exist.

Top Alternatives

Plexamp (Proprietary) Search Google

Emby Audio (Proprietary) Search Google

Sonos Streaming (Proprietary) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Media Streaming - Audio Streaming

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (no cloud data sharing)
⊕ Highly customizable with plugins
⊕ Cross-platform deployment options
⊕ No subscription fees

Cons

⊖ Requires separate client for interaction
⊖ Initial setup needs config file tuning
⊖ No built-in UI (daemon-only architecture)