Music Player Daemon (MPD)

Self-Hosted

Lightweight open-source audio streaming server for self-hosted music

Overview

Music Player Daemon (MPD) is a headless, client-server audio streaming server ideal for self-hosting. It supports a wide range of audio formats (FLAC, MP3, OGG, WAV), playlist management, metadata parsing, and network streaming. Deployment is simple: install via package managers (Linux/macOS) or Docker, configure music directories and network access, then connect clients like ncmpcpp, MPDroid, or Cantata. Its low resource usage makes it perfect for headless servers, and it works across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

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_mpd:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: music-player-daemon-mpd
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Client-server architecture for remote control from any device
Supports diverse audio formats and metadata
Lightweight design for headless server deployment
Compatible with hundreds of third-party clients

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Music Player Daemon (MPD) hard to install?

No—MPD is available via most package managers (apt, yum, brew) for Linux/macOS, or as a Docker image. The config file is simple (specify music directories and network settings), making setup quick even for beginners.

? Is it a good alternative to Plexamp?

Yes—MPD is a great open-source alternative if you prioritize control and efficiency. It lacks Plexamp’s polished UI but offers broader client support, no subscription fees, and lower resource usage, ideal for self-hosted audio setups.

? Is it completely free?

Absolutely—MPD is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPLv2+), so it’s free to use, modify, and distribute without any cost or restrictions.

Top Alternatives

Plexamp Search Google

Sonos Local Streaming Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Media Streaming - Audio Streaming

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (no cloud dependency)
⊕ Low resource consumption
⊕ Extensive client ecosystem
⊕ Open-source & fully customizable

Cons

⊖ Requires separate client for interaction
⊖ No built-in user interface
⊖ Manual config tweaks may be needed for advanced setups