AppBreakup
Submit an app
OwnTone logo

OwnTone

Open-source audio server for Linux, BSD and macOS that plays to AirPlay and Chromecast speakers.

Open sourceSelf-hostableMedia servers
Visit OwnToneSee 4 alternatives
Verified facts
4 of 4
Alternatives ranked
4
Approved reviews
0
Visits sent from here
0

About OwnTone

OwnTone, formerly forked-daapd, is an open-source audio media server for GNU/Linux, FreeBSD and macOS. It shares your music, podcasts and audiobooks with iTunes-style DAAP clients and Roku devices, and its main use today is multi-room playback to AirPlay 1 and 2 speakers and Chromecast devices, plus local audio output. You control it from its web interface, Apple's Remote app and other DAAP/DACP clients, MPD clients, or a JSON API, which makes it popular for home automation setups. Besides local files it plays internet radio and, with a Spotify Premium account, Spotify. It is free under the GPL v2. It is a niche, technical tool: there are no polished mobile apps of its own, Windows is not supported, and it is meant for playing to speakers in your home rather than streaming your library to phones elsewhere.

Best for: Home server owners who want multi-room AirPlay and Chromecast audio from their own library.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Multi-room AirPlay 2 and Chromecast output
  • Many control options including MPD and a JSON API
  • Light enough for a Raspberry Pi

Why people leave

  • No Windows support
  • Technical setup
  • Not built for streaming to phones away from home

Top OwnTone alternatives

See all 4
  1. 1Music Assistant logo
    Music Assistant

    A friendlier multi-room system with many speaker and streaming integrations.

    66.5
  2. 2Mopidy logo
    Mopidy

    An extensible music server with MPD and web control.

    62.6
  3. 3Lyrion Music Server logo
    Lyrion Music Server

    Mature multi-room playback for Squeezebox-style players.

    59.6
  4. 4Roon logo
    Roon

    A polished commercial multi-room system for audiophiles.

    57.2

Why people left OwnTone

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from OwnTone, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of OwnTone
Your rating of OwnTone

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

OwnTone: common questions

Is OwnTone free?

Yes. OwnTone is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is OwnTone open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at owntone/owntone-server. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does OwnTone run on?

OwnTone is available for Linux, macOS, Self-hosted and Web.

What are the best alternatives to OwnTone?

The highest-ranked OwnTone alternatives right now are Music Assistant, Mopidy and Lyrion Music Server. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 OwnTone alternatives