Is Ampache Free and Open Source?

Updated

Yes. Ampache is completely free and open source, and it has been since 2001. It is released under the AGPLv3 license, and the project's source code is available on GitHub, where you can also get involved.

What "free and open source" means here

The two claims on Ampache's own site are specific:

  • Completely Free — the project describes itself as free, and its open-source status dates back to 2001.
  • Open Source — the code is published under the AGPLv3 license, and the GitHub project page is the place to access it and contribute.

Because the license is AGPLv3, this is a copyleft license: if you modify Ampache and make it available to users over a network, the AGPL's terms apply to that modified version. If you only run it for yourself, that network-distribution condition doesn't come into play.

How to get the code and take part

Ampache points users to its GitHub project page for both access and participation. In practice that means:

  1. Go to the GitHub project page linked from ampache.org.
  2. Read or clone the source under the AGPLv3 terms.
  3. Contribute if you want — the site frames this as "get involved and take control."

The site does not publish pricing tiers or payment links, and it does not describe a paid edition. Its stated position is simply that the software is free and open source.

What Ampache actually is

Ampache is a web-based audio/video streaming application and file manager. It lets you access your music and videos from almost any internet-enabled device. Its listed features are:

Feature What it covers
Music collection Browse and manage your music collection through a simple web interface; synchronize local and remote catalogs into one consistent collection
Music streaming Stream to your preferred player, control it with Localplay, or listen directly on the web page with the HTML5 player
Open source Completely free and open source since 2001, AGPLv3 license, GitHub project page
Music Everywhere Listen from phone, tablet, or television using a compatible client

Who this matters for

If your question is whether you can use, inspect, modify, or build on Ampache without paying for a license, the answer supported by the project's own description is yes — under AGPLv3, with the code on GitHub. If you need a specific commercial or support arrangement, that is not something the site's stated material covers, so check the GitHub project page for the current details.