DroppedNeedle vs Helix
Comparing two open source alternatives to Spotify and YouTube Music. Use the comparison below to decide which one fits your needs.
DroppedNeedle
AGPL-3.0Self-hosted music request and discovery server that drives your own download clients, verifies every file, and shelves it in a library you own.
Helix
AGPL-3.0Self-hosted music player with Pandora-style stations, shared listening lobbies, and playlist imports, built on a Subsonic-compatible library.
Side-by-side comparison
| DroppedNeedle | Helix | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| GitHub Stars | 1,345 | 32 |
| Forks | 63 | 2 |
| Open Issues | 110 | 2 |
| Last Commit | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 |
| First Released | Oct 10, 2025 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Categories | ||
| Tags |
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