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Polaris vs Koel: catalog facts
Polaris	Koel
Free Free and open source.	Freemium The open-source server is free; Koel Plus is a paid edition with extra features.
Web, Self-hosted	Android, iOS, Web, Self-hosted
Written in Rust Web client plus an API for other clients	Multi-user support with smart playlists and favourites Metadata editing and uploads from the web interface
Music only, no video support Requires running your own server	Some features are reserved for the paid Koel Plus edition Requires running and maintaining your own server
Self-hosted	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.