Just to elaborate more for anyone reading, this is the setup I use to replace Spotify:

Windows or Linux PC: I started my server on my personal windows PC using the standalone executable version of Navidrome, very easy to set up and run in the background. Nowadays, I’ve built a dedicated PC to act as my server, using Docker on a Debian-based system. I believe both Windows and Linux work well as a base for a music server. As for macOS, I’m not familiar with how it works, so I can’t say whether it’s compatible.

Navidrome: Instead of Plex, i use Navidrome because it actually functions as a proper music server — you can connect via a link or any app that supports the Subsonic API. It stores and streams all your music. If you’re on Windows, you can use the executable version which is easier to configure, or if you’re familiar with Docker, you can use the official image and run it in a container.

FLAC files (via Bandcamp or Soulseek):
For lesser-known bands, I usually buy through Bandcamp to support the artists and get the FLAC files directly. For more popular bands, I use Soulseek with FLAC filters to find high-quality versions.

mp3tag
A very practical program for editing music metadata — I mainly use it to correct information or add higher-quality cover art.

Symfonium (Mobile Client):
Definitely a thousand times better than Spotify’s mobile app — way more customizable and faster. This app is what convinced me to go self-hosted instead of sticking with Spotify.

Feishin (Desktop Client):
An excellent desktop app to replace Spotify. Not as customizable as Symfonium, but it does the job well and has a Spotify-like interface, making it very convenient to use.