Dim vs Emby
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Dim
Self-hosted media manager with automatic library scanning
VS
Emby
Personal media server for your movies and shows
| Feature | Dim | Emby |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Proprietary |
| Language | Rust | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,099 | ★ 4,945 |
| First released | 2020 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex, Netflix |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Dim or Emby better?
Emby is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Dim if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dim and Emby free and open-source?
Yes. Dim is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Emby under Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dim and Emby with Docker?
Dim: yes. Emby: yes.