Gerbera vs Jellyfin
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Gerbera
UPnP media server for streaming to DLNA devices
VS
Jellyfin
Free software media system for streaming your library
| Feature | Gerbera | Jellyfin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,393 | ★ 57,445 |
| First released | 2018 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex, Emby |
What are Gerbera and Jellyfin?
Gerbera
Gerbera is a UPnP/DLNA media server that streams audio and video to compatible TVs and devices on a local network. It targets users with DLNA hardware who want simple local streaming. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Standards-based UPnP/DLNA streaming
- Web UI for managing media
- Transcoding support
- Lightweight footprint
Jellyfin
Jellyfin is a free software media server that organizes and streams movies, TV, music, and photos to many devices. It is aimed at users who want a fully free, no-account media solution. It is typically deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Completely free with no paywalled features
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding
- Apps for TVs, phones and consoles
- Live TV and DVR support
Gerbera vs Jellyfin: key differences
Gerbera is written in C++, while Jellyfin is built with C#. Gerbera is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Jellyfin. Jellyfin has the considerably larger community, at 57,445 GitHub stars versus 1,393.
Why pick each one
Choose Gerbera if…
- Works with DLNA TVs
- Low resource use
- No client apps needed
Watch out for
- DLNA UX is basic
- No remote streaming
Choose Jellyfin if…
- No subscription or account needed
- Active community development
- Wide client support
Watch out for
- Apps less polished than Plex
- Remote access setup is manual
Frequently asked questions
Is Gerbera or Jellyfin better?
Jellyfin is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Gerbera if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Gerbera and Jellyfin free and open-source?
Yes. Gerbera is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Jellyfin under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gerbera and Jellyfin with Docker?
Gerbera: yes. Jellyfin: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Gerbera or Jellyfin?
Gerbera has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Jellyfin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.