Gerbera vs Kyoo
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
Kyoo
Open-source media browser for movies and TV shows
| Feature | Gerbera | Kyoo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,393 | ★ 2,527 |
| First released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex, Netflix |
What are Gerbera and Kyoo?
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
Kyoo
Kyoo is a self-hosted media browser and streaming application for movies, TV shows, and anime. It automatically fetches metadata and offers a modern web and mobile interface for your library.
- Automatic metadata scraping
- Modern web UI
- Anime support
- Multi-user accounts
Gerbera vs Kyoo: key differences
Gerbera is written in C++, while Kyoo is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Gerbera versus GPL-3.0 for Kyoo. Gerbera is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Kyoo. Gerbera is the more established project (first released 2018), while Kyoo arrived in 2020.
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 Kyoo if…
- Clean modern design
- Good anime handling
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Still maturing
Frequently asked questions
Is Gerbera or Kyoo better?
Neither is universally better. Kyoo has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gerbera and Kyoo free and open-source?
Yes. Gerbera is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Kyoo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gerbera and Kyoo with Docker?
Gerbera: yes. Kyoo: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Gerbera or Kyoo?
Gerbera has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Kyoo. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.