Gerbera vs Ombi
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?
Gerbera
UPnP media server for streaming to DLNA devices
VS
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin
| Feature | Gerbera | Ombi |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,390 | ★ 4,107 |
| First released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Plex | Netflix, Plex |
Why pick each one
Choose Ombi if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (4.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in C#
Frequently asked questions
Is Gerbera or Ombi better?
Ombi 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 Ombi free and open-source?
Yes. Gerbera is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Ombi under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gerbera and Ombi with Docker?
Gerbera: yes. Ombi: check the project docs for container support.