Gerbera vs Reiverr
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
Reiverr
Unified interface for Jellyfin, Radarr, and Sonarr
| Feature | Gerbera | Reiverr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 49 · Fair |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,393 | ★ 2,347 |
| First released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex |
What are Gerbera and Reiverr?
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
Reiverr
Reiverr is a clean, unified interface for Jellyfin combined with Radarr and Sonarr that lets you browse, request, and stream content from one place. It brings discovery and playback together in a single modern web app.
- Unified Jellyfin and *arr interface
- Browse and request content
- Streaming playback
- Modern design
Gerbera vs Reiverr: key differences
Gerbera is written in C++, while Reiverr is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Gerbera versus MIT for Reiverr. Gerbera is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Reiverr. Gerbera is the more established project (first released 2018), while Reiverr arrived in 2023.
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 Reiverr if…
- Single pane for media
- Clean modern UI
Watch out for
- Requires Jellyfin and *arr stack
- Younger project
Frequently asked questions
Is Gerbera or Reiverr better?
Neither is universally better. Reiverr has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gerbera and Reiverr free and open-source?
Yes. Gerbera is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Reiverr under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gerbera and Reiverr with Docker?
Gerbera: yes. Reiverr: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Gerbera or Reiverr?
Gerbera has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Reiverr. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.