Gerbera vs Stremio Web
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
Stremio Web
Self-hostable web frontend for the Stremio media center
| Feature | Gerbera | Stremio Web |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,393 | ★ 13,954 |
| First released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex |
What are Gerbera and Stremio Web?
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
Stremio Web
Stremio Web is the open-source web interface for Stremio, a modular media center that organizes movies, series, and other content through add-ons. The web app can be self-hosted to run a private instance in any browser.
- Add-on based content sources
- Runs entirely in the browser
- Library and progress tracking
- Self-hostable instance
Gerbera vs Stremio Web: key differences
Gerbera is written in C++, while Stremio Web is built with JavaScript. Gerbera is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Stremio Web. Stremio Web has the considerably larger community, at 13,954 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 Stremio Web if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 14k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Gerbera or Stremio Web better?
Neither is universally better. Stremio Web has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gerbera and Stremio Web free and open-source?
Yes. Gerbera is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Stremio Web under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gerbera and Stremio Web with Docker?
Gerbera: yes. Stremio Web: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Gerbera or Stremio Web?
Gerbera has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Stremio Web. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.