Gonic vs Ombi
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin
| Feature | Gonic | Ombi |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,555 | ★ 4,103 |
| First released | 2019 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Spotify, Plex | Netflix, Plex |
What are Gonic and Ombi?
Gonic
Gonic is a fast, lightweight music streaming server compatible with the Subsonic API. Written in Go, it works well on low-power hardware and supports podcasts and multiple music folders.
- Subsonic API compatible
- Very low resource use
- Podcast support
- Multiple music folders
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin.
Gonic vs Ombi: key differences
Gonic is written in Go, while Ombi is built with C#. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Gonic versus GPL-2.0 for Ombi. Ombi is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Gonic. Gonic is the more established project (first released 2019), while Ombi arrived in 2023. Gonic lists first-class Docker deployment; Ombi does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Gonic if…
- Runs on Raspberry Pi easily
- Works with many Subsonic clients
Watch out for
- No built-in web player polish
- Minimal admin UI
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 Gonic or Ombi better?
Neither is universally better. Ombi has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gonic and Ombi free and open-source?
Yes. Gonic is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Ombi under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gonic and Ombi with Docker?
Gonic: yes. Ombi: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Gonic or Ombi?
Ombi has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Gonic. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.