Jellyfin vs Ombi
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Jellyfin
Free software media system for streaming your library
VS
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin
| Feature | Jellyfin | Ombi |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C# | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 57,445 | ★ 4,103 |
| First released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Plex, Emby | Netflix, Plex |
What are Jellyfin and Ombi?
Jellyfin
Jellyfin is a free software media server that organizes and streams movies, TV, music, and photos to many devices. It is aimed at users who want a fully free, no-account media solution. It is typically deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Completely free with no paywalled features
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding
- Apps for TVs, phones and consoles
- Live TV and DVR support
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin.
Jellyfin vs Ombi: key differences
Both projects are written in C#. Ombi is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Jellyfin. Jellyfin is the more established project (first released 2018), while Ombi arrived in 2023. Jellyfin has the considerably larger community, at 57,445 GitHub stars versus 4,103. Jellyfin lists first-class Docker deployment; Ombi does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Jellyfin if…
- No subscription or account needed
- Active community development
- Wide client support
Watch out for
- Apps less polished than Plex
- Remote access setup is manual
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 Jellyfin or Ombi better?
Neither is universally better. Jellyfin has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Jellyfin and Ombi free and open-source?
Yes. Jellyfin is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Ombi under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Jellyfin and Ombi with Docker?
Jellyfin: yes. Ombi: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Jellyfin or Ombi?
Ombi has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Jellyfin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.