Kyoo vs Ombi
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Kyoo
Open-source media browser for movies and TV shows
VS
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin
| Feature | Kyoo | 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 | TypeScript | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,527 | ★ 4,103 |
| First released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Plex, Netflix | Netflix, Plex |
What are Kyoo and Ombi?
Kyoo
Kyoo is a self-hosted media browser and streaming application for movies, TV shows, and anime. It automatically fetches metadata and offers a modern web and mobile interface for your library.
- Automatic metadata scraping
- Modern web UI
- Anime support
- Multi-user accounts
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin.
Kyoo vs Ombi: key differences
Kyoo is written in TypeScript, while Ombi is built with C#. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Kyoo versus GPL-2.0 for Ombi. Ombi is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Kyoo. Kyoo is the more established project (first released 2020), while Ombi arrived in 2023. Kyoo lists first-class Docker deployment; Ombi does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Kyoo if…
- Clean modern design
- Good anime handling
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Still maturing
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 Kyoo or Ombi better?
Ombi is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Kyoo if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Kyoo and Ombi free and open-source?
Yes. Kyoo is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Ombi under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kyoo and Ombi with Docker?
Kyoo: yes. Ombi: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Kyoo or Ombi?
Ombi has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Kyoo. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.