MediaMTX vs Shinobi
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted video surveillance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
MediaMTX
Ready-to-use media server and RTSP/WebRTC proxy
VS
Shinobi
Open-source NVR and CCTV software for IP cameras
| Feature | MediaMTX | Shinobi |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Video Surveillance | Video Surveillance |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 19,747 | ★ 4,000 |
| First released | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Wowza | Blue Iris |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is MediaMTX or Shinobi better?
MediaMTX is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Shinobi if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are MediaMTX and Shinobi free and open-source?
Yes. MediaMTX is licensed under MIT and Shinobi under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MediaMTX and Shinobi with Docker?
MediaMTX: yes. Shinobi: yes.