MiniDLNA vs Rygel
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | MiniDLNA | Rygel |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| Language | C | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2008 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex |
What are MiniDLNA and Rygel?
MiniDLNA
MiniDLNA, also known as ReadyMedia, is a simple, lightweight media server that complies with DLNA and UPnP-AV standards. It serves music, photos, and video to network-connected devices with minimal configuration.
- DLNA/UPnP compliant
- Extremely lightweight
- Minimal configuration
- Serves audio, video, photos
Rygel
Rygel is a home media solution that allows you to share and stream audio, video, and images to UPnP and DLNA devices on your network. It is part of the GNOME project and integrates with the Linux desktop.
- UPnP/DLNA sharing
- GNOME desktop integration
- Pluggable backends
- Transcoding support
MiniDLNA vs Rygel: key differences
MiniDLNA is written in C, while Rygel is built with Vala. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for MiniDLNA versus LGPL-2.1 for Rygel. MiniDLNA is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Rygel. MiniDLNA lists first-class Docker deployment; Rygel does not.
Why pick each one
Choose MiniDLNA if…
- Tiny footprint
- Runs on routers and NAS
Watch out for
- No transcoding
- No web interface
Choose Rygel if…
- Released under the LGPL-2.1 license
- Written in Vala
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Linux desktop oriented
- No standalone UI
Frequently asked questions
Is MiniDLNA or Rygel better?
MiniDLNA is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Rygel if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are MiniDLNA and Rygel free and open-source?
Yes. MiniDLNA is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Rygel under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MiniDLNA and Rygel with Docker?
MiniDLNA: yes. Rygel: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, MiniDLNA or Rygel?
MiniDLNA has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Rygel. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.