Olaris vs Universal Media Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Olaris
Media manager and transcoding server for personal libraries
VS
Universal Media Server
DLNA-compliant media server for streaming to TVs and consoles
| Feature | Olaris | Universal Media Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 300 | ★ 2,636 |
| First released | 2019 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex, Serviio |
Why pick each one
Choose Olaris if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
Choose Universal Media Server if…
- Works with old TVs and consoles
- Simple setup
Frequently asked questions
Is Olaris or Universal Media Server better?
Universal Media Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Olaris if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Olaris and Universal Media Server free and open-source?
Yes. Olaris is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Universal Media Server under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Olaris and Universal Media Server with Docker?
Olaris: yes. Universal Media Server: yes.