Ombi 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 | Ombi | Rygel |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | 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 | 50 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,103 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2023 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Netflix, Plex | Plex |
What are Ombi and Rygel?
Ombi
Media request tool on Plex/Emby/Jellyfin.
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
Ombi vs Rygel: key differences
Ombi is written in C#, while Rygel is built with Vala. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Ombi versus LGPL-2.1 for Rygel. Ombi is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Rygel. Rygel is the more established project (first released 2008), while Ombi arrived in 2023. Ombi has the considerably larger community, at 4,103 GitHub stars versus 200.
Why pick each one
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#
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 Ombi or Rygel better?
Ombi 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 Ombi and Rygel free and open-source?
Yes. Ombi is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Rygel under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ombi and Rygel with Docker?
Ombi: check the project docs for container support. Rygel: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Ombi or Rygel?
Ombi has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Rygel. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.