tinyMediaManager 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?
tinyMediaManager
Metadata manager and organizer for movie and TV libraries
VS
Universal Media Server
DLNA-compliant media server for streaming to TVs and consoles
| Feature | tinyMediaManager | Universal Media Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8 | ★ 2,636 |
| First released | 2012 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Plex | Plex, Serviio |
Why pick each one
Choose tinyMediaManager if…
- Excellent organization tools
- Headless mode available
Choose Universal Media Server if…
- Works with old TVs and consoles
- Simple setup
Frequently asked questions
Is tinyMediaManager or Universal Media Server better?
Neither is universally better. Universal Media Server has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are tinyMediaManager and Universal Media Server free and open-source?
Yes. tinyMediaManager is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Universal Media Server under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run tinyMediaManager and Universal Media Server with Docker?
tinyMediaManager: yes. Universal Media Server: yes.