RygelvsUniversal Media Server
Two self-hosted Plex alternatives, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Rygel | Universal Media Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 61/100 | 62/100 |
| Rank in category | #27 of 118 in Media Server | #24 of 118 in Media Server |
| GitHub stars | — | 2 668 |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +14 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 11 |
| Latest release | — | 15.9.0 · 5 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | GPL-2.0 |
| Main language | — | Java |
Which one should you pick?
Universal Media Server scores 62/100 against 61/100 for Rygel, so it is the safer default.
Universal Media Server ships more often: 11 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Rygel.
If you want the quickest setup, Universal Media Server is easier to run; Rygel needs more configuration.
Universal Media Server is growing faster right now (+14 stars in 30 days).
Rygel details →Universal Media Server details → All Plex alternatives →