Gerbera is a free, open-source UPnP and DLNA media server for streaming music, video, and photos across your home network. See features and alternatives.
Category
Media & Audio/Video Tools
Pricing
Free / Open Source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2016
Free PlanWeb AppOpen SourceSelf-HostedMac
Overview
Gerbera is a free, open-source UPnP media server that began in 2016 as a continuation of the stalled MediaTomb project. Released under the GPLv2 license, it streams music, video, and photos across a home network to UPnP-compliant devices such as smart TVs and media players.
The project is actively maintained on GitHub with 1,400 stars, 223 forks, and 41 releases, the latest being version 3.2.1, reflecting a steady, community-driven development cadence since its fork from MediaTomb.
Key Features
Gerbera offers a browser-based Web UI for browsing the media database and file system, automatic metadata extraction from formats like MP3, OGG, FLAC, AAC, and JPG, thumbnail generation, and flexible plugin- or script-based transcoding for incompatible devices.
Additional capabilities include automatic directory rescanning, Last.fm scrobbling, and support for external URLs such as internet radio streams alongside local media.
Pricing
Gerbera is completely free and open source under the GPLv2 license, with no paid tiers or licensing fees.
Users self-host Gerbera on their own hardware, from Raspberry Pi devices and NAS units to full desktop or server installations on Linux, BSD, or macOS.
Key Features
Browser-based Web UI — Provides a tree view of both the media database and the underlying file system for adding, removing, editing, and browsing media.
Automatic metadata extraction — Extracts metadata from MP3, OGG, AAC, M4A, FLAC, WavPack, JPG, and many other audio and image formats.
Thumbnail generation — Automatically generates thumbnails for supported media types for easier browsing on client devices.
Flexible transcoding — Converts media formats on the fly using configurable plugins or external scripts for devices that cannot play the original format natively.
Automatic directory rescans — Detects newly added media in watched directories without requiring manual database refreshes.
Last.fm scrobbling — Tracks and reports listening history to Last.fm directly from the media server.
External URL support — Includes internet radio streams and other external URLs as browsable media items alongside local files.
Broad platform and architecture support — Runs on Linux, BSD, and macOS across x86, ARM, and MIPS architectures, including low-power devices like Raspberry Pi and NAS units.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open source under GPLv2
Lightweight footprint suitable for low-power hardware like Raspberry Pi and NAS devices
Broad format support with automatic metadata extraction and thumbnail generation
Flexible, scriptable transcoding for compatibility with a wide range of UPnP devices
Actively maintained with regular releases since its 2016 fork from MediaTomb
Cons
Not a certified DLNA server, only partial DLNA compatibility, which can cause issues with some devices
Requires self-hosting and configuration knowledge, unlike consumer-friendly platforms like Plex
No built-in user accounts, remote access, or mobile apps found in fuller platforms like Jellyfin or Plex
Web UI is more utilitarian than the polished client apps offered by commercial alternatives
No official support channel beyond community GitHub issues and documentation
Pricing
Free / Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gerbera free?
Yes, Gerbera is free and open source, released under the GPLv2 license.
Is Gerbera the same as MediaTomb?
No, but it is directly descended from it. Gerbera began in 2016 as a fork of MediaTomb after that project's development stalled.
Does Gerbera support DLNA?
Gerbera is a UPnP media server with partial DLNA compatibility; it works with many DLNA devices but is not a certified DLNA server.
What platforms does Gerbera run on?
Gerbera runs on Linux, BSD, and macOS across x86, ARM, and MIPS architectures, including low-power devices like Raspberry Pi.
Can Gerbera transcode media for incompatible devices?
Yes, Gerbera supports flexible transcoding through configurable plugins or external scripts.
What media formats does Gerbera support?
Gerbera extracts metadata from and streams formats including MP3, OGG, AAC, M4A, FLAC, WavPack, JPG, and more.