An open-source digital signage system that can be operated independently (on your own server) or taken as a paid cloud service (Xibo Cloud).
Xibo Signage Ltd. · digital signage CMS (open source)
Xibo content management software
Xibo is a complete digital signage framework: content scheduling, playlist management, templates and remote supervision of the playback devices from a browser. One of its greatest advantages is that the system can be installed and operated independently (open source, on your own server), so there is no compulsory subscription dependency on any single provider — and it is also available in a more convenient, paid, cloud-hosted version (Xibo Cloud).
On the player side, Xibo does not tie itself to any single hardware manufacturer ("hardware freedom"): its certified player applications are available on several operating system families, which allows a flexible hardware choice for the playback device connected to the LED wall's controller.
Where the Xibo sits in an LED wall system
Xibo consists of two parts: the CMS runs on the server — on your own hardware or in Xibo Cloud — and the player on the device behind the display: an Android box, a Windows machine, Linux, or a Samsung Tizen or LG webOS screen. Towards the LED wall, the player's HDMI output goes to the LED processor's input, so from Xibo's point of view the wall is a single ordinary screen and the distribution of pixels is done by the processor. The players log in to the CMS over the XMDS and XMR channels, download the media to local storage, and carry on playing even without the network.
WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT CHOICE
On commercial or institutional digital signage projects where provider independence, the option of operating on your own server, or an open-source, customisable framework matters.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
A self-hosted installation places operational responsibility (server, updates, security) on the operator — if that cannot be taken on, the paid Xibo Cloud version gives a simpler but no longer free solution.
The Xibo in practice
Installing the CMS is simplest in containers; self-hosted operation brings responsibility for the server, the backups and the updates. An important cost item is that although the CMS is open source and free, according to the manufacturer's price list the Android, Tizen and webOS players carry a one-off per-device licence fee, and only the Windows and Linux players are free. According to older bug reports, the Windows client crashed several times a day around 2015 because of a memory leak, and in another release (1.7.x) it repeatedly dropped back to the desktop when alternating between web and image content, while the previous version (1.6.3) was stable. These show the client's immaturity at the time, but they are a good reminder that before a larger installation it is worth keeping the chosen client version in trial operation for weeks. The interface is English, with community translations.
Alternatives to the Xibo
If running your own server cannot be taken on, the paid Xibo Cloud gives the same thing without maintenance, or Yodeck and OptiSigns offer a ready-made cloud service. For a single display at minimal cost, Anthias is also enough, but it has no central, multi-device supervision. For a professionally reliable, hardware-locked solution, BrightSign is the established choice. For a live event with real-time mixing, however, no signage system is suitable: Resolume or a media server is the right category there.
Xibo manual and datasheet
The documents live on the manufacturer's own site and open in a new window — so you always get the latest version. We do not copy or translate their contents.
Xibo on video
The player is only embedded on click — until then not a single request goes to YouTube.
Xibo help part 2 - Creating More advanced Layouts
Bill Kingsland · YouTube · Tutorial
Impactful Synchronisation with Xibo
Xibo · YouTube · Tutorial
Xibo - Adding a screen to your xibo CMS
MySignage Rocks · YouTube · Tutorial
Xibo: what users report
A concise summary of experiences published in public professional forums and communities. Not our opinion, and not a quotation — the source is always available.
According to an older (2015) bug report, the Windows Xibo client crashed several times a day because of a memory leak, even on identically configured machines; the fault-finding took weeks and the Windows event log was needed for the diagnosis — this reflects the client's immaturity at the time rather than its current state.
GitHub — xibosignage/xibo (issue #36) — open the sourceAnother early report describes the Windows client repeatedly crashing back to the desktop when alternating between web and image content; the problem appeared in one particular release (1.7.x), while the previous version (1.6.3) was stable — a good illustration of how client stability fluctuated from version to version in that period.
GitHub — xibosignage/xibo (issue #389) — open the sourceRelated content management software
content management software — but what does it go into?
On its own the Xibo is a component. With us it works inside these displays — design, manufacturing and installation included.
