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Top Alternatives to Plex

Looking for Plex alternatives? We've curated 27 top alternatives that offer similar functionality. Whether you need options, free plans, or open source solutions, explore our comprehensive list to find the perfect fit for your needs.

Freemium

Plex Alternatives

Below you'll find the best alternatives to Plex. We've analyzed these options based on features, user ratings, and compatibility to help you find the right solution. Each alternative offers unique advantages that might better suit your specific needs and budget.

Spotify

Spotify

Freemium Audio & Music Music Streaming Service

Spotify is a leading digital music, podcast, and video service that provides you with access to millions of songs and other content from creators all over the world. Its extensive library, intuitive interface, and powerful discovery features make it a go-to platform for music enthusiasts and podcast listeners alike.

Unique Features

  • Massive library of music and podcasts.
  • Excellent music and podcast discovery features.
  • Works seamlessly across many devices.

Compared to Plex

Massive library of music and podcasts. compared to Plex
Free tier includes frequent advertisements. unlike Plex
Kodi

Kodi

Open Source Audio & Music Media Player

Kodi is a powerful, free, and open-source media player software designed to transform your device into a comprehensive home theater PC. It provides a stunning interface optimized for large screens, allowing you to manage and play virtually all popular types of digital media.

Unique Features

  • Excellent media organization and library management.
  • Supports a vast range of media formats.
  • Highly customizable through skins and add-ons.

Compared to Plex

Excellent media organization and library management. compared to Plex
Initial setup for advanced features can be complex. unlike Plex
Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server

Open Source Games Media Server

Universal Media Server (UMS) is a free UPnP and DLNA media server that allows you to stream your media files to various devices on your network. It's a powerful tool for accessing your movies, music, and pictures on smart TVs, game consoles, and other DLNA-compatible devices without needing to copy files.

Unique Features

  • Excellent device compatibility via DLNA/UPnP.
  • Powerful real-time media transcoding support.
  • Supports a vast array of media formats.

Compared to Plex

Excellent device compatibility via DLNA/UPnP. compared to Plex
Can be resource-intensive, especially with transcoding. unlike Plex
Emby

Emby

Freemium Video & Movies Media Server

Emby is a powerful, open-source media server that revolutionizes how you access and enjoy your personal media collection. It organizes your movies, TV shows, music, and photos into a visually stunning and easily navigable interface, streaming them seamlessly to practically any device, anywhere.

Unique Features

  • Excellent media organization and metadata fetching.
  • Robust and efficient media transcoding.
  • Wide compatibility with various devices.

Compared to Plex

Excellent media organization and metadata fetching. compared to Plex
Initial setup can be complex for beginners. unlike Plex
Subsonic

Subsonic

Freemium Audio & Music Media Server

Subsonic is an open-source music and video streaming server that allows you to access your media collection from anywhere. With a web-based interface and support for various clients, it transforms your computer into a personal media hub.

Unique Features

  • Full control and ownership of your media files.
  • Stream from anywhere with internet access.
  • Supports a wide range of audio and video formats.

Compared to Plex

Full control and ownership of your media files. compared to Plex
Requires technical knowledge for server setup and maintenance. unlike Plex
MythTV

MythTV

Open Source Video & Movies Digital Video Recorder

MythTV is a free and open-source digital video recorder (DVR) software designed to transform a Linux-based computer into a complete home media center. It allows users to watch, record, and play live television, manage their video library, listen to music, and more.

Unique Features

  • Free and open source
  • Highly configurable
  • Powerful DVR capabilities

Compared to Plex

Free and open source compared to Plex
Requires technical proficiency for setup and configuration unlike Plex
PS3 Media Server

PS3 Media Server

Open Source Games Media Server

PS3 Media Server is a discontinued, yet highly functional, UPnP/DLNA media server designed initially for the PlayStation 3 but compatible with a wide range of rendering devices. It allows users to stream and transcode various media formats from their computer to network-connected devices.

Unique Features

  • Powerful real-time transcoding for wide format compatibility.
  • Free and open-source with no licensing costs.
  • Broad compatibility with DLNA-compliant devices.

Compared to Plex

Powerful real-time transcoding for wide format compatibility. compared to Plex
Development has been discontinued, meaning no new features or updates. unlike Plex
Stremio

Stremio

Free Personal Video & Movies Media Center

Stremio is a modern media center application that aggregates video content from various sources, allowing users to discover, organize, and watch movies, series, live TV, and more in a unified interface. It streamlines the process of finding and enjoying video entertainment across different platforms and devices with its add-on system.

Unique Features

  • Aggregates content from various sources into one interface.
  • Modular add-on system allows for content customization.
  • Built-in player handles various formats with subtitle support.

Compared to Plex

Aggregates content from various sources into one interface. compared to Plex
Reliance on community add-ons can lead to variability in reliability. unlike Plex
OSMC

OSMC

Open Source Audio & Music Media Center

OSMC (Open Source Media Center) is a free and open-source Linux-based operating system designed for media playback. It transforms small, low-cost devices like the Raspberry Pi into powerful media centers, offering a user-friendly interface for enjoying movies, TV shows, music, and other media on your TV.

Unique Features

  • Free and open source, making it accessible and customizable.
  • Optimized for low-cost hardware like Raspberry Pi.
  • User-friendly interface designed for TV use.

Compared to Plex

Free and open source, making it accessible and customizable. compared to Plex
Performance can be limited by the hardware it runs on. unlike Plex
Serviio

Serviio

Freemium Audio & Music Media Server

Serviio is a robust freeware media server application empowering users to seamlessly stream their digital media collection across their home network. It supports a wide range of devices including DLNA-compliant TVs, game consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, and mobile devices, making accessing your music, movies, and photos easy and convenient.

Unique Features

  • Wide compatibility with DLNA devices
  • Excellent media format support and on-the-fly transcoding
  • Effective automatic metadata retrieval

Compared to Plex

Wide compatibility with DLNA devices compared to Plex
Client interface experience is dependent on the receiving device unlike Plex
TVersity

TVersity

Commercial Games Media Server

TVersity Media Server is a powerful and versatile software allowing effortless streaming of your digital media collection to a wide range of devices including game consoles, smart TVs, and mobile devices. It handles transcoding on the fly, ensuring compatibility with virtually any device.

Unique Features

  • Excellent real-time transcoding capabilities for broad device compatibility.
  • Supports a wide range of devices including game consoles and DLNA-certified hardware.
  • Handles a vast array of media formats.

Compared to Plex

Excellent real-time transcoding capabilities for broad device compatibility. compared to Plex
User interface feels somewhat outdated. unlike Plex
MiniDLNA

MiniDLNA

Open Source Network & Admin Media Server

MiniDLNA, now ReadyMedia, is a lightweight and simple media server designed for full compliance with DLNA/UPnP-AV clients. It allows streaming multimedia content stored on your network to compatible devices such as smart TVs, game consoles, and mobile devices.

Unique Features

  • Extremely lightweight and low resource usage.
  • Excellent compatibility with DLNA/UPnP-AV client devices.
  • Simple to setup and configure through a text file.

Compared to Plex

Extremely lightweight and low resource usage. compared to Plex
Lacks a graphical web interface for management. unlike Plex
JRiver Media Center

JRiver Media Center

Commercial Audio & Music Media Player

JRiver Media Center is a comprehensive, all-in-one multimedia solution for organizing, playing, and managing your digital media collection across various platforms.

Unique Features

  • Excellent audio playback quality and support for high-resolution formats.
  • Comprehensive and powerful media library management tools.
  • Supports a wide range of media types (music, video, photos, TV).

Compared to Plex

Excellent audio playback quality and support for high-resolution formats. compared to Plex
Can have a steep learning curve due to the extensive features. unlike Plex
MediaTomb

MediaTomb

Open Source Video & Movies Media Server

MediaTomb is a free, open-source UPnP MediaServer designed to share digital media content (video, audio, images) across a home network to compatible devices like smart TVs, game consoles, and other UPnP/DLNA clients.

Unique Features

  • Highly configurable and flexible.
  • Open-source and free to use.
  • Supports dynamic media transcoding.

Compared to Plex

Highly configurable and flexible. compared to Plex
Configuration can be complex for beginners. unlike Plex
Infuse

Infuse

Freemium Video & Movies Media Player

Infuse is a premium media player for Apple devices, offering extensive format support, seamless streaming from various sources, and powerful metadata management for a superior video watching experience.

Unique Features

  • Plays virtually any video format without conversion.
  • Excellent metadata fetching and library organization.
  • Seamless streaming from network shares, cloud storage, and media servers.

Compared to Plex

Plays virtually any video format without conversion. compared to Plex
Full feature set requires a paid subscription (Infuse Pro). unlike Plex
younity

younity

Freemium Audio & Music File Sharing

Younity transforms your computer into a personal media server, allowing you to access, stream, and manage all your digital files remotely from your mobile devices. Enjoy your entire photo library, music collection, movie files, and documents without uploading them to the cloud.

Unique Features

  • Access files on your computer without uploading to a third-party cloud.
  • Stream music and videos directly from your computer.
  • Organize and access your entire media library in one place.

Compared to Plex

Access files on your computer without uploading to a third-party cloud. compared to Plex
Computer hosting files must be powered on and connected to the internet. unlike Plex
Moovida

Moovida

Open Source Video & Movies Media Center

Moovida, formerly Elisa, was an open-source, cross-platform media center designed to offer a visually appealing and intuitive interface for managing and playing multimedia content. Providing support for various media formats and streaming capabilities, it aimed to be a central hub for digital entertainment.

Unique Features

  • Intuitive and visually appealing user interface.
  • Supported a vast array of media formats.
  • Automatic metadata fetching enriched library browsing.

Compared to Plex

Intuitive and visually appealing user interface. compared to Plex
Software is discontinued, limiting ongoing support and updates. unlike Plex
Madsonic

Madsonic

Open Source Audio & Music Web Application

Madsonic is a robust, web-based media server optimized for streaming music collections. It allows users to access and stream their entire music library from anywhere with an internet connection, supporting multiple users and a wide range of audio formats.

Unique Features

  • Complete control over your music library and data.
  • Supports a wide range of audio formats with on-the-fly transcoding.
  • Robust multi-user support with customizable access levels.

Compared to Plex

Complete control over your music library and data. compared to Plex
Requires technical knowledge for initial setup and network configuration. unlike Plex
nessMediaCenter

nessMediaCenter

Commercial Audio & Music Media Center

nessMediaCenter is a robust media center application for macOS, designed as a comprehensive replacement for the discontinued Front Row. It provides an integrated platform for managing and enjoying various media types including videos, music, photos, and even PDFs. A key capability is its unique support for playing DRM-protected content purchased from iTunes.

Unique Features

  • Plays iTunes DRM content
  • Comprehensive format support
  • Integrated media management

Compared to Plex

Plays iTunes DRM content compared to Plex
Interface can feel dated unlike Plex
Squire

Squire

Commercial Video & Movies Desktop Application

Squire is a versatile media player and streaming solution designed for enjoying movies, TV shows, and local media. It supports torrent streaming, acts as a media server, and offers seamless integration with devices like Apple TV and Chromecast.

Unique Features

  • Integrated torrent streaming is highly convenient.
  • Comprehensive metadata management for a clean library.
  • Versatile casting options (Apple TV, Chromecast).

Compared to Plex

Integrated torrent streaming is highly convenient. compared to Plex
Relies on the stability and health of torrent swarms for streaming. unlike Plex
HomeNet Local Media Server

HomeNet Local Media Server is a streamlined, open-source alternative for streaming your local media collection (videos, music, photos) across your home network. It functions as a lightweight media server, offering playback on various devices including smart TVs, mobile devices, and game consoles, with support for casting technologies like Chromecast and AirPlay.

Unique Features

  • Lightweight and resource-efficient operation
  • Simple setup and configuration
  • Good compatibility with local devices via DLNA, Chromecast, and AirPlay

Compared to Plex

Lightweight and resource-efficient operation compared to Plex
Fewer advanced features compared to larger alternatives unlike Plex
StreamToMe

StreamToMe

Commercial Audio & Music Media Server

StreamToMe enables seamless streaming of your media library from your Mac or PC to iOS and Android devices over Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Enjoy your videos and music without the need for cumbersome file conversions.

Unique Features

  • Automatic media transcoding eliminates the need for manual file conversion.
  • Supports streaming to both iOS and Android devices from Mac and PC servers.
  • Clean and easy-to-use interface for server and client applications.

Compared to Plex

Automatic media transcoding eliminates the need for manual file conversion. compared to Plex
Performance can be heavily reliant on the server computer's processing power for effective transcoding. unlike Plex
Playon

Playon

Commercial Games Media Server

PlayOn is a versatile media server software that allows users to record and stream online video content from popular streaming services directly to their devices for offline viewing. It acts as a personal DVR for the streaming era, enabling seamless access to your favorite shows and movies anytime, anywhere.

Unique Features

  • Allows offline viewing of streaming content.
  • Automatically skips commercials in recorded videos.
  • Functions as a versatile media server.

Compared to Plex

Allows offline viewing of streaming content. compared to Plex
Recording process can be time-consuming. unlike Plex
Pith

Pith

Open Source Video & Movies Media Server

Pith is a versatile media server designed to be the central hub for your digital content. It seamlessly connects your local storage, media devices, and mobile devices, allowing you to control playback and stream content across your home network using DLNA and AirPlay protocols.

Unique Features

  • Decentralized and private media management
  • Broad compatibility with DLNA and AirPlay devices
  • Effective media transcoding for wider format support

Compared to Plex

Decentralized and private media management compared to Plex
Requires technical knowledge for server setup and management unlike Plex
nessViewer

nessViewer

Commercial CD/DVD Tools Media Management

NessViewer is a comprehensive media management suite designed for organizing, viewing, editing, and streaming various media types, including images, audio, and video. It functions as an all-in-one solution for personal media libraries.

Unique Features

  • Excellent support for a wide range of media formats
  • Integrated media server capabilities (DLNA/AirPlay)
  • Includes basic image editing tools

Compared to Plex

Excellent support for a wide range of media formats compared to Plex
Image editing tools are basic compared to dedicated software unlike Plex
Airflow

Airflow

Free Video & Movies Desktop Application

Airflow is a powerful desktop application for streaming local video content wirelessly to Chromecast and Apple TV devices. Designed for simplicity and performance, it elegantly handles various video formats, often without the need for complex manual configuration.

Unique Features

  • Reliable streaming to Chromecast and Apple TV.
  • Handles a wide range of video formats, often without manual conversion.
  • Easy to set up and use, with a simple interface.

Compared to Plex

Reliable streaming to Chromecast and Apple TV. compared to Plex
Limited to Chromecast and Apple TV for streaming. unlike Plex
Ushare uPnP media server

Ushare uPnP media server

Open Source Media Server Software Media Server Software

Ushare uPnP Media Server is a lightweight and open-source media server software designed to share your digital media content across your home network using the UPnP AV and DLNA protocols. It allows compatible devices, such as smart TVs, game consoles, and media players, to easily discover and stream your local audio, video, and photo files.

Unique Features

  • Lightweight and resource-efficient
  • Strong compliance with DLNA/UPnP standards
  • Simple and straightforward to use once configured

Compared to Plex

Lightweight and resource-efficient compared to Plex
Limited advanced features (e.g., metadata, transcoding) unlike Plex

Compare Side-by-Side

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