Top Alternatives to Windows Media Center

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.

Plex is a comprehensive media server software that organizes your personal media libraries (movies, TV shows, music, photos) and streams them to virtually any device. It combines a powerful server backend with user-friendly client applications, making it easy to access your entertainment wherever you are, both online and offline.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

OpenELEC is a small, fast booting embedded operating system built specifically to turn your computer into a Kodi (XBMC) media center. It focuses on simplicity and minimal configuration for a plug-and-play home theatre experience.

MediaPortal is a versatile, open-source media center software transforming your PC into a complete home theater solution. It enables watching and recording TV, playing videos, music, and DVDs, managing photos, and even accessing online services, all through a user-friendly interface on your TV screen.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.