Jellyfin vs Plex

Struggling to choose between Jellyfin and Plex? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Jellyfin is a Media & Entertainment solution with tags like opensource, selfhosted, media-library, streaming, transcoding, automation.

It boasts features such as Media library management, Metadata retrieval, Transcoding, Streaming to clients, User management, Client apps for various devices, Plugin support and pros including Free and open source, No subscription fees, Self-hosted, Customizable via plugins, Works with many devices.

On the other hand, Plex is a Video & Movies product tagged with media, video, music, photos, streaming, server, library, organization.

Its standout features include Media server that allows you to store, organize and stream video, music and photos, Intuitive interface and dashboard for browsing libraries, Client apps for many platforms including mobile, smart TVs, gaming consoles and desktop, Remote access so you can stream from anywhere, Automated library organization using metadata, Support for many file and media formats, Plug-ins and add-ons available, Parental controls and managed user accounts, Hardware transcoding to stream to any device, and it shines with pros like Easy to set up and use, Works great for personal media libraries, Support for many different file types and formats, Apps available on most platforms, Can stream remotely when away from home, Automated organization saves time, Completely free personal use option.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Jellyfin

Jellyfin

Jellyfin is a free, open-source media server for organizing and streaming your personal video, music, and photo collections. It is a community-driven fork of Emby with an emphasis on free software without ties to proprietary ecosystems.

Categories:
opensource selfhosted media-library streaming transcoding automation

Jellyfin Features

  1. Media library management
  2. Metadata retrieval
  3. Transcoding
  4. Streaming to clients
  5. User management
  6. Client apps for various devices
  7. Plugin support

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

No subscription fees

Self-hosted

Customizable via plugins

Works with many devices

Cons

Can be complex to set up

Less polished UI than some competitors

Limited native client apps

Less active development than some competitors


Plex

Plex

Plex is a popular media server that allows you to store, organize, and stream your personal video, music, and photo collections to all of your devices. It has an intuitive interface and works with many file types and platforms.

Categories:
media video music photos streaming server library organization

Plex Features

  1. Media server that allows you to store, organize and stream video, music and photos
  2. Intuitive interface and dashboard for browsing libraries
  3. Client apps for many platforms including mobile, smart TVs, gaming consoles and desktop
  4. Remote access so you can stream from anywhere
  5. Automated library organization using metadata
  6. Support for many file and media formats
  7. Plug-ins and add-ons available
  8. Parental controls and managed user accounts
  9. Hardware transcoding to stream to any device

Pricing

  • Free
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Easy to set up and use

Works great for personal media libraries

Support for many different file types and formats

Apps available on most platforms

Can stream remotely when away from home

Automated organization saves time

Completely free personal use option

Cons

Can be resource intensive on server computer

No offline viewing support in free version

Some features require paid Plex Pass subscription

Limited codec support in free version

Requires internet connection for remote streaming

Can be complex for larger libraries or multiple users