Plex Cloud vs Universal Media Server

Struggling to choose between Plex Cloud and Universal Media Server? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Plex Cloud is a Media Servers solution with tags like media, video, music, photos, cloud-storage, streaming.

It boasts features such as Stream personal media library from cloud storage, Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive, Remote access to media library, Automatic media organization, Mobile and web apps for streaming and pros including No need for local storage, Access media library from anywhere, Easy setup without a local server.

On the other hand, Universal Media Server is a Video & Movies product tagged with media-server, video-streaming, audio-streaming, image-streaming, transcoding, dlna.

Its standout features include Streams video, audio and images to various devices, Supports a wide range of media formats, Transcodes media on the fly, DLNA/UPnP media server, Web UI for remote control and configuration, Supports subtitles, Live TV streaming, Chromecast support, AirPlay support, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux), Lightweight and easy to set up, Supports many devices and formats, Active development and community support.

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.

Plex Cloud

Plex Cloud

Plex Cloud is a media server that allows you to store and stream your personal media library from cloud storage providers. It integrates with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Amazon Cloud Drive to host your library.

Categories:
media video music photos cloud-storage streaming

Plex Cloud Features

  1. Stream personal media library from cloud storage
  2. Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive
  3. Remote access to media library
  4. Automatic media organization
  5. Mobile and web apps for streaming

Pricing

  • Freemium
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

No need for local storage

Access media library from anywhere

Easy setup without a local server

Cons

Requires paid Plex Pass subscription

Limited to 1TB of storage

Discontinued in 2017


Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server is a free open source media server that allows you to stream video, audio and images to devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles, mobile devices and media players. It supports a wide range of media formats and allows transcoding on the fly.

Categories:
media-server video-streaming audio-streaming image-streaming transcoding dlna

Universal Media Server Features

  1. Streams video, audio and images to various devices
  2. Supports a wide range of media formats
  3. Transcodes media on the fly
  4. DLNA/UPnP media server
  5. Web UI for remote control and configuration
  6. Supports subtitles
  7. Live TV streaming
  8. Chromecast support
  9. AirPlay support

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Lightweight and easy to set up

Supports many devices and formats

Active development and community support

Cons

Lacks some advanced configuration options

Not all formats work perfectly

No mobile apps

Some stability issues