Plex vs mStream

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

Plex is a Video & Movies solution with tags like media, video, music, photos, streaming, server, library, organization.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including 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.

On the other hand, mStream is a Audio & Music product tagged with selfhosted, open-source, music-library, streaming.

Its standout features include Stream music from your own library, Supports multiple audio formats like MP3, FLAC, etc, Web-based UI for managing your library and playlists, Mobile apps for Android and iOS, Supports streaming to multiple devices simultaneously, Automatic library scanning and updating, Transcoding support to convert high bitrate files on the fly, Customizable themes, Last.fm scrobbling support, Podcast support, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Easy to set up and use, Good performance even with large libraries, Feature-rich apps, Customizable and extensible.

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

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


mStream

mStream

mStream is an open source music streaming server that allows you to stream your personal music collection over a local network or the internet. It's designed to be lightweight, customizable, and easy to set up.

Categories:
selfhosted open-source music-library streaming

MStream Features

  1. Stream music from your own library
  2. Supports multiple audio formats like MP3, FLAC, etc
  3. Web-based UI for managing your library and playlists
  4. Mobile apps for Android and iOS
  5. Supports streaming to multiple devices simultaneously
  6. Automatic library scanning and updating
  7. Transcoding support to convert high bitrate files on the fly
  8. Customizable themes
  9. Last.fm scrobbling support
  10. Podcast support

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Easy to set up and use

Good performance even with large libraries

Feature-rich apps

Customizable and extensible

Cons

Limited mobile app features compared to desktop

Metadata not always perfect

No support for streaming from cloud storage

Lacks some advanced features like smart playlists