LibreELEC

LibreELEC

LibreELEC is a lightweight, open source media center operating system based on Kodi and Linux. It is designed to run on low-power computers and devices like Raspberry Pi for home theater PC use.
LibreELEC image
open-source media-center kodi linux home-theater-pc raspberry-pi

LibreELEC: Lightweight Open Source Media Center

A lightweight, open source media center operating system based on Kodi and Linux, designed for low-power computers and devices like Raspberry Pi for home theater PC use.

What is LibreELEC?

LibreELEC is an open source, lightweight operating system that is purpose-built for running Kodi media center software on low-powered devices like the Raspberry Pi. It provides a complete media center software suite that allows you to easily turn a Raspberry Pi, an old computer, or other compatible hardware into a full-fledged media center capable of playing videos, music, podcasts, streaming content from various sources, and more.

Some key features and highlights of LibreELEC include:

  • Minimal Linux-based OS specifically designed around Kodi for the best performance and efficiency
  • Easy installation with support for a wide range of hardware like Raspberry Pi, computers, TV boxes, and more
  • Automatic updates to latest Kodi and Linux kernel/driver versions
  • Add-on repository access for installing many useful Kodi plugins
  • Supports a variety of peripherals like remote controls, wireless devices, and more out of the box
  • Active development community providing security patches and fast bug fixes

LibreELEC provides an excellent option for anyone looking to set up a full-featured media center with Kodi without needing to manually configure Linux. Its lightweight footprint and purpose-built nature makes it ideal for lower-powered single board computers and devices to be used as home theater PCs. The automatic updates and wide device and hardware support also makes maintaining an LibreELEC based media center simple.

LibreELEC Features

Features

  1. Kodi media center software pre-installed
  2. Minimal Linux operating system optimized for media playback
  3. Supports Raspberry Pi, generic x86 computers, and other devices
  4. Automatic updates for Kodi and add-ons
  5. Customizable with Kodi skins and add-ons
  6. Easy installation from USB or SD card image
  7. Open source software

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and fast

Designed specifically for media playback

Works well on low-power devices like Raspberry Pi

Automatic updates keep Kodi current

Very customizable

Free and open source

Cons

Limited to media playback functions

Less flexible than a full Linux distro

Limited hardware support compared to mainstream OSes

Can be tricky to troubleshoot issues


The Best LibreELEC Alternatives

Top Gaming Software and Media Center Software and other similar apps like LibreELEC

Here are some alternatives to LibreELEC:

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