OpenELEC
OpenELEC is a lightweight, Kodi-centric Linux distribution designed specifically for media centers and home theater PCs. It comes preconfigured with Kodi media center software and runs well on lower-powered devices.
OpenELEC: Lightweight Kodi Media Center
OpenELEC is a lightweight, Kodi-centric Linux distribution designed specifically for media centers and home theater PCs. It comes preconfigured with Kodi media center software and runs well on lower-powered devices.
What is OpenELEC?
OpenELEC (Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center) is a lightweight Linux distribution that is purpose-built as a media center operating system. It comes preconfigured with the Kodi media center software and is optimized to provide a smooth and user-friendly media playback experience on home theater PCs (HTPCs).
Some key details about OpenELEC:
- It is based on Linux and uses a modular architecture, allowing easy customization of included software packages/addons.
- The interface is designed to be controlled with a remote or gamepad from your couch for a 10-foot media viewing experience.
- The OS has a small footprint and lower system requirements, making it well-suited for older or underpowered devices like the Raspberry Pi.
- Setup and configuration is automated and designed to get Kodi running quickly on your HTPC hardware with minimal tweaking needed.
- It is frequently updated to include the latest Kodi releases and improvements for media playback.
- Addons like PVR backends and downloaders can be added to expand media capabilities.
In summary, OpenELEC is one of the most popular choices for enthusiasts looking to convert old PCs or single-board devices into dedicated home media centers. Its auto-configuring Kodi integration and lightweight resource usage make it an ideal starting point.
OpenELEC Features
Features
- Lightweight Linux distribution optimized for Kodi
- Small disk and memory footprint
- Boots directly into Kodi interface
- Automatic updates for Kodi and addons
- Supports Raspberry Pi, generic x86 computers, and other devices
- Active community support
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Easy to setup and use
Great performance on lower-powered devices
Constant updates and improvements
Very customizable
Free and open source
Cons
Limited to just running Kodi
Less flexibility than full Linux distro
Manual updates required for core OS
Limited hardware support
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to ReviewThe Best OpenELEC Alternatives
View all OpenELEC alternatives with detailed comparison →
Top Gaming Software and Media Center Software and other similar apps like OpenELEC
Here are some alternatives to OpenELEC:
Suggest an alternative ❐
Plex
Plex is a feature-rich media server application that allows you to bring together your personal media library, organize it beautifully, and stream it to all of your devices. It provides a single interface through which you can easily access and enjoy your personal media, whether you are at home or...
OSMC
OSMC (Open Source Media Center) is a free and open source media center distribution based on Kodi. It provides an easy way to convert a Raspberry Pi, Vero 4K +, Apple TV, or PC into a dedicated media center and Kodi box.Some key features of OSMC include:Based on Debian Linux...
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...
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a media player application developed by Microsoft for Windows XP Media Center Edition and later Windows client operating systems. It was first introduced in 2002.Media Center provides an integrated entertainment experience on the PC by combining TV viewing, video recording, DVD playback, photo viewing and music...
Daphile
Daphile is an open source audiophile music player software designed for dedicated audio playback devices. It runs on a Linux platform and is optimized for quality audio reproduction. Some key features of Daphile include:Support for lossless and hi-res audio formats like FLAC, ALAC, DSD, and WAV.Bit-perfect audio output and direct...
Front Row
Front Row is media center software that was developed by Apple Inc. and included in Mac computers sold between 2005-2011. It provides an easy-to-use interface for accessing various kinds of media stored locally on a Mac computer.The key features and purpose of Front Row includes:Provides a 10-foot user interface designed...
EmuELEC
EmuELEC is a lightweight Linux distribution based on CoreELEC/LibreELEC and RetroArch that allows you to turn your single-board computer like the Raspberry Pi into an emulation gaming system. It features an easy-to-use graphical interface optimized for game controllers and integrates a large collection of popular emulators for gaming consoles and...
VortexBox
VortexBox is an open source, Fedora-based Linux distribution that is designed to turn an old computer into an audio jukebox for playback of your personal digital music collection. It boots directly into a simple graphical user interface that allows you to easily manage your music library, create playlists, and control...
Boxee
Boxee is a free, open source media center software designed to play various media files from local storage as well as streaming media services on a home theater PC or television set. It provides an intuitive user interface to easily manage and access your personal media library.Some key features of...
XBian
XBian is a free, open source media center distribution based on Kodi that is designed to run on the Raspberry Pi. It provides a complete media center software solution, allowing you to play videos, music, and view photos from local storage as well as from streaming services and DLNA servers.Some...
GeeXboX
GeeXboX is a free and open source media center software designed to allow users to easily play back video, music, and view images on a television or computer monitor. It is based on the Linux operating system and uses a 10-foot user interface designed to be controlled with a remote...
CoreELEC
CoreELEC is a Just Enough Operating System (JeOS) that is built around the Kodi entertainment center software. It provides a lightweight operating system that is optimized to run Kodi on a variety of devices including Raspberry Pi, smartphones, Chromebooks, Android TV boxes, and more.Some key features of CoreELEC include:Small footprint...
Raspbmc
Raspbmc is a free and open source media center software application developed specifically for the Raspberry Pi microcomputer. It is based on XBMC, a popular cross-platform media player software, but has been modified and optimized to take full advantage of the Raspberry Pi's hardware capabilities.Some key features of Raspbmc include:Intuitive...
Fedberry
Fedberry is a Linux distribution based on Fedora that is specifically optimized to run on Raspberry Pi single board computers. It provides a lightweight, customizable open-source operating system that takes full advantage of the Raspberry Pi's hardware capabilities.Some key features of Fedberry include:Uses the latest stable release of Fedora, tailored...
