Jellyfin vs Plex Media Server
Pros and cons
Each app's own strengths and weaknesses, plus the specs where Jellyfin and Plex Media Server differ.
Jellyfin
Pros
- Every feature included
- Fast hardware transcoding
- Playback without an account
- Completely free
- Open-source licence
Cons
- Remote access is DIY
- Clients vary in polish
- Setup needs homelab know-how
Plex Media Server
Pros
- Free films and live TV
- Polished apps on every screen
- Built-in remote access
Cons
- Remote streaming needs a pass
- Hardware transcoding needs a pass
- Plex account for sign-in
Jellyfin vs Plex Media Server: specs side by side
Every spec for both apps in one table. Values in bold are where one app has the edge, and amber ones are worth a second look before you install.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | Advantage: Free | Free + Paid |
| Licence | Advantage: GPL-2.0 | Proprietary |
| Install options | Docker + Linux · macOS · Windows | Docker + Linux · macOS · Windows |
| Clients | iOS · Android · macOS · Windows · Linux | iOS · Android · macOS · Windows · Linux |
| Web UI | Yes | Yes |
| Architecture | x86 + ARM | x86 + ARM |
| Containers | 1The app alone | 1The app alone |
| Database | SQLite | SQLite |
| Runtime | .NET | C++ |
Updated