Ranked 3 of 6 in best media players
Free software media server with no subscription, streaming to web and Android clients from your own hardware. Setup and maintenance fall on the user, which makes it harder to start than Plex.
Best for A free, self-hosted library with no vendor account
About Jellyfin
Jellyfin runs a personal media server on your own hardware and streams the library to clients such as web browsers, desktop apps, Android and Apple devices, and TV boxes. Its site describes it as the volunteer-built free software media system that puts users in control of their media, with the server running on your system. It handles movies, TV, music and photos.
The project is free software and has no subscription or premium tier, which is the main difference from Plex. Setup takes more work than Plex, because the server, storage and client apps are configured by the user. It suits people who want a free, self-hosted library and do not want an account with a vendor, while Plex suits people who are willing to pay for extras and want its apps.
Key features
- Self-hosted media server
- Open source, GPL-2.0 licensed
- Movies, TV, music and photos
- No account required with a vendor
Strengths
- Free software with no subscription or premium tier
- Streams to web, Android and TV clients
- Your library stays on your own server
Limits
- Setup and maintenance are on the user
- Client app quality varies across platforms
Where Jellyfin ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Media players | 3 of 6 | 87.5 | A free, self-hosted library with no vendor account |
Questions about Jellyfin
- Is Jellyfin free?
- Jellyfin can be used without paying: Free and open source with no subscription; you host the server. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Jellyfin open source?
- Yes. Jellyfin publishes its source code under the GPL-2.0 license.
- Which platforms does Jellyfin support?
- Jellyfin is available on: Web, Android, Self-hosted.
- What is Jellyfin best for?
- A free, self-hosted library with no vendor account. In our ranking of media players it is number 3 of 6 with a score of 87.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Jellyfin?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are VLC media player, Plex, Kodi, mpv.