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Jellyfin alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Jellyfin: apps are less polished than Plex's, and remote access needs your own proxy or VPN setup. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Jellyfin, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Plex currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Plex logoPlexFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 466.5
2Emby logoEmbyFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +45 of 562.6
3Kodi logoKodiOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 459.6
4Navidrome logoNavidromeOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 557.2
5Audiobookshelf logoAudiobookshelfOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web, iOS +14 of 455.3
6Symfonium logoSymfoniumPaidNoAndroid3 of 338.6
  1. Plex logo

    1. PlexTop pick

    Best for: Households that want the most polished apps on every device with minimal fuss

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Jellyfin

    More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming.

    Pros

    • Apps on nearly every TV, console and phone
    • Easy setup and friendly for non-technical users
    • Strong metadata, Plexamp music app and DVR

    Cons

    • Remote streaming of your own media now needs a paid pass
    • Accounts and sign-in depend on Plex's cloud
    • Interface pushes Plex's own ad-supported content
    Visit Plex Compare with JellyfinDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Plex a good Jellyfin alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, streaming at home
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Remote Watch Pass trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Plex Pass features
    Remote streaming, hardware transcoding, downloads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Server platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, NVIDIA Shield, NAS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.plex.tv(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Emby logo

    2. Emby

    Best for: People who want Plex-like polish with a one-time lifetime licence option

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Jellyfin

    The project Jellyfin forked from, with paid Premiere features and official apps.

    Pros

    • Lifetime Premiere licence available
    • Runs on a very wide range of NAS systems
    • No push towards ad-supported streaming content

    Cons

    • Hardware transcoding and downloads need Premiere
    • No longer open source
    • Smaller community than Plex or Jellyfin
    Visit Emby Compare with JellyfinDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Emby a good Jellyfin alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Premiere monthly
    $4.99/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026emby.media(opens source in a new tab)
    Premiere yearly
    $54/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026emby.media(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime licence
    $119 one-time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026emby.media(opens source in a new tab)
    Device limit
    30 devices per household licence
    Checked Oct 25, 2026emby.media(opens source in a new tab)
    Server platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, NAS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026emby.media(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Kodi logo

    3. Kodi

    Best for: Tinkerers who want a fully customisable media centre on a TV, Pi or Android box

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Jellyfin

    A local media centre that can also act as a Jellyfin client.

    Pros

    • Plays almost any format with no transcoding
    • Deep customisation with skins and add-ons
    • Free, open source and account-free

    Cons

    • Built for a single screen rather than streaming to many devices
    • Setup and add-ons take time to learn
    • Reputation is hurt by unofficial piracy add-ons
    Visit Kodi Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Kodi a good Jellyfin alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes, GPL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, tvOS, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Interface
    10-foot UI for TVs and remotes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Content included
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Audiobookshelf logo

    5. Audiobookshelf

    Best for: Audiobook and podcast listeners who want an Audible-style library they host themselves

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Jellyfin

    Purpose-built for audiobooks and podcasts with progress sync.

    Pros

    • Per-user progress synced across devices
    • Good metadata lookup and chapter tools
    • Podcast subscriptions with auto-download

    Cons

    • Mobile apps are still labelled beta
    • Only for audiobooks, podcasts and basic ebooks
    • Relies heavily on one lead developer
    Visit Audiobookshelf Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Audiobookshelf a good Jellyfin alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Media types
    Audiobooks and podcasts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audiobookshelf.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    Android and iOS, offline listening (beta)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audiobookshelf.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Multi-user
    Yes, custom permissions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audiobookshelf.org(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Symfonium logo

    6. Symfonium

    Best for: Self-hosters who want one polished Android player for Plex, Jellyfin, Navidrome and more

    PaidAndroid

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Jellyfin

    Android music player that streams Jellyfin libraries with hi-res and offline support.

    Pros

    • Connects to many server types and cloud drives
    • One-time purchase, no ads or subscription
    • Hi-res, DSD and USB DAC support

    Cons

    • Android only
    • Needs your own library or server
    • Single-developer project
    Visit Symfonium Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Symfonium a good Jellyfin alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Pricing
    Free trial, one-time purchase
    Checked Oct 25, 2026symfonium.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Server support
    Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi, Subsonic, Navidrome
    Checked Oct 25, 2026symfonium.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Casting
    Sonos, Chromecast, DLNA
    Checked Oct 25, 2026symfonium.app(opens source in a new tab)

The best Jellyfin alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Plex logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for most people

Plex

More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming.

Kodi logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for a free option

Kodi

A local media centre that can also act as a Jellyfin client.

Emby logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Emby

The project Jellyfin forked from, with paid Premiere features and official apps.

Navidrome logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for open source

Navidrome

A faster, music-only server if your library is mostly audio.

Audiobookshelf logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for self-hosting

Audiobookshelf

Purpose-built for audiobooks and podcasts with progress sync.

Plex logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for Mac

Plex

More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming.

Plex logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for Windows

Plex

More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming.

Plex logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for Linux

Plex

More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming.

Plex logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for iPhone and Android

Plex

More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming.

Plex logo

Best Jellyfin alternative for working in the browser

Plex

More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming.

Jellyfin alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Jellyfin?

Plex ranks first right now. More polished apps on more devices, at the cost of accounts and paid remote streaming. Emby and Kodi follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Jellyfin?

Yes. Plex (free plan + paid), Emby (free plan + paid), Kodi (open source) and Navidrome (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Jellyfin?

Yes: Kodi, Navidrome and Audiobookshelf. Navidrome and Audiobookshelf can also be self-hosted.

Which Jellyfin alternatives work on Linux?

Plex, Emby, Kodi and Navidrome run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Jellyfin?

The complaints we hear most: apps are less polished than Plex's; remote access needs your own proxy or VPN setup; some platforms rely on community clients.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Jellyfin, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.