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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
1Kodi logoKodiOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 459.6
2Navidrome logoNavidromeOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 557.2
3Audiobookshelf logoAudiobookshelfOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web, iOS +14 of 455.3
  1. Kodi logo

    1. KodiTop pick

    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)
  2. Audiobookshelf logo

    3. 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)

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.