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Plex alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Plex: remote streaming of your own media now needs a paid pass, and accounts and sign-in depend on Plex's cloud. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Plex, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Jellyfin currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Jellyfin logoJellyfinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 466.5
2Emby logoEmbyFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +45 of 562.6
3Navidrome logoNavidromeOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 555.3
4Universal Media Server logoUniversal Media ServerOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 453.6
  1. Jellyfin logo

    1. JellyfinTop pick

    Best for: People who want a full Plex-style server that is free, private and fully under their control

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Plex

    Free and open source with no account or paywall, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding.

    Pros

    • Completely free, with hardware transcoding included
    • No accounts or cloud dependency
    • Live TV, DVR and SyncPlay built in

    Cons

    • Apps are less polished than Plex's
    • Remote access needs your own proxy or VPN setup
    • Some platforms rely on community clients
    Visit Jellyfin Compare with PlexDetails 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 Jellyfin a good Plex alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Subscription
    None required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jellyfin.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosted service
    No, self-hosted only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jellyfin.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Live TV and DVR
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jellyfin.org(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 Plex

    A similar polished server with a cheaper lifetime Premiere licence.

    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 Details 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 Plex 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. Universal Media Server logo

    4. Universal Media Server

    Best for: People who want to play files on a smart TV or console over DLNA without accounts or apps

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Web

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Plex

    Free DLNA server for streaming to TVs on your home network without accounts.

    Pros

    • Works with a huge range of DLNA devices
    • Automatic transcoding with little setup
    • No tracking, free and open source

    Cons

    • No dedicated client apps or remote streaming
    • Newest builds reach Patreon supporters first
    • Interface is functional rather than polished
    Visit Universal Media Server Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    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 Universal Media Server a good Plex alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    DLNA, UPnP, HTTP(S)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026universalmediaserver.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026universalmediaserver.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Origin
    Based on PS3 Media Server
    Checked Oct 25, 2026universalmediaserver.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Plex alternative for…

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

Jellyfin logo

Best Plex alternative for most people

Jellyfin

Free and open source with no account or paywall, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding.

Kodi logo

Best Plex alternative for a free option

Kodi

A local media centre with full control and no cloud account at all.

Emby logo

Best Plex alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Emby

A similar polished server with a cheaper lifetime Premiere licence.

Navidrome logo

Best Plex alternative for open source

Navidrome

A lightweight replacement for Plex's music features.

Channels DVR logo

Best Plex alternative for self-hosting

Channels DVR

A strong pick if live TV and DVR are the main reasons you use Plex.

Universal Media Server logo

Best Plex alternative for Mac

Universal Media Server

Free DLNA server for streaming to TVs on your home network without accounts.

Plexamp logo

Best Plex alternative for Windows

Plexamp

Plex's own dedicated music player, better than the main Plex app for listening.

Jellyfin logo

Best Plex alternative for Linux

Jellyfin

Free and open source with no account or paywall, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding.

Jellyfin logo

Best Plex alternative for iPhone and Android

Jellyfin

Free and open source with no account or paywall, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding.

Jellyfin logo

Best Plex alternative for working in the browser

Jellyfin

Free and open source with no account or paywall, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding.

Plex alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Plex?

Jellyfin ranks first right now. Free and open source with no account or paywall, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding. Emby and Kodi follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Plex?

Yes. Jellyfin (open source), 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 Plex?

Yes: Jellyfin, Kodi, Navidrome and Universal Media Server. Jellyfin, Navidrome and Universal Media Server can also be self-hosted.

Which Plex alternatives work on Linux?

Jellyfin, Emby, Kodi, Channels DVR and Navidrome run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Plex?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

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