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Serviio alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Serviio: remote access needs the paid Pro edition, and infrequent releases from a single developer. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Serviio, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Universal Media Server currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Universal Media Server logoUniversal Media ServerOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 466.5
2Plex logoPlexFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 459.6
3Jellyfin logoJellyfinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 457.2
  1. Universal Media Server logo

    1. Universal Media ServerTop pick

    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

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Serviio

    Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Universal Media Server a good Serviio 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)
  2. Plex logo

    2. Plex

    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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Serviio

    Modern apps and remote streaming with a larger ecosystem.

    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 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 Plex a good Serviio 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)
  3. Jellyfin logo

    3. Jellyfin

    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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Serviio

    Free remote streaming and apps without a Pro licence.

    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 Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Serviio 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)

The best Serviio alternative for…

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

Universal Media Server logo

Best Serviio alternative for most people

Universal Media Server

Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support.

Gerbera logo

Best Serviio alternative for a free option

Gerbera

An open-source UPnP server for Linux and BSD.

Plex logo

Best Serviio alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Plex

Modern apps and remote streaming with a larger ecosystem.

Jellyfin logo

Best Serviio alternative for open source

Jellyfin

Free remote streaming and apps without a Pro licence.

Universal Media Server logo

Best Serviio alternative for self-hosting

Universal Media Server

Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support.

Universal Media Server logo

Best Serviio alternative for Mac

Universal Media Server

Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support.

Universal Media Server logo

Best Serviio alternative for Windows

Universal Media Server

Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support.

Universal Media Server logo

Best Serviio alternative for Linux

Universal Media Server

Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support.

Plex logo

Best Serviio alternative for iPhone and Android

Plex

Modern apps and remote streaming with a larger ecosystem.

Universal Media Server logo

Best Serviio alternative for working in the browser

Universal Media Server

Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support.

Serviio alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Serviio?

Universal Media Server ranks first right now. Free and open source, with very broad DLNA device support. Gerbera and Plex follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Serviio?

Yes. Universal Media Server (open source), Gerbera (open source), Plex (free plan + paid) and Jellyfin (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Serviio?

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

Which Serviio alternatives work on Linux?

Universal Media Server, Gerbera, Plex and Jellyfin run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Serviio?

The complaints we hear most: remote access needs the paid Pro edition; infrequent releases from a single developer; dated interface.

How is this list ranked?

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