JRiver Media Center
All-in-one desktop media player, library manager and DLNA server with a one-time licence.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
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About JRiver Media Center
JRiver Media Center is a long-established desktop application that manages and plays audio, video, images and TV, and doubles as a media server. It is especially valued by audiophiles for bit-perfect playback, extensive DSP and support for high-resolution formats, and by home theatre fans for its full-screen Theater View for HTPCs. On the network side it serves media to DLNA devices and its own JRemote and Gizmo apps, and it can stream away from home. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. JRiver is sold as a one-time licence for each major version, either for a single operating system or as a Master License covering all three, and every download includes a 30-day trial. Upgrades to new major versions cost extra. Its interface is dense and old-fashioned, and the sheer number of settings can overwhelm newcomers.
Best for: Audiophiles and HTPC users who want deep playback control without a subscription.
Pros and cons
What works
- One-time licence, no subscription
- Excellent audio playback and DSP
- Serves DLNA devices and remote apps
Why people leave
- Dense, dated interface
- Major version upgrades cost extra
- Steep learning curve
Top JRiver Media Center alternatives
See all 4- 1
Roon66.5A richer library and multi-room experience, at subscription prices.
- 2
Kodi62.6A free, open-source media centre for HTPCs.
- 3
Plex59.6Easier streaming to many devices with polished apps.
- 4
Universal Media Server57.2A free DLNA server if you only need to feed TVs.
Why people left JRiver Media Center
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JRiver Media Center: common questions
Is JRiver Media Center free?
No, JRiver Media Center is a paid product.
Is JRiver Media Center open source?
No, JRiver Media Center is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Kodi and Universal Media Server.
What platforms does JRiver Media Center run on?
JRiver Media Center is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to JRiver Media Center?
The highest-ranked JRiver Media Center alternatives right now are Roon, Kodi and Plex. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.