Kodi vs Plex

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Kodi

Free, open-source media centre for the TV, with a huge add-on ecosystem.

Open source

Visit Kodi Kodi profile

Plex

The best-known personal media server, with polished apps on almost every TV, phone and console.

Free plan + paidSelf-hostable

Visit Plex Plex profile

The short answer

Kodi is a media centre for playing files on one TV, Raspberry Pi or Android box, with deep customisation; Plex is a server that streams your library to many devices in and out of the home. The key difference is architecture: Kodi plays locally on the screen it runs on, while Plex serves media to apps elsewhere. Many people combine them.

Kodi or Plex: our take

These two are often compared but do different jobs. Kodi, formerly XBMC, is a free, open-source media centre under the GPL with a ten-foot interface designed for a TV and remote. It plays almost any file format directly from local drives or network shares, so there is no transcoding, and it can be reshaped with skins and add-ons. Plex is built around Plex Media Server, which scans your folders, fetches metadata and streams to Plex apps on TVs, phones, consoles and the web, transcoding when a device cannot play a file.

That difference matters once more than one screen is involved. Kodi is built for a single device; syncing watch status across rooms means setting up a shared database or adding a separate server. Plex handles multiple users and devices out of the box and is easy for non-technical family members. In fact Kodi can act as a client for Plex, Jellyfin or Emby, so it is not strictly either-or.

Cost and dependence differ too. Kodi is a volunteer project with no paid tier and no account. Plex streams at home for free, but remote viewing of your own media needs a Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass, and sign-in runs through Plex's cloud. Plex also promotes its own ad-supported content. Kodi provides no content at all, and its name is often linked to piracy add-ons the project does not support. Kodi runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, tvOS and Android; Plex's server runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NVIDIA Shield and NAS devices.

Choose Kodi for a single, highly customised living-room setup, especially on a Pi or Android box. Choose Plex for streaming to phones, several TVs or people outside the house. Tinkerers often run a server for the library and Kodi as the front end.

Choose Kodi if…

Tinkerers who want a fully customisable media centre on a TV, Pi or Android box
You want open-source software
Plays almost any format with no transcoding
Deep customisation with skins and add-ons

Choose Plex if…

Households that want the most polished apps on every device with minimal fuss
You need to host it on your own servers
You need Self-hosted and Web, which Kodi doesn't list
Apps on nearly every TV, console and phone
Easy setup and friendly for non-technical users

What is Kodi?

Kodi, formerly XBMC, is a free and open-source media centre designed for a TV and remote, with a ten-foot interface for browsing movies, shows, music, photos and games. It plays almost any file format from local drives and network shares, builds a library with artwork and metadata, and can be extended with add-ons and skins; it can also act as a client for Plex, Jellyfin and Emby or share its library over UPnP. Kodi runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and tvOS, and is popular on Raspberry Pi and Android TV boxes, including dedicated Kodi-based operating systems. It is a volunteer project with no paid tier. Unlike a server-first app it is mainly built for one screen, so syncing watch status across several rooms needs a shared database or a separate server. Kodi provides no content, and its name is often attached to piracy add-ons that the project does not support.

What is Plex?

Plex turns a computer, NAS or NVIDIA Shield holding your movies, shows, music and photos into a personal streaming service. Plex Media Server scans your folders, fetches artwork and metadata, and streams to Plex apps on smart TVs, streaming sticks, consoles, phones and the web, transcoding on the fly when a device cannot play a file. Its main draw is polish: the apps are everywhere and easy for non-technical family members, and Plexamp is a well-liked music player. Streaming at home is free. Watching your own media remotely now needs either a Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass, the full subscription that adds hardware transcoding, downloads, skip intro, live TV and DVR and more, available monthly, yearly or as a lifetime purchase. Plex also mixes in its own free ad-supported movies and live TV. Critics point to that push towards Plex's own content, the move to paywall remote playback, and the fact that sign-in runs through Plex's cloud even for local use.

Side by side

Attribute	Kodi	Plex
Pricing	Open source	Free plan + paid
Open source	Yes	No
Self-hostable	No	Yes
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, iOS, Android
Best for	Tinkerers who want a fully customisable media centre on a TV, Pi or Android box	Households that want the most polished apps on every device with minimal fuss
Status	Active	Active

Kodi vs Plex pricing

Kodi: open source

We couldn't verify Kodi's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.

Plex: free plan + paid

Remote Watch Pass trial: 14 days source
Free plan: Yes, streaming at home source

Plex pricing page

Platforms

Platform	Kodi	Plex
Web
Windows
macOS
Linux
iOS
Android
Self-hosted

Kodi facts

4 of 4 verified

Open source: Yes, GPL; Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab); “Kodi is an award-winning free and open source (GPL) software media player”
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, tvOS, Android; Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab); “can be installed on Linux, OSX, Windows, iOS, tvOS and Android.”
Interface: 10-foot UI for TVs and remotes; Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab); “It is designed around a "10-foot user interface" for use with televisions and remote controls.”
Content included: None; Checked Oct 25, 2026kodi.tv(opens source in a new tab); “Disclaimer Kodi does not provide any media content or sources.”

Plex facts

4 of 4 verified

Server platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, NVIDIA Shield, NAS; Checked Oct 25, 2026support.plex.tv(opens source in a new tab); “Windows macOS Linux NVIDIA SHIELD Many popular NAS devices”
Remote Watch Pass trial: 14 days; Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab); “Try 14 days free Perfect if you”
Plex Pass features: Remote streaming, hardware transcoding, downloads; Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab); “Includes remote streaming for all users, Hardware Transcoding, Downloads, Skip Intro & Credits, and more.”
Free plan: Yes, streaming at home; Checked Oct 25, 2026plex.tv(opens source in a new tab); “no subscription required. Setup is easy, and the Plex app is always free.”

Pros and cons of Kodi

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

More Kodi alternatives

Pros and cons of Plex

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

More Plex alternatives

Other apps to consider

Jellyfin
Instead of Kodi
A free server that syncs your library and watch status across many clients.
Emby
Instead of Kodi
Server-based streaming with official apps and a Kodi add-on.
JRiver Media Center
Instead of Kodi
A paid all-in-one media centre with strong audio and DLNA serving.
Channels DVR
Instead of Plex
A strong pick if live TV and DVR are the main reasons you use Plex.
Navidrome
Instead of Plex
A lightweight replacement for Plex's music features.
Universal Media Server
Instead of Plex
Free DLNA server for streaming to TVs on your home network without accounts.

Kodi vs Plex: common questions

Is Kodi better than Plex?

Is Kodi free?

Yes. Kodi is free, open-source software.

Is Plex free?

Plex has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.

Is Kodi or Plex open source?

Kodi is open source; Plex is not.

Which platforms do Kodi and Plex support?

Kodi: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Plex: Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, iOS and Android.