After Emby, a formerly open-source tool, went commercial and development became closed-source, the project’s creators began Jellyfin. The media server software’s feature set has expanded after its original release in December 2018 beyond what is typically offered by a media server.

Support for SyncPlay enables synchronised media streaming from the same server by several users. TV series, motion pictures, and music are all included. Users are able to interact with friends and family while also consuming any kind of media. No need to be concerned about bandwidth or file compatibility with your media player while using media transcoding. There is automated transcoding in Jellyfin. It automatically adapts the file’s codecs for any device and modifies the file’s quality to match the speed of the internet.

Functionality for PDF and Comics Readers – The majority of customers use media servers to stream movies and TV shows. However, the application provides excellent support for individuals who want to read their collection of ebooks remotely. Support for Plug-ins – Because Jellyfin is extensible, you may use both official and unofficial plug-ins to add new features. You can add plugins like Trakt or Open Subtitles to keep track of the content you’ve watched. Support for DLNA, Live TV and DVR, and QuickConnect are a few of the extra features offered by Jellyfin. With the latter, users may quickly log in on new devices using previously authenticated devices. Best Crunchyroll Alternatives, Further Reading

2. Plex

Plex

Plex offers much more functionality than Jellyfin as a media server designed for business use. Some of them don’t require a subscription, while others do. Watching movies together, regardless of where everyone is located, allows you to enjoy movie nights with friends and family. Every moment can be experienced by everyone at the same time thanks to synced content. A sizable selection of free streaming movies and TV series are also available through Plex in addition to your local content. It may be accessed through its playback apps without a Plex Media Server being installed. Sharing your media library with other users is possible using Plex. It is a practical method for granting access to your media assets without really disclosing them or making use of a cloud storage platform like iCloud or Google Drive.

Server Management Apps – Plex provides a number of apps to assist you in controlling the usage and content of the Plex Media Server. These include the music player Plexamp and the server logs and graphs for network, memory, and processing utilisation that are provided by Plex Dash. Parental restrictions, DVR, and live TV are other Plex features. On mobile platforms, Plex now enables offline viewing. Without an internet connection, you can download media files to your smartphone and watch them.

Plex vs. Jellyfin – Limitations

Both programmes offer outstanding capabilities that make them the perfect tools for operating a media server. But that doesn’t mean choosing one over the other is without disadvantages. Here is a brief summary of each software’s drawbacks.

Plex

When compared to Jellyfin, one drawback of Plex that stands out is the paywall. The premium version is the only one with the features that actually set it apart. Paid subscriptions are required for full access to mobile applications, DVR, offline viewing, and smaller features like adding lyrics via LyricFind.

Second, customising options are restricted, particularly when it comes to the user interface. Although the software is simple to use and straightforward, there are few customization options available to users. Plex is not the best choice if you want to change how your media server looks. Smaller downsides include ad-supported movies, unfixable TV shows, and restricted compatibility for third-party plugins and add-ons. Additional features are also dependent on the company’s business interests due to the closed-source development. However, if your main concern is remote media library management, you may overlook these.

Jellyfin

Jellyfin, on the other hand, offers a lot more customization options for users. However, significant alterations necessitate the user’s technical expertise. Since the media server application is still in its early stages of development, dramatic UI changes may not be appropriate for novices or casual users. Additionally, it doesn’t provide any free content, whether it be ad-supported or not. Aside from its Live TV support, your local database is the sole source of all playable material.

Jellyfin vs Plex – Installation and setup

That makes it absolutely free, but long-term stability is entirely dependent on the efforts of its creators. Any considerable drop in interest from users or developers could mean the end of freeware. How simple is it to set up these media servers, given that they cater to a specific demographic of media consumers? Here is a comparison of the installation processes for Jellyfin and Plex.

Jellyfin

You must visit the official Jellyfin website in order to instal Jellyfin on the server device. There, you will discover many choices structured in accordance with the server device’s operating system. For each OS, there are stable and unstable versions. Choose the steady option if you want something dependable or if you are new to using media servers. Downloading the software takes a short while, depending on your internet speed. Installing Jellyfin is identical to installing any other piece of software once the download is finished. There is a prompt that walks you through the entire process, and the software itself only needs a tiny amount of storage space. All that’s departed to do is launch the programme and configure your server. The steps are all clearly marked and easy to follow, making the process just as straightforward as installing the programme.

However, the client software must be installed on your streaming device before Jellyfin setup is complete. All that is required to do this is to go to the freeware’s website or the device’s app store. The app just has to be launched and connected to the server once it has been installed. Jellyfin’s installation is straightforward and can be completed in a few minutes, despite the fact that it permits customization.

Plex

Downloading the server application to the device hosting your media library is the first step in installing Plex. It could be a laptop or a computer. However, a NAS device is thought to be the best option because the media server must always be running. After the download is finished, the installation procedure is similarly rather simple. You just need to do as instructed. You must add your media folders after the software has been installed. Plex makes the server setup procedure simple by offering instructions at each stage.

It doesn’t involve much technical knowledge and is stress-free. On the client’s side, the narrative is the same. Finding the appropriate app for your operating system (Android, iOS, AndroidTV, AppleTV, etc.) and installing it are the only steps required. Although you can get the apps from the company’s website, they are mostly accessible through the device’s play store. Simply told, Plex is a terrific place to start if you’re a basic level user who is unfamiliar with media servers and associated applications.

Jellyfin vs. Plex – Pricing

I just mentioned that Jellyfin is entirely free, but does that mean that it is less valuable than Plex overall?
Is Plex Pass a good value?
Here is how the two applications stack up economically.

Jellyfin

Let’s be clear about something. Use of Jellyfin and access to all of its features are both completely free. Client apps, local and remote streaming, live TV & DVR, plug-ins, and library sharing are all offered without cost. The server application’s creators also want to keep it open-source and free forever. As a result, the project’s development staff is made up completely of volunteers. You can help them if you have the necessary skills by trying out beta versions, finding errors, and suggesting features.

If you are not a developer, there are three ways you can help:

document creation
assist others in troubleshooting
Help with funding expenditures
You can donate to the team at its OpenCollective website if you want to cover costs.

Plex

Plex, on the other hand, is a product made by a business that uses a subscription-based consumption model. If you only want to watch video locally, the majority of the basic services are free and adequate. However, a Plex Pass subscription is required if you want more from your media server and want to access more sophisticated tools like DVR and parental controls. A monthly subscription costs $4.99, a yearly subscription costs $39.99, and lifetime access costs $119.99.

Along with parental controls and DVR, it will also grant you access to additional Plex features like:

To wirelessly store copies of your media files on mobile devices for offline viewing, use mobile sync.
Upload photographs captured with your smartphone’s camera to Plex for availability on all Plex clients.
Watch movies and TV shows in a virtual drive-in theatre or apartment with up to four people using Plex VR.
Hardware-accelerated streaming, full access to all Plex client apps, and access to your music’s lyrics are further advantages.

Plex Arcade is a valuable additional advantage. You may stream your games and emulators while playing up to 27 ancient Atari games thanks to the company’s game streaming feature. Without Plex Pass, it costs $5 per month, however members just pay $3 per month for access. The most recent information can be located on their pricing page, but prices do fluctuate.

Plex vs. Jellyfin: User Experience

How effective is each software in terms of regular use?
How many bugs should you prepare for?
Is the user interface clear?
In terms of user experience, these two pieces of software compare to one another.

Plex

The financial interests of Plex in what is really an utility for media hobbyists may not be appealing to advanced users. But there is no doubting that it elevates Plex to the top of the market in terms of user experience. With a straightforward interface that eliminates the need for the technical expertise that media servers frequently require, it is incredibly simple to use. Every component of the application, both on the server and client sides, has a step-by-step tour provided by the software.

The programme can be used in any language thanks to its support for over 43 tongues. The user experience is also made easier and less stressful by little features like the option to utilize your phone as a TV remote & a highly effective transcoding capabilities. The fact that several of the features that improve UX call for a Plex Pass subscription is the only significant drawback. But even without it, Plex is still a fantastic option for regular use.

Jellyfin

Jellyfin is already rated highly for user experience due to the point that it is entirely free. There isn’t one, so users don’t have to be concerned about losing access to their favourite features after cancelling their subscription. However, there are pros and cons to using the app itself. Let me start by saying that the majority of users, especially those utilising the stable version of the app, have nice things to say about everyday usage. There have been some difficulties with reading embedded metatags, though. This is a background procedure that aids in the software’s accurate media file organisation.

The Movie Database (TMDB) and TheTVDB are two tools the application employs to catalogue content, but they are not always effective and occasionally scan file names incorrectly. To be fair, Jellyfin’s documentation offers a straightforward solution to get around this issue. Each category of information needs to have its own folder, and each file needs its own subdirectory.

If you have a modest collection, this would be OK, but for larger ones, it would be time-consuming and nearly impossible. You can instal online tools and solutions to automatically fix the naming problem, but doing so calls for some technical know-how on the side of the user. However, aside from this, Jellyfin’s user experience is above average. as long as you are utilising the software’s stable version.

Jellyfin vs. Plex – Customer and Community Support

Lastly, no system is faultless.
How well do these apps fare in terms of user and community support?
After installation, are you left on your own or do you receive sufficient and prompt assistance?

Jellyfin

There isn’t a typical customer care mechanism at Jellyfin. Being a volunteer effort, all funds raised through donations are used to purchase the equipment needed to keep it running.

Nevertheless, it makes up for it with a sizable developer community and a fervent user base that is expanding. It has a lively online community on Telegram, Reddit, and Reddit. Through Discord and the Matrix network, you may also get in touch with developers and other users to find answers to any problems. Although it may appear unusual, this is really helpful and should meet all needs.

Plex

Plex has a greater user base because it has lived for a longer duration of time. As a result, you can easily receive community support when you need it. A subreddit with over 186,000 users, as well as a forum, are both available on the website of the media server provider. However, there is room for improvement in terms of formal customer assistance. There isn’t a clearly displayed dedicated phone number or email address. Filling out a web form on its website is the sole way to contact its support team. Without a doubt, Plex could perform better in this area.

Jellyfin or Plex – Which is better?

You should consider Jellyfin and Plex if you want to set up a media server. If all you want is a server, both of them are capable of fulfilling that need, however Jellyfin is a better choice. You can join a community of enthusiasts who are willing to help out at any time for nothing at all.

Plex is a better choice if you want to get more out of your media server with cutting-edge features like game streaming, virtual reality watchalongs, and authorised access to other online content providers. Accessing them will cost you a tiny amount of money, but the experience is worthwhile. Overall, I believe Jellyfin to be the superior programme amongst the two. Yes, Plex now offers more features and is more well-rounded, but Jellyfin’s feature set is constantly expanding and is free to use. Second, Plex’s business model prioritises profit, which is why practical elements like library sharing and mobile client apps need to be subscribed to. The benefits of Plex are reduced when you combine that with the minimal customer support. The better long-term and short-term alternative, in my opinion, is Jelly fin.

Which Is Better Jellyfin vs Plex Complete Guide