3 Reasons Jellyfin Is Better Than Plex (And You Should Switch If You Haven't Already)

by
url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url

Key findings

  • Jellyfin is a top alternative to Plex with open-source features and free server hosting options for all platforms.
  • Self-hosted Jellyfin does not require any external services, unlike Plex, which requires server accounts and additional features.
  • Jellyfin is less bloated and faster because it only displays content on your server, making it a better choice for some users.



Jellyfin and Plex Media Server are two options for cataloging all your media to stream to supported hardware. Plex is the more popular option and is heavily marketed to consumers, but Jellyfin is making waves in the self-hosted community. Both have pros and cons, but I'll show you some reasons why Jellyfin is the better media streaming platform.

Jellyfin logo

jellyfish fin

Jellyfin is one of the best Plex alternatives you can get, and that's because of its open-source nature and powerful feature set. There are apps for virtually every platform, and running your own server is completely free.

Jellyfin is self-hosted (no, really)

Jellyfin on iOS


Plex Media Server needs to be installed on a device with access to stored media. Network-Attached Storage (NAS) serves this purpose and many pre-built enclosures can run Plex Media Server and Jellyfin, although the latter requires a few extra steps with a Docker container. Where Jellyfin wins for those who want to host everything themselves is its lack of external services. Plex Media Server requires the creation of an account on its servers, which is then used to handle the login process. Jellyfin is completely “offline” and only requires your NAS or server.

Jellyfin is free and open source (FOSS)

Jellyfin Plugins


Jellyfin is completely free. You can use Plex Media Server without spending a dime, but you will have to sacrifice some features. Hardware transcoding requires a device running Plex Media Server to convert the file on the fly to make it compatible with the receiving client. This could be a mismatch in resolution or file type support. Other highlights of the optional Plex Pass include the ability to skip show intros and endings, offline support, trailers and extras, and TV and DVR functionality. You can pay a monthly fee or lifetime access.

Jellyfin is less bloated

A screenshot of a Plex server running on Ubuntu on the Raspberry Pi 5


In terms of performance, they're largely identical, although depending on your system and overall configuration, you may experience more responsive media streaming with either platform. Jellyfin seems to be faster due to the lack of bloat. It only shows what's stored on your server. If it's not a file on your server, it won't show up on Jellyfin. Plex tries to bridge the gap between self-hosted media, live TV, and streaming services like Netflix. That's great if you want to use all the media channels available, but it can prove irritating for those who prefer their purchased content.


TV show

Related

5 reasons why I'm switching to Jellyfin after 7 years of using Plex on my home NAS

For Lifetime Plex Pass holders, it is finally time to abandon the sinking ship.

Plex is not bad, it's just not for everyone

I've been using Plex for seven years and have really enjoyed my time with the media streaming platform. It was the first media solution I've used since the great days of Windows Media Center. It wasn't perfect, though. The inclusion of free content didn't go down well as I'm not a fan of such media through Plex or Amazon Prime Video. But if you're into that and like live TV, you'll get a lot more out of Plex. No media platform is for everyone and while I rate Jellyfin higher than Plex with the latest versions, Plex is still a great choice.

Leave a Comment