Jellyfin vs Plex
Last verified · repository stats fetched 19 Oct 2026
Both turn a computer or NAS into your own streaming service for films, TV and music. Jellyfin is volunteer-built free software (GPL) with no paid tier and no central servers. Plex Media Server is free to run and to stream on your home network, but streaming personal video away from home needs a paid Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass, and some features sit behind Plex Pass.
| Jellyfin | Plex | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | GPL-2.0 Open source (copyleft) | Proprietary Freemium or paid |
| Source code | GitHub | Not open source |
| ★ Stars | 58.2k 58,235 | n/a |
| Last commit | 18 Oct 2026 | n/a |
| Runs with | C#, Debian package, Docker | Not available |
| Docker | Yes awesome-selfhosted lists Docker as a way to deploy it. | Not documented |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB recommended Jellyfin's hardware guide says 4 GB may be enough for a Linux server without its own desktop, and that most single-board computers, including the Raspberry Pi, are too slow for a good experience. | Not documented |
| Remote streaming of your videos | Free | Needs Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass |
| Price | Free, no paid tier | Free at home; Remote Watch Pass $2.99/month or $29.99/year (from 1 June 2026) |
| Self-hosted alternative to | Plex | — |
Key differences
- Jellyfin says its server and official apps are free to download with no costs, hidden or otherwise, for you, your friends or your company. (jellyfin.org)
- Plex's plans page says the software and home-network streaming are free, but streaming personal video remotely needs a Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass (music and photos in Plexamp and Plex Photos are exempt). (plex.tv/plans)
- Plex lists the Remote Watch Pass at a regular price of $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year from 1 June 2026; Plex Pass is also offered monthly, yearly or as a one-time lifetime payment. (plex.tv/plans)
- On Plex, hardware transcoding, downloads for offline viewing and skip intro/credits are Plex Pass features. Jellyfin has no paid tier, so nothing is held back behind one. (plex.tv/plans · jellyfin.org)
- Jellyfin has no tracking, phone-home or central servers, and its team states it does not run servers for users. (jellyfin.org)
- Jellyfin's hardware guide recommends 8 GB of RAM and says most single-board computers, including the Raspberry Pi, are too slow for a good experience. (jellyfin.org/docs/general/administration/hardware-selection)
Which should you pick?
- Jellyfin: Pick Jellyfin if you want everything free, including streaming to family away from home, and you prefer software with no account, tracking or central service.
- Plex: Pick Plex if you want its polished apps and features like offline downloads, and you're happy to pay for a pass (or only ever watch at home).
This verdict is based on the documented facts above, not on hands-on testing.
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Other comparisons
Sources: jellyfin.org · plex.tv/plans · jellyfin.org/docs/general/administration/hardware-selection · github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted-data/blob/master/software/jellyfin.yml. Stars and last-commit dates come from each project's public repository. “Not available” or “Not documented” means we found no official source for it, not that the feature is missing.