Is Jellyfin or MUBI better?

Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and MUBI at $7.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or MUBI?

Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $7.99/month for MUBI.

Does Jellyfin or MUBI run on more platforms?

Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. MUBI runs on Web, iOS, Android.

Can I use Jellyfin for free?

Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MUBI starts at $7.99/month.

What is Jellyfin best used for?

Jellyfin is most often used for open-source media streaming, self-hosted library. Of those, open-source media streaming and self-hosted library are not what MUBI is typically brought in for.

What can Jellyfin do that MUBI cannot?

Jellyfin covers Media server, Streaming, Library management, Open source. MUBI covers Curated films, World cinema, Documentaries, Classics. Both handle Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Web support, Ios support.

Software · head to head

Jellyfin vs MUBI

Jellyfin

Software

The free software media system

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

MUBI

Software

Discover extraordinary cinema

From: $7.99/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Only Jellyfin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: Jellyfin jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available; MUBI curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available
They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, MUBI covers Curated films.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and MUBI actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and MUBI differ
Attribute	Jellyfin	MUBI
Starting price	Free	$7.99/month
Pricing model	free	Unknown
Free tier	Yes	No
Platforms	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker	Web, iOS, Android
Founded	2018	2007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Jellyfin

Media server
Streaming
Library management
Open source
Self-hosted
Mobile devices
Open source audit
Self-hosted security

Only in MUBI

Curated films
World cinema
Documentaries
Classics
New releases
Account security
Content access
Roku support

Both cover

Smart TVs
Streaming devices
Web support
Ios support
Android support
Smart-tv support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Jellyfin

Open-source media streamingnot MUBI
Self-hosted librarynot MUBI

MUBI

Watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinemanot Jellyfin
Discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platformsnot Jellyfin
Getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via MUBI GO in eligible citiesnot Jellyfin
Reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streamingnot Jellyfin

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Jellyfin

Jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available

MUBI

Curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available
No live TV or broad back-catalogue - deliberately small, curated library rather than a comprehensive on-demand one
MUBI GO (free theater ticket plus streaming) is limited to select cities

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

Free

FreeFree
- Unlimited streaming
- Open source
- No ads

MUBI

$7.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the MUBI review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Jellyfin if

You need media server.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
You also want streaming.

Jellyfin review

Choose MUBI if

You need curated films.
You work on Web, iOS, Android.
You also want world cinema.

MUBI review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or MUBI better?: Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and MUBI at $7.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or MUBI?: Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $7.99/month for MUBI.
Does Jellyfin or MUBI run on more platforms?: Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. MUBI runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?: Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MUBI starts at $7.99/month.
What is Jellyfin best used for?: Jellyfin is most often used for open-source media streaming, self-hosted library. Of those, open-source media streaming and self-hosted library are not what MUBI is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that MUBI cannot?: Jellyfin covers Media server, Streaming, Library management, Open source. MUBI covers Curated films, World cinema, Documentaries, Classics. Both handle Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Web support, Ios support.

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Jellyfin vs MUBI

Jellyfin

MUBI

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Jellyfin

Only in MUBI

Both cover

What people use each for

Jellyfin

MUBI

Where each one falls short

Jellyfin

MUBI

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

MUBI

Which should you pick?

Choose Jellyfin if

Choose MUBI if

Questions people ask

Related pages

More on Jellyfin

More on MUBI

Keep looking

Other head to heads