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Entertainment · head to head

Jellyfin vs Paramount+

Jellyfin logo

Jellyfin

Entertainment

The free software media system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

Entertainment

A mountain of entertainment

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Jellyfin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Jellyfin no commercial support or SLA available; project is volunteer-maintained; Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, Paramount+ covers Live sports.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and Paramount+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and Paramount+ differ
AttributeJellyfinParamount+
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, DockerWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20182021

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

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

Only in Paramount+

  • Live sports
  • CBS shows
  • Nickelodeon
  • Gaming consoles
  • Parental controls
  • Profile management

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • 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 Paramount+
  • Self-hosted librarynot Paramount+

Paramount+

  • TV streamingnot Jellyfin
  • Sportsnot Jellyfin
  • Kids contentnot Jellyfin

Where each one falls short

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

Jellyfin

  • No commercial support or SLA available; project is volunteer-maintained
  • Self-hosted deployment required; no cloud hosting provided by project

Paramount+

  • The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited streaming
    • Open source
    • No ads

Paramount+

$5.99/month
  • Essential$5.99/month
    • Limited ads
    • Full library
  • With Showtime$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Showtime
    • Downloads

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 library management.
Jellyfin review

Choose Paramount+ if

  • You need live sports.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want cbs shows.
Paramount+ review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or Paramount+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Paramount+ at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Paramount+?
Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $5.99/month for Paramount+.
Does Jellyfin or Paramount+ run on more platforms?
Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?
Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/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 Paramount+ is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that Paramount+ cannot?
Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Paramount+ covers Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon, Gaming consoles. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Web support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Jellyfin: How much does Jellyfin cost?

Jellyfin is completely free with no costs, hidden fees, or subscriptions. The Jellyfin server and official clients are free to download and use for personal, commercial, or any other purpose. There are no paid tiers or premium features.

Source
Jellyfin: Is Jellyfin open source?

Yes, Jellyfin is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Users can download, use, study, modify, and distribute it at no cost. The project is maintained by volunteers and supported through user donations.

Source
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