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Entertainment · head to head

Jellyfin vs Plex

Jellyfin logo

Jellyfin

Entertainment

The free software media system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
P

Plex

Entertainment

Cloud ERP for smart manufacturing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Jellyfin no commercial support or SLA available; project is volunteer-maintained; Plex plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
  • They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, Plex covers Financial management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and Plex actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and Plex differ
AttributeJellyfinPlex
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, DockerRoku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Founded20182009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Streaming
  • Library management
  • Open source
  • Self-hosted
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Mobile devices

Only in Plex

  • Financial management
  • Manufacturing execution
  • Supply chain
  • Quality management
  • Analytics
  • IoT platforms
  • REST APIs
  • Webhooks

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Jellyfin

  • Open-source media streamingnot Plex
  • Self-hosted librarynot Plex

Plex

  • Industry 4.0not Jellyfin
  • Real-time monitoringnot Jellyfin
  • IoT integrationnot Jellyfin
  • Smart manufacturingnot 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

Plex

  • Plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
  • Remote streaming quality degrades significantly if Plex cannot establish direct connection and falls back to relay mode
  • Upcoming sunsetting of plugins, Cloud Sync, and Watch Later features

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

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

Plex

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Plex 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 Plex if

  • You need financial management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want manufacturing execution.
Plex review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or Plex better?
Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Plex at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Plex?
Jellyfin starts at Free and Plex at Free.
Does Jellyfin or Plex run on more platforms?
Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Plex runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Plex is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that Plex cannot?
Jellyfin covers Media server, Streaming, Library management, Open source. Plex covers Financial management, Manufacturing execution, Supply chain, Quality management. Both handle Web 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
Plex: Is Plex Media Server free?

Yes. Plex Media Server and the ad-supported streaming catalog are free. Plex Pass is an optional subscription at 6.99 USD per month or 69.99 USD per year that adds features like hardware transcoding and offline sync.

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
Plex: Can I access Plex content offline?

Yes, but downloads have limitations. Downloaded content may have an expiration period and is specific to the device where downloaded. Downloads are not available on shared libraries in some cases.

Source
Plex: What devices does Plex support?

Plex apps are available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Server software runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and Docker.

Source
Plex: What is included in the free Plex catalog?

Plex's free ad-supported streaming catalog includes 14,000+ movies and shows from Lionsgate, MGM, Warner Bros, and Crackle Originals.

Source
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