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Entertainment · head to head

Jellyfin vs Showtime

Jellyfin logo

Jellyfin

Entertainment

The free software media system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/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; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, Showtime covers Original series.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and Showtime actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and Showtime differ
AttributeJellyfinShowtime
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, DockerWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20181983

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
  • Mobile devices
  • Open source audit
  • Self-hosted security
  • User management

Only in Showtime

  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Account security
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • 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 Showtime
  • Self-hosted librarynot Showtime

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Jellyfin
  • Sports watchingnot 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

Showtime

  • Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

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 Showtime if

  • You need original series.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want movies.
Showtime review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Showtime?
Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $10.99/month for Showtime.
Does Jellyfin or Showtime run on more platforms?
Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Showtime 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. Showtime starts at $10.99/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 Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that Showtime cannot?
Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Showtime covers Original series, Movies, Sports, Live events. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, 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
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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