Is Jellyfin or Starz better?

Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Starz at $6.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Starz?

Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $6.99/month for Starz.

Does Jellyfin or Starz run on more platforms?

Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Starz runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.

Can I use Jellyfin for free?

Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Starz starts at $6.99/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 Starz is typically brought in for.

What can Jellyfin do that Starz cannot?

Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Starz covers Original series, Movies, Exclusive content, Downloads. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Web support.

Software · head to head

Jellyfin vs Starz

Jellyfin

Software

The free software media system

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

Starz

Software

Premium originals and hit series

From: $6.99/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; Starz advertised introductory rate of 4 USD per month applies only for the first 3 months as a limited time offer
They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, Starz covers Original series.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and Starz actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and Starz differ
Attribute	Jellyfin	Starz
Starting price	Free	$6.99/month
Pricing model	free	subscription
Free tier	Yes	No
Platforms	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded	2018	1994

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

Only in Starz

Original series
Movies
Exclusive content
Downloads
Account security
Parental controls
Roku support
Fire-tv support

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 Starz
Self-hosted librarynot Starz

Starz

Drama streamingnot Jellyfin
Original series watchingnot 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

Starz

Advertised introductory rate of 4 USD per month applies only for the first 3 months as a limited time offer

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

Free

FreeFree
- Unlimited streaming
- Open source
- No ads

Starz

$6.99/month

Standard$6.99/month
- HD
- Ad-supported
Premium$12.99/month
- 4K
- Ad-free
- 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 Starz if

You need original series.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
You also want movies.

Starz review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or Starz better?: Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Starz at $6.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Starz?: Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $6.99/month for Starz.
Does Jellyfin or Starz run on more platforms?: Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Starz runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?: Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Starz starts at $6.99/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 Starz is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that Starz cannot?: Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Starz covers Original series, Movies, Exclusive content, Downloads. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Web support.

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Jellyfin vs Starz

Jellyfin

Starz

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Jellyfin

Only in Starz

Both cover

What people use each for

Jellyfin

Starz

Where each one falls short

Jellyfin

Starz

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

Starz

Which should you pick?

Choose Jellyfin if

Choose Starz if

Questions people ask

Related pages

More on Jellyfin

More on Starz

Keep looking

Other head to heads