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Entertainment · head to head

Jellyfin vs Uscreen

Jellyfin logo

Jellyfin

Entertainment

The free software media system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Uscreen logo

Uscreen

Video Production

Membership video platform with branded mobile and TV apps for independent creators

From
$49/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; Uscreen the per-subscriber fee means the bill grows with the audience, so a creator with several thousand members pays far more in subscriber charges than in plan fees, and the published plan price badly understates the real monthly cost.
  • They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, Uscreen covers Branded apps.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and Uscreen actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and Uscreen differ
AttributeJellyfinUscreen
Starting priceFree$49/month
Pricing modelfreePer month plus a per-subscriber fee
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, DockerWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded2018Unknown

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

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 Uscreen

  • Branded apps
  • Membership paywall
  • Live streaming
  • Community
  • Marketing site
  • Email and automation
  • Analytics
  • App store submission

What people use each for

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

Jellyfin

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

Uscreen

  • A fitness or yoga instructor with a paying membership who needs an Apple TV and Roku app because members watch on a television, not a laptop.not Jellyfin
  • A niche documentary or enthusiast channel moving off advertising revenue to a direct subscription because the platform algorithm stopped delivering.not Jellyfin
  • A dance or martial arts studio selling on-demand classes plus scheduled live sessions to the same members under one login.not Jellyfin
  • A faith organisation or membership body distributing recorded talks to a paying congregation with its own branded app rather than a public video channel.not 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

Uscreen

  • The per-subscriber fee means the bill grows with the audience, so a creator with several thousand members pays far more in subscriber charges than in plan fees, and the published plan price badly understates the real monthly cost.
  • Video storage is capped in hours, 20 on Starter and 100 above it, which a creator with a large back catalogue exhausts quickly and then pays to extend.
  • Branded apps only appear on the 449 dollar plan and above, so the tier that makes the product distinct from a generic video host is out of reach for a small membership.
  • One-off sales carry a transaction fee of 10 per cent on Starter and 5 per cent on higher plans, on top of payment processing, which materially changes the maths for creators selling courses rather than subscriptions.
  • PSG Equity took a majority investment in 2025, so the platform whose revenue already scales with your subscriber count is now controlled by an investor with a return horizon, and pricing structure changes should be planned for rather than assumed away.

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

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

Uscreen

$49/month
  • Starter$49/month
    • Up to 100 subscribers
    • 20 hours of video storage
    • 1 admin seat
  • Growth$149/month
    • Unlimited subscribers
    • 1.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • 100 hours of video storage
  • App Essentials$449/month
    • Unlimited subscribers
    • 0.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • Two branded mobile apps for iOS and Android
  • Custom$undefined/month
    • 0.99 USD per subscriber per month
    • Five TV apps
    • Community features

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 Uscreen if

  • You need branded apps.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV.
  • You also want membership paywall.
Uscreen review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or Uscreen better?
Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Uscreen at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Uscreen?
Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jellyfin and $49/month for Uscreen.
Does Jellyfin or Uscreen run on more platforms?
Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Uscreen runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?
Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Uscreen starts at $49/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 Uscreen is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that Uscreen cannot?
Jellyfin covers Media server, Streaming, Library management, Open source. Uscreen covers Branded apps, Membership paywall, Live streaming, Community.

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
Uscreen: What does Uscreen actually cost per month?

The plan price plus a per-subscriber fee: 1.99 US dollars per subscriber on Growth, 0.99 on App Essentials and Custom. Budget on your member count, not the tier.

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
Uscreen: Do I get real apps in the app stores?

Yes, branded apps published under your own name, with Uscreen handling submission. They start on the App Essentials plan at 449 US dollars per month.

Uscreen: Is there a storage limit?

Yes, 20 hours on Starter and 100 hours on Growth and App Essentials, with more available on request.

Uscreen: Is there a transaction fee?

Yes on one-off sales: 10 per cent on Starter, 5 per cent on higher plans, separate from payment processing charges.

Uscreen: Who owns Uscreen?

PSG Equity took a 150 million dollar majority investment in 2025, so it is private-equity controlled.

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