Software · head to head
Kodi vs Plex
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition; Plex plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
- They diverge on capability: Kodi covers Media playback, Plex covers Financial management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Kodi and Plex actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Kodi
- Media playback
- Library management
- Add-ons
- Customization
- Remote control
- Smart home
- Streaming services
- Add-ons
Only in Plex
- Financial management
- Manufacturing execution
- Supply chain
- Quality management
- Analytics
- IoT platforms
- REST APIs
- Webhooks
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Kodi
- Media centernot Plex
- Home entertainmentnot Plex
Plex
- Industry 4.0not Kodi
- Real-time monitoringnot Kodi
- IoT integrationnot Kodi
- Smart manufacturingnot Kodi
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Kodi
- Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
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
Kodi
Free- FreeFree
- Open source
- All features
- Add-ons
Plex
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Plex review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Kodi if
- You need media playback.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
- You also want library management.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Kodi or Plex better?
- Neither clearly leads. Kodi 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, Kodi or Plex?
- Kodi starts at Free and Plex at Free.
- Does Kodi or Plex run on more platforms?
- Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. Plex runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Kodi for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Kodi best used for?
- Kodi is most often used for media center, home entertainment. Of those, media center and home entertainment are not what Plex is typically brought in for.
- What can Kodi do that Plex cannot?
- Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Plex covers Financial management, Manufacturing execution, Supply chain, Quality management.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourcePlex: 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.
SourcePlex: 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.
SourcePlex: 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