Software · head to head
Paramount+ vs Jellyfin
The short version
- Only Jellyfin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.; Jellyfin jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available
- They diverge on capability: Paramount+ covers Live sports, Jellyfin covers Media server.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Paramount+ and Jellyfin actually diverge.
| Attribute | Paramount+ | Jellyfin |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker |
| Founded | 2021 | 2018 |
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 Paramount+
- Live sports
- CBS shows
- Nickelodeon
- Gaming consoles
- Parental controls
- Profile management
Only in Jellyfin
- Media server
- Library management
- Open source
- Self-hosted
- Streaming devices
- Mobile devices
- Open source audit
- Self-hosted security
Both cover
- Streaming
- Smart TVs
- 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.
Paramount+
- TV streamingnot Jellyfin
- Sportsnot Jellyfin
- Kids contentnot Jellyfin
Jellyfin
- Open-source media streamingnot Paramount+
- Self-hosted librarynot Paramount+
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Paramount+
- The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
- The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.
Jellyfin
- Jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available
Pricing, plan by plan
Paramount+
$5.99/month- Essential$5.99/month
- Limited ads
- Full library
- With Showtime$11.99/month
- Ad-free
- Showtime
- Downloads
Jellyfin
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited streaming
- Open source
- No ads
Which should you pick?
Choose Paramount+ if
- You need live sports.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want cbs shows.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Paramount+ or Jellyfin better?
- Neither clearly leads. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month and Jellyfin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Paramount+ or Jellyfin?
- Jellyfin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5.99/month for Paramount+ and Free for Jellyfin.
- Does Paramount+ or Jellyfin run on more platforms?
- Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
- Can I use Jellyfin for free?
- Yes. Jellyfin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month.
- What is Paramount+ best used for?
- Paramount+ is most often used for tv streaming, sports, kids content. Of those, tv streaming and sports are not what Jellyfin is typically brought in for.
- What can Paramount+ do that Jellyfin cannot?
- Paramount+ covers Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon, Gaming consoles. Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Web support, Ios support.