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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Tubi vs Jellyfin

Tubi logo

Tubi

Media & Entertainment

Watch movies and TV shows for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Jellyfin logo

Jellyfin

Media & Entertainment

The free software media system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Tubi the App Store listing (Tubi, Inc) shows the app as entirely free with advertising; there is no in-app purchase, ad-free tier, or premium subscription offered anywhere in the listing, meaning users who want to remove ads have no paid option at all; Jellyfin jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available
  • They diverge on capability: Tubi covers Full catalog, Jellyfin covers Media server.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Tubi and Jellyfin actually diverge.

Attributes where Tubi and Jellyfin differ
AttributeTubiJellyfin
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker
Founded20142018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & 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 Tubi

  • Full catalog
  • Search
  • Recommendations
  • Watchlist
  • Content filtering
  • Account management
  • Roku support
  • Fire-tv support

Only in Jellyfin

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

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.

Tubi

  • Free streamingnot Jellyfin
  • Content discoverynot Jellyfin

Jellyfin

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Tubi

  • The App Store listing (Tubi, Inc) shows the app as entirely free with advertising; there is no in-app purchase, ad-free tier, or premium subscription offered anywhere in the listing, meaning users who want to remove ads have no paid option at all

Jellyfin

  • Jellyfin is free open source software under the GNU GPL with no paid tier or vendor support contract available

Pricing, plan by plan

Tubi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full catalog
    • Ad-supported

Jellyfin

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Tubi if

  • You need full catalog.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want search.
Tubi review

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

Questions people ask

Is Tubi or Jellyfin better?
Neither clearly leads. Tubi starts at Free and Jellyfin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tubi or Jellyfin?
Tubi starts at Free and Jellyfin at Free.
Does Tubi or Jellyfin run on more platforms?
Tubi runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
Can I use Tubi for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Tubi best used for?
Tubi is most often used for free streaming, content discovery. Of those, free streaming and content discovery are not what Jellyfin is typically brought in for.
What can Tubi do that Jellyfin cannot?
Tubi covers Full catalog, Search, Recommendations, Watchlist. Jellyfin covers Media server, Library management, Open source, Self-hosted. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Web support.
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