Jellyfin vs Plex: which media server to run
Both stream your own movies and shows to every screen in the house. Plex ties the server to a company account, and Jellyfin does not.
Jellyfin is free and open source, and it needs no account with anyone. Plex is free to start, but it ties your server to a plex.tv account and charges for remote streaming of your videos and for hardware transcoding. A Plex Pass costs $6.99 a month, $69.99 a year, or $749.99 for lifetime as of November 2026. If you want to own the whole stack, run Jellyfin.
Jellyfin vs Plex at a glance
| Jellyfin | Plex | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no paid tier | Free server; Plex Pass $6.99/month, $69.99/year, $249.99 for 5 years, or $749.99 lifetime |
| License | Open source (GPLv2) | Proprietary |
| Account needed | No, accounts live on your server | Yes, a plex.tv account to set up the server |
| Streaming your videos away from home | Free | Needs a Plex Pass on the server owner's account, or a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass on the viewer's |
| Hardware transcoding | Free | Plex Pass only, apart from a few devices such as the NVIDIA Shield |
| Default port | 8096 (HTTP) | 32400 |
The Jellyfin project says: "There are no strings attached, no premium licenses or features, and no hidden agendas." Every feature in the table is in the free download.
What changed with Plex
Since April 29, 2025, Plex requires a subscription to stream personal video outside your home network. One of three things must be true: the server owner has a Plex Pass, the viewer has a Plex Pass, or the viewer has a Remote Watch Pass. The Remote Watch Pass is $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year and does nothing else. Music in Plexamp and photos are not affected.
Plex's support article counts as remote any connection that isn't on the same subnet of the same local network, and it lists VPNs among the things that can make a home connection count as remote.
On July 1, 2026, Plex raised a new Lifetime Plex Pass from $249.99 to $749.99 and added a 5-year plan at $249.99. Plex said monthly and yearly prices would not change, and existing lifetime holders keep their benefits.
Jellyfin ports
Jellyfin's networking docs list these ports.
| Port | Protocol | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 8096 | TCP | Default HTTP, where the web interface lives. Changeable. |
| 8920 | TCP | Default HTTPS, used only after you enable HTTPS. Changeable. |
| 7359 | UDP | Lets apps discover the server on your local network. Fixed. |
| 1900 | UDP | DLNA discovery, only if you install the DLNA plugin. DLNA left the base install in Jellyfin 10.9. |
Do not forward 8096 straight to the internet. Jellyfin's docs mark that option "not recommended" and list a reverse proxy or a VPN as the alternatives. Jellyfin has a guide for Tailscale, which works even when your ISP puts you behind carrier-grade NAT.
Emby vs Jellyfin
Jellyfin started as a fork of Emby. Its docs say it "is descended from Emby's 3.5.2 release" and describe Emby as proprietary. The two still look alike, but Emby went the Plex route: mobile downloads, hardware-accelerated transcoding, and some apps sit behind Emby Premiere, at $4.99 a month, $54 a year, or $119 lifetime for one household.
If you want a paid product with a company behind it, Emby's lifetime price is far below Plex's. If you don't, Jellyfin gives you the same core for nothing.
Setting up Jellyfin
- 1Install the Jellyfin server on an always-on machine. For the current instructions for your operating system, follow Jellyfin's installation docs.
- 2Open the server in a browser to start the setup wizard, and create the administrator account with a strong password. The account lives only on your server.
- 3Add your media libraries by pointing each one at the folders that hold your files.
- 4Jellyfin recommends allowing remote access to the server and turning off automatic port mapping, because it relies on UPnP.
- 5Turn on hardware acceleration if your machine supports it. Jellyfin supports Intel Quick Sync, NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, VA-API on Linux, Apple VideoToolbox on macOS, and Rockchip.
- 6Install the apps: official Jellyfin apps cover Android, Android TV and Fire TV, iOS, Roku, LG webOS, Samsung Tizen, Xbox, Kodi, and desktop. Jellyfin notes that no subscription of any form is required for the server or any official app, even where the Roku store suggests one.
Hardware: what to run it on
If every device plays your files as they are, any machine works, because the server only sends the file. Transcoding, converting video on the fly for a device that can't play the original, is the heavy part, and that's where a GPU or a recent Intel chip with Quick Sync pays off.
Skip the Raspberry Pi if you need transcoding. Jellyfin has deprecated hardware acceleration on the Pi, and its docs point out that the Raspberry Pi 5 lacks hardware encoders entirely. A Pi is fine for direct play only. A mini PC with an Intel chip is the better home server for media.
Jellyfin and self-custody
The 2025 remote-streaming change is a small version of an old lesson in Bitcoin: if a company sits between you and your stuff, it sets the terms and can change them. Jellyfin keeps the server, the accounts, and the files under your control. The same machine can also run a Bitcoin node, and my node guide shows how.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jellyfin better than Plex?
For control and cost, yes. Jellyfin is free with no paid tier and no outside account, while Plex charges for remote video streaming and hardware transcoding. Plex is a commercial product with a company running the account system, which some people prefer.
What port does Jellyfin use?
TCP 8096 for HTTP by default, TCP 8920 for HTTPS once you enable it, and UDP 7359 for local network discovery. The DLNA plugin adds UDP 1900.
Do I need Plex Pass to watch Plex away from home?
For video, yes, since April 29, 2025. Either the server owner has a Plex Pass, or you have your own Plex Pass or a Remote Watch Pass ($2.99 a month or $29.99 a year). Music in Plexamp and photos stream remotely without a pass.
Is Jellyfin really free?
Yes. The Jellyfin server is open source under GPLv2, and the project says there are no premium licenses or features. The official apps are free too.
Emby vs Jellyfin: what is the difference?
Jellyfin is a free, open-source fork of Emby 3.5.2. Emby is proprietary and keeps features such as hardware transcoding and mobile downloads behind Emby Premiere, which costs $4.99 a month, $54 a year, or $119 lifetime.
Can Jellyfin run on a Raspberry Pi?
Yes, for direct play. Jellyfin has deprecated hardware acceleration on the Pi, and the Raspberry Pi 5 has no hardware video encoder, so transcoding falls to the CPU.