Jellyfin vs Plex: Which Media Server Should You Choose?

Jellyfin is free and open source with no paywalls. Plex has more polished apps and easier remote streaming. Here's a detailed comparison to help you pick the right media server in 2026. Originally published on selfhosting.sh . Quick Verdict Jellyfin is the better choice for self-hosters who want full control with zero cost. It's completely free and open source — no paid tiers, no accounts, no telemetry. Plex has more polished client apps and better out-of-the-box remote streaming, but locks hardware transcoding, offline sync, and several other features behind a $120 lifetime or $5/month Plex Pass. If you value ownership and privacy — pick Jellyfin. Overview Both Jellyfin and Plex organize and stream your personal media library (movies, TV shows, music, photos) to any device on your network or remotely. They scan your files, fetch metadata (posters, descriptions, ratings), and present everything in a Netflix-like interface. Jellyfin is a 100% free, open-source media server. It forked fr