Netflix
2 alternatives — 2 easy
Build your own streaming service with these self-hosted media servers. Stream your movie and TV collection to any device with a polished interface, subtitle support, and hardware transcoding.
Why people leave Netflix
- Password sharing crackdown
- Frequent price increases
- Content library shrinking due to licensing
- Ad-supported tier introduced
Comparison
Detailed Look
Jellyfin Top Pick
Free and open-source media system for streaming movies, TV, music, and more.
Pros
- + Completely free and open source
- + No tracking or paid tiers
- + Good client app ecosystem
- + Hardware transcoding support
Cons
- - Fewer clients than Plex
- - Metadata fetching can be inconsistent
- - UI less polished than Plex
Plex
Polished media server with wide device support and optional cloud features.
Pros
- + Best-in-class client apps
- + Wide device support
- + Polished UI
- + Hardware transcoding
Cons
- - Not fully open source
- - Plex Pass required for some features
- - Phone-home requirement
- - Ad-supported free tier pushed
FAQ
What is the best self-hosted Netflix alternative?
Jellyfin is the top recommendation — it's completely free and open source with no paid tiers or tracking. It has native apps for most platforms and supports hardware transcoding. Plex is more polished but has proprietary components and pushes ad-supported content.
Do I need a powerful server for a self-hosted media server?
For direct play (streaming without conversion), even a Raspberry Pi works. For transcoding (converting video format on the fly), you'll want a CPU with Quick Sync (Intel) or a dedicated GPU. 2-4GB RAM is sufficient for most setups.
Can I stream my media outside my home network?
Yes. Both Jellyfin and Plex support remote streaming. You'll need to set up port forwarding or a reverse proxy, and sufficient upload bandwidth. A VPN like Tailscale or WireGuard is a more secure option.
Can't decide? Compare Jellyfin, Plex side by side →