What are the best media center programs?

Question

5

Options
Considered

35

User
Recs.

Oct 15, 2020

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

5 Options Considered

Best media center programs	Price	Platforms	Last Updated
-- Kodi	-	-	Sep 14, 2020
-- MythTV	Free	-	Oct 15, 2020
-- PleX	0-40$p.a	Windows, Linux, Mac, Android	Mar 7, 2020
-- Emby	-	-	Mar 27, 2020
-- PlayOn Media Server	-	-	Nov 23, 2017

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score 16 · Answer 1

Kodi

Top Pro

Lots of plugins available

Top Con

For some devices it requires them to be jailbroken or similar

Peter J. Mello's Experience

Kodi puts you squarely at the helm of your media consumption in a way that no other tool or platform has ever allowed before it. The size of the development community and the genius of the philosophy that drives its evolution make it one of the marvels of the open-source universe. See More

Top Pro

Can install on several devices

Apple TV (jailbroken), Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Xbox, and more! See More

Top Pro

Free

Top Pro

Open Source

Not a freemium software. See More

See All

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score 11 · Answer 2

MythTV

Top Pro

Flexible client/server architecture

Allows multiple frontend client machines to access content served by one or more backend servers See More

Top Con

Complex setup

BrightKastytis's Experience

Been using MythTV since 2005. Now running the back end on a Pi 4 with a NAS for media storage. The performance is flawless. I have to admit, over the years some of the upgrades have been a bit 'tongue in cheek' but the answers are almost always somewhere on the web. See More

Top Pro

Watch and record analog and/or digital TV, including HDTV

Pause, skip, and rewind live TV shows. Completely automatic commercial detection/skipping, with manual correction via an intuitive cutlist editor. Intelligently schedules recordings to avoid conflicts. Parental controls to keep your kids out of the good shows. See More

Top Con

Documentation could be better

WalstonTempest's Experience

Although MythTV can be a challenge to set up, it is a versatile and powerful media system. See More

Top Pro

Plugins can extend its capabilities.

Intergrate your home cctv system with MythZoneMinder. See More

ExuberantNinkilim's Experience

I used WMC for years, but with MS dropping support, a new option was needed. I looked at several & eventually went with MythTV for the backend. Rock solid. Different front ends can connect to the backend for added plugin support. See More

Top Pro

Watch and archive DVDs

Top Pro

Support

There is a seemingly endless supply of knowledgeable MythTV fans in the various interest groups that are ready to share their thoughts on any problems you might encounter. See More

Top Pro

Listen to your digital music collection

See All

score 4 · Answer 3

PleX

Top Pro

Sync media between devices

This is a premium feature. See More

Top Con

No gapless audio playback

Plex still does not support gapless playback of audio files such as mp3 or FLAC. See More

Specs

Platforms:Windows, Linux, Mac, Android

Top Pro

Transcoding included

Top Con

Doesn't come with bitorrent integration

Top Pro

Accessible via web browser

A modern web browser is enough to get everything Plex has to offer. See More

Top Con

Broken ipv6 support

Top Pro

Upload photos from mobile to your library

Top Con

No H/W transcoding

Top Pro

Added lots of media databases

Metadata for media files will automatically be updated by using media databases. This provides posters, movie trailers, descriptions, information about actors, etc. See More

Top Pro

Beautiful and simple interface

Top Pro

Installs on a lot of plattforms

Player and server are available to a huge number of platforms, including AppleTV and Amazon Fire TV as well as many NAS servers. It's pretty hard to find a NAS or STB that doesn't support Plex. See More

Top Pro

DVR included

(premium feature) See More

See All

score 3 · Answer 4

Emby

Top Pro

Easy to use and configure

But with tons of advanced configuration options available for those that want them. See More

Top Con

Saves to much money

If you enjoy throwing money away on cable or satellite, and are not interested in saving money and getting a better experience, then Emby probably isn't for you. But, that's a con that probably only applies to an extremely limited number of people. See More

CuriousPhaenon's Experience

I have been using Emby for about a year now. I used to be a die hard fan of Plex, but Emby blows it away inn every sense. See More

Top Pro

Awesome Support

Active and lively support forums where the developers and other users engage to quickly resolve any issues you may experience, which will be few and far between anyway. See More

Top Pro

Live TV and DVR functionality

Add the Premiere option for around $5.00 per month and you get a full featured DVR that will play and record Live OTA TV, IPTV, Cable or Satellite signal and a great EPG (Electronic Program Guide) See More

See All

Answer 5

PlayOn Media Server

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What are the best media center programs?

5 Options Considered

Kodi

My Recommendation for Kodi

My Recommendation for Kodi

Lots of plugins available

For some devices it requires them to be jailbroken or similar

Can install on several devices

Free

Open Source

MythTV

My Recommendation for MythTV

My Recommendation for MythTV

Flexible client/server architecture

Complex setup

Watch and record analog and/or digital TV, including HDTV

Documentation could be better

Plugins can extend its capabilities.

Watch and archive DVDs

Support

Listen to your digital music collection

PleX

My Recommendation for PleX

My Recommendation for PleX

Sync media between devices

No gapless audio playback

Transcoding included

Doesn't come with bitorrent integration

Accessible via web browser

Broken ipv6 support

Upload photos from mobile to your library

No H/W transcoding

Added lots of media databases

Beautiful and simple interface

Installs on a lot of plattforms

DVR included

Emby

My Recommendation for Emby

My Recommendation for Emby

Easy to use and configure

Saves to much money

Awesome Support

Live TV and DVR functionality

PlayOn Media Server

My Recommendation for PlayOn Media Server

My Recommendation for PlayOn Media Server

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