Kodi vs Plex vs Jellyfin vs Emby the Ultimate Media Playback Software Showdown

Imagine this: You’ve spent hours setting up the perfect home media server. Your movies, TV shows, and music are all neatly organized and ready to go. But now you’re faced with a big question: What software should you use to actually enjoy all that content? Kodi, Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby are some of the most popular options—but which one is right for you?

I’ve been there, and after trying them all, I landed on a hybrid approach that works great for me. I use Kodi as my media player because I love how customizable the interface is. It lets me see exactly what I want—no clutter, no nonsense. But I also pair Kodi with the Jellyfin plug-in, which gives me all the backend perks of Jellyfin, like media syncing and watched status tracking across all my devices. This combo gives me the best of both worlds.

The Basics: What Do These Programs Do?

Kodi, Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby all have the same core purpose: to organize, play, and stream your media library. But even though they share this goal, each one offers a unique mix of features, philosophies, and user experiences.

Some prioritize ease of use, while others focus on customization. Some lock premium features behind a paywall, while others are completely free and open-source. Let’s take a closer look at how they compare and why I chose my own setup.

Feature Comparison: At a Glance

Here’s a quick comparison table to show how Kodi, Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby stack up against each other:

Why I Chose Kodi + Jellyfin

After experimenting with each of these programs, I ultimately chose Kodi as my front-end media player for one main reason: its customization.

Kodi lets me tailor the viewing experience exactly to my liking. There are no recommended shows I don’t care about, no ads, and no unnecessary features cluttering up the interface. Everything is clean, simple, and set up exactly how I want it. If you like having full control over your media experience, Kodi is hard to beat.

But Kodi does have its limitations. It doesn’t handle watched status syncing, streaming to multiple devices, or media transcoding on its own. That’s where Jellyfin comes in. By running Jellyfin as my backend server and using the Jellyfin plug-in for Kodi, I get the best of both worlds:

• Watched Status Syncing: I can start watching a movie in the living room and pick up exactly where I left off in the bedroom. Everything stays synced across all my devices.

• Media Syncing Across Devices: My entire media library is organized and accessible on every device throughout my home.

• Remote Streaming: Jellyfin lets me stream my content outside of my home network without paying for a subscription.

• Media Transcoding: If a device can’t play a certain file format, Jellyfin transcodes it on the fly. This keeps my media compatible with all my devices without the hassle of manually converting files.

This combination gives me Kodi’s unmatched customization with Jellyfin’s powerful syncing, streaming, and transcoding features. It’s a perfect setup that offers complete control without sacrificing functionality. I’ll be posting a detailed guide on how to set this up soon.

The Pros and Cons of Each Platform

Kodi: The Customizer’s Dream

Pros:

• Unmatched Customization: Kodi’s open-source nature lets you customize nearly every aspect of the interface. You can choose from hundreds of skins, build custom menus, and install add-ons to expand its functionality.

• Wide Device Support: Kodi runs on just about anything—Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Raspberry Pi, and more. It’s a great way to repurpose older devices as media players.

• Offline Playback: Unlike streaming-focused platforms, Kodi is built for local playback. As long as your media is stored locally or on a network share, Kodi can play it without any issues.

• Free and Open Source: Every feature is free, and its open-source community keeps the platform constantly evolving and improving.

Cons:

• Steep Learning Curve: All that customization comes with complexity. If you’re new to Kodi, figuring out add-ons, optimizing playback, or setting up network shares can be a bit challenging.

• Limited Remote Streaming: Kodi isn’t designed for streaming outside your home network. While there are plugins and workarounds, they’re not as user-friendly as solutions from Plex or Jellyfin.

• Lacks Backend Features: Kodi doesn’t natively sync watched status or manage media libraries across devices. But when paired with a server like Jellyfin or a service like Trakt, you can get these features working seamlessly.

Best For: Those who love to tinker, customize, and build a personalized interface for local playback. If you enjoy full control over your media experience, Kodi is the way to go.

Plex: The Streaming Superstar

Pros:

• Ease of Use: Plex is hands down the most beginner-friendly option. It’s easy to set up and automatically organizes your media with rich metadata like cover art, descriptions, and even trailers—all with minimal effort.

• Remote Access: Plex makes streaming outside your home network a breeze. Whether you’re at work or on the go, you can access your entire library on any supported device.

• Friend Sharing: Want to share your media with friends or family? Plex lets you do that easily, with options to control who sees what.

• Wide Device Support: Plex is available on almost every platform, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.

• Premium Features: With a Plex Pass subscription, you get extras like offline downloads, hardware transcoding, and live TV/DVR support.

Cons:

• Paywall for Premium Features: Some of Plex’s best features—like offline playback and advanced transcoding—require a paid Plex Pass subscription.

• Limited Customization: While Plex’s interface is polished and user-friendly, it doesn’t offer the deep customization options that Kodi provides.

• Closed Source: Plex is proprietary software, meaning you’re reliant on the company for updates, support, and feature development.

Best For: Those who prioritize ease of use, remote streaming, and a polished experience—and don’t mind paying for premium features.

Jellyfin: The Open-Source Hero

Pros:

• Completely Free: Jellyfin is 100% free and open-source, offering features like remote streaming, live TV support, and watched status syncing—all without subscriptions or paywalls.

• Privacy-Focused: Unlike Plex, Jellyfin doesn’t rely on external servers or track your usage. Your data stays on your server, giving you full control over your media and privacy.

• Server-Client Architecture: Jellyfin uses a centralized server to manage your media library, while client apps—including third-party options like Kodi—connect to the server for playback.

• Transcoding Capabilities: Jellyfin handles on-the-fly transcoding, ensuring compatibility across various devices and formats without needing to manually convert files.

• Active Community Development: As an open-source project, Jellyfin is constantly evolving thanks to a dedicated community of developers.

Cons:

• Setup Complexity: Although not as complex as Kodi, Jellyfin does require some technical knowledge to set up a server and configure client devices.

• Growing Ecosystem: Jellyfin’s client apps are still catching up to the polish and platform support of Plex. While it runs on most major devices, some features can be limited depending on the app.

• Not as Polished: Since Jellyfin is community-driven, its interface isn’t as sleek or refined as Plex or Emby.

Best For: Those who value open-source software, privacy, and getting premium features for free—and don’t mind a bit of extra setup to get things running smoothly.

Emby: The Middle Ground

Pros:

• Balanced Feature Set: Emby offers a good mix of ease of use and flexibility. It’s not as customizable as Kodi or as straightforward as Plex, but it strikes a nice balance between the two.

• Remote Streaming: Just like Plex and Jellyfin, Emby lets you stream your media outside your home network, although this feature requires a paid subscription.

• Live TV/DVR Support: Emby shines when it comes to live TV and DVR functionality, offering robust tools for recording and managing live broadcasts.

• Wide Device Support: Emby is available on most major platforms, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.

• Premium Features: With an Emby Premiere subscription, you get access to features like hardware transcoding, offline downloads, and live TV—similar to what Plex Pass offers.

Cons:

• Subscription Costs: Many of Emby’s standout features, like remote streaming and advanced transcoding, are locked behind the Emby Premiere paywall.

• Not Open Source: Although Emby started as an open-source project, it has since gone closed-source, meaning the company now controls development and support.

• Less Community Development: Unlike Jellyfin, Emby doesn’t benefit from open-source community contributions, so updates and new features depend entirely on its developers.

Best For: Those looking for a middle ground between Kodi’s customization and Plex’s polished interface—and who don’t mind paying for advanced features.

Which One Should You Choose?

The best media playback software depends on what matters most to you:

• Choose Kodi if you love customization and want complete control over your interface.

• Choose Plex if you want a polished, user-friendly experience and don’t mind paying for premium features.

• Choose Jellyfin if you value open-source software and want advanced features for free.

• Choose Emby if you’re looking for a middle ground between Plex’s polish and Jellyfin’s open-source flexibility.

For me, the combination of Kodi and Jellyfin is the ultimate setup. Jellyfin manages the backend—syncing media, tracking watched status, and enabling remote streaming—while Kodi provides a beautiful, fully customizable front-end experience.

Final Thoughts

All of these platforms are excellent choices, each with unique strengths to fit different needs. Whether you prioritize ease of use, customization, or cost, there’s an option that’ll work for you. I recommend experimenting with them, or even mixing and matching like I did, to find the perfect setup for your media server.

Ready to build your ideal media setup? Jump in, explore, and make it your own—your movies and shows will thank you!