Best Self-Hosted Media server Tools

Self-hosted media servers stream your own movies, shows, music, and audiobooks to any device — your library, your hardware, no subscription. The picks below differ most on transcoding hardware, remote-access setup, and how much polish versus control you want; compare them on specs and difficulty.

Media serverAudiobookshelf

A self-hosted audiobook and podcast server with progress sync across apps — host your own Audible-style library and listen anywhere.

JavaScriptNode.js

easyRead guide →

Media serverJellyfin

Free, fully open-source media server — a no-paywall alternative to Plex with hardware transcoding included and no account required. Rougher client apps, total control.

moderateRead guide →

Media serverNavidrome

A self-hosted music streaming server (Subsonic-compatible) — stream your own library to dozens of mobile and desktop apps. Your music, your server.

easyRead guide →

Media serverPlex

Polished self-hosted media server for movies, TV, and music — the most hands-off way to stream your own library to any device, with painless remote access.

Proprietary core

easyRead guide →