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Self-host Jellyfin

Media server
prices checked · Jul 2026

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.

Key facts

CategoryMedia server
LicenseGPL-2.0
StackC#, .NET
Min RAM1024 MB
Dockeryes
Difficulty
Our recommendation

Run Jellyfin when you want a fully free, no-login media server for your own library — and you're comfortable being your own support when a client or codec misbehaves. If effortless remote access and polish matter more than owning every layer, Plex is the calmer pick.

What you need

  • Any VPS with at least 1024 MB of RAM
  • A domain you control — most self-hosted setups need HTTPS in front of them
  • About an afternoon — budget time for troubleshooting

Install with Docker Compose

Save this as compose.yml and run docker compose up -d:

# Jellyfin
services:
  jellyfin:
    image: jellyfin/jellyfin
    ports: ["8096:8096"]
    volumes: ["./config:/config", "/srv/media:/media"]
# docker compose up -d  →  http://SERVER_IP:8096
vps picksBest VPS for self-hostingbenchmarked quarterly · re-priced monthly

What you take on

Jellyfin gives you everything Plex gates behind a subscription, in exchange for doing a bit more yourself:

non-negotiableTranscoding needs hardware. Software transcoding will melt a small CPU — pass through a GPU or Intel QuickSync if more than one person streams, or keep files in directly-playable formats.
non-negotiableRemote access is your job. There's no relay — you'll put a reverse proxy with HTTPS in front (and think about your home IP) to watch away from the LAN.
non-negotiableClients vary. The apps are community-built and uneven across TVs and phones; test your specific devices before you retire your old setup.

Head-to-head

Media serverJun 2026
Jellyfin
vs
Plex

Polished and easy, or fully free and open?

Read the verdict →

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Common questions

How much RAM does Jellyfin need?

Jellyfin runs on as little as 1 GB of RAM for direct-play streaming to a couple of devices; allocate more if you transcode several streams at once or run a large library.

Can I self-host Jellyfin with Docker?

Yes — the official docker-compose setup mounts a config volume and your media folder into the jellyfin/jellyfin image, then docker compose up -d serves the web UI on port 8096.

Is Jellyfin a good free alternative to Plex?

Jellyfin is fully open source (GPL-2.0) with no paywalled features and no required account, including hardware transcoding that Plex reserves for Plex Pass — the trade-off is rougher client apps.

Does Jellyfin require an account or subscription?

No — Jellyfin has no central account system and no premium tier; every feature, including hardware transcoding, is free and runs entirely on your own server.