Plex doesn't charge to just stream locally so I haven't bothered switching or looking into switching yet.
this post was submitted on 22 May 2026
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I use Emby instead of Plex or Jellyfin; mostly because it has an Xbox client, and I've already got a lifetime licence. One of my most active users only watches via Xbox.
Really don't like Plexs centralised user system or the overall direction they've been headed for years, so I moved away from that long ago (8+ years ago at least). Jellyfin wasn't up to par at the time (though they've made leaps and bounds of progress in that time), and Emby has always supported more types of devices\clients. Their device limit (the client count limit with premeir) has never come into play for me, but I know there are larger user bases out there where that is a problem.
Embys development is extremely slow though, taking YEARS to implement simple features or even address major concerns. Plus their support sucks without the community stepping in and providing it on behalf of the staff. Luke (the main dev) is better at copy+pasting candid responses than he is at actually interacting with human beings.
Can it import my Plex settings, categorized titles, and watched lists for all my users? And whatever other things I’m not thinking of…
It’s on my radar, but I have a lot of data, custom images, etc. it would need to be 1:1
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I have a lifetime pass and multiple TVs used by multiple people obver 10k km away from me that are not tech literate.
if you install it and do not add plugins or mods or download them manually or with another tool, there is no way to pull subtitles.
You also need to sideload the app because it's not available in app stores.
That's the blockers for me... though the plugin for subtitles that now exists I have yet to try, and it may make it doable.
Which app stores (plural?) does not have jellyfin apps?
PS5, Fire TV Cube, Samsung TVs are what i'd use it on. Those app stores.
I know android/ios has it nowadays, but manufacturers generally don't want to offer apps that do not drive referrals or some kind of revenue sharing with competing services.
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I have Bazarr as part of my ARR stack that pulls in subtitles for me so they show up no matter what I'm using to access the library, works like a champ!
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I use both still, Jellyfins UI can be a bit janky sometimes and it does not sync viewing progress of the same episode or movie across UHD and HD content, which Plex does.
Overall I think Jellyfin is better though.
I definitely have noticed that it is important to install metadata plugins like imdb, as well as fanart, in order to feel closer to Plex. Users like seeing Rotten Tomato and IMBD scores, in addition to cast info and such.
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no I have not tried it.
the jellyfin community is toxic af from my personal interactions. they're always far more concerned with trying to one-up Plex users or just attempting to be always "right".
not every member is this way, but the loudest among the community certainly makes me think the opposite.
I don't plan on using jellyfin until it's my last option.
I used to use Plex and now use jellyfin, not so much because one has features the other doesn't, but because XBMC became what they said they never would be. That's going back a ways, but I just saw the writing on the wall a few years ago that Plex had stopped caring about free users, and I was an admittedly free user.
People focus on monetary cost, but there is a price to Jellyfin, which is that you're on your own with all the plumbing. I'm OK with that, but I can see why someone wouldn't want to faf about with it.
Jellyfin will one day become what Plex is now, that's the cycle of things.
Some of the users definitely like to pontificate a bit much and there's still gaps in reliable clients for some platforms (e.g. Apple TV). That said, Jellyfin, as a service, is solid.
This is why I’ve used Emby for the longest time.
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