Which linux media server

Top 9 Best Linux Media Server Software

Last updated October 29, 2020 By Ankush Das 36 Comments

Were you told that Linux is just for programmers? That is so wrong! It also has lots of great tools for digital artists, writers and musicians.

We have covered some of these tools in the past. Today it’s going to be slightly different. Instead of talking about creating new digital content, let’s talk about consuming it.

You have probably heard of media servers? Basically, this software allows you to view your local or cloud media (music, videos, etc.) through an intuitive interface – sometimes involving dedicated gadgets. You can even use a media server to stream your content to other devices on your network. Sort of like your personal Netflix.

In fact, setting up a media server is one of the most common DIY Raspberry Pi projects.

In this article, we will talk about the best software available for Linux that you can use as a media player or media server – according to your requirements.

Some of these applications can also be used with Google’s Chromecast and Amazon’s Firestick.

Best Media Server Software for Linux

The Linux media server software mentioned is in no particular order of ranking.

I have tried to provide installation instructions for Ubuntu- and Debian-based distributions. It’s not possible to list installation steps for all Linux distributions for all the media servers mentioned here. Please take no offence at that.

Some applications mentioned here are not open source. They are listed here because they are available on Linux and the article’s focus is on Linux. When that’s the case, I have highlighted it appropriately.

1. Kodi

Kodi is one of the most popular programs in the category of media servers and players. Recently, Kodi 18.0 was dropped with a bunch of improvements including support for Digital Rights Management (DRM) decryption, game emulators, ROMs, voice control, and more.

It is completely free and open-source software. An active community for discussions and support exists as well. The user interface for Kodi is beautiful. I didn’t have the chance to use it in its early days – but in more recent versions, I was amazed to see such a good UI for a Linux application.

It has great playback support – so you can add content from any supported 3rd party media service or manually add ripped video files to watch.

How to install Kodi

Type the following commands into the terminal to install the latest version of Kodi on Ubuntu from its official PPA.

To know more about installing a development build or upgrading Kodi, refer to the official installation guide.

2. Plex

Plex is another impressive media player that can be used as media server software. It’s a great alternative to Kodi and is mostly used to create an offline media collection that can be synced and watched across multiple devices.

Unlike Kodi, Plex is not entirely open-source. It does offer a free account for its users. But it also offers premium pricing plans that allow you to unlock more features and have greater control over your media, while also being able to get detailed insights into who’s using Plex and what they’re using it for.

If you’re an audiophile, you’ll love how Plex integrates with the TIDAL music streaming service. You can also set up Live TV by adding it to your tuner.

How to install Plex

You can easily install Plex on Ubuntu by simply downloading the .deb file available on their official webpage and installing it directly (or using GDebi).

3. Jellyfin

Yet another open source media server software with a bunch of features. Jellyfin is actually a fork of the Emby media server. It may be one of the best out there available for ‘free’, although its multi-platform support still isn’t there yet.

You can run it on a browser or use Chromecast – however, you’ll have to wait if you want an Android app or if you want it to support several devices.

How to install Jellyfin

Jellyfin provides detailed documentation on how to install it from the binary packages and images available for Linux, Docker, and more.

You will also find it easy to install it from their repository via the command line for Debian-based distributions. Check out their installation guide for more information.

4. LibreELEC

LibreELEC is an interesting piece of media server software based on Kodi v18.0. They have recently released a new version (9.0.0) with a complete overhaul of core OS support, hardware compatibility and the user experience.

Of course, being based on Kodi, it also has DRM support so you can play protected contents.

LibreELEC also has special builds for single board computers like Raspberry Pi. You can install this special operating system on your Raspberry Pi and get a media center device ready in minutes.

How to install LibreELEC

You can download the installer from their official site. For detailed instructions on how to use it, please refer to the installation guide.

5. OpenFLIXR Media Server

Want something similar that complements the Plex media server but is also compatible with VirtualBox or VMware? You got it!

OpenFLIXR is an automated media server that integrates with Plex to provide all the same features along with the ability to auto-download TV shows and movies from torrents. It even fetches the subtitles automatically, giving you a seamless experience when coupled with the Plex media software.

You can also automate your home theater with this installed. If you don’t want to run it on a physical instance, it supports VMware, VirtualBox and Hyper-V as well. The best part is – it’s an open-source solution based on Ubuntu Server.

How to install OpenFLIXR

The best way to do it is by installing VirtualBox – that will make it easier. After doing that, just download OpenFLIXR from the official website and import it.

7. Gerbera

This is a simple implementation that allows a media server to stream using your local network. It supports transcoding, enabling it to convert media into the format your device supports.

If you’ve been keeping up with the different media server options for a very long time, then you may recognize this as a rebranded (and improved) version of MediaTomb. Even though it’s not a popular choice among Linux users, it can still be used when others fail or if you prefer a straightforward and a basic media server.

How to install Gerbera

Type the following command into the terminal to install it on any Ubuntu-based distro:

For other Linux distributions, refer to the documentation.

8. OSMC (Open Source Media Center)

This is an elegant-looking media server tool originally based on the Kodi media center. I was quite impressed with the user interface. It’s simple and robust, and is a free and open-source solution. In a nutshell, it has all the essential features you would expect in a media server.

You can also opt in to purchase OSMC’s flagship device, Vero 4K+. It will play just about anything up to 4K standards with HD audio. In addition, OSMC supports Raspberry Pi builds and the 1st-gen Apple TV.

How to install OSMC

If your device is compatible, you can just select your operating system, download the device installer from the official download page and create a bootable image to install.

9. Universal Media Server

Yet another simple addition to this list. Universal Media Server does not offer any fancy features but just helps you transcode/stream video and audio without needing much configuration.

It supports Xbox 360, PS3, and just about any other DLNA-capable device.

How to install Universal Media Center

You can find all the packages listed on FossHub, but you should check the official forum to learn more about how to install the package you download.

10. Red5 Media Server

A free and open-source media server tailored for enterprise usage. You can use it for livestreaming solutions, whether for entertainment or just video conferencing.

They also offer paid licensing options for mobiles and high scalability.

How to install Red5

Although it’s not the quickest installation method, follow the installation guide on GitHub to get started with the server without needing to tinker around.

Wrapping Up

Each media server program listed here has its own advantages – you should pick some up and see which one suits your requirements.

Did we miss one of your favorite media server tools? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Like what you read? Please share it with others.

Filed Under: List Tagged With: Media Server

About Ankush Das

A passionate technophile who also happens to be a Computer Science graduate. You will usually see cats dancing to the beautiful tunes sung by him.

I love It’s FOSS and the content you all create, but this article is quite misleading in several ways.

First, there’s not really anything true in the Jellyfin section. There are Jellyfin apps for almost every platform, and almost all of them work great. There are even a few different third-party Jellyfin apps specifically designed for music consumption that knock it out of the park.

Second, not creating a distinction between the sort of “set top box” OSes and media server OSes seems confusing and unhelpful for most people, especially beginners. I think this post should’ve been two different articles and probably should have been researched more. There are many suggestions for media servers not included here (namely Emby, though it was briefly mentioned) and some of the options here aren’t even that good.

That’s just my personal opinion, but I think it’s a good one. Ha thanks for hearing my rant, and keep up the good work.

Star date: June 21, 2021. I am currently developing a Jellyfin instance on a CentOS VPS Cloud. one thing I can say about working the internals remotely: “it’s a kick in the nuts, I tell ya!!” The most painful part is keeping the guide pulling data consistently. Although the multi device support (tablets,ipads,xBox,etc) is good, third party support for YouTube, Google Drive, etc is not there yet. A lot has changed since the creation of this article. Good things. I can’t wait to see what the future holds as the video streaming server window remain open for new innovations. I just wish that we had the option to turn off the guide because if you are looking to build an independent system with independent content, Jellyfin is an awesome barebone platform to build on. I just wish that we can make our own channels, map to them and they appear in the guide. I can’t run Kodi on CentOS, Serviio doesn’t hit home for me & none of these other platforms (excluding Jellyfin) doesn’t meet my needs…. ie. #Freedom. Great article Ankush

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12 Best Media Server Software for Linux in 2021

A media server is simply a specialized file server or computer system for storing media (digital videos/movies, audio/music, and images) that can be accessed over a network.

In order to set up a media server, you need computer hardware (or perhaps a cloud server) as well as software that enables you to organize your media files and makes it easier to stream and/or share them with friends and family.

In this article, we will share with you a list of the 10 best media server software for Linux systems. By the time you complete this article, you will be able to choose the most appropriate software to set up your home/office/cloud media server powered by a Linux system.

1. Kodi – Home Theater Software

Kodi (previously known as XBMC) is a free and open-source, highly customizable media server software. It is cross-platform and runs on Linux, Windows, macOS; iOS, and Android. It is more than just a media server; it’s an ideal entertainment center software with a fabulous user interface and several other media server software appliances are based on it.

Kodi Home Theater Software

Kodi enables you to play movies/videos, music/audio, podcasts, view images, and other digital media files from your local computer or a network server as well as the internet.

Kodi Features:

• Runs on a wide variety of devices.
• It is user-friendly.
• Supports a web interface.
• Supports a variety of user-created Add-ons.
• Supports televisions and remote controls.
• Has a highly configurable interface via skins.
• Allows you to watch and record live TV.
• Supports importing pictures into a library.
• Allows you to browse, view, sort, filter, or even start a slideshow of your pictures and much more.

How to Install Kodi in Linux

To install Kodi on Ubuntu-based distributions, use the following PPA to install the latest version.

To install Kodi on Debian, use the following command, as Kodi is available in the default “main” Debian repository.

To install Kodi on Fedora use pre-built RPMFusion packages as shown.

2. PLEX – Media Server

Plex is a powerful, secure and fully-featured, and easy-to-install media server software. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and many other platforms.

Plex Home Media Server

It supports almost all major file formats and allows you to organize your media in a central point for easy access. Plex has an easy-to-navigate interface, and a collection of useful apps for a variety of devices: phones, tablets, gaming consoles, streaming devices, and smart TVs.

Plex Features:

• Supports encrypted connections with multiple user accounts.
• Allows you to easily pick and choose what to share.
• Offers parental control functionality.
• Supports mobile sync which offers offline access to your media files.
• Supports flinging of video from one device to another.
• Also supports cloud sync.
• Supports audio fingerprinting and automatic photo-tagging.
• Has a media optimizer and much more.

How to Install Plex in Linux

To install Plex in Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS distributions, go to the Download section and choose your Linux distribution architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) to download DEB or RPM package and install it using your default package manager.

3. Subsonic – Personal Media Streamer

Subsonic is a secure, reliable, and easy-to-use personal media server and streamer. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and Synology NAS. It is very customizable and supports all major media formats. There are more than 25 supported apps that you can use to stream music directly on your mobile phone.

Subsonic Personal Media Streamer

Subsonic can operate with multiple users and any number of players at the same time. And it allows you to play movies/videos or music/audio files on any compatible DLNA/UPnP devices.

Subsonic Features:

• Has a highly configurable UI (user interface).
• Supports secure connections over HTTPS/SSL.
• Integrates with the best web services.
• Supports up to 28 languages and comes with 30 different themes.
• Offers chat features.
• Allows you to access your server using your own address i.e https://yourname.subsonic.org.
• Supports authentication in LDAP and Active Directory.
• Has an integrated podcast receiver.
• Supports setting upload and download bandwidth limits and lots more.

How to Install Subsonic in Linux

To install Subsonic in Debian/Ubuntu and Fedora/CentOS distributions, you need to first install Java 8 or Java 9 using the following commands on your respective distributions.

Next, go to the Subsonic Download section to grab the .deb or .rpm package and install it using your default package manager.

4. Madsonic – Music Streamer

Madsonic is an open-source, flexible, and secure web-based media server and media streamer developed using Java. It runs Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Unix-like systems. If you are a developer, there is a free REST API (Madsonic API) that you use to develop your own apps, addons, or scripts.

Madsonic Music Streamer

Madsonic Features:

• Easy to use and comes with jukebox functionality.
• It is highly flexible and scalable with an intuitive web interface.
• Offers search and index functionalities with Chromecast support.
• Has built-in support for your Dreambox receiver.
• Supports authentication in LDAP and Active Directory.

How to Install Madsonic in Linux

To install Madsonic in Debian/Ubuntu and Fedora/CentOS distributions, you need to first install Java 8 or Java 9 using the following commands on your respective distributions.

Next, go to the Madsonic Download section to grab the .deb or .rpm package and install it using your default package manager.

5. Emby – Open Media Solution

Emby is a powerful, easy-to-use, and cross-platform media server software. Simply install the emby server on your machine running Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, macOS, or on NAS. You can also grab the emby app on Android, iOS, Windows or run the web client from a browser or still use the emby TV app.

Emby Media Solution

Once you have it, it will help you manage your personal media libraries, such as home videos, music, photos, and many other media formats.

Emby Features:

• A beautiful UI with supports for mobile sync and cloud sync.
• Offers powerful web-based tools for managing your media files.
• Supports parental control.
• It automatically detects DLNA devices.
• Enables easy sending of movies/videos, music, pictures, and live TV shows to Chromecast and much more.

How to Install Emby in Linux

To install Emby in Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS distributions, go to the Emby Download section and choose your Linux distribution to download DEB or RPM package and install it using your default package manager.

6. Gerbera – UPnP Media Server

Gerbera is a free open source, powerful, flexible, and full-featured UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) media server. It comes with a simple and intuitive web user interface for easily configuring your web server.

Gerbera UPnP Media Server

Gerbera has a highly flexible configuration, allowing you to control the behavior of various features of the server. It allows you to browse and playback media via UPnP.

Gerbera Features:

• It is easy to set up.
• Supports metadata extraction from mp3, ogg, FLAC, jpeg, etc. files.
• Supports user-defined server layout based on extracted metadata.
• Support for ContentDirectoryService container updates.
• Comes with Exif thumbnail support.
• Supports automatic directory rescans (timed, inotify).
• Offers a nice Web UI with a tree view of the database and the file system, allowing to add/remove/edit/browse media.
• Support for external URLs (create links to internet content and serve them via UPnP to your renderer).
• Supports flexible media format transcoding via plugins/scripts and much more.

How to Install Gerbera in Linux

To install Gerbera in Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS distributions, follow our installation guide that explains the installation of Gerbera – UPnP Media Server in Linux and also shows how to stream media files using Gerbera on your home network.

Alternatively, you can install Gerbera in Linux distributions using:

7. Red5 Media Server

Red5 is an open-source, powerful, and multi-platform media streaming server for streaming live audio/video, recording client streams (FLV and AVC+AAC), remote object sharing, data synchronization, and much more. It is developed to be flexible with an effortless plugin architecture that offers customization for any live streaming scenario.

Red5 Media Server

How to Install Red5 in Linux

To install Red5 in Linux, follow the installation instructions on Github to get started with the server.

8. Jellyfin

Jellyfin is an open-source and free media streaming system that enables you to control and manage the stream of your media. It is an alternative to Emby and Plex, which offers media streaming from a dedicated server to end-user devices through multiple applications.

Jellyfin – Media Streaming System

How to Install Jellyfin in Linux

Install Jellyfin via Apt repository in Debian-based distributions.

For other Linux distributions, go to the Jellyfin download page and follow the installation instructions.

9. Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server is a DLNA-compatible UPnP media solution that created as a fork of PS3 Media Server. It enables you to stream media files to a wide range of devices that includes TVs, smartphones, gaming consoles, computers, audio receivers, and Blu-ray players.

Universal Media Server

How to Install Universal Media Server in Linux

To install UMS in Linux, you need to download UMS tarball and compile it from the source.

10. LibreELEC – Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center

LibreELEC is a lightweight Linux-based operating system for setting up your machine as a media server using Kodi. It is built from scratch for the sole purpose of running Kodi media server software.

LibreELEC – Open Embedded Linux

It allows you to organize your movie collections; offers you a picture browser, music and audiobook player, TV and personal video recorder, and a TV show management functionality. It is highly extensible through a great number of addons.

OpenELEC Features

• Organize your movie collections and play your media with relevant info, subtitles, and fanart.
• Manually watch all your photos or use a handy slide show with a zoom effect.
• Browe, watch and record your favorite TV channels.
• Manage your TV series and keep track of your favorite episodes.
• Listen to audio files in various formats with artists’ photos and album covers.
• Easy expandable with Addons.

How to Install LibreELEC in Linux

As we said, LibreELEC is a small Linux-based operating system built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a Kodi media center. To install it, go to the LibreELEC download section and choose your Linux distribution to download DEB or RPM package, and install it using your default package manager.

11. OSMC – Open Source Media Center

OSMC is a free open source, simple, easy-to-use, full-featured media server software and media streamer for Linux. It is based on the Kodi media server software. It supports all well-known media formats and a variety of sharing protocols. In addition, it comes with a remarkable interface. Once you have installed it, you get easy updates and apps to use.

OSMC – Open Source Media Center

How to Install OSMC in Linux

To install OSMC in Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, and RHEL/CentOS distributions, first go to the OSMC release section and download compiled version of OSMC, and install it.

12. Ampache

Ampache is an open-source audio and video streaming media server and file manager that enables you to host and manage your own audio/video collection on your server. It can stream your music and videos to your computer, smartphone, smart TV, or tablet using Ampache’s web interface from anywhere using an internet connection.

Ampache – Music Streaming Server

For Ampache installation, please visit the wiki page.

13. Tvmobili – Smart TV Media Server [Discontinued]

Tvmobili is a lightweight, high-performance, cross-platform media server software that runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS; NAS as well as embedded/ARM devices. It is easy to install and in addition, tvmobili is fully integrated with iTunes and offers amazing support for full 1080p High Definition (HD) videos.

Tvmobili Media Server

Tvmobili Features:

• Easy to install, high-performance media server.
• Fully integrated with iTunes (and iPhoto on Macs).
• Supports full 1080p High Definition (HD) video.
• Lightweight media server.

How to Install Tvmobili in Linux

To install Tvmobili in Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS distributions, go to the Tvmobili Download section and choose your Linux distribution to download DEB or RPM package and install it using your default package manager.

14. OpenFlixr – Media Server [Discontinued]

OpenFlixr is a virtual, flexible, energy-efficient, and fully automated media server software. It uses several other applications to achieve its overall functions, including Plex as a media server (to organizes movies, series, music, and pictures and streams them), Ubooquity for serving comics and ebooks, and a web-based reader. It supports automated downloading and serving of media, encrypted connections, and smart auto-updating.

OpenFLIXR Media Server

How to Install OpenFLIXR in Linux

To install OpenFLIXR, the only thing you need is visualization software such as VirtualBox, KVM, Vmware, etc.

Once you have visualization software installed, Download OpenFLIXR and then import in the hypervisor, power on, and let it sit back for a couple of minutes till installation finishes, after that go to http://IP-Address/setup to setup OpenFLIXR.

Conclusion

In this article, we shared with you some of the best media server software for Linux systems. If you know any media server software for Linux missing in the list above, just hit us up via the feedback form below.

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