Jellyfin

Media server for audio, video, books, comics, and photos with a sleek interface and robust transcoding capabilities. Almost all modern platforms have clients, including Roku, Android TV, iOS, and Kodi.

Website Source code Live demo

GitHub stars: 58,039
License: GPL-2.0
Latest release: v12.2
5 October 2026
Last commit: 12 October 2026
Runs on: C#, Debian packages, Docker

Commits per month, last 12 months

2,067 commits

Replaces

Paid products Jellyfin can stand in for.

EmbyMedia server with a paid Premiere tier.NetflixSubscription streaming for films and series.PlexMedia server with a paid Plex Pass.

How to self-host Jellyfin

Jellyfin runs on C#, Debian packages and Docker. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Guides that cover it

Self-hosting for beginners: what it is and how to start

What self-hosting means, why people run their own apps, the three ways to do it, what you need to know about backups and updates, and good first apps.

Questions

Is Jellyfin free?

Yes. Jellyfin is open source under the GPL-2.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host Jellyfin?

Yes. Jellyfin runs on C#, Debian packages and Docker. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does Jellyfin replace?

People use Jellyfin instead of Emby, Netflix or Plex.

Is Jellyfin still maintained?

The last change to Jellyfin's code was on 12 October 2026, with 2067 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.