We all are fond of music and videos and everybody has their own collection of media files both on computers and smartphones. But you can't carry every time your huge collection of movies, songs, and other media files with you. In such a situation, the home media server comes in handy. There are a bunch of the best open-source and free media server software available online that can set up on your own personal home computer. You can store all your media files in one place on the media server and can access them remotely or locally using a computer or smartphone. For example, you are out of town and want to access your movies or music, what you will do, just take out your smartphone enter your home media server address, and boom!! Using media servers you can create your own personal YouTube, Netflix, and Vimeo. Some Media servers based on lightweight Linux, which means to save electricity and other resources you can install them on Rasberry Pi.
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Best Free & Opensource Media server for Linux, Mac, or Windows
Here we have listed Free and Open source Media server software to be used in 2021 that can be work on both Linux and Windows.
PLEX Media Server (Freemium, not opensource)
We already have a done couple of articles on Plex and it really has some great features that allow it in our best media server list. The Plex Media Server is available for a variety of platforms such as Windows, Linux, Mac, Docker, and third-party NAS (network-attached storage device) Synology, Qnap, Netgear, Seagate, and more…
The Plex media server is not open-source instead of freemium software and offers some features on a subscription base only. However, still here because of its easy to use and install capabilities.
Whereas the Plex player comes under both freemium and open source license GPL v2. Due to its vast range of devices support the Plex continuously gaining popularity as a media streamer.
Plex server and Plex apps
The Plex media server is based on a client-server model. Online editing software like photoshop. It offers a wide range of client apps for different devices to support and stream its media server content easily. The Plex app is available for Android, Web, Windows, Kodi, Windows Phone, TiVo, SONOS, Android TV, Chrome cast, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Amazon Alexa, Roku, Nvidia Shield, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 & 4 and Smart TV.
Plex Media Server Features:
- Account management
- Support all format videos and audios
- iOS, Windows, and Android Mobile platform support
- Privacy and security
- Media Libraries Sharing
- No Storage Limit
- Online channels
- Live TV
- Plex cloud
- Mobile and Cloud Sync
- Parental control
- Audio Fingerprinting
- Remote Controls
- Media Optimizer and more…
If you are interested in PLEX, also see: How To setup Plex Media Server on Ubuntu Linux.
Kodi Open Source Home Theater Software
Kodi 100% Opensource Media center software that stores all your digital media files in one place like Plex and gives you a beautiful interface to access them. The Kodi was previously known as Xbox Media center or XMBC. Kodi provides a bit different media server software approach. It works more as a local media streamer rather than functions a server-client relationship like PLEX. It was developed as an XMBC open-source media center and still distributed under open source licenses. It plays content from two sources one is locally saved content and the second is via plugins.
It has a vast range of Addon for popular web services, applications, and scripts such as Pluto.TV, PS Vue, HDHomeRun, SoundCloud, Kodi Android Installer, Rooster Teeth, and more… It also provides an add-on to stream, video content from various sources like NBC, CBS, Funimation, and Crunchyroll. It is a perfect mixture of a media center PC/homer sever software. Kodi is also multi-platform support Media center/server software and supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and embedded devices like the Raspberry Pi.
Kodi Features:
- TV Shows library supports
- Supporting all the main video formats
- Kodi can play all your music including mp3, flac, wav, and WMA formats
- Import pictures and view them in different styles such as slideshow
- Support Live TV recording
- JSON-RPC based remote interface
- Smartphone and Tablet Apps
- Add-Ons for popular web services, applications, and scripts.
- Works popular backends such as MediaPortal, MythTV, NextPVR, Tvheadend, and much more.
Emby Media Server
Emby is a great and best free Media server similar to Plex in features and user interface. While Plex is a closed source or freemium, Emby is totally open-source media server software. In comparison to Plex, the Emby is much easier to install for newbies and you can see our article: How to Install Emby media server, step by the step installation process. Emby offers lots of customization, media management, and database options.
The Emby Media server is available for Windows, Linux, Nas Devices, Mac OS, Docker, and FreeBSD. Like Plex, the Emby is also has a dedicated Linux installer for Debian, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, OpenSUSE, Fedora, and CentOS. If you are looking for a 100% open-source Media server for your office or home then Emby is the best one.
Web-based Management System of Emby to install plugins, edit metadata and subtitles, Sync, and more…
Emby also offers Apps for the mobile operating system: Emby Web client, Android, iOS, Windows 10, and Windows Mobile. Apart from the Emby Apps, it also has a good collection of TV Apps as follow:
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire Tv
- Shield Android TV
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- Roku
- Emby Theatre HTML5
- Emby Theatre for Windows
- LG Smart TV
- Samsung Smart TV
- PS4
- Xbox One
- Windows Media Center
- Xbox 360
- Kodi
- PS3
Emby Media Server Features
- Emby Server automatically converts and streams the media
- Stream Live TV to any device
- Web-based tools to edit metadata and subtitles
- Easy DLNA
- Parental Controls
- Easily control content access
- Cloud Sync
- Chromecast
Jellyfin Media Server
Jellyfin is another popular open-source project that lets us create quickly a modern media server with an interactive web user interface to manage videos, images, and music from any device.
We can browser media content using Jellyfin on various devices such as computers, apps on your Roku, Android, iOS (including AirPlay), Android TV, or Fire TV device, or via your Chromecast or existing Kodi. Whereas when it comes to installing the Jellyfin server platform it doesn't limit to Linux only, we can set it up on machines running Microsoft Windows, macOS, or in a Docker container.
Learn the process to install Jellyfin on Ubuntu 20.04/18.04 or Debian.
MediaPortal
MediaPortal is a well-featured open-source HTPC media center and similar to Kodi. It does not have features like Emby and Plex, but still, it's very good open-source media server software. Using it you can watch, schedule, and record live TV like TiVo, streaming media, radio, and TV to any HTPC connected to your network., Check the weather, news, slideshow of pictures & videos, and more. It can access easily the web or mobile device. It also based on Client/Server Architecture.
See:How to Install and Configure the MediaPortal Media server on Windows 10 PC
MediaPortal
Media Portal Features
- Watch TV, Videos, and DVD
- Watch Online Videos
- Listening to Music, Radio, and Web Streams
- Schedule Recordings
- Client/Server Architecture
- Skin System
- Plug-in System
- Check Weather Forecast
- Picture and video slideshow Viewer
- Multiple Tuner Support
- Time Shifting, Pause, and Record TV/Radio
- Read RSS Feeds
OpenFLIXR Media Server
OpenFLIXR 2 is the easiest free all-in-one home Media server that offers all media solutions in one package. OpenFLIX Media server software download, install updates of media programs automatically. This home media server is a combination of all well-known open-source projects out there including Plex Media Server.
OpenFLIXR Media Server all-in on video streaming server
Software used in OpenFLIXR are:
- CouchPotato + Radarr for Movies
- SickRage + Sonarr for automated TV show downloading
- Headphones- Automated music downloader
- Mopidy-Music Server
- Ubooquity-Comics and Ebooks & Web-based Reader
- Subtitles- AutoSub, Sub-Zero, Sickrage
- HTPC Manager
- Plex Media Server to organizes movies, series, music, and photos
- SABnzbd, NZBge, qBittorrent
- Netdata + Monit for monitoring
- Home-Assistant
- And More…
The OpenFLIXR media server needs a virtual machine to install since it is a virtual application.
OpenELEC
OpenELEC is a lightweight Linux operating system built to create a media server like Kodi. The full form of the OpenELEC is Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center. Due to its lightweight, it can be easily installed on Raspberry, Apple TV, or low configurations systems.
Features of OpenELEC are:
- TV Show Management
- Movie Organizer and Player
- Music and Audiobook Player
- Freescale iMX6 ARM builds for Cubox-i, CuboxTV, and Hummingboard boxes
- TV and Personal Video Recorder
- Addon available to expand its feature
- Picture Browser
OSMC Media Center
OSMC Media center is last on our list. It is an open-source media center with a simple design and intuitive navigation system. The OSMC media center is based on Kodi and Debian. It also offers paid hardware kits and other accessories to enhance the OSMC user experience such as the Vero 4K. It is a hardware device with OSMC that supports 4K, HEVC, 10-bit content, and HD audio. It supports almost every type of media file. OSMC Media center is available for Linux, Windows, Mac OS, Rasberry Pi, Vero, and Apple TV.
OSMC Media Center
A verdict on Best Free & Opensource Media Server Software Options
Although Plex, Emby, and Kodi are the best and most popular media servers. But that doesn't mean that other media servers are not good some of them like OpenFlixr are worth trying. We have put everything we know on this list, now it's all upon you which you want to use. If you want to install a media server along with a NAS server then you can go for open-source NAS software like FreeNAS.
Mac Media Player Download
You might also like to see:
DVDs are still one of the most common ways for people to watch movies. You might have a lot of DVD collections and want to find the best Mac DVD player software that supports almost DVD playbacks on Mac computer. If so, here is the right place for you. Here are five software that can help you get around the lack of native Mac DVD Playback with a lot of ease. Just go on and read more.
If you're running a Windows computer, please go to 'Top 5 Best DVD Player Software for Windows PCs' to get your choice. Picture converter software.
Top 5 best DVD player software for Mac
MAC MEDIA PLAYER
Mac Media Player is one of the free DVD player software available for you to enjoy your DVD movies. A powerful high def video player works on Mac OS X 10.5 to 10.9 for V2.9.2 platforms. If you are using this program for the first time you need to select is as a default player in Mac. Mac Media Player allows you to enjoy your movies on either full screen or window modes.
MPLAYEROSX
When it comes to DVD player software, Mac never lacks since there are a number of good media players that support Mac. One these media player is MPlayerOSX. It is worth mentioning that when you install this program it installs with MPlayer as the front-end application. It is a binary application that was meant for Mplayer (Linux' Movie Player) as well as it is a native to Mac OS X. An easy to use program allows you to simply use drag as well as drop functions to play your DVDs. You can enjoy your movies on either full screen or window modes. It supports Mac OS X 10.5 and later platforms. Mac Media Player compares favorably like some of its competitors in the mark.
OpenFLIXR Media Server
OpenFLIXR 2 is the easiest free all-in-one home Media server that offers all media solutions in one package. OpenFLIX Media server software download, install updates of media programs automatically. This home media server is a combination of all well-known open-source projects out there including Plex Media Server.
OpenFLIXR Media Server all-in on video streaming server
Software used in OpenFLIXR are:
- CouchPotato + Radarr for Movies
- SickRage + Sonarr for automated TV show downloading
- Headphones- Automated music downloader
- Mopidy-Music Server
- Ubooquity-Comics and Ebooks & Web-based Reader
- Subtitles- AutoSub, Sub-Zero, Sickrage
- HTPC Manager
- Plex Media Server to organizes movies, series, music, and photos
- SABnzbd, NZBge, qBittorrent
- Netdata + Monit for monitoring
- Home-Assistant
- And More…
The OpenFLIXR media server needs a virtual machine to install since it is a virtual application.
OpenELEC
OpenELEC is a lightweight Linux operating system built to create a media server like Kodi. The full form of the OpenELEC is Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center. Due to its lightweight, it can be easily installed on Raspberry, Apple TV, or low configurations systems.
Features of OpenELEC are:
- TV Show Management
- Movie Organizer and Player
- Music and Audiobook Player
- Freescale iMX6 ARM builds for Cubox-i, CuboxTV, and Hummingboard boxes
- TV and Personal Video Recorder
- Addon available to expand its feature
- Picture Browser
OSMC Media Center
OSMC Media center is last on our list. It is an open-source media center with a simple design and intuitive navigation system. The OSMC media center is based on Kodi and Debian. It also offers paid hardware kits and other accessories to enhance the OSMC user experience such as the Vero 4K. It is a hardware device with OSMC that supports 4K, HEVC, 10-bit content, and HD audio. It supports almost every type of media file. OSMC Media center is available for Linux, Windows, Mac OS, Rasberry Pi, Vero, and Apple TV.
OSMC Media Center
A verdict on Best Free & Opensource Media Server Software Options
Although Plex, Emby, and Kodi are the best and most popular media servers. But that doesn't mean that other media servers are not good some of them like OpenFlixr are worth trying. We have put everything we know on this list, now it's all upon you which you want to use. If you want to install a media server along with a NAS server then you can go for open-source NAS software like FreeNAS.
Mac Media Player Download
You might also like to see:
DVDs are still one of the most common ways for people to watch movies. You might have a lot of DVD collections and want to find the best Mac DVD player software that supports almost DVD playbacks on Mac computer. If so, here is the right place for you. Here are five software that can help you get around the lack of native Mac DVD Playback with a lot of ease. Just go on and read more.
If you're running a Windows computer, please go to 'Top 5 Best DVD Player Software for Windows PCs' to get your choice. Picture converter software.
Top 5 best DVD player software for Mac
MAC MEDIA PLAYER
Mac Media Player is one of the free DVD player software available for you to enjoy your DVD movies. A powerful high def video player works on Mac OS X 10.5 to 10.9 for V2.9.2 platforms. If you are using this program for the first time you need to select is as a default player in Mac. Mac Media Player allows you to enjoy your movies on either full screen or window modes.
MPLAYEROSX
When it comes to DVD player software, Mac never lacks since there are a number of good media players that support Mac. One these media player is MPlayerOSX. It is worth mentioning that when you install this program it installs with MPlayer as the front-end application. It is a binary application that was meant for Mplayer (Linux' Movie Player) as well as it is a native to Mac OS X. An easy to use program allows you to simply use drag as well as drop functions to play your DVDs. You can enjoy your movies on either full screen or window modes. It supports Mac OS X 10.5 and later platforms. Mac Media Player compares favorably like some of its competitors in the mark.
APPLE DVD PLAYER
This DVD player software is one of the simplest Mac DVD players that you can never afford to miss. It is so simple that all it takes to play your DVD on your Mac after installation is to insert your DVD in your drive and it will play automatically. Furthermore, if the DVD has a menu Apple DVD Player will automatically put on view the disc's DVD menu screen. On the other hand, you can use your mouse to select your items of choice on the menu. It comes with navigation buttons that enables you to use the DVD Player Controller with a lot of ease. Apple DVD Player supports Mac OS X v10.6 and earlier and earlier versions. It also enables you to turn on or off your DVD subtitles as well as skip chapters. Apple DVD Player comes bundled in Mac machines and it does not come with any cost.
ULTIMATE DVD PLAYER
Ultimate DVD Player is one DVD player software that will playback DVD disk and at the same time will allow you to change the speed (50% - 150%) as well as pitch (+/- 2 semitones). This means it can accelerate the video speed or slow it according to your preferences, giving you control of your DVD performances. It comes with additional features such as setting of loop points, bookmarks and a number of other features that will make the experience fun. Ultimate DVD Player also comes with key board command that functions with the loop control buttons better stereo field preservation and superb sound quality. Ultimate DVD Player only supports OS X 10.5 or better and Intel computers, which is one of its greatest shortcomings.
IREAL MAC BLU-RAY PLAYER
Media Server Software Mac
One amazing software that you can use to play DVDs on your Mac is iReal Mac Blu-ray Player. This program is way beyond your traditional media player since iReal Mac Blu-ray Player gives you the ability to enjoy Blu-ray player on Mac of course including DVD. It plays virtually any media that you can think. With its compatibility with almost all the Macs versions of software, iReal Blu-ray Player is built to deliver stunning HD visual as well as high audio quality. Though powerful, it is faster and lighter, thus making it more stable when playing DVDs. iReal Blu-ray Player offers all in one style in addition to playing virtually very file format that you may wish to.
Want to play DVD on Mac, but don't like to install extra media player?
Sometimes it can be somehow challenging to notice that despite using the above-mentioned DVD player software you end up with compatibility issues. However, this should not mean that you cannot enjoy watching your DVD on Mac. You can use EaseFab DVD Ripper for Mac (compatible with OS X Yosemite 10.10, Mavericks 10.9, Mountain Lion 10.8 and Mac 10.7/10.6) to enhance your experience. The program is a professional DVD ripper that is capable of converting your DVD to an acceptable file format that is supported by your default media player supported by your computer. It allows you to convert your DVD with a lot of ease thus making the experience fun. Nothing can be compared to the ability to convert your DVD devoid of any obstacle.
The most amazing thing with this tool is that you can convert your DVD with just a few clicks your DVD movie without the restriction of DVD players. Here is a detailed guide on how to use EaseFab DVD Ripper to convert DVD to an acceptable file format that is supported by your default media player supported by your computer.
Media Server Software Mac
If you are using the software for the first time, install the program on your computer. After a successful installation,
1. Insert the DVD in your drive and then run the program in your computer.
2. Click 'Load DVD' button.
3. Select your preferred file format as the output format (for instance MP4) from the drop-down list of 'Profile' or select a proper format from the category of iPod, iPhone, iPad or PSP for your multimedia devices.
4. Click the 'Convert' button to begin ripping the DVD file to your desired file format.
