A media server is an application software that stores digital media, such as audio, video, and images, and makes them available over a network. Media server software can stream any media to NAS (Network Attached Storage), PCs, smart TVs, Android and Apple devices, and more.
What are the best media server software? Below is a curated list of the top media server software for home/office, along with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open-source (free) and commercial (paid) software.
Best Media Server Software Collection [Free/Paid]
PlayOn
Windows Media Server Software Download: PlayOn is a computer application that helps you watch TV. It arranges streaming sites and media servers for easy storage of photos, music, and videos.
Features:
- You can stream shows from your desktop, phone, or tablet.
- It allows you to record and download videos as MP4.
- Episodes can be recorded with just a click of the mouse.
- The app can automatically skip ads while playing videos.
- You can transfer recordings to iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.
Plex
Plex is a media server software that lets you work with a large collection of media. The app allows you to stream TV shows, movies, personal videos, and much more. This software helps you share videos with your family.
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Features:
- You can use it on smart TVs, Android, Apple, and more.
- It has a variety of movies and shows to choose from.
- This video server software streams your videos.
- This Android media server provides real-time DVR and TV.
- The tool will automatically sync your media to your phone.
- You can upload media files from your camera.
Link: https:www.plex.tv/
Stremio
Stremio is a modern media server software that provides a solution for your video entertainment. It helps you enjoy movies, live TV, and TV shows. This app can be easily used from any device.
Features:
- It’s one of the best DLNA servers that lets you organize your media content with ease.
- You can use Stremio to watch content from the plugin.
- It is open-source, so it is possible to edit the code written with this tool.
- The software allows you to watch video content with ease.
- Stremio is available for smartphones, desktop computers, and tablets.
Link: https:www.stremio.com/
Emby Server
Emby Server is a media server tool that lets you manage your videos, music, and photos from one place. It automatically converts and streams any media so you can play it on any device.
Features:
- You can quickly log in to play the video.
- This PC media server lets you watch live TV.
- The app enables you to manage your child’s content access.
- It automatically organizes personal media into rich displays.
- Emby provides notifications for any server activity.
- You can easily manage media access time limits.
Link: https:emby.media/
OSMC
Best Media Server Software Collection: OSMC is an open-source and free media player. It enables you to play media from your local network. The media server operating system allows you to play videos from a USB stick.
Features:
- It offers an easy-to-use user interface.
- You can install this software quickly.
- It is one of the best free media servers that offers regular software updates.
- You can manage any media file.
- The supported platform is Linux.
Link: https:osmc.tv/
Kodi
What are the best media server software? Kodi is free to use with a player designed to play movies. This app offers an interactive full-screen interface. It is one of the best Windows 10 media servers that supports a wide range of media formats like MIDI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4.
Features:
- It works on a variety of devices, including desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and more.
- Users can play media files from the web and PC.
- This app makes it easy to import, browse, and play movie collections.
- It enables you to completely change the appearance of the player.
- This tool provides a library of TV shows that provide seasons and episodes
Link: https:kodi.tv/
Jellyfin
Windows Media Server Software Download: Jellyfin is free media software. It helps you stream any media from the server. This app allows you to collect and manage videos.
Features:
- You can collect TV shows and organize them by season.
- It makes it easy for you to enjoy a music party.
- You can watch live TV.
- It can record your TV automatically.
- You can store media files safely.
Link: https:jellyfin.org/
Subsonic
Subsonic is a personal media streamer. It allows you to listen to music from any browser. The app supports MP3, AAC, and OGG audio and video formats.
Features:
- The text search tool quickly finds tracks.
- It allows you to assign reviews and ratings to albums.
- This server media center helps you create playlists and share them with others.
- You can add, delete, repeat, and rearrange audio files.
- This app supports more than 28 languages.
- It contains more than 30 different themes.
- Subsonic enables you to configure the user interface.
- You can stream audio directly from your phone.
Link: http:www.subsonic.org/pages/index.jsp
Media Portal
Media Portal is a tool that lets you connect your PC directly to your TV and display movies, TV series, and photos. It allows you to use the remote control to control your home theater PC.
Features:
- You can listen to the radio and music.
- It enables you to view news, weather, and more.
- You can access the media portal from a mobile device or the web.
- This software can be used to schedule and record live TV.
- You can experience media on LCD, plasma, or projector.
Link: https:www.team-mediaportal.com/
Mezzmo
Mezzmo is media server software for streaming TV shows, movies, music, and photos. The tool is easy to use and highly configurable. It works on all popular devices like browsers, TVs, home theater systems, etc.
Features:
- It provides metadata details such as artwork, artist, title, and more.
- The tool allows you to select the audio language.
- It makes it easy for you to organize your media collection.
- Mezzmo offers complete playback controls, including play, stop, pause, search, and more.
Link: http:www.conceiva.com/products/mezzmo/
TVersity
Collection of Best Media Server Software: TVersity is a tool that lets you stream web and personal media. It can help you watch movies and videos from your computer to your TV or mobile phone.
Features:
- The app helps you stream premium internet content on your TV.
- It gives you a quick overview of your media library.
- TVersity provides a command-line interface.
- It supports multiple devices at the same time.
Link: http:tversity.com/
Serviio
What are the best media server software? Serviio is a free media server software that lets you stream media files on your TV and phone. The tool is based on Java technology and is therefore platform-agnostic.
Features:
- You can use Alexa devices and voice commands to control Serviio.
- It offers a user-friendly user interface.
- The app supports RAW camera images.
- You can categorize video files into movies or series.
- When you delete a media file, it automatically updates the media.
- The tool supports video thumbnails, DVD posters, CD covers, and more.
Link: https:serviio.org/
JRiver Media Center
Windows Media Server Software Download: JRiver Media Center is a program that lets you manage and watch movies and videos. You can use your iPhone, iPad, and more to control your media.
Features:
- It offers an easy-to-use user interface.
- This web multimedia server tool provides a music player.
- It contains a media database for managing large collections.
- The JRiver Media Center provides a friendly community forum.
Link: https:www.jriver.com/purchase.html
Madsonic
Madsonic is a media streaming and web-based audio, video, and photo library. This open-source media streaming server tool is based on Java and hence supports all of its features.
Features:
- It’s easy to use open-source tools
- You can manage more than 100,000 files in your music collection without limitations.
- The Madsonic software can resample the music to a suitable bitrate.
- When your bandwidth is limited, you can set a cap on streaming music.
- This media streaming server tool is available for Windows, Linux, OS X, and Mac.
Link: https:www.madsonic.org/pages/index.jsp
Imediashare
Imediashare is an app for watching videos without interruption on TV screens and mobile devices. It makes it easy for you to discover sports, news, and fitness classes.
Features:
- You can adjust the volume from your mobile device.
- It is available for both iPhone and Android phones.
- This home media server software has a simple and easy-to-use interface.
- It is suitable for both TV and audio systems.
- Imediashare supports the push-play feature on Apple TV.
Link: http:www.imediashare.tv/
Ampache
Windows Media Server Software Download: Ampache is an open-source media server tool that lets you browse and manage your music using an easy-to-use web interface. It allows you to listen to your favorite songs on websites using an HTML 5 player.
Features:
- It is open-source.
- Listen to music on your phone, TV, and tablet.
- This tool makes it easy for you to edit music albums.
- You can search for entire music albums.
- It makes it easy for you to browse through your audio and video library.
Link: http:ampache.org/
General Media Server
Collection of Best Media Server Software: A universal media server is a tool that lets you organize and deliver video, audio, and images to any device. The app can be streamed to any device, including LG, Sony, Samsung, and more.
Features:
- All media files can be played with ease.
- This media server software for Windows 10 uses HTTPS to provide security.
- You can easily manage plugins.
- The app helps you play video and audio to your DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) device.
- It is available for Apple, Windows, and Linux.
Link: https:www.universalmediaserver.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is Media Server Software?
A media server is an application software that stores digital media such as audio, video, and images and makes it available over a network. Media server software can stream any media to NAS (Network Attached Storage), PCs, smart TVs, Android and Apple devices, and more.
💻 What is the best media server software?
What are the best media server software? Here are some of the best media server software:
- Plex
- Stremio
- PlayOn
- OSMC
- Kodi
- Jellyfin
- Media Portal
- Serviio
- Madsonic
- Universal Media Server
❗ How does a media server work?
A media server usually delivers files to you with the help of a web server. First, you visit a web page that is stored on a web server. When you open a file that you must use, the server sends a notification to the media server telling it which file you are looking for. The media server sends the file directly to you, bypassing the web server.
⚡ What are the most common file formats supported by media server software?
The most common file formats supported by media server software are MIDI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.MP3, AAC, etc.
🏅 What are the benefits of media server software?
Here are the advantages of media server software:
- The app allows you to stream TV shows, movies, personal videos, and much more. This software helps you share videos with your family.
- You can upload media files from your camera.
- The tool will automatically sync your media to your phone.
- It offers live DVR and TV.
- You can use it on smart TVs, Android, Apple, and more.
- It allows you to watch videos on your TV screen and mobile devices without any interruptions.
