1
Also covers media · same kind of website · free
Stream a personal media collection to devices on a home network with Gerbera, a media server with optional on-the-fly transcoding.
Alternatives
The Best Emby Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives4 free · 8 open source
Looking for something like Emby? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 4 are free or have a free plan and 8 are open source.
Emby organizes and streams videos, music, photos, and live TV from a personal media server to connected devices.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionGerberaStream a personal media collection to devices on a home…Open source optionmStreammStream syncs and streams a personal music library between…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerbera | Free | Not stated | Android, iOS, Web |
| 2 | mStream | — | Yes | Android, iOS, Web |
| 3 | LedFx | — | Not stated | Linux, Web, Windows |
| 4 | MusicBee | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 5 | Tunarr | — | Yes | macOS |
| 6 | Universal Media Server | — | Not stated | Web |
| 7 | OSMC | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 8 | ErsatzTV | Free | Not stated | Linux, macOS, Web |
| 9 | Strawberry | — | Not stated | Linux, macOS, Web |
| 10 | Ampache | Free | Not stated | Web |
All Emby alternatives
2
Also covers media · open source
mStream syncs and streams a personal music library between devices through a self-hosted server.
3
LedFx
docs.ledfx.app/en/stableAlso covers media · same kind of website
LedFx drives real-time audio effects on network-connected LED devices.
4
MusicBee
getmusicbee.comAlso covers media · same kind of website
MusicBee organizes, finds, and plays music files on Windows computers, portable devices, and the web.
5
Open source
Tunarr creates live TV channels from personal media managed by Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, or NFO files.
6
Universal Media Server
universalmediaserver.comAlso covers media · same kind of website
Universal Media Server streams media to devices including TVs, phones, game consoles, computers, and audio receivers.
7
OSMC
osmc.tvAlso covers media · same kind of website
OSMC provides a free, open-source media center designed for organizing and playing personal media.
8
Also covers media · same kind of website · free
ErsatzTV turns a personal media library into custom live TV channels, with channel scheduling and an electronic program guide.
9
Strawberry
strawberrymusicplayer.orgAlso covers media · same kind of website
Strawberry organizes and plays digital music collections on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can stream radio.
10
Also covers media · same kind of website · free
Ampache streams and manages music and video collections through a web interface, with access from internet-enabled devices.
11
Tunarr
tunarr.comAlso covers media · same kind of website
Tunarr creates live TV channels from media on Plex or Jellyfin servers, with channel configuration through a web interface.
12
Open source
dizqueTV creates live TV channels from personal media and exposes streams through a simulated HDHomeRun tuner or generated M3U URL.
13
NextPVR
nextpvr.comAlso covers media · same kind of website
NextPVR records, plays, and streams live television as a whole-home digital video recorder.
14
Open source
Polaris streams a personal music collection to computers and mobile devices.
15
Swing
swingmx.comAlso covers media
Swing Music is a self-hosted streaming server for playing a personal music collection.
16
Also covers media · open source
xTeVe proxies M3U playlists for Plex DVR and Emby Live TV, with options to merge and update M3U and XMLTV files.
17
Open source
LedFx generates real-time audio effects for supported network-connected LED devices.
18
WatchParty
watchparty.meAlso covers media · same kind of website
WatchParty lets friends watch the same YouTube video, personal video, or virtual browser stream while chatting and reacting in real time.
19
Also covers media · same kind of website · free
Navidrome streams a personal music collection through a web interface and compatible mobile apps.
20
Also covers media · open source
Black Candy runs a self-hosted music streaming server for listening to a personal music collection.
21
Also covers media · open source
Jellyfin’s server backend and API support collecting, managing, and streaming personal media from a server.
22
Lyrion
lyrion.orgAlso covers media · same kind of website
Lyrion Music Server controls and streams music to compatible physical and virtual audio players.
23
koel
koel.devAlso covers media · same kind of website
Koel lets users host and stream their own music collection through a self-hosted server.
24
Jellyfin
jellyfin.orgAlso covers media · same kind of website
Jellyfin lets users collect, manage, and stream their media from a server they run on their own system.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Ampache10 alternativesJellyfin16 alternativesStrawberry8 alternativesmStream24 alternativesUniversal Media Server16 alternativesSwing24 alternatives
TopicMedia Players & Servers · 194 sites Best-of listBest Free Media Players: 8 Choices for Files, Subtitles and TV ListingEmby details
What is the best alternative to Emby?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to Emby are Gerbera, mStream, and LedFx.
Is there a free alternative to Emby?
Yes. Gerbera, ErsatzTV, and Ampache are free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to Emby?
Yes: mStream, Tunarr, dizqueTV, and Polaris.
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative