1
MusicBee
getmusicbee.comAlso covers media · same kind of website
MusicBee organizes, finds, and plays music files on Windows computers, portable devices, and the web.
Alternatives
The Best Universal Media Server Alternatives in 2026
16 alternatives2 free · 8 open source
Looking for something like Universal Media Server? Here are 16 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 2 are free or have a free plan and 8 are open source.
About Universal Media Serveruniversalmediaserver.com
VisitUniversal Media Server streams media to devices including TVs, phones, game consoles, computers, and audio receivers.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionMusicBeeMusicBee organizes, finds, and plays music files on Windows…Free or freemium optionGerberaStream a personal media collection to devices on a home…Open source optionPolarisPolaris streams a personal music collection to computers…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MusicBee | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 2 | Gerbera | Free | Not stated | Android, iOS, Web |
| 3 | Emby | — | Not stated | Web |
| 4 | Polaris | — | Yes | Android, Linux, Windows |
| 5 | Ampache | Free | Not stated | Web |
| 6 | mStream | — | Yes | Android, iOS, Web |
| 7 | Lyrion | — | Not stated | Web, Windows |
| 8 | Jellyfin | — | Not stated | Web |
| 9 | koel | — | Not stated | Android, iOS, Web |
| 10 | Vlc | — | Yes | — |
All Universal Media Server alternatives
2
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.
3
Emby
emby.mediaAlso covers media · same kind of website
Emby organizes and streams videos, music, photos, and live TV from a personal media server to connected devices.
4
Open source
Polaris streams a personal music collection to computers and mobile devices.
5
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.
6
Also covers media · open source
mStream syncs and streams a personal music library between devices through a self-hosted server.
7
Lyrion
lyrion.orgAlso covers media · same kind of website
Lyrion Music Server controls and streams music to compatible physical and virtual audio players.
8
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.
9
koel
koel.devAlso covers media · same kind of website
Koel lets users host and stream their own music collection through a self-hosted server.
10
Also covers media · open source
VLC plays multimedia files, discs, streams, and devices, and can also convert, encode, and stream media.
11
Swing
swingmx.comAlso covers media
Swing Music is a self-hosted streaming server for playing a personal music collection.
12
Also covers media · open source
Streama offers a self-hosted streaming media server, with setup instructions and documentation linked from the project.
13
Also covers media · open source
MovieNight provides a single-instance server for video streaming with integrated chat.
14
Also covers media · open source
Jellyfin’s server backend and API support collecting, managing, and streaming personal media from a server.
15
Also covers media · open source
Black Candy runs a self-hosted music streaming server for listening to a personal music collection.
16
Open source
Gonic streams music through a server implementing the Subsonic API as free software.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Ampache10 alternativesJellyfin16 alternativesmStream24 alternativesVlc24 alternativesSwing24 alternativesBlack Candy24 alternatives
TopicMedia Players & Servers · 194 sites Best-of listBest Free Media Players: 8 Choices for Files, Subtitles and TV ListingUniversal Media Server details
What is the best alternative to Universal Media Server?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to Universal Media Server are MusicBee, Gerbera, and Emby.
Is there a free alternative to Universal Media Server?
Yes. Gerbera and Ampache are free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to Universal Media Server?
Yes: Polaris, mStream, Vlc, and Streama.
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