Universal Media Server
Universal Media Server streams media to devices including TVs, phones, game consoles, computers, and audio receivers.
About Universal Media Server
Universal Media Server is a DLNA, UPnP and HTTP/S media server for Windows, Linux and macOS that streams or transcodes local files, disc drives, disc images and online sources to TVs, smartphones, game consoles, computers and audio receivers. It provides a web interface for browsing and playback, metadata lookup with filtering by actor, director, artist, genre and year, and integrations with TMDB, Discogs and MusicBrainz, plus support for YouTube channels, online radio, podcasts and RSS feeds.
New builds are released to Patreon supporters first, with older public builds available for download.
Key features
- Streams or transcodes media to TVs, phones, consoles, computers, audio receivers
- Web interface to browse files and play in browser or send to devices
- Filter videos by actor, director, genre, year and music by artist, genre, year
- Show cover art and metadata through TMDB, Discogs, and MusicBrainz integrations
- Add YouTube channels and manage online radio, podcasts, and RSS feeds
- Access disc drives and disc images directly
Best for: People who want to stream a local and online media collection to multiple devices from Windows, Linux, or macOS.
Good for
- Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS with direct download and package manager options
- Streams to many device types over DLNA, UPnP, and HTTP/S
- Allows media access without waiting for scans to finish
Watch out for
- New builds are released to Patreon supporters before public availability
- Server security is described as dependent on the security of the home network
Universal Media Server at a glance
- Website
- universalmediaserver.com
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Media Players & Servers
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Media Players & Servers
Universal Media Server alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
MusicBee organizes, finds, and plays music files on Windows computers, portable devices, and the web.
Stream a personal media collection to devices on a home network with Gerbera, a media server with optional on-the-fly transcoding.
Free
24 alternatives
Emby organizes and streams videos, music, photos, and live TV from a personal media server to connected devices.
Polaris streams a personal music collection to computers and mobile devices.
Open source
24 alternatives
Ampache streams and manages music and video collections through a web interface, with access from internet-enabled devices.
FreePick
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mStream syncs and streams a personal music library between devices through a self-hosted server.
Open source
24 alternativesPopular in Media Players & Servers
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Universal Media Server FAQ
Which operating systems and install methods are supported?
Windows, Linux, and macOS, via direct download or package managers including Chocolatey, Homebrew, AppImage, and Docker.
What types of devices can play media from the server?
TVs, smartphones, gaming consoles, computers, audio receivers, and more via UPnP, DLNA, HTTP/S, or a web browser.
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