If you want the most polished look and are willing to pay a small fee for a higher quality experience, Plex is the ideal choice. If you’re looking for a more customizable solution, Kodi or Emby are the clear winners. Which is the best option lies truly in the eye of the beholder. Emby offers free streaming of live TV, unlike Plex which requires the premium plan. Like Kodi, Emby is more customizable than Plex, including the ability to apply your own CSS and change the overall look. Plex’s aesthetics are superior to Emby’s, with easier app navigation and sleeker feel. Emby also offers a free version and a premium plan called Emby Premier, similar to the Plex Pass, offered at the exact same price. Plex and Emby are the most similar platforms on the market, as Embry also hosts content via dedicated servers, unlike Kodi. If you’re looking for a more customizable option, Kodi is the better alternative, allowing users to tailor the look and feel to their liking. Kodi is a truly opensource software offering similar features, without a premium subscription upgrade.

Also, Plex is not a true freeware as it offers the muscle of its features via a paid subscription. This could be a bad thing if you’re already on your flight before realizing you forgot to sync your latest movie download to your tablet. Plex beats Kodi for portability, as Plex syncs your media across all devices, unlike Kodi, which has the capability, but is not automatic. Kodi and Emby are similar services to Plex, both serving as full-featured media players. Plex claims it’s more like a Netflix for your own content, but does not provide content itself. Some people mistakenly compare Plex to services like Netflix or Hulu. It is compatible with popular media players including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS 8.1 or later, PlayStation 3 or 4, and many more.

Plex runs on Windows 7 OS version and later, OS X and later, Linux, and several other operating systems. Portability and having a single solution for your media are key features of this software suite. Quickly add your personal media library to the desktop app with an easy import feature, later streaming it to any device via the Plex mobile app. Suitable for both the professional and the average user, Plex allows for large file storage (think: professional high-resolution images), auto-categorization of personal media, and a safe place to store your beloved tunes. The software’s entertainment vertical gives you access to your favorite podcasts, TV shows, movies, news, and music.

With its provider-agnostic foundation, users can collect, organize, and stream their media anywhere, anytime. Easily organize and stream your personal and purchased media in a single app Plex puts the power in users’ hands.

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