Are you looking for the best Plex alternatives to manage, play, or share your media files? One of the most reputed home media sharing and managing solutions is Plex Media Server but there are alternatives that can help you get all your online and local media aligned. A reliable Plex alternative device will help store movies and apps on a central server that can provide access from anywhere. These can be caught on TV, phones, computers, or iPads. Many people, however, look for a free alternative to Plex. There are several Plex like media server apps.

Table of Contents

If you wish to look at efficient and easy streaming media solutions in the sections below we discuss reliable Plex alternative solutions.

Part 1: Basic Introduction of Plex Media Server

When speaking of Plex, you might anticipate figuring out the below questions.

What is Plex Media Server?

Plex offers one place to find and access all kinds of media files that you might be interested in. From personal media on your own server to podcasts, web shows, and news, to streaming music, video, and movies, you can enjoy it all in one app on any wanted device. If you stream third-party content including podcasts, web shows, TIDAL music, you need to sign up for an account.

Plex supports computers running on Windows, macOS X, Linux, online browsers including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and mobile devices of both Android and iOS. Other streaming devices are also supported including Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Alexa, Chromecast, Roku, Sonos, and TiVO.

Plex alternative to manage media file

How does it work?

  • Install and run the Plex Media Server on a computer where all of your media files are stored and managed in the types of TV shows, home videos, movies, personal music, and photo libraries.
  • Add media libraries by type of content and let Plex auto-work for the rest: cataloging and adding artwork, info.
  • Install and open the Plex app on any device: online browser, personal computer, smart TV, mobile phone, tablet, and game console.
  • Click the Play button to enjoy your media files when it streams from the Plex Media Server to your own device.

That means you can share your media files with your family members or friends via the Plex Media Server. 

By the way, if you are a fan of video streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, you can stream content via a web browser. Netflix 1080p Chrome and Firefox extensions will make it possible.

Of course, if you are looking for a streaming video downloader to download streaming videos for offline playback, you might as well try out DVDFab DRM Video Download on a free download trial basis.

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Part 2: Best Media Server Software – DVDFab Player 6

Aside from free media servers or open-source media server software, here comes a professional media manager program, DVDFab Player 6, which doubles as an all-in-one media server software to manage and play all sorts of media files. Look at the following flagship features of this best leading 4K media player.

Plex alternative to manage media file

Plex alternative to manage media file

  • Available on Win & Mac, 30-day free trial
  • Play DVDs, (4K Ultra HD)Blu-rays, 4K videos, HEVC, H.264, and other media files
  • The navigation menu on DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays
  • Play 3D contents and output Hi-Res audio
  • Build, organize, and manage local media library for videos, movies, discs, TV shows, and music via poster walls
  • Integrate a inbuilt file explorer to access your media contents from your hard drives
  • Import DVD & Blu-ray disc to local media library as ISO files
  • Automatically scrape online metadata information on movies, TV Shows, videos and music including poster artwork, plot, etc.
  • Allow users to manually fix the metadata information if the scraped information is inaccurate
  • PC and TV playback modes for small & large screens
  • Fast and precise preview with adjustable thumbnails
  • Custom playlist with considerate & flexible settings

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Plex alternative to manage media file

Plex alternative to manage media file

Plex alternative to manage media file

With this best media player software, you play all sorts of media files including DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays, 4K videos, and regular video files without any hassle.

Part 3: Top 10 Best Plex Alternatives Worth Your Concern

In this part, we will discuss the top 10 best Plex alternatives that you might like when it comes to storing, managing, and playing your media files. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Whichever to choose, it depends on your personal needs and preference.

Kodi

Also known as XBMC, this is an open-source and free cross-platform software solution that acts as an entertainment hub as well as a software media player. It can be a convenient source of digital media for home theatre PCs and act as one of the free alternatives to Plex. This particular software media solution provides compatibility across multiple hardware platforms and operating systems.

Serviio

This acts as a freemium offering that can support Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems. It can stream media files of different types of but for home-based DLNA devices. Media files can be streamed onto game consoles, TV sets, smartphones as well as Blu-Ray players.

Emby

This platform can manage all your media to enable streaming and download of metadata as well as the artwork. Media files can be easily shared through this platform with people you invite to share. It usually provides access to sources that are reliable such as TheTvdb.com and TheMovieDb.org. If there are server-based activities around you it notifies you of the same.

MediaPortal

This particular platform acts as a media solution that can transform data stored in PCs into personalized media. It has the capability to offer connections between PCs and users can also get multimedia files onto their TV from PC.

Universal Media Server

This multimedia platform acts as DLNA support. It can support the streaming of media of different types as well as formats. Universal Media Server also acts as a multi-platform base for game consoles, PlayStations, smartphones, Blu-ray players, and DVDs. It comes as a program that is free for use.

JRiver Media Center

This is a solution platform for all multimedia which can help organize all kinds of media content. It can be played on different operating systems and digital devices. This particular platform is available for users of Windows as well as Mac OS X users. These people can build media centers on their own to organize different kinds of media files.

Windows Media Services

This particular service provides media streaming. It supports control as well as the generation of media files. The only limitation is that Windows Media Services can support only Windows Media, JPEG, and MP3 formats.

Mezzmo

This particular service acts as a media server that is DLNA based. It is multi-platform and helps to stream media of different formats. It can help support the streaming of different kinds of media files that can reach UPnP and DLNA devices. It can deal with HD videos, 3D videos, photos, TV shows, movies, and others.

TVersity

This is a media server that is DLNA based; it can help stream multimedia data from PC to smartphones, DLNA, and UPnP devices. This service provides functions like screen mirroring and media sharing. It is also a pioneer of real-time transcoding.

MediaTomb

This is a media server for UPnP that is open source and freeware. It has a web-based user interface that is straightforward. MediaTomb works on a UPnPMedia server platform that provides access to different kinds of digital media files that can be streamed onto the home network.

Conclusion

With the different Plex alternatives discussed above, you can opt for a solution or service as per your specific media streaming requirements and the platform compatibility you are looking for. In a nutshell, if you aim to kill two birds with one stone, DVDFab Player 6 will be your best choice. It can be used to play media files and manage your local files as well. Act now to have a try. By the way, if you want to download Netflix movies for offline play, you can turn to DVDFab DRM Video Downloader.