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Universal Media Server vs Jellyfin: catalog facts
Universal Media Server	Jellyfin
Free The open-source software is available without a license fee. Hosting, hardware and…	Free Free software with no premium tier. The project states there are no strings attached, no…
Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Self-hosted, Web
Transcodes on the fly for devices that cannot play a format natively Speaks DLNA, so old TVs and consoles work without an app	No premium tier: every feature is available to everyone, with no licence to buy Movies, shows, music, live TV and DVR, books and photos in one library
Transcoding is CPU-heavy on modest hardware DLNA browsing is clumsier than a dedicated client app	You run the server, so updates, storage and remote access are yours to manage Client apps on TV platforms vary in quality compared with commercial services
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Self-hosted, Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License: GPL-2.0
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.