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Guide

Choosing the best media server

There's no single best media server — there's the best one for your connection, devices and budget. Here's how to choose.

Choose by what matters to you

  • Slow or metered internet, or watching abroad → Silux Media
  • Biggest app catalogue and live TV → Plex or Emby
  • Fully open source and hackable → Jellyfin
  • A home-theatre PC on one TV → Kodi (a player, not a streaming server)

The bandwidth question

At the same picture quality, our measurements put Silux Media at about 1.0 GB per hour of 1080p against 2.5–2.7 GB for the others. On fibre at home it matters less; on mobile data, satellite or a busy upload it decides whether the film plays.

Questions

Can I run more than one?

Yes — they can read the same folders side by side, which is the easiest way to compare.