The only real benefits to using Plex over Jellyfin is Plex makes the remote access easier, and it’s got better app support.
But unless you’re not capable of figuring out how to share Jellyfin servers securely, or you need an app on one of the few device Jellyfin doesn’t support, the smartest thing would be to start the move to Jellyfin now.
Plex is still in its early stages of enshitification but its direction is very clear. We all know how this ends. Get used to using jellyfin now, you will be scrambling to shift over to it eventually anyway.
Wouldn’t the better move be the exact opposite? If you really want to move go for it, but barrier to entry only gets lower as time goes on, not higher.
I don’t know what “scramble” you would need if you did move to Jellyfin. If your library and setup is already working on Plex, why wouldn’t it just be a matter of installing Jellyfin, adding the library folders you already use with Plex and letting everything scan in? Ask your users to create accounts and add them?
And if it’s not that simple, then it’s hard to argue that it’s on the same level as Plex, isn’t it? Who even knows what the future holds? If Plex eventually collapses, Jellyfin might not even be the best solution. More time allows them to continue to improve it, or other solutions to emerge.
Plex literally has no purpose outside of the core library product. The other revenue streams exist to fund the core product, and it’s not a public company. AFAIK, Elan is still the creator, founder and CTO of Plex. If he leaves or they make moves to go public, then I’ll begin the arduous task of clicking on an installer 5 times and adding some folders to a new service.
unless you’re not capable of figuring out how to share Jellyfin servers securely
For me, it’s not about figuring out how, but rather not wanting to remotely host either a Jellyfin server or a remote proxy into to your local server. I like keeping everything in a walled garden, only accessible via Tailscale or, if I want to share my Plex server access, via Plex’s interface, which is pretty secure. Also, my friends that I do share Plex access with are all accessing it via a Plex app on smart tvs, which tragically have little or limited support for Jellyfin (which you admittedly mention). I have a lot of respect for Jellyfin, but the service Plex offers is, in my opinion, well worth the money you pay for it.
The only real benefits to using Plex over Jellyfin is Plex makes the remote access easier, and it’s got better app support.
But unless you’re not capable of figuring out how to share Jellyfin servers securely, or you need an app on one of the few device Jellyfin doesn’t support, the smartest thing would be to start the move to Jellyfin now.
Plex is still in its early stages of enshitification but its direction is very clear. We all know how this ends. Get used to using jellyfin now, you will be scrambling to shift over to it eventually anyway.
Wouldn’t the better move be the exact opposite? If you really want to move go for it, but barrier to entry only gets lower as time goes on, not higher.
I don’t know what “scramble” you would need if you did move to Jellyfin. If your library and setup is already working on Plex, why wouldn’t it just be a matter of installing Jellyfin, adding the library folders you already use with Plex and letting everything scan in? Ask your users to create accounts and add them?
And if it’s not that simple, then it’s hard to argue that it’s on the same level as Plex, isn’t it? Who even knows what the future holds? If Plex eventually collapses, Jellyfin might not even be the best solution. More time allows them to continue to improve it, or other solutions to emerge.
Plex literally has no purpose outside of the core library product. The other revenue streams exist to fund the core product, and it’s not a public company. AFAIK, Elan is still the creator, founder and CTO of Plex. If he leaves or they make moves to go public, then I’ll begin the arduous task of clicking on an installer 5 times and adding some folders to a new service.
For now, I think I’m good.
And PlexAmp
Agreed. PlexAmp is done very well.
Symfonium works with most everything and is arguably better.
Doesn’t work with iOS, apparently.
For me, it’s not about figuring out how, but rather not wanting to remotely host either a Jellyfin server or a remote proxy into to your local server. I like keeping everything in a walled garden, only accessible via Tailscale or, if I want to share my Plex server access, via Plex’s interface, which is pretty secure. Also, my friends that I do share Plex access with are all accessing it via a Plex app on smart tvs, which tragically have little or limited support for Jellyfin (which you admittedly mention). I have a lot of respect for Jellyfin, but the service Plex offers is, in my opinion, well worth the money you pay for it.