15 BEST Media Server Software for Windows 10 PC (Free/Paid) in 2024

A Media Server is an application software that stores digital media like audio, video, and images and makes it available over a network. Media Server software can stream any media to NAS (Network Attached Storage), personal computers, Smart TVs, Android and Apple devices, etc.

Following is a handpicked list of Top Media Server Software for home/office, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software.

Best Media Server & Streaming Software [Free/Paid]

Name Compatible Devices Link
👍 PlayOn Smart TVs, Streaming Devices, Gaming Consoles, PC, Tablet, or Mobile device Learn More
Plex Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Web App, and more Learn More
Stremio Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS Learn More

1) PlayOn

PlayOn is a computer application that helps you to watch TV. It arranges streaming websites and media servers for easily store photos, music, and video.

PlayOn

Features:

  • You can stream shows from desktop, phone, or tablet.
  • It allows you to record and download videos as MP4.
  • Record episodes with just one mouse click.
  • The app can automatically skip the advertisement when playback video.
  • You can transfer the recording to your iPad, iPhone, and Android device.

Visit PlayOn >>


2) Plex

Plex is a media server software that enables you to take care of the large size of media collections. The application allows you to play TV shows, movies, personal videos, and many more. This software helps you to share videos with your family.

Plex

Features:

  • You can use it on Smart TVs, Android, Apple, and more.
  • It has various movies and shows to choose from.
  • This video server software streams your videos.
  • This Android media server provides a live DVR and TV.
  • The tool automatically syncs your media to mobile phones.
  • You can upload media files from your camera.

Link: https://www.plex.tv/


3) Stremio

Stremio is a modern media server software that provides a solution for your video entertainment. It helps you to enjoy movies, live TV, and TV shows. This application can be easily used from any device.

Stremio

Features:

  • It is one of the best DLNA server that allows you to organize your media content with ease.
  • You can use Stremio to watch content from addons.
  • It is open-source hence the code written using this tool can be edited.
  • The software allows you to watch video content easily.
  • Stremio can be used for smartphones, desktop PC, and tablets.

Link: https://www.stremio.com/


4) Emby Server

Emby Server is a media server tool that enables you to manage, video, music, and photo from one place. It automatically converts and streams any media so that you can play on any device.

Emby Server

Features:

  • You can quickly sign in to play the videos.
  • This media server for PC enables you to watch live TV.
  • The application enables you to manage content access for your children.
  • It automatically organizes personal media into rich displays.
  • Emby provides notification for any server activity.
  • You can manage the media access time limit without any hassle.

Link: https://emby.media/


5) OSMC

OSMC is open-source and free media player. It enables you to play media from your local network. This media server OS allows you to play videos from a USB stick.

OSMC

Features:

  • It offers easy to use User Interface.
  • You can quickly install this software.
  • It is one of the best free media server that provides software updates on a regular basis.
  • You can manage any media files.
  • The supported platform is Linux.

Link: https://osmc.tv/


6) Kodi

Kodi is free to use a player that is specially designed to play movies. This app offers an interactive full-screen interface. It is one of the best Windows 10 media server that supports a wide variety of media formats like MIDI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4.

Kodi

Features:

  • It can be run on wide verities of devices, including desktop PC, Mobile, tablet, etc.
  • Users can play media files from the network and your PC.
  • This app can import browse and play collections of movies with ease.
  • It enables you to change the appearance of the player completely.
  • This tool offers TV shows library that supports seasons and episodes

Link: https://kodi.tv/


7) Jellyfin

Jellyfin is free media software. It helps you to stream any media from your server. This application allows you to collect and manages videos.

Jellyfin

Features:

  • You can collect your TV shows and organize by season.
  • It enables you to enjoy your music party with ease.
  • You can watch live TV.
  • It can automatically record your TV.
  • You can store media files securely.

Link: https://jellyfin.org/


8) Subsonic

Subsonic is a personal media streamer. It enables you to listen to music from any browser. The application supports MP3, AAC, and OGG audio-video format.

Subsonic

Features:

  • Text search tool to find tracks quickly.
  • It allows you to assign comments and ratings to albums.
  • This server media center helps you to create a playlist and share it with other people.
  • You can add, remove, repeat, and rearrange audio files.
  • This application is available in 28+ languages.
  • It contains more than 30 different themes.
  • Subsonic enables you to configure the user interface.
  • You can stream audio directly from your mobile phone.

Link: http://www.subsonic.org/pages/index.jsp


9) Media Portal

Media Portal is a tool that enables you to connect PC directly to your TV and displays movies, TV series, and photo. It allows you to use remote to control your Home theater PC.

Media Portal

Features:

  • You can listen to radio and music.
  • It enables you to check the news, weather, and more.
  • Media Portal can be accessed from the mobile device or web.
  • The software can be used to schedule and record live TV.
  • You can experience media on LCD, plasma, or projector.

Link: https://www.team-mediaportal.com/


10) Mezzmo

Mezzmo is a media server software for streaming TV shows, movies, music, and photos. The tool is easy to use as well as highly configurable. It works with all popular devices like browser, TV, home theater systems, and more.

Mezzmo

Features:

  • It provides metadata details like artwork, artists, titles, and more.
  • The tool allows you to select the audio language.
  • It enables you to organize your media collection with ease.
  • Mezzmo provides full playback control, including play, stop, pause, seek, and more.

Link: http://www.conceiva.com/products/mezzmo/


11) TVersity

TVersity is a tool that enables you to stream web and personal media. It helps you to watch movies and videos from computer to TV or mobile.

TVersity

Features:

  • The application helps you to play premium internet content on your television.
  • It provides fast browsing of your media library.
  • TVersity offers a command line interface.
  • It supports multiple devices simultaneously.

Link: http://tversity.com/


12) Serviio

Serviio is a free media server software that allows you to stream media files on TV and mobile phones. The tool is based on Java technology, and therefore it is platform-independent.

Serviio

Features:

  • You can control Serviio with the Alexa device and by your voice command.
  • It offers a user-friendly user interface.
  • The application supports RAW camera images.
  • You can categorize video files into movies or series.
  • It auto-updates media when you remove the media file.
  • The tool supports video thumbnails, DVD posters, CD covers, etc.

Link: https://serviio.org/


13) JRiver Media Center

JRiver Media Center is a program that enables you to manage and watch movies and videos. You can control your media using iPhone, iPad, and more.

JRiver Media Center

Features:

  • It provides easy to use user interface.
  • This network multimedia server tool offers a music player.
  • It contains a media database for managing large collections.
  • The JRiver Media Center provides a friendly community forum.

Link: https://www.jriver.com/purchase.html


14) Madsonic

Madsonic is a media streamer and web-based audio, video, and photo library. This open source media streaming server tool is based on Java and, therefore, supports all its features.

Madsonic

Features:

  • It is easy to use an open-source tool
  • You can manage more than 100,000 files in your music collection with no limitation.
  • Madsonic software can resample the music to a suitable bitrate.
  • You can set an upper limit of streaming music when you have limited bandwidth.
  • This media streaming server tool can be used for Windows, Linux, OS X, and Mac.

Link: https://www.madsonic.org/pages/index.jsp


15) Imediashare

Imediashare is application to watch videos on the TV screen and mobile device without any interruption. It enables you to discover sports, news, and fitness classes with ease.

Imediashare

Features:

  • You can adjust the volume from a mobile device.
  • It is available for iPhone and Android phones.
  • This home media server software has a simple and easy to use interface.
  • It works with TV and audio systems.
  • Imediashare supports push to play facility on Apple TV.

Link: http://www.imediashare.tv/


16) Ampache

Ampache is an open source media server tool that enables you to browse and manage music using easy to use web interface. It allows you to listen to your favorite songs on the website with HTML 5 player.

Ampache

Features:

  • It is open source.
  • Listen to music on the phone, television, and tablet.
  • The tool enables you to edit the music album without any hassle.
  • You can search the entire music album.
  • It enables you to browse audio-video library with ease.

Link: http://ampache.org/


17) Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server is a tool that enables you to organize and serves video, audio, and images to any device. The application can stream to any device, including LG, Sony, Samsung, and more.

Universal Media Server

Features:

  • All media files can be played with ease.
  • This media server software for Windows 10 provides security using HTTPS.
  • You can manage plugins with ease.
  • The application helps you to play video and audio to DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) devices.
  • It is available for Apple, Windows, and Linux.

Link: https://www.universalmediaserver.com/

FAQ

A media server is application software that stores digital media like audio, video, and images and makes it available over a network. Media Server software can stream any media to NAS (Network Attached Storage), personal computers, Smart TVs, Android and Apple devices, etc.

Here are some of the best Media server software:

  • Plex
  • Stremio
  • PlayOn
  • OSMC
  • Kodi
  • Jellyfin
  • Media Portal
  • Serviio
  • Madsonic
  • Universal Media Server

Media servers typically deliver files to you with the help of a web server. First of all, you go to a web page stored on the web server. When you open the file you have to use, this server sends a notification to the media server, telling it which file you are looking for. The media server sends files directly to you, bypassing the web server.

The most common file formats supported by media server software are MIDI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4.MP3, AAC, etc.

Here are the benefits of media server software:

  • The application allows you to play TV shows, movies, personal videos, and many more. This software helps you to share videos with your family.
  • You can upload media files from your camera.
  • The tool automatically syncs your media to mobile phones.
  • It provides a live DVR and TV.
  • You can use it on Smart TVs, Android, Apple, and more.
  • It allows you to watch videos on the TV screen and mobile device without any interruption.

Best Media Server & Streaming Software [Free/Paid]

Name Compatible Devices Link
👍 PlayOn Smart TVs, Streaming Devices, Gaming Consoles, PC, Tablet, or Mobile device Learn More
Plex Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Web App, and more Learn More
Stremio Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS Learn More