Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Jellyfin VS Tvheadend

Compare Jellyfin VS Tvheadend and see what are their differences

Jellyfin logo Jellyfin

Jellyfin is a personal media server.

Tvheadend logo Tvheadend

Redmine
  • Jellyfin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-21
  • Tvheadend Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-16

Jellyfin features and specs

  • Open Source
    Jellyfin is completely open-source, meaning its source code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, or improve. This leads to greater transparency and potentially quicker fixes and feature additions.
  • Cost
    Jellyfin is free to use, unlike other media server software that may require a subscription or one-time purchase.
  • Privacy
    Since Jellyfin is self-hosted, all media files and user data remain on your server, giving you full control over your privacy.
  • Customization
    Users can customize Jellyfin extensively, from the user interface to backend functionalities, fitting it to their specific needs.
  • Platform Support
    Jellyfin supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and various NAS devices, allowing flexibility in deployment.
  • No DRM Restrictions
    Jellyfin doesn't impose Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions, providing an unconstrained media experience.

Possible disadvantages of Jellyfin

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up Jellyfin can be more complicated than proprietary alternatives, requiring a good understanding of server management and networking.
  • Community Support
    Being a community-driven project, the support relies mainly on forums and community contributions, which may not be as immediate or comprehensive as professional support services.
  • Updates and Stability
    Since it is managed by volunteers, updates and new features may not be as frequent or stable as those offered by commercial software.
  • Lack of Certain Features
    Some advanced features found in premium media server solutions may be missing or less polished in Jellyfin.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Jellyfin can be resource-intensive, particularly for transcoding processes, requiring relatively powerful hardware for optimal performance.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility issues with certain devices or media formats, leading to a less seamless experience compared to more mature, commercial solutions.

Tvheadend features and specs

  • Open Source
    Tvheadend is open-source software, meaning its source code is freely available for users to inspect, modify, and distribute, promoting transparency and community-driven development.
  • Versatile Support
    It supports a wide range of network interfaces, including DVB, ATSC, IPTV, and SAT>IP, providing flexibility in how users can access and record live TV content.
  • Web-based Management
    The web-based user interface makes it easy to manage Tvheadend settings, configure channels, and schedule recordings, enhancing user accessibility and convenience.
  • Multi-user Environment
    Tvheadend can handle multiple users and stream to various devices simultaneously, which is ideal for households with multiple viewers with different needs.
  • EPG (Electronic Program Guide) Support
    It supports multiple EPG sources for obtaining program listings, allowing for advanced scheduling and better viewing experiences.

Possible disadvantages of Tvheadend

  • Complex Setup for Beginners
    The initial configuration might be complex for users who are not familiar with networking or server setup, potentially requiring a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Limited Official Documentation
    While there are community resources available, the official documentation may be lacking in details, making it difficult for new users to troubleshoot problems effectively.
  • Reliance on Community Support
    As open-source software, much of the support comes from the community which can be inconsistent and may not always meet user needs promptly.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Users might experience compatibility issues with specific hardware tuners or software setups, requiring additional research or workarounds.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Tvheadend, especially with multiple streams or recordings, can be resource-intensive, demanding significant CPU and memory use on the host device.

Jellyfin videos

This FOSS app has TAKEN OVER my server! - Jellyfin Review

More videos:

  • Review - Jellyfin a fully open source alternative to Plex, Emby, and other media centers. Self-hosted & Free
  • Review - Jellyfin Media Server Setup for Openmediavault
  • Tutorial - Bob

Tvheadend videos

Tvheadend Live TV on Android TV

More videos:

  • Review - Raspberry Pi TVheadend Server
  • Review - Raspberry Pi TVheadend & Kodi Server #1

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Jellyfin and Tvheadend)
Media And Entertainment
100 100%
0% 0
Video
74 74%
26% 26
Media Players And Streaming Platforms
Media Player
82 82%
18% 18

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Jellyfin and Tvheadend

Jellyfin Reviews

The Best 5 Kodi Alternatives You Can Try
Jellyfin is another alternative to Kodi. According to Wikipedia, it’s a suite of multimedia applications used for the organization, management, and sharing digital media files to network devices. With this freeware, you can collect, organize, and enjoy your movies, TV shows, and music, and it also enables you to watch Live TV and set automatic recordings.
15 Best Plex Alternatives [2022] – FREE and BETTER Options
Jellyfin or one of the others listed on this page. Plex offers a premium subscription and live channels, but Jellyfin allows you to add more features using plugins. Jellyfin is better than Plex and Emby if you are a tinkerer. In either case, we believe Jellyfin is the best free media server.
Top 10 Best Linux Media Server Software
An open-source media server software with several features. Jellyfin is actually a fork of the Emby media server. It may be one of the best out there, available for ‘free’.
Source: itsfoss.com
16 Best Jellyfin Alternatives - Features, pros & cons, pricing | Remote Tools
Watch the latest episodes from major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, History, A&E, and many more Pricing When to use SelectTV Relevance to remote workers SelectTV allows remote workers to watch latest episode of their favorite show or a fun movie for the whole family and it's all just a click away See Alternatives to SelectTV See SelectTV's Competitors Jellyfin Alternative...
Best Kodi Alternatives for Free Streaming
Jellyfin is open source software that requires two devices. One acts as a server (it can be a PC, laptop, or NAS) and houses your media collection. Jellyfin’s additional feature stack includes support for DLNA, Live TV and DVR, and QuickConnect. The latter allows users to easily log in to new devices through previously authenticated devices.

Tvheadend Reviews

We have no reviews of Tvheadend yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Jellyfin seems to be a lot more popular than Tvheadend. While we know about 255 links to Jellyfin, we've tracked only 16 mentions of Tvheadend. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Jellyfin mentions (255)

  • Plex no Longer Offers Free Remote Playback for Personal Media
    Switched from Plex to https://jellyfin.org/ without much trouble. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Plex price increases for 2025, remote streaming of personal media no longer free
    After trying Plex, I found Jellyfin [1] to be a complete replacement when paired with a VPN for remote devices. I haven't had a single issue with a library over 2TB and thousands of files. [1]: https://jellyfin.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Ode to one diagnostic rule and to couple more, or Jellyfin check
    Jellyfin is based on the Emby 3.5.2 release and ported to the .NET Core platform to provide full cross-platform support. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How I built my own SeedBox with K8S
    Indeed, it would be really cool to set up a Jellyfin server now and connect it to the network volume to enjoy the content from the couch ;). - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Netflix: Piracy Is Difficult to Compete Against and Growing Rapidly
    At least for the last point I can recommend jellyfin. It has a web interface, a android tv app and an iphone app. I use it on my phone, tv and in the browser. https://jellyfin.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

Tvheadend mentions (16)

  • Configuring Tvheadend for ATSC in North America
    Here's how I configured Tvheadend for ATSC (North America). - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Diappearing Autorecs
    I posted this yesterday on the tvheadend.org board, but it's silent so far. I thought I'd try here:. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • MythTV 33 Released – open-source All-in-one DVR
    Fwiw, Xbox One Digital TV Tuners and some RTL-SDRs (with an extra decoder chip) are able to pick up DVB-T2 and are usually £10~20 on eBay. https://tvheadend.org/ can be useful for interfacing with the tuners over USB and exposing web streams. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • DVR/Live TV in the UK?
    If your USB tuner works with Linux, you can use it with TVHeadend, and connect it to Jellyfin via the official plugin. I use it here and it works fairly well. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Getting freeview TV live via internet directly
    They're expensive for what they are, though. If you're techy minded you can make your own using something like a Raspberry Pi, some USB TV tuners and TVHeadend. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Jellyfin and Tvheadend, you can also consider the following products

NZBGet.com - Fast, reliable, and feature-packed NZB downloader.

DVB Dream - DVB Dream is DVB player with many nice and unique features (more below), it supports standards...

SABnzbd - SABnzbd is a free/open-source cross-platform binary newsreader written in Python.

DVBViewer - DVBViewer allows you to experience Digital TV on your PC.

NZBGet - The most efficient usenet downloader.

ProgDVB - ProgDVB - the universal and very power software for watching digital TV and listening to radio...

OSZAR »