kodi is one of the most used multimedia programs in Italy for its Media Center functions and compatibility with easy-to-configure IPTV lists. The software has also been extended due to the possibility of installation on practically all existing TV Boxes and due to the presence of extensions (add-ons) that expand its functions.
However, there are some valid ones. Alternatives to Kodi to focus on if we are looking for an interface (sometimes even simpler) and different functions for our home entertainment center.
Here’s a roundup of great alternatives for browsing through media centers and streaming videos, music, or photos.
To begin with, a home streaming media system consists of part of a server-side application that will be installed on a device (HTPC, TV Box, NAS, dedicated computers) with storage to store content and media (movies, TV series , videos, music, photos) and equipped with computing capacity to send a streaming stream to other devices (smartphone, TV, tablet, console) where the Client-side application is present.
Table of Contents
plexus
Among the best programs with Media Center and Media Server capabilities, plexo definitely stands out, available for free (with some limitations) for a multitude of different devices: desktop operating systems, NAS, Apple TV and many Smart TV models.
This program alone deserves a dedicated study, but we will describe it very quickly in this article. It consists of two components:
Plex media server (downloadable from the link above) capable of automatically indexing all multimedia content present in a folder, so that it displays posters, plot, indications about the director and actors and other useful information for the user (all automatically, just configure the information collection providers). To view the indexed content, you will need to use the second component, that is:
Plex media player , the client for rendering indexed content. The connection between the Plex server and the client will allow you to always obtain the highest possible quality, with the incorporation of automatic subtitles (even forced) and maximum control during playback. If you can’t use Plex Media Player, you can access content via DLNA, which is ideal for smart TVs and other PCs. Plex also supports transcoding, so you can convert any incompatible codecs on the fly (very useful with Chromecast).
The program is free, but offers some advanced features (Plex Pass) only for a fee (like being able to use it for Photos or sync to save offline movies and TV shows). Mobile apps are perfectly compatible with Chromecast, so Plex is easy to exploit by installing the server where the files to be indexed are present and using the mobile app and Chromecast to play. You can download the mobile version of Plex from the following links.
Emby
The second alternative to Kodi that we would like to recommend to you is Emby , an open source media center available for a large number of devices on both the server side and the client side. The download page contains references to supported hardware (including PS4, Xbox One, Mac, Linux).
With this program, you can play indexed content from another source (for example, a NAS or a media server) or use it directly as a media server and index all video and audio content, complete with original posters, plots and movie trailers and television series. . Once the content is indexed, you can play it on any compatible device on the network thanks to DLNA compatibility (so you can see all the content on televisions, Smart TVs and other PCs/Macs). Emby transcoding offers real-time file conversion: if a particular codec is not supported, it can be converted on the fly so it plays correctly.
Definitely one of the best alternatives to Kodi for PC, also available for free on Android and iOS from the links below.
Also Read: What are the best movie websites to watch movies and series online
Stremius
Another great alternative to Kodi is Stremio, a complete multimedia program available for download from the link below.
With Stremio you will make both the server and the media player play the content present on the device itself and you will also be able to index any content present in various sources (a NAS, a network drive, a PC or an online cloud). resource such as Google One / Google Drive or Dropbox) and make it accessible in a single interface.
The application offers a series of add-ons that are real applications (a la Apple TV) with which, for example, you can connect to YouTube or watch Netflix without leaving the main application.
Furthermore, in this case you will get automatic content indexing, with an advanced management system for movies and content already seen (you can resume them at any time from the interrupted scene). The Stremio server also allows you to send content via DLNA, but the best results are obtained by installing the Stremio mobile app.
The ones reported are undoubtedly the best alternatives to Kodi, very intuitive and that you can try immediately on your computer. There are many other valid alternatives that can function both as pure Media Centers and as multimedia servers to share content over the network (WiFi, local LAN or over the Internet). The programs that you can try as alternatives to Kodi are the following:
By trying them all, you will definitely be able to find a valid alternative to Kodi and you will not regret any of its features, but you will discover simpler, more intuitive interfaces and applications with modern functions.