Best Kodi Alternatives in 2026: Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, Infuse, VLC and More for Your Own Media

Kodi is still one of the best free media centres, and Kodi 22 is on its way. But it is not for everyone. You build and maintain your own setup, it is not in Apple’s App Store or Amazon’s Appstore, and its name has been dragged through the mud by people selling “loaded” boxes.

If you mainly want your own films, shows and music, or legal live TV you already pay for, there are excellent alternatives in 2026. I checked prices on each company’s own pages on 25 September 2026, and flagged anything limited to certain countries.

One rule for the whole list: these are players and servers. None of them supplies films or channels. You bring content you own or have the right to watch.

First: LibreELEC, OSMC and CoreELEC are Kodi

These come up in every “Kodi alternative” thread, but they are small operating systems that boot straight into Kodi on devices such as a Raspberry Pi or an Amlogic box. They can make Kodi faster than running it as an Android app, but it is still Kodi, with the same add-ons, skins and library. If Kodi is what you want to leave, they will not help.

The quick answer

• Want Kodi’s library, but on every device and away from home? Plex or Emby.
• Want that, free and open source, with no account? Jellyfin.
• Apple TV owner who wants the best playback? Infuse, on its own or with a Plex, Emby or Jellyfin server.
• Just want to play files, no library? VLC, Nova Video Player or Just Player.
• Want live TV and a DVR from an aerial tuner or TV provider login? Channels (US, Canada, UK), or the live TV features in Plex, Emby and Jellyfin.
• Have an M3U playlist from a legitimate provider? An IPTV player such as TiviMate.

Plex: the easiest all-rounder

You install Plex Media Server on a PC, Mac or NAS, point it at your folders, and Plex builds a library with artwork that plays on Android TV and Google TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, phones and the web.

The catch: streaming on your home network is free, but since 29 April 2025, streaming your own media from outside the house needs a Remote Watch Pass or a Plex Pass. The small print: so far, that rule only applies to apps Plex has moved to its “new experience”. Plex’s support page lists the Android and iOS mobile apps, the web app, Plex for Windows, Mac and Linux, Roku, supported smart TVs, PlayStation and Xbox. Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV are not on that list yet, but Plex says “eventually all apps and platforms will be affected”, so I would not build my evenings around the gap. Plex’s FAQ says that if the server owner has Plex Pass, everyone using that server can stream remotely; otherwise each viewer needs their own pass.

Plex Pass adds hardware transcoding, downloads, skip intro and credits. It does not remove adverts from Plex’s free movie and live TV channels. The lifetime price has already gone up: on 1 July 2026, a new US Lifetime Plex Pass rose from $249.99 to $749.99, and Plex added a five-year plan at $249.99, which is the old lifetime price with an expiry date stuck on. Existing lifetime holders keep what they paid for. If you still spot a “last chance” banner on Plex’s plans page, that chance left in July.

Got one of Amazon’s newer Vega OS sticks, such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Select? Plex is there, but on a short lead. Plex’s own announcement for Vega devices says direct playback of your own media is limited to H.264 video with AAC audio at up to 7 Mbps, and everything else has to be transcoded by your server. Music and Photos were not supported at launch, and options such as refresh rate switching are missing. I found no official update lifting those limits, and a Plex forum thread from July 2026 still reports constant transcoding on the 4K Select. Fine for a modest H.264 file; your 4K HDR collection will give the PC in the cupboard a proper workout.

Jellyfin: free, open source, no account

Jellyfin does most of what Plex does with no subscription and no company account. The server is at version 12.1 (15 September 2026), and hardware transcoding, live TV and remote access are free. The trade-off: you set up remote access yourself, and some clients are less polished.

Official apps cover Android TV and Fire TV (Google Play and the Amazon Appstore), iOS, Roku, LG webOS, Samsung Tizen, Xbox and desktop. On Apple TV there is Swiftfin on the App Store, though reviewers complain its tvOS version is rarely updated, so many Apple TV owners pair Jellyfin with Infuse. More in my Jellyfin vs Plex piece.

One gap: the official Jellyfin app for Android TV and Fire TV is an Android app, so it will not run on Amazon’s Vega OS sticks, and there is no official Jellyfin app for Vega. An unofficial client has appeared in the Appstore, but it is not made by the Jellyfin project and I have not tested it. If Jellyfin matters to you, an Android-based Fire TV or a Google TV box is the safer bet.

Emby: the middle ground

Jellyfin began as a fork of Emby, which remains a commercial product. The server is free, and so is full playback in its TV apps: Apple TV, Roku, LG, Samsung and the web browser, plus Android TV and Fire TV on up to five TVs. The phone, computer and console apps (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox and PS4) stop after one minute unless your server has Emby Premiere, which is just long enough to admire the opening logo. The phone apps also sell a one-off playback unlock. Premiere adds live TV, the DVR, hardware-accelerated transcoding (servers running on an NVIDIA Shield or WD NAS get that free), offline downloads and intro skipping. Licences cover one household and up to 30 devices. Emby has apps for Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Windows, iOS, Roku, Samsung, LG and Xbox, and states plainly that it provides no content.

On Amazon’s Vega OS sticks, Emby staff say a native app is still in development, with no date. Until it arrives, Amazon streams Emby’s existing Fire TV app to some Vega devices from the cloud, which users on Emby’s forum describe as laggy, and others get told it is unavailable in their location. Search the Appstore on your own stick before you pay for anything.

Infuse: the Apple player to beat

Infuse, from Firecore, is an Apple-only player for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Vision Pro. It connects to network shares (SMB, NFS, WebDAV and more), cloud storage, or a Plex, Emby or Jellyfin server. The free version is usable; Infuse Pro adds Dolby Vision (profiles 5 and 8), lossless audio, more formats, iCloud sync, AirPlay and Google Cast. There is no Android, Windows or Fire TV version.

Channels: live TV and DVR, done properly

Channels suits people whose Kodi was really a PVR front end. Apps on Apple TV, iOS, Android and Fire TV pair with Channels DVR Server on 64-bit Windows 10 or later, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi or a NAS, recording from HDHomeRun aerial tuners or supported TV provider logins. Channels says its app and DVR are officially available in the USA, Canada and the UK; its standalone HDHomeRun app works more widely. Pricing is USD only.

Plain players: VLC, Nova, Just Player and MX Player

• VLC is free, open source and on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Apple TV, and Fire OS Fire TVs get an official Amazon Appstore app, VLC for Fire, listed since 2015. Version 3.0.24 is current on desktop. It plays almost anything, including network shares. On Amazon’s Vega OS sticks, VideoLAN put an early-access version (built on a VLC 4.0 alpha, beta announced 23 July 2026) in the Appstore. It plays files you upload from your phone or computer, SMB shares and UPnP/DLNA servers. VideoLAN says it is not yet feature-complete and “you will find bugs”, which is more honesty than most launch press releases manage.
• Nova Video Player is a free, open-source Android and Android TV player with a proper library view for local and network files. Its Google Play listing was updated on 24 September 2026.
• Just (Video) Player is a small, free, open-source Android player built on ExoPlayer. Great on phones and tablets.
• MX Player is still popular on Android, but the free version carries adverts. I would try the open-source options first.

Stremio: only with official, legal add-ons

Stremio is a free app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and the web, with an optional Supporter plan (US$3.49 a month or US$199.99 once) for extras such as more profiles. Like Kodi, it provides no content; everything comes from add-ons, and it is widely abused with piracy ones. Stick to official, legal add-ons and services you pay for. If an add-on promises every new film free, you know the answer.

IPTV players: TiviMate and the rest

If what you used Kodi’s PVR for was an M3U playlist, a dedicated IPTV player is simpler. TiviMate is on Google Play and is designed for Android TV devices rather than phones. Its own site states it is “a media player only and does not provide any content”, and that its premium upgrade unlocks app features only, not channels.

That is the only legitimate way to use any IPTV player: with a playlist you are entitled to, such as one from your broadband or TV provider, a legal free service, or your own tuner. I am not recommending IPTV Smarters: it is not on Google Play under its long-standing listing, and lookalike apps using the name are there instead. If a player is not in an official store, be very careful where you get it.

Prices at a glance (checked 25 Sep 2026)

Plex also lists Plex Pass at CA$8.99 a month or CA$1,079.99 lifetime in Canada and A$11 a month or A$1,190 lifetime in Australia. App Store and Google Play prices can differ slightly by country and tax.

Which devices each one runs on

“Android build” means the app is made for Android and may run on Android-based (Fire OS) Fire TV models, but I have not confirmed an official Amazon Appstore listing. Amazon’s newer Vega OS devices, such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, do not run Android apps and block sideloading, so Android-only apps are out unless their developers port them. Amazon does stream a few selected Fire OS apps to Vega from the cloud, so check the Appstore on your own device.

What I would do next

1. Start free. Install VLC or Nova on the TV and check your files play (on a Vega OS Fire Stick, that means VLC’s early-access app, because Nova is Android-only). If they do and you do not care about artwork or watched status, stop there.
2. If you want a library, install Jellyfin and Plex servers on the PC or NAS you already have. Both are free on your home network. Give each an evening with the same three test files: a 4K HDR film, a TV episode with subtitles and a music album.
3. Only then pay, and only for the gap you found: Remote Watch Pass if you only need streaming away from home, Plex Pass or Emby Premiere if you need transcoding or downloads, Infuse Pro if you are on Apple TV and want Dolby Vision.
4. Keep Kodi if it already works for you. There is no prize for switching. You can even run Jellyfin as the server and keep Kodi as the player, via Jellyfin’s official JellyCon add-on.

Best IPTV boxes to buy

These are media boxes and sticks that can run players and licensed apps. The first six are Google certified Android TV or Google TV devices with Google Play; the last one, the Formuler, runs its own Android and is not certified. They are not pirate hardware. They do not come with channels or playlists. I am not claiming I personally lab-tested every SKU this month.

Buy one of these when: Fire TV sideload is a hassle on your model, you want Play Store apps on a proper TV OS, or you want a dedicated player shell behind the sofa. No Fire TV device is on this shortlist.

• NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro: the premium pick, a certified Android TV player with AI upscaling, Dolby Vision/Atmos and Gigabit Ethernet for the main living-room telly. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• Google TV Streamer 4K: solid Google TV living-room default with Ethernet, 32GB storage and Dolby Vision/Atmos. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen): Google TV box with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos, the cheaper box route than the Streamer. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen): budget Google TV stick with Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos when you want HDMI-simple, not a full box. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• Budget Google TV 4K player: a cheaper certified Google TV player for a second telly. The model differs by store, so each link names the one you get there. MECOOL KD3 (Amazon UK) | onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box (Amazon US) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon DE) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon FR) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon IT)
• MECOOL MEon1: Google TV certified 4K box with AI upscaling and 32GB storage for a dedicated player behind the sofa. Amazon UK
• Formuler Z12 Ultra SE: the newest Formuler box, built around MYTVOnline 4 for IPTV playlists. It runs Formuler’s own Android rather than certified Google TV, so there is no Netflix in HD and it is the one box here without Google certification. Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon UK) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon US) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon DE) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon FR) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon IT)

Still shopping for a Fire TV device? Fine for Prime Video and the Appstore universe. Not the shortlist above. And none of these boxes magically make unlicensed streams legal.

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to Kodi?

For a full library across devices, Jellyfin. For simply playing files, VLC. Both are free and open source.

Is Plex still free?

Yes, on your home network. Since April 2025, streaming your own media away from home on Plex’s updated apps (phone, web, desktop, Roku, smart TVs and consoles) needs a Remote Watch Pass (from $2.99, £2.99 or €2.99 a month) or a Plex Pass, and Plex says its other apps will follow.

Are LibreELEC and OSMC alternatives to Kodi?

No. They are operating systems that run Kodi. Useful if you want a faster Kodi box, not if you want to leave Kodi.

What is the best Kodi alternative for Apple TV?

Infuse, either alone with network shares or with a Plex, Emby or Jellyfin server. Plex and Emby have their own Apple TV apps too.

Are IPTV players legal?

The players themselves are just software. What matters is the playlist. Use one from a provider you are entitled to watch; paying a stranger for thousands of premium channels is not that.

Sources

• Plex plans and FAQ (prices from Plex’s own pricing data, 25 Sep 2026)
• Plex remote playback requirements, Plex lifetime pricing update, Plex on Vega OS devices and Plex forum: transcoding on the 4K Select
• Jellyfin clients and Jellyfin 12.1 release
• Swiftfin on the App Store
• Emby Premiere, Emby Premiere Feature Matrix and Emby downloads; Emby forum threads on Emby on Vega OS and the app being unavailable on Vega
• Infuse by Firecore; App Store listings for US, UK and Germany
• Channels Plus pricing, DVR Server and supported countries
• VLC media player, VLC for Fire in the Amazon Appstore and VLC for Vega OS beta announcement
• Nova Video Player, Just (Video) Player, TiviMate on Google Play
• TiviMate official site
• Stremio plans and downloads

Featured and inline images are screenshots of public VideoLAN, Plex, Jellyfin and Firecore web pages, taken 25 Sep 2026 and used for reference. No endorsement by any of these companies or projects is implied.

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Written by Dr Husham Memar