# Introduction

**Jellyfin** is a free, open-source media server software that lets you collect, manage, and stream your personal media—such as movies, TV shows, music, and photos—across devices. It is a community-driven alternative to proprietary platforms like Plex and Emby.

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## Key Features

- 🆓 **Completely Free**: No paid licenses, subscriptions, or locked features.
- 🛡️ **Privacy-Focused**: No telemetry, no third-party tracking.
- 📺 **Streaming**: Access your media from web browsers, smart TVs, mobile apps, or Kodi.
- 🧠 **Metadata Management**: Automatic retrieval of posters, fanart, episode guides, and more.
- 🎚️ **Transcoding**: On-the-fly conversion for devices with limited format support.
- 🎛️ **Plugin System**: Extend functionality with community-made plugins.

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## Supported Platforms

- **Server**: Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker, and more
- **Clients**:
  - Web browser
  - Android / iOS apps
  - Smart TVs (via apps or DLNA)
  - Kodi (via Jellyfin add-on)
  - Chromecast

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## Ideal Use Cases

- Home media streaming over LAN or internet
- Centralized media hub for a household
- Replacement for paid services (e.g., Plex, Netflix for local content)

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## Comparison to Plex & Emby

| Feature            | Jellyfin        | Plex            | Emby            |
|--------------------|-----------------|------------------|------------------|
| Open Source        | ✅ Yes          | ❌ No            | ⚠️ Partial        |
| Free Features      | ✅ All          | ❌ Some Locked   | ⚠️ Limited        |
| No Account Needed  | ✅ Yes          | ❌ No            | ⚠️ Mostly         |
| Community-Driven   | ✅ 100%         | ❌               | ⚠️ Limited        |

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## Quick Start

If you haven’t installed Jellyfin yet, check the [Docker Compose installation guide](./jellyfin-docker-compose.md) or visit the [official documentation](https://jellyfin.org/docs/).

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## Links

- 🌐 Website: https://jellyfin.org  
- 📘 Docs: https://jellyfin.org/docs/  
- 🐙 GitHub: https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin  
- 💬 Community: https://matrix.to/#/#jellyfin:matrix.org