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Homelabbing/homelabbing/docs/software/mediastack/jellyfin/introduction.md
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# 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 havent 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