Kodi is the best htpc software for most readers who want a free media center on a TV connected PC, with Jellyfin as the best free server for a whole household and Plex as the easiest option for phones, TVs and remote viewing. Five of the eight picks cost $0, so the main cost is often the PC, storage and a TV tuner, not the software itself. Plex changed the maths in 2026: a new lifetime Plex Pass costs $749.99, while Emby Premiere lifetime costs $119, and remote viewing of personal video on Plex now needs a Plex Pass or a Remote Watch Pass.
A home theatre PC needs software that works from a couch, with a remote, on a large screen. The best choice depends on whether the PC sits under the TV, whether other phones and TVs need access, and whether live TV recording matters. The list below covers direct media centers, home servers and DLNA servers, so a reader can match the software to the room and the household.
On this page
Best htpc software: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kodi | Free TV connected media center | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 2 | Plex | Easiest setup and widest app support | $6.99 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | Jellyfin | Free whole home media server | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | Emby | Polished server with DVR and downloads | $4.99 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | JRiver Media Center | Audiophile library and local playback | $79.98 one-time | Free trial | Visit |
| 6 | MediaPortal | Free Windows DVR and live TV | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | Universal Media Server | Simple DLNA streaming to TVs and consoles | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 8 | Serviio | Light DLNA server with remote access in Pro | $25 one-time | Yes | Visit |
The 8 best best htpc software tools, in detail
Kodi
Best for: Free TV connected media center
Kodi turns a Windows, macOS, Linux or Android PC into a media center with posters, episode lists, music views and photo slideshows. It plays files from local drives and network shares, and it supports live TV and recording through a PVR back end and a tuner. Skins change the look, and add-ons add library tools and remote control options.
- Kodi suits a single TV room best, where the PC connects straight to the television.
- It does not supply films, TV shows or music, so the reader supplies files they own or have a right to watch.
- The trade-off is setup time: library sources, scrapers and remote keys need care at the start, and there is no central account that keeps watched stat
- For a free couch-first player, it remains the default pick.
Pros
- Free and open source with no subscription tier
- 10 foot interface built for a remote and a large screen
- wide add-on, skin and PVR support
Cons
- No built-in server sync for watched status across devices
- setup and library scraping take more time than a hosted style server
Plex
Best for: Easiest setup and widest app support
Plex Media Server organises movie and TV folders into a library with posters, cast details and resume points. The free core covers local streaming at home, plus live TV viewing through a tuner in many cases. Plex Pass costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year, with a 5 year option at $249.99 and a new lifetime option at $749.99.
- Plex suits households that want the same library on a TV, a phone and a laptop with little setup.
- The July 2026 lifetime price rise makes the monthly and yearly options the sensible route for most buyers, since 107 monthly payments total about $748
- One limit is the account link: remote access runs through Plex services, so readers who want a fully local system should look at Jellyfin or Emby inst
Pros
- Free core server with local streaming
- apps for TVs, phones, consoles and browsers
- Plex Pass adds hardware transcoding, DVR, downloads and skip intro
Cons
- Remote viewing of personal video now needs a Plex Pass or a Remote Watch Pass
- new lifetime Plex Pass costs $749.99
Jellyfin
Best for: Free whole home media server
Jellyfin is a free and open source media server that collects films, TV, music and photos into one library and streams them to phones, TVs and browsers. The server and official clients cost $0, with no subscription tier and no hidden cost, and the project states that it has no tracking and no central servers collecting user data. Hardware transcoding, live TV and user accounts are included, so a household can give each person a profile without a monthly charge.
- Jellyfin suits readers who want full control and zero software cost, and who are happy to set up remote access themselves.
- It began as a fork of Emby, and it keeps every feature open rather than holding DVR, downloads or transcoding for a higher tier.
- The trade-off is polish: some clients feel less finished than Plex, and remote setup may need port forwarding or a VPN.
Pros
- Every feature is free, including hardware transcoding and live TV
- no central account or tracking
- clients for browsers, phones, TVs, Roku and Xbox
Cons
- Interface and client polish vary by device
- setup needs more care than Plex, with no hosted help for remote access
Emby
Best for: Polished server with DVR and downloads
Emby turns folders of films, TV and music into a library with artwork, user accounts and parental controls. The free server covers full playback in the browser and in TV apps for Roku, Apple TV, LG, Samsung, Android TV and Fire TV, with remote connection included. Emby Premiere costs $4.99 per month, $54 per year, or $119 one time, and it adds hardware transcoding, live TV and DVR, offline downloads, sync, cinema intros and CarPlay and Android Auto support.
- Emby suits readers who want Plex style polish with a lower lifetime price and free remote streaming.
- The $119 lifetime cost is about one sixth of the $749.99 Plex lifetime cost, which changes the choice for long term users.
- One limit is the phone apps: playback stops after a short preview unless the server has Premiere or the app has a one time purchase.
Pros
- Free core server with remote streaming
- Premiere adds hardware transcoding, DVR, offline sync and cinema intros
- clear lifetime option at $119
Cons
- Phone apps limit playback without Premiere or a one time app purchase
- standard Premiere covers a single household with a 30 device limit
JRiver Media Center
Best for: Audiophile library and local playback
JRiver Media Center is a local media manager and player for Windows, macOS and Linux, with deep tools for music, video and photos. A Linux only licence costs $79.98 one time, a Windows only or Mac only licence costs $99.98, and a Master Licence for all three systems costs $124.98. Each licence is valid for a single major version, with updates inside that version included.
- The buyer downloads and installs a trial version first, then buys from the Help menu in the program.
- JRiver suits music lovers and collectors with large libraries, high resolution audio and careful tagging needs.
- It also supports TV tuners, video playback and streaming to network players, but its strength is local playback quality and library control rather tha
- The trade-off is cost over time: a new major version needs a new licence.
Pros
- Strong audio tools, DSP and library views for large collections
- one licence covers computers in the same household within reason
- no monthly charge
Cons
- Licence covers a single major version only
- Windows only licence costs $99.98 and Master Licence costs $124.98
MediaPortal
Best for: Free Windows DVR and live TV
MediaPortal turns a Windows PC into a media center and digital video recorder, with live TV, scheduled recording, a TV guide, radio, music, video and photos. It works with TV tuners, infrared receivers and remotes, and it can stream live or recorded TV to other PCs on the home network. The project offers MediaPortal 1 and MediaPortal 2, with plugins for weather, news, web streams and library tools, and skins that change the on screen layout.
- MediaPortal suits Windows users who want a free DVR first and a media center second, without a monthly charge.
- It is one of the few free picks with a TV engine built for recording, pausing and time shifting live broadcasts.
- The trade-off is platform range: it runs on Windows only, and readers should check the current download and forum notes before they build a new system
Pros
- Free and open source with live TV, recording and time shifting
- hundreds of plugins and skins
- multi room streaming across networked PCs
Cons
- Windows only, so macOS and Linux users need another pick
- MediaPortal 2 release listed on the site dates to 30 December 2021
Universal Media Server
Best for: Simple DLNA streaming to TVs and consoles
Universal Media Server is a free DLNA, UPnP and HTTP media server that sends video, audio and images to TVs, consoles, computers and phones on the home network. It supports Windows, Linux and macOS through direct download or package managers such as Chocolatey, Homebrew, AppImage and Docker. It can pass media to a device untouched when the device supports the format, or transcode it to suit the network, device and language settings.
- Universal Media Server suits readers who want a light server for a smart TV or a games console, without a library app or an account.
- Access is instant, with no wait for scans to finish, and the web interface lets any browser on the network browse the library.
- The trade-off is presentation: there is no poster rich app on every TV, so it works best as a quiet background server.
Pros
- Free DLNA, UPnP and HTTP media server for Windows, Linux and macOS
- streams or transcodes with little setup
- web browser access to the library
Cons
- No polished library interface like Plex or Emby
- no dedicated mobile apps for remote access
Serviio
Best for: Light DLNA server with remote access in Pro
Serviio is a DLNA media server for Windows, macOS and Linux that streams video, audio and images to TVs, Blu-ray players and consoles on the home network. The free edition covers local serving and transcoding. Serviio Pro costs $25 one time and adds remote access outside the home, the MediaBrowser web app, online source plugins, RTSP streaming and custom transcoding settings.
- Each new install gets a 15 day evaluation of Pro, then reverts to the free edition unless a licence is bought.
- Serviio suits readers who want a small, quiet server and occasional remote access, without a monthly charge.
- The $25 one time cost is low, but the version limit matters: the licence covers the current version and all minor updates in version 2.x, and version
Pros
- Free edition serves local DLNA devices with transcoding
- Pro adds remote access, MediaBrowser web app and online sources
- one time licence with no monthly charge
Cons
- Pro licence covers version 2.x only, so version 3.x needs a new licence
- Pro is for personal use only, with business use by contact
How we chose
We chose software that runs a TV connected PC or serves media from a home PC to TVs, phones and consoles, with a real download and a current official page. Prices and plan limits come from official vendor pricing pages and docs opened on 2026-11-12. We did not test any tool hands-on. We ranked nothing by customer counts, awards or review scores, and we left out any product that supplies content itself, since these tools organise and play media the reader already owns.
Pick by setup and budget
| Setup | Best pick | Starting price | What to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| One TV, one PC, $0 software | Kodi | $0 | Add a remote and a tuner for live TV |
| Whole household, $0 software | Jellyfin | $0 | Set up remote access yourself |
| Easiest apps on every device | Plex | $6.99 per month | Remote video needs a pass; lifetime is $749.99 |
| Polished server, low lifetime cost | Emby | $4.99 per month | Lifetime is $119 for 30 devices in one household |
| Music first, local playback | JRiver Media Center | $79.98 one-time | Licence covers one major version only |
| Free Windows DVR | MediaPortal | $0 | Windows only |
| Light server for a smart TV | Universal Media Server | $0 | No dedicated mobile apps |
| Light server plus remote access | Serviio | $25 one-time | Pro covers version 2.x only |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best htpc software for most people?
Kodi is the best htpc software for most people with a PC under the TV, since it costs $0, works with a remote, and handles films, TV, music and photos in one screen. Jellyfin is the better pick for a whole household, since it serves every device for $0. Plex is the better pick for readers who want the easiest apps and are happy with a $6.99 per month Plex Pass.
Is Kodi really free?
Yes, Kodi is free and open source, with no subscription tier and no charge for the program or the official remotes. The cost comes from the PC, storage, a remote and any TV tuner, not from Kodi itself. Kodi supplies no films, TV shows or music, so the reader must supply media they own or have a right to watch.
Which htpc software is best for live TV and DVR?
MediaPortal is the best free pick for Windows live TV and DVR, with recording, time shifting and a TV guide at $0. Emby Premiere adds DVR at $4.99 per month, and Plex Pass adds DVR at $6.99 per month. Kodi also supports live TV and recording through a PVR back end and a tuner.
Do I need a subscription to watch my own media away from home?
It depends on the software. Jellyfin and Emby include free remote streaming, so no subscription is needed for remote access. Plex needs a Plex Pass at $6.99 per month or a Remote Watch Pass at $2.99 per month for remote viewing of personal video. Serviio Pro adds remote access for $25 one time, with the licence covering version 2.x only.
What is the cheapest way to run a home media server?
Jellyfin and Universal Media Server both cost $0, with no subscription tier and no feature held back for a higher tier. Kodi and MediaPortal also cost $0 for a TV connected PC. The main costs are the PC, drives and network, plus a tuner for live TV. For a low one time cost, Serviio Pro is $25, while Emby lifetime is $119 and Plex lifetime is $749.99.
Is JRiver Media Center worth $79.98?
JRiver Media Center is worth $79.98 for a Linux user who wants deep audio tools, DSP and library control for a large music collection, with no monthly charge. Windows and Mac licences cost $99.98, and a Master Licence costs $124.98. It is less suited to readers who want a slick phone app, since the licence covers a single major version and a new major version needs a new licence.
Sources
- https://kodi.tv/
- https://kodi.tv/download/
- https://www.plex.tv/
- https://www.plex.tv/plans/
- https://jellyfin.org/
- https://emby.media/
- https://emby.media/premiere.html
- https://jriver.com/
- https://jriver.com/purchase.html
- https://www.team-mediaportal.com/
- https://www.team-mediaportal.com/products
- https://www.universalmediaserver.com/
- https://www.serviio.org/
- https://serviio.org/buy-pro
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.