If you love streaming but find Kodi too complex or limiting, you’re not alone. Many users are turning to Kodi alternatives that provide a smoother, safer, and more user-friendly way to watch movies, TV shows, and live sports. From feature-rich media servers to lightweight streaming apps, we’ve rounded up the top apps like Kodi in 2025 to help you find the perfect match for your entertainment needs.
Why Look for Kodi Alternatives?
Kodi is a powerful open-source media player, but it isn’t always the most convenient option for every user. Many find it difficult to set up, especially with add-ons and customizations that require extra steps. Others face issues with stability, frequent updates, or limited device support. Additionally, some Kodi add-ons raise concerns about legality and safety, which makes users search for more secure and hassle-free platforms. This is why exploring Kodi alternatives can give you a smoother, user-friendly, and more reliable streaming experience for movies, TV, and live sports.
Best Kodi Alternatives
When it comes to streaming, Kodi isn’t the only option anymore. Over time, several platforms have evolved that provide smoother performance, simpler interfaces, and more reliable streaming experiences. From media servers to user-friendly entertainment apps, you can find plenty of choices that cover movies, TV shows, and even live sports. In this section, we’ve listed the top apps like Kodi that not only match its features but also bring added convenience, making them perfect alternatives for your entertainment needs.
Meelo – The Music Collector’s Streaming Hub
If you’re a music enthusiast who loves organizing and streaming your personal collection, Meelo is a standout choice. Think of it as a self-hosted music server that combines the flexibility of Plex with features tailored for music lovers. Meelo allows you to browse and enjoy your music library through a sleek web interface, offering a user-friendly experience.
Designed with music collectors in mind, Meelo supports multiple versions of albums, song duplicates, and various song versions like original, remix, and instrumental. It also provides album and song typing (e.g., studio, remixes, live) and even identifies B-sides and rare tracks. The platform enhances your music experience by parsing metadata from file paths and embedded tags, and it can fetch additional information such as lyrics, ratings, and descriptions from external sources.
Frames – A Minimalist Media Center for Streamlined Entertainment
If you prefer a clean, distraction-free interface for your media, Frames might be the perfect Kodi alternative for you. Designed with simplicity in mind, Frames offers a straightforward approach to organizing and streaming your movies and TV shows. Its minimalist design ensures that your content takes center stage, without unnecessary clutter or complex settings.
MediaPortal – Turn Your PC into a Full-Fledged Media Center
MediaPortal is a versatile media center that lets you manage and enjoy all your digital content in one place. You can watch live TV, record shows, stream movies, and listen to music, all from a single app. It’s highly customizable, with plugins and skins that let you personalize the interface to your liking.
Plasma Bigscreen – Smart TV Experience on Any Device
Plasma Bigscreen transforms your devices into a smart TV-like setup, allowing you to enjoy movies, shows, and apps on TVs, monitors, or even a Raspberry Pi. It offers a simple, clean interface optimized for remote control navigation, making it perfect for living room setups.
With Plasma Bigscreen, you can stream movies, TV shows, and other media content while also accessing apps, web services, and voice assistant features. Its user-friendly design and seamless streaming capabilities make it one of the top apps like Kodi for those who want a smart, TV-style experience without complicated setups.
Infuse – Streamlined Media Player for All Devices
Infuse is a versatile media player that lets you stream movies and TV shows smoothly and without any hassle. It supports almost every video format, including 4K and HDR, without needing any conversion. With a sleek and intuitive interface, Infuse automatically fetches metadata, artwork, and subtitles, giving your media library a polished, professional look.
Compatible with iOS, Apple TV, and other devices, Infuse is a fantastic choice for users who want a beautiful, easy-to-use alternative to Kodi, making it one of the top apps like Kodi for seamless media streaming.
Emby – Your Personal Media Server
Emby is a flexible media server that organizes all your movies, TV shows, music, and photos in one place.Emby organizes your media by retrieving information like cover art, subtitles, and details about your movies and shows. It also lets you stream content seamlessly on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and web browsers.
With parental controls, live TV support, and cloud sync features, Emby is a reliable and user-friendly alternative to Kodi, perfect for anyone who wants a centralized hub for all their digital content.
Jellyfin – Free and Open-Source Media Server
Jellyfin is a fully open-source media server that allows you to manage and stream your movies, TV shows, music, and other media without any cost. Unlike some other media platforms, Jellyfin gives you full control over your content without any subscriptions or hidden costs.
It works across multiple devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, and web browsers, and supports live TV, DVR, and metadata fetching. Jellyfin is one of the top apps like Kodi for users who want a secure, flexible, and fully customizable media streaming experience.
Stremio – Stream Everything in One Place
Stremio is a versatile streaming platform that lets you watch movies, TV shows, web channels, and live TV all from a single app. Its clean interface and support for add-ons make discovering and streaming content simple and convenient.
The app keeps your media library well-organized, gathers details like artwork and subtitles, and syncs your viewing history across devices, providing a seamless and enjoyable streaming experience.
Plex – Organize and Stream Your Media
Plex is a widely used media server that helps you manage and access your movies, TV shows, music, and photos all in one convenient location. It automatically adds artwork, metadata, and subtitles, giving your library a polished look.
With Plex, you can stream content across multiple devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, and computers. It also offers live TV, DVR features, and a vast selection of free movies and shows, making it a versatile and user-friendly media solution.
OSMC – Open-Source Media Center
OSMC (Open Source Media Center) is a free media player designed to run smoothly on devices like the Raspberry Pi, Vero, and Apple TV. It provides a simple, clean interface for streaming movies, TV shows, music, and videos.
OSMC supports a wide range of file formats, add-ons, and network streaming options. Its lightweight design and easy setup make it a great choice for anyone looking for a straightforward, reliable media center.
Universal Media Server – Stream to Any Device
Universal Media Server is a versatile, cross-platform media server that allows you to stream movies, TV shows, music, and photos to a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. It supports DLNA, making it compatible with most modern hardware.
With automatic format conversion, subtitle support, and a simple interface, Universal Media Server is a reliable Kodi alternative for anyone who wants to enjoy their media library across multiple devices without hassle.
Elmedia Player – Smooth Media Playback for Mac
Elmedia Player is a flexible media player for macOS that plays a variety of video and audio formats without requiring additional codecs. It offers high-quality playback, subtitle support, and streaming capabilities to smart TVs and other devices.
With its clean interface and advanced features like playlists, video tuning, and AirPlay support, Elmedia Player is a reliable option for anyone looking for a simple and powerful media player experience.
Comparison of Top Kodi Alternatives
| App Name | Supported Devices | Best Features |
| Meelo | PC, Web | Music-focused, metadata management, supports multiple versions of albums |
| Frames | PC, Raspberry Pi, Smart TVs | Minimalist interface, simple navigation, TV-style experience |
| MediaPortal | Windows | Live TV, DVR, plugins, highly customizable |
| Plasma Bigscreen | Smart TVs, Raspberry Pi | Smart TV interface, remote-friendly, voice assistant support |
| Infuse | iOS, Apple TV | Supports 4K/HDR, automatic metadata, subtitles |
| Emby | PC, Mobile, Smart TVs, Web | Personal media server, live TV, parental controls |
| Jellyfin | PC, Mobile, Smart TVs, Web | Free & open-source, customizable, live TV support |
| Stremio | PC, Mobile, Smart TVs, Web | Add-ons support, library organization, cross-device sync |
| Plex | PC, Mobile, Smart TVs, Web | Media server, live TV & DVR, free movies & shows |
| OSMC | Raspberry Pi, Vero, Apple TV | Lightweight, simple interface, supports add-ons |
| Universal Media Server | PC, Smart TVs, Consoles, Mobile | DLNA support, automatic format conversion, subtitle support |
| Elmedia Player | macOS | Wide format support, AirPlay streaming, advanced video tuning |
Final Words
While Kodi remains a versatile media platform, these alternatives offer unique features, easier setup, and wider device compatibility. Choosing the right app depends on your streaming habits and preferences, but any of these options can provide a smooth and enjoyable entertainment experience.
Build Your Own Streaming Platform Like Kodi
If you’re inspired by apps like Kodi and want to launch your own streaming solution, partnering with the right Entertainment App Development Company can make all the difference. At Synarion IT Solutions, we specialize in building feature-rich streaming platforms that support movies, TV shows, live sports, and music—tailored to your business goals.
From custom media servers and cross-device compatibility to secure streaming and intuitive UI/UX design, our team ensures your app delivers a seamless entertainment experience. Whether you want a minimalist player like Frames, a media server like Plex, or an all-in-one solution like Stremio, we can help you create a scalable platform that stands out in the market.
Start your journey today and turn your idea into a powerful streaming app that competes with the best Kodi alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Kodi legal to use?
Yes, Kodi itself is completely legal. However, some third-party add-ons may provide access to pirated content, which is illegal. Always use official or trusted sources.
2. Which Kodi alternative is best for beginners?
Apps like Infuse or Plex are beginner-friendly because of their simple interfaces and easy setup.
3. Can I stream live TV on these alternatives?
Yes, apps like Emby, MediaPortal, Plex, and Jellyfin support live TV and DVR functionality.
4. Are these Kodi alternatives free?
Many of them, like Jellyfin, OSMC, and Stremio, are free. Some apps, like Plex and Emby, offer both free and premium versions with extra features.
5. Which alternative works best across multiple devices?
Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin are excellent for cross-device streaming, supporting smartphones, smart TVs, PCs, and web browsers.
6. Do these apps support add-ons like Kodi?
Some do. For example, Stremio and Emby support add-ons and plugins, allowing you to expand features and access additional content.
Useful Resource: Top Hurawatch Alternatives
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