Jellyfin alternative: Nielix or Jellyfin?
Looking for an alternative to Jellyfin? First, when you should stay with Jellyfin, and then when Nielix fits better.
Last checked 2 November 2026
Read this first
I built Nielix myself, so I have an interest in your choice. The details about Jellyfin were taken from the vendor's own pages on the date above and may be wrong or out of date, because prices and terms change. Always check with the vendor before you choose. All trademarks belong to their owners. Nielix is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Stay with Jellyfin if ...
- You want open source. Jellyfin is free software under the GNU GPL. The Nielix source code is closed.
- You want a solution with no costs, also for many users. Jellyfin says the server and the official clients are free. With Nielix the base server is free with up to two user accounts, and more users need Premium.
- You want apps for many devices. Jellyfin lists official clients for Android, iOS and iPadOS, Android TV and Fire TV, Roku, LG webOS, Samsung Tizen, Xbox, desktop and Kodi.
- You want to extend it with plugins. Jellyfin has a plugin catalog. Nielix has no code plugins.
- You want to watch and record live TV with a TV tuner. Jellyfin lists live TV and recordings with supported hardware. Nielix has no built-in support for TV tuners.
- You want more hardware transcoding methods. Jellyfin lists Intel Quick Sync, NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, VA-API, Apple VideoToolbox and Rockchip RKMPP. With Nielix only VAAPI has been tested.
Nielix may fit better if ...
- You want your own TV channels built from your own series and films, with a TV guide and reminders.
- You want child profiles with an age limit, time per day and bedtime, enforced by the server.
- You want to control the look from the server: eight themes in dark and light, your own home screen, your own name and logo.
- You want messages and speech to the TV screens in the house, MQTT, webhooks and a Home Assistant integration.
- You want to keep your Jellyfin apps. Nielix has a compatibility layer, off by default. It supports sign-in, libraries, series, seasons and episodes, images, subtitles, continue watching, favourites and transcoding, but not live TV, playlists, collections, SyncPlay, plugins and remote control.
- You want Danish documentation. The Nielix pages and documentation are in Danish and English.
Where Nielix is weaker
- Nielix is new and built by one person. There is no large user base and not many guides yet.
- There are fewer apps. The web player works today on devices with a modern browser, and the Android TV app has been sent to Google Play and is awaiting review. There is no app from Nielix for iPhone, Apple TV or Roku.
- The source code is closed, and there are no code plugins.
- Nielix has no built-in support for TV tuners.
- Hardware transcoding has so far only been tested with VAAPI (Intel J4125). Intel QSV and NVIDIA NVENC have not been tested on real hardware, and the ffmpeg in the image has no NVENC.
Short comparison
Only points I could find on the vendor's own pages. What I could not confirm is not here.
| Topic | Nielix | Jellyfin |
|---|---|---|
| Source code | Nielix Closed. | Jellyfin Free software under the GNU GPL. |
| Price | Nielix Free with up to two user accounts. Premium is €5.49 per month or €54 per year per server, VAT included. | Jellyfin The server and the official clients are free, according to Jellyfin. |
| Data | Nielix The server sends nothing to me unless you connect it to an account or turn on anonymous statistics yourself. | Jellyfin Jellyfin says it has no tracking, phone-home or central servers collecting data. |
| Plugins | Nielix No code plugins. | Jellyfin Plugin catalog with optional plugins. |
| Apps | Nielix Web app and Android TV app (sent to Google Play, awaiting review). Jellyfin clients can connect, with limits. | Jellyfin Official clients for Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, webOS, Tizen, Xbox, desktop and Kodi. |
| Live TV and recording | Nielix No tuner support. Own channels from your own files. Recordings and external M3U and XMLTV channels need Premium. | Jellyfin Live TV and recordings with supported hardware. |
| Hardware transcoding | Nielix Only VAAPI has been tested on real hardware. QSV and NVENC have not been tested. | Jellyfin Quick Sync, NVENC, AMF, VA-API, VideoToolbox and RKMPP. |
| Server runs on | Nielix Docker (linux/amd64 and linux/arm64). | Jellyfin Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, Synology and TrueNAS Community Edition. FreeBSD is not officially supported. |
Questions and answers
Is Nielix an alternative to Jellyfin?
Yes, if you want to run your own media server for your own files and can live with closed source and fewer apps. Nielix is younger than Jellyfin. The lists above say when Jellyfin is the right choice.
Can I move my library from Jellyfin?
Your files are on your own drives, and you can point Nielix at them. The server mounts the folders read-only and reads folder and file names plus .nfo files and images next to the files. The Nielix documentation describes no import of the Jellyfin database, so expect to redo watch status and your own edits.
Can I use Jellyfin apps with Nielix?
Yes, with limits. Nielix has a compatibility layer that is off by default. It supports sign-in, libraries, series, seasons and episodes, images, subtitles, continue watching, favourites and transcoding. It does not support live TV, playlists, collections, SyncPlay, plugins and remote control.
Is Nielix open source like Jellyfin?
No. Jellyfin is free software under the GNU GPL. The Nielix source code is closed.
What does Nielix cost compared with Jellyfin?
Jellyfin says the server and the official clients are free. Nielix is free with up to two user accounts. Premium is €5.49 per month or €54 per year per server, VAT included.
Can Nielix record live TV from a tuner?
No. Nielix has no built-in support for TV tuners. Jellyfin lists live TV and recordings with supported hardware.
Ready to try Nielix?
Download the server and run it on your NAS, mini PC or Raspberry Pi. You do not need an account to use it.