Jellyfin vs Plex for Music: Which Streams Better?
Quick Verdict
Plex wins for music — specifically because of PlexAmp. PlexAmp is the best self-hosted music player available, with Sonic Analysis, smart radio mixes, loudness leveling, and a gorgeous UI. However, it requires Plex Pass ($5/month or $120 lifetime). Jellyfin is the better choice if you want free, open-source music streaming without paying anything.
Overview
Jellyfin is a free, open-source media server that handles music alongside movies, TV, and other media. Its music features include a web player, smart playlists, lyrics (via plugin), and native apps. All features are free — no premium tier.
Plex is a freemium media server with excellent music support. The standard Plex app handles music well, but the dedicated PlexAmp app (Plex Pass required) elevates the experience with Sonic Analysis, smart radio, gapless playback, and a purpose-built music UI.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Jellyfin | Plex (+ PlexAmp) |
|---|---|---|
| Web music player | Yes (functional) | Yes (good) |
| Dedicated music app | No | PlexAmp (Plex Pass) |
| Sonic Analysis | No | Yes (analyzes BPM, mood, style) |
| Smart radio/mixes | No | Yes (AI-curated based on analysis) |
| Loudness leveling | No | Yes (ReplayGain + dynamic) |
| Smart playlists | Yes | Yes |
| Lyrics | Via plugin | Yes |
| Gapless playback | Yes (web) | Yes (PlexAmp) |
| Crossfade | No | Yes (PlexAmp) |
| Visualizations | No | Yes (PlexAmp) |
| Offline sync | Yes (mobile apps) | Yes (Plex Pass) |
| Scrobbling | Via plugin | Via plugin |
| Subsonic API | Via OpenSubsonic plugin | No |
| DLNA | Yes | Yes |
| Chromecast | Yes | Yes |
| Music video | Yes | Yes |
| Docker containers | 1 | 1 |
| RAM (music only) | 300-800 MB | 500 MB-1.5 GB |
| Cost | Free | Free (limited) / $5 mo Plex Pass |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Proprietary |
The PlexAmp Factor
PlexAmp is the key differentiator. It’s a standalone music player app that connects to your Plex server and provides:
- Sonic Analysis: Plex analyzes every track in your library for tempo, mood, and sonic characteristics. This powers smart radio that creates mixes based on how your music actually sounds, not just genre tags.
- Smart radio: Pick a song and PlexAmp creates an endless mix of similar-sounding tracks from your library. It’s like having a personal DJ.
- Loudness leveling: Normalizes volume across tracks so you don’t get blasted switching from a quiet jazz track to a loud rock song.
- Crossfade and gapless: Smooth transitions between tracks.
No self-hosted alternative offers anything comparable to Sonic Analysis. It’s PlexAmp’s killer feature.
The catch: PlexAmp requires Plex Pass ($5/month, $40/year, or $120 lifetime). Without it, you’re limited to the standard Plex music player, which is fine but not exceptional.
Installation Complexity
Jellyfin: Single container, create a music library, optionally install plugins (lyrics, scrobbling, OpenSubsonic). Straightforward.
Plex: Single container, create a plex.tv account, claim the server (token expires in 4 minutes), create a music library. Enable Sonic Analysis in library settings (takes hours for large libraries). Install PlexAmp on mobile devices.
Use Cases
Choose Jellyfin If…
- Free and open-source is non-negotiable
- You don’t want to pay for Plex Pass
- Subsonic app compatibility (via plugin) matters
- You already run Jellyfin for video
- You want full control without cloud accounts
- “Good enough” music streaming is acceptable
Choose Plex If…
- PlexAmp’s Sonic Analysis and smart radio appeal to you
- You value the best possible music streaming experience
- You’re willing to pay for Plex Pass
- You already run Plex for video
- Loudness leveling and crossfade matter
- You want a dedicated, polished music app
Final Verdict
PlexAmp is the best self-hosted music experience. Nothing else in the self-hosted world matches Sonic Analysis and smart radio. If you’re serious about music and willing to pay for Plex Pass, it’s worth it.
Jellyfin is the best free option. It handles music competently, and with the OpenSubsonic plugin, you get access to the Subsonic app ecosystem. You miss out on PlexAmp’s premium features, but the core experience is solid.
For dedicated music streaming without paying anything, Navidrome beats both — it’s lighter than Jellyfin and purpose-built for music with native Subsonic API support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PlexAmp worth the Plex Pass cost just for music?
If music is important to you and you have a large library (1,000+ albums), yes. Sonic Analysis transforms how you discover music in your own collection. For smaller libraries or casual listeners, Jellyfin or Navidrome are sufficient.
Can I use Subsonic apps with Jellyfin?
Yes, via the OpenSubsonic plugin. Install it from Jellyfin’s plugin repository, configure it, and Subsonic-compatible apps (Symfonium, DSub, play:Sub) can connect. It works well, though some advanced features may not be fully supported.
Does Jellyfin have lyrics support?
Via community plugins. The experience isn’t as seamless as PlexAmp’s built-in lyrics, but it works. You’ll need to install the Lyrics plugin and may need to provide your own lyrics files.
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