What is the main difference between Jellyfin and Kodi?

Jellyfin and Kodi are both media servers but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Jellyfin or Kodi?

The choice between Jellyfin and Kodi depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Jellyfin to Kodi?

Migration between Jellyfin and Kodi is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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Jellyfin vs Kodi

Learn how Jellyfin and Kodi differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these media servers is best for you.

Jellyfin

Free, open source media server that lets you collect, manage, and stream your personal library to any device, with no fees, tracking, or vendor lock-in.

Visit Jellyfin Read more

56,173stars+1,161(+2.1%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
1 day ago
Repository age
8 years
Version
v10.11.11
License
GPL-2.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
jellyfin/jellyfin

Sponsor Jellyfin onopencollective.com

Kodi

Plays videos, music, TV shows, photos, and games from a single interface, with live TV, PVR recording, and broad format support across devices.

Visit Kodi Read more

21,137stars+46(+0.2%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
21 hours ago
Repository age
16 years
Version
21.3
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
xbmc/xbmc

Sponsor Kodi onpatreon.com

Detailed Comparison

Jellyfin appears to have several advantages over Kodi, particularly in popularity, growth and licensing. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Jellyfin wins

Community & Popularity

Jellyfin leads in popularity with 56,173 stars vs 21,137 stars for Kodi. The 166% higher star count indicates stronger community adoption. In terms of developer contributions, Kodi has 6,586 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Jellyfin wins

Growth Momentum

Jellyfin is growing faster, adding 1,161 stars in the last 30 days (+2.1%) against adding 46 stars for Kodi (+0.2%). Jellyfin is both larger and pulling further ahead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Jellyfin last updated 1 day ago and Kodi 21 hours ago.

Kodi wins

Project Maturity

Kodi has been in development longer, starting 16 years ago, compared to Jellyfin which began 8 years ago. This 8.0-year head start suggests Kodi may have more mature features and established processes.

Jellyfin wins

Licensing

Jellyfin is licensed under GPL-2.0, while Kodi's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Media Servers. However, they also have distinct specializations: Kodi extends into Media & Streaming.

Comparable

Hosting & Deployment

Both Jellyfin and Kodi offer self-hosting capabilities, giving you full control over your data and infrastructure.