Kodi is an excellent video player that supports tons of add-ons and builds. It is essentially a virtual media center that pairs up with any device and has tons of customizations. Kodi is open-source software and was known as Xbox Media Center. It is one of the best media players and supports virtually any operating system.
You can even get Kodi for your smartphone on Android or iOS. You need to jailbreak your iPhone before installing Kodi. Kodi lets you access any content in your library with ease and in one place.
One drawback of Kodi is its steep learning curve. The app is a bit unusual, and you will need some time to get used to it. The major selling point for Kodi is its comprehensive collection of add-ons and customizations. Due to its open-source roots, you can have an unlimited amount of add-ons. These add-ons enhance the streaming experience on Kodi and give you access to a more extensive library.
Most of the add-ons provide you with access to copyrighted movies and shows for free. You can watch content present on premium subscription sites for free by using these add-ons. Some add-ons even allow you to listen to music or download games to your device.
Although it has a learning curve, the UI on Kodi looks pretty great with the dark theme. It also has all the features of a file manager and lets you organize the content with ease. Now, Kodi on its own is a legal software program, but some of its add-ons make it illegal. As you may know, watching pirated content is a violation of copyright laws.
With add-ons, Kodi basically has an unlimited library of content with some add-ons. You can search for any movie or show and start streaming without any complications. If you get used to the workings of this software, it is easy to do a lot of things with it. You can watch free content or stream music, or even download games with the help of Kodi.
Due to some drawbacks of the hard-to-learn interface and unusual methods, we compiled a list of the best Kodi alternatives. You can get similar features and enjoy watching content on this alternative software.
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5 Best Kodi Alternatives
1. Stremio
Stremio has many similar features to Kodi and is an excellent media player. You also get cross-platform support with Stremio making it one of the best Kodi alternatives. Stremio lets you stream movies, TV shows, or media from many sources. It does have features of a proper media center, and you can use it for streaming content on local devices.
Stremio also has support for a large variety of add-ons and customizations.
You can download Stremio from its official website or sideload on any other device. The installation process is pretty easy, and anyone can do it. You should try the first method to avoid any mishaps to your device.
When it comes to usability, Stremio is better than Kodi in many ways. The UI on Stremio is easy to use, and there is no learning curve here. Also, you don’t need to download add-ons locally on each device like Kodi.
Stremio allows you to link these add-ons with your account and store them online. This way, an add-on on one device is available on every other device using the same Stremio account.
It is also easier to install add-ons on Stremio than on Kodi. Unlike Kodi, you don’t need to download add-ons from external sources. You can download official or unofficial add-ons from the add-ons section present on Stremio. You can even search for a particular add-on for the app.
With these add-ons, you can virtually stream a large amount of content. You can stream and download movies or TV shows. With some add-ons, you can even download and stream an extensive library of music.
Stremio has a much friendlier interface than Kodi. You can find featured content from different add-ons on the homepage. You can also find the content available in your local library and stream it with ease.
One major drawback of Stremio is the limited amount of third-party add-ons. Unlike Kodi, Stremio only has a few add-ons that you can install. Also, the app itself is not much customizable as found in Kodi.
You cannot change themes or add skins to the user interface. Stremio does have support for the synced library. You can access the My library section on any device using your Stremio account.
Overall, if you are looking for a simpler alternative to Kodi, Stremio is an excellent option. Although the available features are not the same as Kodi, they are more than enough for the average user. You do get to stream an extensive library of content with the help of add-ons just like Kodi.
2. Plex
Plex is an excellent Kodi alternative and a competitor to the app. You get to create your personal media server using Plex and watch your favorite content on many devices. Unlike other apps where you have to use different servers, you can create a private server with Plex.
All you need to do is to set up your computer as a server and use it as a central media server for all your content. You can access the content present on your media server on other devices using the same account.
Many devices and platforms support plex. You can run the app on Android or iOS, or Linux devices. Another unique feature is that you don’t need a local network for the server-client system to work. You can have the media server on a different network and the client on another network.
Any client device can access the server from anywhere globally as long as both have a decent internet connection. This way, you can access your local library from anywhere in the world. Plex also supports many plugins and add-ons, just like Kodi. These plugins are known as Plex Channels.
Any plugin downloaded on the media server is accessible to the client device too. Some add-ons offer you access to an extensive library of content available on different platforms. Plex has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to use. Any user can learn the workings of Plex with ease and start streaming their favorite content.
Plex also comes with a subscription service called Plex Pass that offers added features. You get support for Live TV, DVR, and media sync. With Plex Pass, you can even download the content on the media server onto the client device. This way, you can stream your favorite content while being offline. It also comes with support for camera uploads to the media server and photo-tagging.
All in all, Plex Pass is only an additional feature, and it is not compulsory for enjoying most features of Plex. You can still enjoy all the major features of Plex without buying its subscription service.
Overall, Plex is one of the best Kodi alternatives with a wide range of features. It is the best app for streaming local content across many devices. The app has a simple interface and does not have any learning curve. You can install the app and set up the media server without any complications.
With the help of Plex, you can access many add-ons and stream unlimited content from different platforms. Plex is also available on many platforms that make it an excellent choice for a large number of users.
3. Emby
Emby is also software like Plex with a client-server design and an easy-to-use interface. Emby shares many similarities to Plex and has a similar system of streaming content. You can stream content from a media server on any number of client devices. The client devices can access content present on media servers from anywhere in the world.
This gives you access to your local library if the media server and client device are connected to the internet. You also get some additional features like Live TV streaming or DVR capabilities. These features make Emby an excellent Kodi alternative.
Emby also has an easy-to-use interface, and anyone can use this app with ease. Emby also has video player capabilities and has many similarities with Kodi in this regard. You can stream your favorite content with ease on Emby. Like Plex and Kodi, Emby also has support for add-ons that enhance the streaming experience.
You can use these add-ons to add a large number of movies and shows. Some add-ons even allow you to stream premium content for free, but these add-ons are unofficial. We recommend downloading Emby from its official website to avoid any mishaps.
Emby does have a premium subscription that gives you additional features. You get offline downloading, cloud sync, cover art, among others. These features come together to offer an excellent streaming experience for the user. We recommend using Emby if you want better access to your local content. It is an excellent alternative to Kodi due to its support for add-ons and customizations.
4. Popcorn Time
Popcorn Time is a different software than others on this list. Unlike Kodi, Popcorn Time is a proper video player and streaming software. You get access to an extensive library of content comprising movies and TV shows. Popcorn Time has an easy-to-use interface, and anyone can use it without issues. Popcorn Time does not host any content but offers torrent links from different sources. This way, it evades legal action due to the presence of copyrighted content.
The best thing about Popcorn Time is its comprehensive content collection. You can find the latest releases on this app and enjoy them for free. Popcorn Time has separate sections for movies and TV shows, making it easier for the user. You can find your favorite content on Popcorn Time.
It also has old classics and TV shows in different languages. Popcorn Time was initially an Android app but has since made versions for Windows and Mac too. You can download the Popcorn Time app from its official website with ease.
Due to its pirated content, Popcorn Time is banned in some countries. We recommend using a VPN while using Popcorn Time for streaming and downloading content.
The UI on Popcorn Time is also excellent and pretty easy to use. You can find all the content organized in different sections and sort through it with the help of genres. You can also search your favorite content with the search option for easy access.
Popcorn Time also has an added feature called SafeWatch. It allows you to download the torrent file while using VPN. You need to pay some fees to have it enabled, but it does add a level of security to the whole process. Popcorn Time does allow downloading the files without a VPN, so you can say Popcorn Time is free to use.
Popcorn Time is an excellent alternative to Kodi if you are looking for an excellent streaming experience. The large library of content paired with an easy-to-use interface is great for the users. Plus, you download all the content present on Popcorn Time to watch them offline.
Popcorn Time has cross-platform support for better usability. It is one of the best apps like Kodi allowing free movie streaming anytime anywhere.
5. Universal Media Server
Universal Media Server is another software with similar features to Flex. Universal Media Server connects with a variety of DLNA devices. DLNA is essentially a software program that allows sharing of media between different devices on the same network.
This was found in many Sony devices and allowed streaming of media from one device to other. Universal Media Server also includes having a central media server and other client devices. You can set up your PC as a media server and stream on other devices from anywhere.
Universal Media Server is a decent alternative to Kodi, but it does not have as many features. One advantage of Universal Media Server is the extremely simple user interface.
Universal Media Server also has support for devices that don’t have support for DLNA. You can use its web interface if you don’t have a DLNA device. Universal Media Server has an easy-to-use UI, and there is no learning curve even for newcomers to the software.
Universal Media Server supports multiple video formats. It also adjusts bitrate according to your connection speed. Universal Media Server also receives regular updates to the software. It has an active user base, and you can receive help for any issues while using the app.
Universal Media Server is another one of the best Kodi alternatives, but it takes a different approach. It is the best option if you want to stream your local library on other devices.
Conclusion
Kodi is an excellent media player with support for a lot of customization. However, the steep learning curve of this app makes it discernible for a small number of people. Due to this, we compiled a list of the best Kodi alternatives. You can use any of the apps mentioned on this list and stream your favorite content.
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