But which software should you use?
Heres how the two biggest solutions stack up against each other.
Despite having very similar goals, however, they have very different ways of getting there.
Plex:Plex began life as a fork of XBMC, but its become so distinct youd hardly notice.
This project aims to make home theater software dead simple for everyone.
It allows you to sync and stream all of your media to any gadget no matter where you are.
Everyone enjoys their stuff in slightly different ways, so we cant say whats perfect for everyone.
Even here at Lifehacker, some of us swear by Kodi, while others cant live without Plex.
Keep in mind whatyouprefer while we break down the key differences between them.
Kodi and Plex handle this step very differently.
Which one works best for you will depend on the punch in of hardware you plan to use.
Kodi, on the other hand, deals mostly with files on the computer its running on.
With Plex, youre prompted to create an account and set your server upright off the bat.
Itll use that account to sync your library and stream between various devices.
Just sign on to Plex on your phone and everything thats available on your server is ready to go.
Plex even transcodes your videos.
Kodisinitial setupcan be simple or complex, depending on what youre doing.
When you install Kodi, youll be prompted to add files or folders to your library.
If youre installing Kodi on the same desktop that your files are stored on, the setup is easy.
If you want to start streaming to other platforms, itgets even more complicated.
In this area, Plex wins out, since its incredibly simple to set up multiple devices.
Theres just a lot more effort required on your part in exchange for that independence.
Platform Availability
When it comes to platforms, Plex is everywhere.
Simply access and you’ve got the option to access everything thats available on your Plex server immediately.
However, theres a catch: theyre all basically the same app.
This can be a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, this gives you the same awesome customization power no matter what gadget youre doing.
On the other hand, Kodi is always free.
Interface Customization
This is where Kodi shines.
Theres ahugelibrary to choose from, too.
Weve featured several ofour favorite Kodi skins, but there are plenty more.
Best of all, it’s possible for you to tweakanyversion of Kodi.
Plex, on the other hand, has very little to offer on this front.
Its crazy (krazy?)
what you’re able to do with Kodi add-ons.
Like the other customization options, Plex falls a little short in this area.
Pricing
Kodi is free.
These are perfect for hacking together your own media centeron things like a Raspberry Pi.
For the media mogul on a budget, its a pretty sweet deal.
Plex, on the other hand, ismostlyfree.
Alternatively, Plex also offers a service called Plex Pass.
Plex Pass users also get early access to new features before theyre released to the general public.
