Jellyfin guides and client comparisons
Which Jellyfin client to use on which device, why a file transcodes, and how to set up the server around it. Written by the developer of Swiftly Player.
Best Jellyfin client in 2026: pick by device
The best Jellyfin client for iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Windows, Linux, Fire TV, Roku and Samsung/LG TV, plus which ones skip transcoding.
Pick a client
The best Jellyfin app for each device, compared with sources.
- Apple TV
Jellyfin on Apple TV: 11 clients compared (2026)
Swiftfin, Infuse, Streamyfin, JellyTV and more, compared for Direct Play, Dolby Vision, audio passthrough, Skip Intro and Top Shelf on Apple TV.
- iPhone
Jellyfin on iPhone: 9 apps compared for downloads and PiP
The official Jellyfin app, Swiftfin, Infuse, Streamyfin, Swiftly Player and more, compared for downloads, Picture in Picture, CarPlay and Skip Intro.
- Android TV
Jellyfin on Android TV and Google TV: which app to install (2026)
The official Jellyfin app, Wholphin, Moonfin, Streamyfin, Kodi add-ons and Findroid on Android TV: playback, Media Segments, servers, install sources.
- Android
Best Jellyfin app for Android in 2026: phone and tablet clients
The best Jellyfin app for Android phones and tablets, compared by engine, Direct Play, downloads, Picture in Picture and Chromecast.
- Mac
Watching Jellyfin on a Mac: 9 clients side by side
Jellyfin Desktop, Infuse, Fladder, Swiftly Player, VidHub, SenPlayer, jellyfin-mpv-shim and IINA for Mac: price, engine, HDR, Direct Play.
- Windows
Best Jellyfin clients for Windows in 2026
Jellyfin Desktop, Fladder, Kodi with a Jellyfin add-on, the browser and Swiftly Player compared for Windows: playback engine, Skip Intro, servers, install.
- Linux
Best Jellyfin client for Linux in 2026: 7 apps compared
Jellyfin Desktop, Delfin, Fladder, Swiftly Player, jellyfin-mpv-shim, Kodi and the browser for Linux: packaging, engine, Wayland, Skip Intro.
- iPad
Best Jellyfin app for iPad in 2026: what to install
Five Jellyfin apps for iPad compared for Picture in Picture, offline downloads for travel, and how they behave in Split View.
- Fire TV
Best Jellyfin app for Fire TV and Fire Stick (2026)
The official Jellyfin app, Wholphin, Moonfin and Kodi on Fire TV, Vega OS versus Fire OS and sideloading, and Fire TV codec limits by model.
- Roku
Jellyfin on Roku: the official app, its limits and fixes (2026)
How the official Jellyfin Roku app plays, its Direct Play and PGS subtitle limits, alternatives like JellyRock and Moonfin, and common fixes.
- Samsung TV
Jellyfin on Samsung and LG TVs: apps, install, limits (2026)
Official Jellyfin apps for Tizen and webOS, sideloading, Moonfin, DLNA casting, codec and HDR limits, and when to use a streaming box instead.
- Swiftfin
Swiftfin alternatives: other Jellyfin apps for iPhone and Apple TV
Swiftfin is free and open source but has no downloads or Skip Intro yet. Infuse, JellyTV, Streamyfin and Swiftly Player compared as alternatives.
- Infuse
Free Infuse alternatives for Jellyfin: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV (2026)
Infuse costs a subscription. Swiftfin, JellyTV, Streamyfin and Swiftly Player are free Jellyfin clients for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV compared.
Fix playback
Why a file transcodes, and how subtitles, HDR, audio and downloads behave.
- Transcoding
Why is Jellyfin transcoding? Causes and fixes (2026)
Direct Play, Remux, Direct Stream and Transcode explained, plus fixes for subtitles, codecs, bitrate limits and HDR that force a transcode.
- MKV
Jellyfin MKV on iPhone and Apple TV: why it fails, and how to fix it
Why Jellyfin MKV files transcode or fail on iPhone and Apple TV, which apps avoid it, and server-side fixes for playback that will not start.
- Subtitles
Jellyfin subtitles guide: formats, burn-in, forced, downloads (2026)
How Jellyfin 12 handles SRT, ASS, PGS and VobSub subtitles, when it burns them in, how forced flags work, and how to set up the OpenSubtitles plugin.
- Dolby Vision
Jellyfin Dolby Vision and HDR - which clients support it (2026)
Which devices play Dolby Vision profiles 5, 7 and 8, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, what happens when they cannot, and Jellyfin's tone-mapping settings.
- Dolby Atmos
Jellyfin Atmos, TrueHD and DTS passthrough explained (2026)
Passthrough vs decoding, TrueHD and DTS bitstreaming by device, and why Jellyfin sometimes transcodes lossless audio instead of passing it through.
- Apple TV
Jellyfin on Apple TV with multiple users: profiles and switching
How tvOS profiles work, which Jellyfin apps tie a login to each Apple TV user, Quick Connect sign-in, and server-side parental controls.
- Downloads
Jellyfin offline downloads: which clients can do it (2026)
The server setting that gates downloads, original file vs. transcoded downloads, and which Jellyfin clients actually support offline playback.
- Picture in Picture
Jellyfin Picture in Picture: which apps support it (2026)
Which Jellyfin clients support Picture in Picture on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Android TV and desktop browsers, how to use it, and its limits.
- Quick Connect
Jellyfin Quick Connect: sign in on your TV without typing a password
How Jellyfin Quick Connect works, how to enable it, sign in on a TV step by step, its security limits, and which clients support it.
- SyncPlay
Watch Jellyfin across devices: resume, handoff and SyncPlay
How Jellyfin stores playback position on the server, which clients offer remote control or casting, and how SyncPlay and Quick Connect work.
Run your server
Install, update and extend Jellyfin, and reach it from outside.
- Setup
How to set up Jellyfin: a beginner's guide (2026)
How to set up Jellyfin from scratch: hardware, installing the server, the setup wizard, file naming, libraries, users and clients.
- Docker
Jellyfin Docker Compose: complete setup guide (2026)
Install Jellyfin with Docker Compose the way the official docs describe it — volumes, network mode, ports, hardware acceleration, updates and backups.
- Plex vs Emby
Jellyfin vs Plex vs Emby in 2026: an honest comparison
What Jellyfin, Plex and Emby actually cost in 2026, whether they need an account, and whether hardware transcoding is free. With sources.
- Plugins
Best Jellyfin plugins in 2026: the full list
The best Jellyfin plugins for 2026, a jellyfin plugins list covering the official catalog and third-party repos, with Jellyfin 12 compatibility.
- Jellyfin 12
Jellyfin 12: what changed and what to check before you upgrade
Jellyfin's new version numbers, what 12.0 and 12.1 actually changed, plugin and client compatibility, and what to back up first.
- Hardware Acceleration
Jellyfin hardware acceleration on a NAS or mini PC (2026 guide)
Set up Jellyfin hardware acceleration for Intel QSV, AMD VA-API and Nvidia NVENC, including Docker device passthrough and the dashboard settings.
- Intro Skipper
Jellyfin Intro Skipper: how to skip intros and credits (2026 setup)
Install the Intro Skipper plugin, run its analysis task, and see which Jellyfin clients use Media Segments to skip intros, recaps and credits.
- Remote Access
Jellyfin remote access: reach your server from outside, safely (2026)
VPN mesh, reverse proxy, Cloudflare Tunnel or port forwarding for Jellyfin: security, setup effort, video terms, and the server settings that matter.
- Synology
Install Jellyfin on Synology NAS with Container Manager
How to install Jellyfin on Synology with DSM 7.2 Container Manager, Docker Compose, shared folder permissions, hardware transcoding and updates.
- Seerr
Seerr and Jellyfin: setup guide for the Jellyseerr replacement (2026)
Seerr replaced Jellyseerr and Overseerr. Install it with Docker, connect Jellyfin, Radarr and Sonarr, and request from inside your Jellyfin app.