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Alternatives to Spotify and Netflix
Play music and video you keep, with players that ask for nothing.
Ranked by score out of 30, most convivial first.
VLC
The cone-shaped player that plays almost any file, with no ads or account.
mpv
A minimal video player controlled by a config file and keys.
Navidrome
Your own music library, streamed to your phone from your server.
Jellyfin
A media server for your own films, shows and music.
Funkwhale
A federated audio platform where communities host their own music.
For comparison
The big names these tools are measured against. We review them as benchmarks, so they sit outside the directory.
About these tools
Streaming services rent you what you play and watch what you do. VLC plays almost any file, mpv does it with a bare window, Jellyfin streams your own films and shows from your own server, Navidrome does the same for music, and Funkwhale lets communities host audio for each other.
All of them work best with media you own, which is the trade: you do the collecting, and nobody can take it away.
How to choose
For one device, VLC is all most people need. If you have a library and a spare computer, Jellyfin and Navidrome make it feel like a streaming service. Expect to supply your own files.
Frequently asked questions
What is an alternative to Spotify?
Navidrome streams your own music files from a server you run, and Funkwhale is a federated option.
Can I have my own Netflix?
Jellyfin serves the films and shows you own to any device.