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Filamama vs Plex, Jellyfin and Emby.

Plex, Jellyfin and Emby are home media servers built around movies, TV shows and music. Filamama is a home media server built around the photos and videos your family takes. They do different jobs and can run side by side on the same machine.

FeatureFilamamaPlexJellyfinEmby
Built forYour photos and home videosMovies, shows, music, plus photos [2]Movies, shows, music, live TV, books, photos [3]Videos, music, photos, live TV [4]
PriceFreeFree at home. Pass for remote video [2]Free [3]Free. Premiere from $4.99 a month [5]
Account with the makerNot neededFirst run asks for one [6]Not needed [3]Not checked
Tracking or phone-homeNoneNot checkedNone [3]Not checked
LicencePublished with the downloadNot checkedGPL [3]Not checked
Away from homeHome only, by designRemote video needs a pass [2]Yes [3]Yes [4]

Small numbers are sources, listed at the bottom; Filamama's column comes from its own specification and code (source 1). "Not checked" means we didn't find it in Plex, Jellyfin and Emby's own docs, pages or code, so we don't claim either way. Checked on 17 October 2026.

Where Filamama is ahead

  • Phone backup built in: Piktures backs up your Android phone to Filamama, with resumable uploads and a duplicate check before sending.
  • A library made for photos and home videos: a timeline by date, albums from your phone folders, and videos that play in the browser.
  • No account with anyone and no outbound calls.

Where they are ahead

  • Movies, TV shows and music,. Filamama doesn't organise those.
  • Access away from home.
  • Jellyfin publishes its code under the GPL.

Run both

You don't need to switch. Keep your movie server for films and shows, and run Filamama next to it for the family's photos and videos.

Sources

  1. Filamama: its own specification and source code (SPEC.md, README, the server and Piktures code).
  2. Plex plans: free on the home network; Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass for remote video www.plex.tv/plans
  3. Jellyfin: media types, "No Fees", no tracking or phone-home, GPL jellyfin.org
  4. Emby: media types, at home or away emby.media
  5. Emby Premiere prices emby.media/premiere.html
  6. Plex quick-start guide: first run asks you to sign in or create a plex.tv account support.plex.tv/articles/200264746-quick-start-step-by-step-guides

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