5 Best DLNA Server Software

Multimedia is the backbone of any good home theater system. That's why it's important have the best DLNA media serverOver the years, you've probably accumulated a collection of DVDs, video files, photos, and music.

The next logical step is to stream and share your media over the network to devices such as HTPCs, set-top boxes, Android or smartphones.

For this you need a DLNA media server. There are many home media servers who can do this for free or at low cost.

But with so many options, it can be difficult to find the best DLNA server software to suit your needs. We've put together a handy list of our favorites.

If you're just looking for a quick fix, our pick for the best DLNA media server software for most users is PlayOn.

PlayOn not only allows you to stream media to DLNA compatible devices, but It is also the only DLNA media server software offering tight integration with streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Hulu and others. For more information about PlayOn, visit their official website.

You can also read: 7 Best 4k Players for Windows 10

What is DLNA? What is DLNA?

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is the name of a non-profit organization that oversees the DLNA certification standard. The DLNA standard defines how media devices connected to a network exchange data.

Esto It means you can easily exchange multimedia data with DLNA-compatible devices. For example, you can stream music from your computer to your TV. DLNA is often used interchangeably with Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). However, this is not true because DLNA has extended the UPnP protocol to focus on media.

Why do I need DLNA media server software?

Now that you are familiar with DLNA, you are probably wondering why you need a DLNA media server software. Basically, a multimedia server allows you to share videos, music and photos using the DLNA protocol.

This means that DLNA-compatible devices such as TVs, game consoles and media players can easily play media files from your home media server over the network.

DLNA media servers often offer additional features such as metadata playback, such as movie covers, and transcoding video files so they can be played on a wider range of devices.

Note on DLNA support

In the early days of DLNA, although the standard was well-defined, DLNA compatibility was not always obvious. Some DLNA client devices, such as Samsung TVs and game consoles, did not follow the DLNA protocol and therefore had problems playing media from certain servers.

Fortunately, DLNA support has greatly improved with There, so you will rarely have any issues streaming from the servers listed below. However, if you are having issues streaming via DLNA, you may need to change some settings on the server for the problematic client.

5 Best DLNA Server Software

So what is the best media server software for your home? Luckily, we've put together a list to help you find the right DLNA server for you.

1 – PlayOn (Windows)

PlayOn is by far the most feature-rich DLNA media server on the market, which is why it made it onto our list of the best DLNA media servers.

In addition to streaming movies, music and photos from your computer to DLNA-enabled devices, PlayOn's home media server software also lets you allows you to record from multiple sources, skip ads in recordings and more.

It is also one of the few media servers that supports streaming services. streaming online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Those who want to access their media on the go can use PlayOn's built-in web interface or mobile apps to iOS and Android.

Pros

• Allows easy integration with online media sources such as Netflix and Hulu.
• Supports local and online content

Cons

• Only available in Windows

PlayOn

2. Jellyfin (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Jellyfin is the youngest media server on this list, but its cross-platform nature and rich feature set have quickly made it a popular media center solution.

Jellyfin aims to be a completely free alternative to the popular media servers Plex and Emby. This makes it an attractive option for those who are unhappy with the increasingly commercial focus of some of these platforms.

There are proprietary Jellyfin clients for a wide range of platforms, such as Android TV, Apple TV, and Chrome, with several more in development. So chances are your chosen platform is already supported or will be in the near future.

Pros

• Cross platform
• Support for a wide range of DLNA clients
• No fees or subscriptions

Cons

• There may be more issues in the early stages of development than on more mature servers.

jellyfin

3 – Plex (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Plex is well known in HTPC circles for its cross-platform compatibility, wide range of supported devices, and ease of installation. Plex is based on our beloved Kodi/XBMC frontend, but has added some additional features such as separate client/server configuration, transcoding, and metadata handling.

The multitude of features make it one of the most popular media servers on the market. Best of all, sharing media on the local network is free. Plex offers a paid Plex Pass that gives access to additional features such as cloud streaming and media syncing.

Pro

• Easy installation
• Support for cross-device transcoding
• Handling server-side metadata

Contrary to

• Some parts have closed source code
• Mobile apps and Plex pass are paid options.

plex

5. Universal Media Headquarters

Universal Media is another popular UPnP streaming service that has made a name for itself, not least because of its unique ability to transcode various media formats. Whatever you want to share, the UMS server is ready for it.

Your console Xbox, you smartphone, your Blu-ray player and virtually any other device will work seamlessly when connected to the UMS DLNA server.

We also like the fact that It works on the computer without much effort configuration, not to mention the well-designed web interface that also supports non-DLNA devices.

Other characteristics

The media server software is also praised for its elegant design. For example, offers full compatibility with DTS, iTunes, high-resolution video thumbnails and SBS 3D video support.

As expected, the advanced server design provides one of the best streaming services among the main competitors. And you can believe it: you can get all this happiness without paying a cent! There is an even more impressive paid version, but the free version is also very attractive.

Universal MediaServer

How to choose the best media server software

Choosing a media server is similar to choosing any other device or software. Choosing the best media center software largely depends on the features you are looking for. When choosing the best media center software, You must ask yourself three questions.

• What type of media will you use most often (e.g. video or music)?
• What devices are you going to use to transfer the media?
• How sophisticated do you want to make it?

While some home media servers are designed for certain types of media, most users want a media server that can handle video, music, and photos for maximum flexibility.

It is also important to know which devices you are going to stream your media to, as not all media servers are equally compatible. Finally, You have to decide How much do you want to do yourself?:Do you want media server software that you can install and forget about, or do you want something you can play around with?

What criteria should be considered when looking for the best media server software?

1. Full DLNA support

The best DLNA media servers strictly follow the DLNA protocol for maximum compatibility. This means that you should have excellent compatibility with a wide range of DLNA-enabled devices such as gaming consoles, Bluray players, and Android set-top boxes.

2. Support for larger formats

Although most video files are available in some common formats like MP4, you can always find at least one video encoded in an unusual format.

When looking for media server software, Make sure it supports a wide range of formats so it can handle anything you throw at it. Plus, the media server should be able to stream not only video, but also music and photos for maximum flexibility.

3. Transcoding

Sometimes your device doesn't support the video format you want to send. That's where transcoding comes in, which instantly convert your media files in a format compatible with your streaming player.

Real-time transcoding is tricky, so make sure the NAS or PC you use to host the media server is robust enough to handle the task.

Some media servers also offer pre-transcoding, which can prepare compatible video and reduce system requirements.

4. Reading metadata

Do you know when you run Kodi and show you things like movie posters, plot summaries, etc.? That's metadata: information about your media files that some media servers store to improve your user experience.

Some media servers, such as PlayOn and Plex, incorporate metadata collection (called scraping) to improve the media experience when using compatible applications.

5. Registration in the media

Some media servers, such as PlayOn, allow broadcast live television or connect to streaming services that can be recorded for later viewing.

6. Network interface and/or dedicated applications

Home media server software is no longer just software that lets you stream movies and music through your DLNA-enabled devices.

If you don't have a dedicated DLNA media player, such as an Android TV box, look no further than DLNA servers with a web interface or special mobile apps like PlayOn Media Server, which make accessing media much easier.

Conclusion

We have made a list of 5 Best DLNA Media Servers That Are Ideal for streaming media in your home. However, choosing the best DLNA server software for your needs will depend on the functionality you are looking for.

The PlayOn service offers an impressive range of features and even lets you stream Netflix content in your home. However, if you're on a tight budget or only want local functionality, you can choose from other DLNA media servers on this list.

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