Kinonode turns your films and shows into a library that looks as good as any streaming service. Run it on your own hardware, share it with the people you choose, and watch everything at home for free.
Kinonode is built for people who care how their collection looks and plays. No feature is locked behind a pass when you're watching on your own network.
4K, HDR and lossless audio go straight to your screen untouched. Kinonode checks what each device can play and only converts what it has to, using the server's graphics card.
Invite a friend by their Kinonode username, send an email invite, or drop a link in the family group chat. Pick the libraries each person sees, approve who joins, and remove access anytime.
Your server connects out to Kinonode, so it's reachable from anywhere without opening ports.
Self-host on a NAS, a mini PC or a spare laptop. Kinonode Cloud will run your server for you, with no hardware at all.
No ad-supported channels or rented films mixed into your home screen. Kinonode shows what's on your server and nothing else.
Plex now charges to watch your own media away from home. Kinonode charges less, and one plan covers everyone you invite.
| Kinonode | Plex | |
|---|---|---|
| Media server | Free | Free |
| Streaming on your home network | Free, every feature | Free |
| Hardware transcoding | Free | Requires Plex Pass |
| Watching your media away from home | $5/monthOne plan on the server covers everyone you invite | $6.99/month Plex Passor $69.99/year, or each viewer buys a Remote Watch Pass at $2.99/month |
| Cloud-hosted server | From $8/monthComing soon. Priced by storage, up to 2 TB, remote streaming included. | Not offered |
| Invite people | Username, email or invite link | Username or email |
| Ad-supported content in the app | None | Free movies and live TV with ads, alongside your library |
Plex prices are as reported for June 2026 (Android Authority). Plex also sells a lifetime Plex Pass for $249.99. Check plex.tv for current pricing. Plex and Plex Pass are trademarks of Plex, Inc. Kinonode is not affiliated with Plex.
You only pay when someone watches from outside your server's network. Everything else is free, with no limits on libraries, people or features.
For watching at home
For self-hosted servers
We host your server
1 TB of storage for your library
Yes. The server, the apps and every feature are free when people watch on the same network as your server. You only need a plan when someone watches from somewhere else.
Any stream to a device that isn't on your server's network, such as a phone on mobile data or a friend's TV in another house. Streams inside your home are always free, and browsing is free from anywhere.
No. One Kinonode Remote plan on your server covers everyone you share it with.
Create an account and start the Kinonode server on your machine. It opens a setup page where you sign in to link it to your account and pick your library folders. The setup guide has every step.
Point Kinonode at the folders Plex already uses. It reads the same common naming formats, so you can run both side by side while you decide.
By the storage you pick: 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB. Remote streaming and the optimized copies we make for older devices are always included, and those copies never count toward your storage.
Free to use. Set up in minutes.