Media apps you can self-host — Oct 2026
Every media tool below runs on your own server — no per-seat bills, no vendor lock-in.
Rather than a flat list, we ranked these 5 tools by how many times people actually started them on PickYour.App.
The shortlist, ranked
| # | App | Category | Installs | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jellyfin Free media server for movies, TV & music | Media | 152 000 | €0.046/hr |
| 2 | Photoprism AI-powered private photo management | Media | 94 000 | €0.046/hr |
| 3 | Navidrome Your personal music streaming server | Media | 52 000 | €0.023/hr |
| 4 | Audiobookshelf Self-hosted audiobook & podcast server | Media | 31 000 | €0.023/hr |
| 5 | PeerTube Decentralized video hosting platform | Media | 26 000 | €0.046/hr |
What each one is good at
Jellyfin
Built around its core job, Jellyfin stays out of your way. Spec: 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 100 GB disk. It tops the table for a reason: the install flow here is one click, and the first hour costs cents.
Photoprism
Built around its core job, Photoprism stays out of your way. Spec: 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 200 GB disk. Close second, and some teams prefer its take on the problem.
Navidrome
Teams pick Navidrome when they need the basics done well. It runs comfortably on 1 vCPU / 2 GB here. A niche pick that earns its place.
Audiobookshelf
Built around its core job, Audiobookshelf stays out of your way. It runs comfortably on 1 vCPU / 2 GB here. Lesser known, often a better fit for smaller teams.
Before you install
You can try any of them for the price of a coffee per day: Pay as you go works out near €0.046 an hour at full spec, and pausing stops the meter. Each app page shows its recommended plan.
Generated 2026-10-22 from live catalog data · all guides