I’ve been called out plenty of times for still using Kodi in the big year 2025. People keep telling me I should switch to Plex because it’s more modern and apparently has better features. However, I will tell you what I tell everyone: Kodi is still the king. I’ve been a Kodi user for a long time. I’ve tried Plex and Jellyfin too, but I’ve probably been using Kodi since back when it was still called XBMC, short for Xbox Media Center.

Kodi has all the features I need, whether it's streaming capabilities, security, extensive plug-ins, or a decent UI with solid customization options. It’s still free too, while Plex has started charging for features that used to be free and has also bumped up prices. I don’t mind paying for software, but only when there’s no better option.

4 Kodi has streaming features I need

It's an offline-first platform

Kodi is fundamentally a standalone media player. It runs on the same device where your media is stored and plays it directly, with no server setup needed. You just install Kodi on a PC, TV box, or Raspberry Pi and point it to your media files. This makes it perfect for local playback on a single device, like a PC hooked up to a TV.

Kodi can also stream from network shares like SMB or NFS, and even pull content from web sources through add-ons. It’s possible to use Kodi across multiple devices, but it takes a bit of manual setup. You can enable UPnP or DLNA to serve media from one Kodi instance to another, or even set up shared libraries and remote databases.

If multi-device streaming is a priority, Plex might be a better fit. It uses a client-server model where you install Plex Media Server on a central device, like a NAS or PC, and then stream to other devices using Plex apps.

But if you're just watching on one TV like I do, there's no need to overcomplicate things. Kodi works great out of the box. Jellyfin also supports all-in-one setups, allowing it to act as both server and client on a single device. However, even this approach can be more involved than Kodi’s launch-and-play method.

3 It offers unmatched plugin and add-on availability

Plex and Jellyfin don't even come close

Kodi has an excellent ecosystem of plugins and add-ons that even Plex cannot really match. It is open-source and was built to be extended. You can install add-ons to bring in new content sources, features, or interface tweaks. The number of third-party add-ons available is massive and covers almost anything you could want.

There are add-ons for streaming online content from platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and podcasts, as well as Netflix and Disney Plus, through unofficial plugins. You will also find add-ons for live TV using TV tuner backends or IPTV streams, weather, lyrics, games, and a huge variety of skins and visual enhancements.

There have been times when I was able to access sources through Kodi that Plex or even Jellyfin simply could not handle. Some of the community-developed streaming add-ons offer access to free or niche content from around the web. Kodi’s official repo has a curated list of vetted add-ons, but you are free to install third-party repos or zip files, which gives you a lot of freedom.

2 Kodi is free and open-source

You get to keep your data safe

I was never someone who cared much about privacy or data control, but I’ve learned my lesson. Now, I prefer having full control over my data, and Kodi is arguably the most privacy-respecting option among the popular choices. It is a free, offline, local application that does not require a user account or a central server.

There is no company behind Kodi tracking your usage. All your media information, including libraries, watch history, and settings, remains on your device unless you choose to share it, such as by enabling sync or using a third-party service. Because Kodi is open-source, I can, at least in theory, inspect the code myself to make sure nothing is being sent anywhere. The only potential risk is when installing third-party add-ons, since you are trusting their developers. However, at its core, Kodi remains under your control.

1 It has great customization and interface control

Kodi is easily the most flexible option

When it comes to customizing the look, feel, and behavior of your media center, Kodi is easily the most flexible option. You can choose from dozens of custom skins that completely change the layout and style, from minimalist setups to more graphic-heavy designs.

Menus can be rearranged, info displays adjusted, and custom artwork added. Kodi also has extensive settings and configuration files that let you control everything from library updates to playback options like zoom and subtitle appearance. Even if you are not technical, you can still benefit from a wide range of ready-made skins and add-ons to tweak the interface.

Kodi also goes beyond just visuals. It can act as a PVR front-end, music player, photo viewer, and even a retro game emulator. Its RetroPlayer feature lets you run classic game ROMs with gamepad support.

Plex is not the only good option

I’m not against Plex. It’s a good app, works well for most people, and if you’ve already bought a lifetime subscription, there’s really no reason to look for an alternative. But if you want to keep your options open, you can try Jellyfin too. It offers most of the same features as Plex. Personally, I still feel Kodi is better than both Plex and Jellyfin.