Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Universal Media Server VS CoreELEC

Compare Universal Media Server VS CoreELEC and see what are their differences

Universal Media Server logo Universal Media Server

Universal Media Server allows you to host your entire library of video, music, and pictures, and broadcast them conveniently to a wide variety of different devices.

CoreELEC logo CoreELEC

A lightweight OS for Kodi
  • Universal Media Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-20
  • CoreELEC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-18

Universal Media Server features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Universal Media Server is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible for users on various operating systems.
  • Wide Range of File Support
    The server supports a wide variety of file formats, including audio, video, and image files, ensuring compatibility with most types of media.
  • DLNA Support
    It offers DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) support, enabling seamless connectivity with a range of DLNA-compatible devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more.
  • Regular Updates
    The software is actively maintained and regularly updated to include new features and address security vulnerabilities.
  • Transcoding Capability
    Universal Media Server can transcode unsupported formats into compatible ones on-the-fly, allowing smoother playback across diverse devices.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making setup and media management straightforward even for beginners.
  • Free and Open Source
    UMS is free to use and open-source, encouraging community contributions and customization.
  • Plugin Support
    The server can be extended through a variety of plugins, adding functionality such as internet streaming and metadata fetching.

Possible disadvantages of Universal Media Server

  • Resource Intensive
    The software can be quite demanding on system resources, especially when transcoding high-definition content, which may slow down older or less powerful systems.
  • Complex Configuration for Advanced Features
    While the basic setup is straightforward, more advanced features and customizations might require a steep learning curve and detailed configuration.
  • Initial Setup
    The initial setup can be somewhat cumbersome for users who are not technically inclined, requiring the installation of additional software components.
  • Inconsistent Streaming Quality
    Users have reported inconsistent streaming quality, particularly when high-definition content is involved, which might necessitate adjustments in settings.
  • Limited Documentation
    While the support forum is helpful, the official documentation can be sparse and inadequate for troubleshooting more complex issues.
  • Compatibility Issues with Certain Devices
    Certain devices may face compatibility issues or might not work optimally with Universal Media Server, requiring manual tweaks.
  • No Mobile Apps
    UMS does not provide dedicated mobile apps for remote access, requiring reliance on third-party apps or web interfaces.

CoreELEC features and specs

  • Optimized for Amlogic SoCs
    CoreELEC is specifically designed to work efficiently on devices using Amlogic System on Chips (SoCs), ensuring better performance and compatibility on these platforms compared to more general-purpose operating systems.
  • Lightweight
    The operating system is lightweight and minimal, allowing it to run efficiently on modest hardware, thus enabling older or less powerful devices to function effectively as media players.
  • LibreELEC Derivative
    Being a fork of LibreELEC, CoreELEC inherits a robust foundation and benefits from LibreELEC's media center capabilities while adding optimizations and improvements for Amlogic-based devices.
  • Community Support
    CoreELEC has an active community that supports and provides frequent updates, contributing to its development and troubleshooting user issues.

Possible disadvantages of CoreELEC

  • Limited to Amlogic Devices
    CoreELEC is tailored specifically for devices with Amlogic chipsets, which means it is not suitable for devices with other types of hardware, limiting its usability.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with Linux-based systems or media player configurations might face a learning curve when first installing and setting up CoreELEC.
  • Lack of Native App Store
    Unlike more mainstream operating systems, CoreELEC does not have a native app store, which may be frustrating for users accustomed to downloading and installing applications this way.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    While optimized for Amlogic SoCs, there can still be some hardware compatibility issues depending on specific models and peripherals, which may require manual tweaking.

Universal Media Server videos

How to use Universal Media Server

More videos:

  • Review - Universal Media Server | Review
  • Review - Universal Media Server Part 1 - Installation

CoreELEC videos

CoreELEC running on Beelink GT-King

More videos:

  • Review - WHAT IS COREELEC ? A MINOR FORK OF LIBREELEC FOR AMLOGIC DEVICES

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Universal Media Server and CoreELEC)
Video
82 82%
18% 18
Media Player
75 75%
25% 25
Media Players And Streaming Platforms
Watch Movies Online
72 72%
28% 28

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Universal Media Server and CoreELEC

Universal Media Server Reviews

10 Best Kodi Alternatives You Should Use (2023)
Universal Media player is a simple alternative for Kodi. This player lists the top 10 Kodi alternatives due to its simple and easy interface. The setup time is quite time-consuming, but its compatibility is extensive. Besides media, you can also connect gaming consoles to enjoy gaming.
Source: techdator.net
7 Best Home Media Server Software Choices (2022)
Universal Media Server is an open-source and fully free media solution, that though quite a bit more complicated than Plex, is just as stable and reliable. This software can be set up on a PC or NAS open-source software, with about the same setup burden, but if any steps of the process get you hung up, a fairly robust support community will be able to help you out.
Source: heavy.com
Top 10 Best Linux Media Server Software
Yet another simple addition to this list. Universal Media Server does not offer any fancy features but just helps you transcode/stream video and audio without needing many configurations.
Source: itsfoss.com
Top 10 Alternatives to Plex Media Server
Universal Media Server is a DLNA supporting multimedia platform for the purpose of streaming media of all type and format. Universal Media Server is a multiplatform platform that is available for PlayStations, game consoles, smart TVs, smartphones, DVD & Blu-ray player and much more. Universal Media Server is a free to use program who get itself updated time to time for free.
Source: www.easefab.com
Alternatives to Plex: an overview of the best media centers
The Universal Media Server is also an example of an open source program, written in Java. The spin-off program from PS3 Media Server was developed in May 2012 by the developer SubJunk, who had previously played a decisive role in the media server for Sony’s game console. As an alternative to Plex, the software is particularly impressive because of its broad device...
Source: www.ionos.com

CoreELEC Reviews

The 10 Best Immutable Linux Distributions in 2024
Some distributions are tailored for specific use cases, like IoT (Ubuntu Core), container orchestration (RancherOS), or media centers (CoreELEC). The suitability of each distribution for its intended purpose was a significant factor, ensuring that users get the best experience for their specific needs.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CoreELEC seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 17 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Universal Media Server mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Universal Media Server yet. Tracking of Universal Media Server recommendations started around Mar 2021.

CoreELEC mentions (17)

  • Are there any decent android tv boxes that can power a 2tb hard drive and can install core elec to rom?
    It's a lite version of kodi like libreelec https://coreelec.org/ It does have a list of chipsets it's compatible with but wondered if anyone on here was using it with an android box without any issues. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How many widgets are you running with Arctic Horizon 2?
    Coreelec on the Beelink GT King 2 and Khadas VIM4 was about 40s but still acceptable. Source: about 2 years ago
  • 4K Remux and dolby atmos and DTS X - which media player to install?
    TV's won't output multichannel lossless audio, only compressed audio codecs or stereo PCM. You need an external device for multichannel lossless audio. The Shield TV, tube or pro, is the only Android TV device that will output multichannel lossless audio. The Fire TV Cube 3rd Gen or a custom CoreELEC box are other options that will also do this. The CoreELEC box is the cheapest solution but requires some... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Hey guys I have a old android box (x96 mini) that I’d maybe like to try and set up hopefully to play some n64 games, is there a good tutorial or some website out there to help do that or does anyone here have any information?
    You can find more info on the CoreELEC site. Typically all you do on these is flash an image to a MicroSD card, copy an appropriate dtb for CPU/RAM config and place it renamed on the root of the MicroSD, pop it in, and hold the reset button (which can be hidden, such as in the back of the 3.5mm AV port so have a paperclip handy) and keep it held while you plug in the box and it should boot. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I have this old android tv box, there is a way to delete everything and put in it OSMC? The main reason is that I cannot update Android and the remote integration is good for kodi but not for the other features that it offers.
    Put CoreELEC on it. You can find it here: https://coreelec.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Universal Media Server and CoreELEC, you can also consider the following products

Kodi - Kodi is an award winning free and open source media player that got its start on the Xbox console.

LibreELEC - LibreELEC is ‘Just enough OS’ for Kodi, a Linux distribution built to run Kodi on current and...

Serviio - Web on Big Screen. Serviio enables playback of online sources like RSS feeds, live streams or web site content so that you can listen to your favourite podcasts or watch latest TV programmes published online.

Daphile - Daphile is an audiophile class music server & player OS – targeted to dedicated headless PC.

Stremio - Watch videos, movies, TV series and TV channels instantly.

Emby - media server for personal streaming movies tv music photos in mobile app or browser for all devices android iOS windows phone appletv androidtv smarttv and dlna.