Kodi
Plays videos, music, TV shows, photos, and games from a single interface, with live TV, PVR recording, and broad format support across devices.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Amazon Prime.
Replaces 4 paid apps
up to $100/mo ($1,200/yr) in subscriptions
Kodi FAQ
Common questions
Is Kodi free and open source?+
Kodi is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. Plays videos, music, TV shows, photos, and games from a single interface, with live TV, PVR recording, and broad format support across devices.
What paid software does Kodi replace?+
Kodi serves as a free replacement for 4 paid SaaS applications: Amazon Prime, Emby, Plex, Stremio, saving up to $100/month ($1,200/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Kodi?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
What is the catch or trade-off with Kodi?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Amazon Prime.