Replacing an Apple TV with a Raspberry Pi is not a fantasy. A Pi 5 with active cooling, an NVMe hat, and a 128 GB SSD lands under 150 USD and runs a full 4K HDR media center that streams Jellyfin, retros games, plays local files, and never asks for a Netflix login you already have.
We picked seven apps that cover the whole “TV box” job on a Raspberry Pi: the media center OS, the media servers you point it at, the retro emulator layer, and the audio pipeline for people who care about that. The caveats are real (DRM streaming apps are limited on Pi), and we call them out where they matter.
What to look for in a Pi media center
Not every media center app runs cleanly on ARM. The screen for Pi-friendly picks looks like this.
- Native ARM64 build. Emulated x86 on ARM is a bad time. The apps below have real Pi builds.
- Hardware-accelerated video decode. The Pi 4 and Pi 5 have video decode blocks. Software decode of 4K HDR will not work.
- Remote-friendly UI. You are ten feet away with a remote or a phone, not a keyboard.
- Support for the codecs you actually use. HEVC (H.265) matters on the Pi 5. AV1 does not (no hardware decode on any current Pi).
- No DRM streaming assumptions. Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max do not have first-party Pi apps. Any app that promises them is either wrong or using a hack that breaks the terms of service.
- Backup and update path. A media center that requires you to reflash the SD card every six months is a poor bet.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodi | Universal media center | Pi, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Free | Free | 4.5 |
| LibreELEC | “Kodi as an OS” | Pi 4, Pi 5, Generic x86 | Free | Free | 4.6 |
| OSMC | Kodi with more polish | Pi 4 only | Free | Free | 4.4 |
| Plex Media Server | Media library + remote streaming | Pi 4, Pi 5 (headless server) | Free (Basic) | Plex Pass 5 USD/mo | 4.3 |
| Jellyfin Media Player | Plex without the vendor | Pi 4, Pi 5 (client + server) | Free | Free | 4.5 |
| RetroPie | Retro emulation | Pi 4, Pi 5 | Free | Free | 4.7 |
| moOde audio | HiFi audio playback | Pi 4, Pi 5 | Free | Free | 4.5 |
The apps
1. Kodi, the universal media center
Kodi is the media center every other option in this list touches. It plays local and network files, indexes libraries with metadata (posters, fanart, descriptions), and has thousands of add-ons. On a Pi, it hardware-decodes H.264, HEVC, and VP9. It is the base you build on.
Where it falls short: No first-party Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max add-ons. Unofficial ones exist and violate the streaming services’ terms of use.
Pricing:
- Free: Full features, forever.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Pi 4, Pi 5, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Bottom line: The media center you install first. Every other pick either builds on it or coexists with it.
2. LibreELEC, “Kodi as an operating system”
LibreELEC boots straight into Kodi. There is no desktop, no login prompt, and no package manager to maintain. It updates itself, uses about 300 MB of RAM at idle, and boots in about 20 seconds on a Pi 5. If the only thing your Pi does is media, LibreELEC is the shortest path from cold to the couch.
Where it falls short: Locked-down; you cannot install non-Kodi software on it. Not the pick if you also want Jellyfin server or RetroPie on the same Pi.
Pricing:
- Free: Full OS.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Pi 4, Pi 5, generic x86-64.
Download: libreelec.tv | GitHub
Bottom line: The Apple TV replacement in the most literal sense. Boot, watch, sleep.
3. OSMC, Kodi with polish
OSMC is another “Kodi as an OS” build, with a more polished skin (the OSMC skin, an alternative to Kodi’s Estuary) and better hardware integration for the Vero (its bundled hardware). On a Pi, OSMC is a strong LibreELEC alternative if you want prettier defaults.
Where it falls short: Pi 5 support has lagged behind LibreELEC. Development pace is slower.
Pricing:
- Free: OS.
- Paid: Vero V hardware bundle (about 130 USD, ships with OSMC preinstalled).
Platforms: Pi 4, generic x86-64. Vero V (their custom hardware).
Download: osmc.tv
Bottom line: Pick it over LibreELEC if the default look bothers you.
4. Plex Media Server, media library plus remote streaming
Plex Media Server is the media library plus remote-streaming solution most people use. On a Pi 4 or Pi 5 it runs headless, indexes your library, transcodes to remote clients (with limitations, no hardware transcoding on Pi), and offers Plex clients for every TV and phone. Remote streaming outside your home network is the feature the Pi hardware pays for.
Where it falls short: Plex’s monetization drift (paid apps on some TVs, ads in some regions) has soured longtime users. No hardware transcoding on Pi means 4K remote streaming needs pre-encoded files.
Pricing:
- Free: Basic library, local streaming.
- Paid: Plex Pass, about 5 USD/month or 120 USD lifetime.
Platforms: Pi 4, Pi 5 as server. Every TV, phone, and browser as client.
Download: plex.tv
Bottom line: The pick if remote streaming (watching your home library on the road) is important and you have not been burned by Plex’s changes.
5. Jellyfin Media Player, Plex without the vendor
Jellyfin Media Player runs on the same Pi as Kodi and connects to a Jellyfin server. Jellyfin’s server also runs on the Pi (headless) or another box. Unlike Plex, everything is free and open source. Remote streaming works, but you handle port forwarding or Tailscale yourself.
Where it falls short: Set up your own remote access. Metadata scraping is less smart out of the box than Plex.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Pi 4, Pi 5 (server and client). Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV.
Download: jellyfin.org
Bottom line: The Plex alternative with no monetization drift.
6. RetroPie, retro emulation on the same box
RetroPie turns a Pi into a retro console with an emulator-frontend called EmulationStation. Supports every 8-bit and 16-bit console (NES, SNES, Genesis, TurboGrafx, Master System), most 32-bit (PS1, Saturn on Pi 5), and some early 3D (N64, Dreamcast on Pi 5). Pair with a wireless controller and you have a mini SNES that also plays movies.
Where it falls short: Legality depends on where you source ROMs. Emulator performance on Pi 4 is fine for pre-N64 systems, iffy for anything newer.
Pricing:
- Free.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Pi 4, Pi 5, PC (RetroPie has a build).
Download: retropie.org.uk | GitHub
Bottom line: Adds retro gaming to a media Pi with almost no extra cost.
7. moOde audio, the HiFi audio pipeline
moOde audio is a Pi image dedicated to bit-perfect audio playback. It supports high-resolution FLAC, DSD via DoP, Roon Ready (with a plugin), AirPlay, Bluetooth, and Squeezelite. Pair it with a HiFiBerry DAC+ or a USB DAC and you have a streaming audio endpoint that competes with 500 USD commercial units.
Where it falls short: Audio-only. If you want video, run it on a second Pi.
Pricing:
- Free.
- Paid: None (donations accepted).
Platforms: Pi 4, Pi 5.
Download: moodeaudio.org | GitHub
Bottom line: The dedicated audio streamer. Pair with a DAC hat and it beats commercial streamers at four times the price.
How to pick the right one
- Want a pure Apple TV replacement? LibreELEC on a Pi 5. Boot, watch, sleep.
- Want prettier default UI? OSMC on a Pi 4.
- Care about metadata polish and remote streaming? Plex Media Server, with Plex Pass if it becomes worth it.
- Do not want a vendor? Jellyfin. Pair with Tailscale for remote access.
- Want retro games too? RetroPie alongside Kodi on a Pi 5 (not on the same OS as LibreELEC; use RetroPie’s build or a manual Kodi install on Raspberry Pi OS).
- Care about audio only? moOde audio on a Pi 5 with a HiFiBerry hat.
- Do not want any of this? Fire TV Stick 4K is 40 USD and does the streaming apps out of the box. The Pi’s payoff is when you have local files.
FAQ
Can a Raspberry Pi 5 stream 4K HDR? Yes for local files (HEVC hardware decode). Netflix and Disney+ do not have native Pi apps, so 4K HDR from those streaming services is not officially supported.
Does Plex work on a Raspberry Pi 5? Yes, as a server. No hardware transcoding, so remote streaming requires pre-encoded files.
Is Jellyfin better than Plex on a Pi? For pure local streaming and library management, Jellyfin is now on par with Plex and does not push a paid tier. For remote streaming and cross-TV app support, Plex still has a slight edge.
What is the cheapest way to build a Pi media center? Pi 5 (80 USD), microSD (15 USD), power supply (12 USD), case with cooling (15 USD), HDMI cable (5 USD). About 130 USD before you add storage.
Do I need an NVMe SSD? Not required for streaming; recommended if you also host media on the Pi. Use an NVMe HAT for the Pi 5. SD-only setups get tired after two years.
Can I run RetroPie and Kodi on the same Pi? Yes, but not on LibreELEC. Use Raspberry Pi OS as the base, install RetroPie, then add Kodi from apt or a snap.
