Kinode Media Server
Your own movies, shows and music on every screen, free.
A media server for Windows that streams the library you already own to phones, TVs and browsers, at home or away. Remote streaming, hardware transcoding, skip intro and library sharing are included, and there is no paid tier.
What it does
Kinode Media Server runs on the Windows PC that holds your media. It installs as a Windows service from one signed installer, with everything it needs inside, and opens in your browser when setup finishes. Point it at your movie, TV and music folders and the built-in scanner builds the library, with posters, summaries and cast filled in afterwards.
Everything is in the free download. Remote streaming, hardware transcoding, skip intro, library sharing and the apps cost nothing, and there is no paid version to upgrade to. Your media is never uploaded: it streams directly from your machine to the people you share it with.
Sign-in tokens are checked by your own server, so if the Kinode hub ever went offline, your server and apps would keep playing.
Capabilities
Remote streaming included
Watch your library away from home at no cost. Connect the server to a free Kinode account and the apps find it from anywhere.
HTTPS without setup
Each connected server gets its own DNS names and a trusted certificate that renews itself. Remote streams are encrypted on the port you already forwarded, with no domain or reverse proxy to set up.
Hardware transcoding
When a file has to be converted, the server uses the graphics hardware if the machine has it. A complete ffmpeg is bundled, so unusual files play instead of failing.
Skip intro and credits
Intros are found by comparing the episodes in a season, so the skip button appears without any setup. Markers can also be imported from Plex.
Apps for every screen
A web player for any browser, an Android app for phones, tablets and Google TV with offline downloads, and a Roku app. Chromecast works from the web player and the Android app.
Sharing and profiles
Share specific libraries with family or friends and set a maximum content rating for each person. Everyone gets a profile with their own history, and kid profiles have rating and time limits.
Watch Together and live channels
Start a room and send a five-character code to watch in sync with a chat panel, or turn a collection into a channel that plays around the clock.
Built for big libraries
Filters, sorting, collections and an A to Z rail, with no limit on library size. Music gets artist pages, playlists, lyrics and radio.
How it works
Install the server
Run the installer on the computer that holds your media. It installs as a Windows service and starts with the machine.
Add your folders
Create the first account and point the server at your movie, TV and music folders.
Connect your apps
Create a free Kinode account and link the server. Your phones, TVs and browsers then find it at home and away.
Use cases
Moving from Plex
Remote streaming, hardware transcoding and skip intro without a subscription. Kinode can run next to Plex while you compare them.
Families
One library for the house, a profile for each person, and kid profiles with rating limits, daily limits and bedtimes.
Sharing with friends
Share the libraries you choose, and the people you share with watch for free in the apps or a browser.
Music collections
Artist pages with photos and biographies, playlists, lyrics, radio and volume leveling, from your own files.