Best Video Streaming Platforms for Linux

Introduction

Linux has had an average reputation with video streaming ever since the platform’s inception. Its reputation for being unfriendly towards streaming is largely unjustified, however, especially in modern times. The majority of mainstream streaming services are perfectly compatible with a Linux browser, and the ecosystem provides an impressive array of open-source alternatives for video consumption, hosting, and sharing, all designed to avoid the entanglement with the big tech companies. Whether you want to enjoy your favorite entertainment, discover a new service, or set up a personal media server, Linux has something for you.

In this blog, you will find the list of the best video streaming platforms available in Linux. They are separated into two categories: mainstream services that offer their software in Linux-compatible formats and open-source/self-hosted platforms that are either exclusively Linux-native or offer extensive support for the OS.

Top Video Streaming Platforms

Here are some of the top video streaming platforms:

1. Netflix

Netflix is playable in Chrome, Chromium and Microsoft Edge browsers natively and supports HD and, in most cases, higher quality playback with the appropriate Widevine DRM level. Your mileage may vary on Firefox in some distros due to DRM restrictions, so better stick to Chromium-based browsers if you want the best quality.

Best for: General entertainment with the deepest catalog.

2. YouTube

YouTube is the simplest platform to use on Linux as it is playable in any browser without any tweaks. Additionally, you can use command-line tools such as yt-dlp to download or playback videos directly in the terminal. The absence of any DRM restrictions makes it even more enjoyable for Linux users.

Best for: Watching YouTube videos with no hassle on Linux.

3. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is similar to Netflix in terms of using Chromium-based browsers for playback on Linux, and the same Widevine DRM is used for protecting streams. Some video resolutions may be lower than what you are used to seeing on other platforms, and using an outdated browser may prevent you from watching anything at all, so it is important to use up-to-date software.

Best for: Prime Video owners who want to enjoy Prime content in their browser.

4. Twitch

Twitch is great for both watching and broadcasting on Linux. It lacks the robust DRM protection that other services use, so there is no need to hassle with any extra steps to get it working. If you want to stream yourself playing games or other activities, you can use the OBS Studio tool to do that.

Best for: Watching and broadcasting live streams.

5. Disney+, Max, and other DRM-heavy services

The majority of popular subscription-based services which use heavy DRM protection (Disney+, Max, Paramount+) are available in Linux browsers via Widevine DRM. However, the video resolution may be limited to 720p or lower depending on the browser. You may want to consider using a Windows virtual machine or dual boot for people who want to use these services at the maximum resolution, but it may be a stretch for some Linux distributions. In most cases, HD video playback is supported on all platforms.

Best for: For people who want to watch their favorite TV series with minimal hassle.

6. PeerTube

PeerTube is a privacy-focused alternative to YouTube which allows people to watch videos on their own instance or on other people’s instances using the ActivityPub standard. It offers greater flexibility and freedom, and it can be self-hosted without any hassles.

Best for: People who want to use a YouTube alternative without any ads or censorship.

7. Jellyfin

Jellyfin is a free and open-source media aggregator which is easy to set up, works well and looks nice. It boasts a beautiful web interface and a great app catalog. There are no ads and no need to subscribe to any third-party services as Jellyfin does not require any sort of account to use. Jellyfin is your go-to option in the self-hosted “Netflix” category.

Best for: A self-hosted YouTube/Netflix alternative with no ads and additional costs.

8. Plex

Plex is another media aggregator, similar to Jellyfin, with a great metadata catalog and great apps for all sorts of devices. The majority of its features are free and you can use them without any additional fees, but some advanced features such as remote access may require a Plex Pass subscription. It is easy to install and works great on most devices.

Best for: A “Netflix” alternative which is more user-friendly and customizable than most other options.

9. Kodi

Kodi is an open-source media center which offers a great amount of customization and extensibility. It supports a great variety of codecs and devices and has a number of add-ons which can turn it into a powerful media aggregator, but you might get a varying degree of success when trying to use them. This media center is great for more tech-savvy individuals who want to customize their own media center experience.

Choosing the Right Platform

Here is which platform to choose based on your use case:

• Want to have all the popular TV shows and movies without the hassle? The main media platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, or simply using YouTube on any chromium-based browser.
• Looking to either watch or host your own streaming content? Twitch is the way to go, with Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) for those that want to go the extra mile.
• Want to host your own media content without ads or needing an account? The open-source platform for public and community videos, PeerTube, or for private, your own media library with Jellyfin.
• Looking to set up your personal media server but in the most hassle-free way possible? Plex.
• And for something with endless customization and flexibility, but needing a bit more work to set up? Kodi.

Conclusion

Linux is no longer a second-class citizen when it comes to streaming! It seems that any service that has commercial success is available on modern chromium browsers; and if not, there are a wealth of options in the open-source community, including PeerTube, Jellyfin, Plex, Kodi, and more! It all boils down to what floats your boat; if you want the most content and ease of use, the commercial sites are for you, and if you want decentralization, freedom, and security, the open-source route is for you, and nothing is stopping you from using both!

FAQs

Can I watch netflix in 4k on linux? 

Unfortunately no, most browsers on linux (based on chromium) are limited to a lower resolution than on windows or mac, so you can only expect standard HD from netflix, prime video, disney plus, etc.

Which browser is best for streaming on linux? 

Chromium based browsers (google chrome, chromium, microsoft edge or brave) offer the best support for drm required by some platforms like netflix.

Is firefox suitable for streaming?

Yes, but not as good as chromium based browsers, and requires some tweaks to get the widevine plugin for DRM content, and it also has some issues with some distributions.

What is the difference between peers and youtube? 

Well, youtube is a centralized service, run by google as a commercial entity, and peer is a decentralized service, run by the community. Both have their advantages, but if you want to have your own youtube alternative, peers is the way to go.

Can I host my own netflix at home? 

Yes, you can use either jellyfin or plex to organize your media collection. They both have their advantages, but jellyfin is free and open source, while plex has a better interface and some features require a paid subscription.

Do I need any special hardware to stream on linux? 

Not for browser based streaming, however if you plan on having your own media server, capable of transcoding, then you will need better hardware (CPU or GPU with hardware encoding support) to stream to multiple devices at once.

Is it legal to use ad-blockers or other tools to circumvent their policies? 

Using an ad-blocker on a browser is totally fine, but trying to use other third-party tools to access their content without permission is illegal in some countries, and against their terms of service, so it’s better to avoid them.