Why Neo Video?

Compare Neo Video with Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, Infuse, VLC, Kodi, nPlayer, and Air Video HD by price, format support, player apps, sign-in requirements, and remote playback.

Key differences

Product	Setup	Player apps	Format support	Cost	Sign-in	Remote playback
Neo Video	Dedicated server (Mac, Windows, Linux) and apps	iPhone, iPad, Apple TV; Android and Android TV coming soon	MKV, AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, TS and other common formats; converts unsupported Apple HLS video and audio to H.264/AAC	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store; server free	None	Requires a VPN you provide
Plex	Media server and apps	iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, major smart TVs, game consoles, web	Varies by player; the server remuxes or transcodes unsupported files	Local playback free; Remote Watch Pass $2.99/mo or $29.99/yr; Plex Pass $6.99/mo, $69.99/yr, or $749.99 lifetime	Plex account required	Built in; paid pass required for remote video
Jellyfin	Self-hosted media server and apps	iOS, iPadOS, tvOS (Swiftfin), Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, webOS, Tizen, Xbox, web	Varies by player; FFmpeg remuxes or transcodes unsupported files	Free	Account on your server	Requires your own VPN or reverse proxy setup
Emby	Media server and apps	iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, major smart TVs, game consoles, web	Varies by player; the server remuxes or transcodes unsupported files	Server and some apps free; iOS playback unlock $4.99; Premiere $4.99/mo, $54/yr, or $119 lifetime	Account on your server; Emby Connect optional	Requires UPnP or manual port forwarding
Infuse	Network media player	iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Vision Pro	MKV, AVI, MP4, MOV, MTS/M2TS, ISO, WebM and more	Free with limits; Pro $1.99/mo, $16.99/yr, or $99.99 lifetime	None; source account may be required	Depends on the source
VLC	Local and network media player	iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux	MKV, AVI, MP4/MOV, MPEG/TS, WMV, FLV and more	Free	None	Depends on the source
Kodi	Media center	Android, Android TV, Windows, macOS, Linux; manual installation on Fire TV, iOS, and tvOS	Most common video formats; support varies by device	Free	None	Depends on the source
nPlayer	Network media player	iPhone, iPad, Android, Android TV; Apple TV via AirPlay	MKV, AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, FLV, TS and more	$4.99 for iOS or Android; nPlayer Plus $8.99 on iOS	None	Depends on the source
Air Video HD	Dedicated server (Mac, Windows) and iOS app	iPhone, iPad; Apple TV via AirPlay	AVI, DivX, MKV and more; the server converts when needed	Free with in-app purchases in Japan	Optional user profiles on your server	Server PIN; current availability unverified

This table uses U.S. store prices checked on August 16, 2026. Prices vary by region.

Product comparisons

Neo Video vs Plex

Plex builds a media library with metadata, artwork, user accounts, transcoding and live TV. It supports more client platforms than Neo Video and requires a Plex account.

Item	Plex	Neo Video
Library	Scans media into a library with metadata and artwork	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Live TV and DVR	Available with Plex Pass and a compatible tuner	Not supported
Account	Plex account required	No service account; each server can have an optional password
Playback	Transcodes when the client or connection needs it; hardware transcoding requires Plex Pass	Streams compatible files directly; converts unsupported Apple HLS video and audio to H.264/AAC
Remote playback	Built in; remote video requires Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass	Requires a VPN you provide
Cost	Local playback free; paid passes for remote video and premium features	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Library
Plex	Scans media into a library with metadata and artwork
Neo Video	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Live TV and DVR
Plex	Available with Plex Pass and a compatible tuner
Neo Video	Not supported
Account
Plex	Plex account required
Neo Video	No service account; each server can have an optional password
Playback
Plex	Transcodes when the client or connection needs it; hardware transcoding requires Plex Pass
Neo Video	Streams compatible files directly; converts unsupported Apple HLS video and audio to H.264/AAC
Remote playback
Plex	Built in; remote video requires Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass
Neo Video	Requires a VPN you provide
Cost
Plex	Local playback free; paid passes for remote video and premium features
Neo Video	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Neo Video vs Jellyfin

Jellyfin is a free, open-source media server. It provides metadata libraries, user accounts, transcoding, plugins, live TV and clients for many platforms.

Item	Jellyfin	Neo Video
Setup	Configure the server, libraries, users and clients	Install the server and select folders; apps on the same network find it automatically
Library	Organizes media with metadata and artwork	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Live TV and DVR	Supported with a compatible tuner	Not supported
Account	Account on your Jellyfin server	No service account; each server can have an optional password
Remote playback	Requires your own VPN or reverse proxy setup	Requires a VPN you provide
Cost	Free	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Setup
Jellyfin	Configure the server, libraries, users and clients
Neo Video	Install the server and select folders; apps on the same network find it automatically
Library
Jellyfin	Organizes media with metadata and artwork
Neo Video	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Live TV and DVR
Jellyfin	Supported with a compatible tuner
Neo Video	Not supported
Account
Jellyfin	Account on your Jellyfin server
Neo Video	No service account; each server can have an optional password
Remote playback
Jellyfin	Requires your own VPN or reverse proxy setup
Neo Video	Requires a VPN you provide
Cost
Jellyfin	Free
Neo Video	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Neo Video vs Emby

Emby is a self-hosted media server with metadata libraries, user management, transcoding, live TV and apps for major platforms. Some apps require a playback unlock or Emby Premiere.

Item	Emby	Neo Video
Library	Organizes media with metadata and artwork	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Live TV and DVR	Available with Emby Premiere and a compatible tuner	Not supported
Account	Account on your server; Emby Connect is optional	No service account; each server can have an optional password
Playback and conversion	The server transcodes when needed; hardware transcoding requires Premiere	Streams compatible files directly; converts unsupported Apple HLS video and audio to H.264/AAC
Offline downloads	Requires Emby Premiere	No downloads from the server
Remote playback	Requires UPnP or manual port forwarding	Requires a VPN you provide
Cost	Server and some apps free; iOS playback unlock $4.99; Premiere $4.99/mo, $54/yr, or $119 lifetime	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Library
Emby	Organizes media with metadata and artwork
Neo Video	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Live TV and DVR
Emby	Available with Emby Premiere and a compatible tuner
Neo Video	Not supported
Account
Emby	Account on your server; Emby Connect is optional
Neo Video	No service account; each server can have an optional password
Playback and conversion
Emby	The server transcodes when needed; hardware transcoding requires Premiere
Neo Video	Streams compatible files directly; converts unsupported Apple HLS video and audio to H.264/AAC
Offline downloads
Emby	Requires Emby Premiere
Neo Video	No downloads from the server
Remote playback
Emby	Requires UPnP or manual port forwarding
Neo Video	Requires a VPN you provide
Cost
Emby	Server and some apps free; iOS playback unlock $4.99; Premiere $4.99/mo, $54/yr, or $119 lifetime
Neo Video	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Neo Video vs Infuse

Infuse is a player for Apple devices. It connects to network shares, cloud storage, or Plex, Emby and Jellyfin servers, then builds a library with metadata and artwork.

Item	Infuse	Neo Video
Source	Uses an existing network share, cloud service or media server	Uses Neo Video Server on Mac, Windows or Linux
Library	Fetches metadata and artwork automatically	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Devices	iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Vision Pro	iPhone, iPad and Apple TV; Android and Android TV coming soon
Cost	Free with limits; Pro $1.99/mo, $16.99/yr, or $99.99 lifetime	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Source
Infuse	Uses an existing network share, cloud service or media server
Neo Video	Uses Neo Video Server on Mac, Windows or Linux
Library
Infuse	Fetches metadata and artwork automatically
Neo Video	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Devices
Infuse	iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Vision Pro
Neo Video	iPhone, iPad and Apple TV; Android and Android TV coming soon
Cost
Infuse	Free with limits; Pro $1.99/mo, $16.99/yr, or $99.99 lifetime
Neo Video	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Neo Video vs VLC

VLC is a free, open-source player for local files and network sources such as SMB, UPnP and FTP. It runs on desktop, mobile and Apple TV.

Item	VLC	Neo Video
Source	Open local files or connect to a network source	Uses Neo Video Server on Mac, Windows or Linux
Browsing	File and network browser	Server discovery, thumbnails, resume positions and photo browsing
Playback engine	Uses VLC's playback engine	The iOS app uses VLCKit for compatibility playback and native playback where possible
Cost	Free	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Source
VLC	Open local files or connect to a network source
Neo Video	Uses Neo Video Server on Mac, Windows or Linux
Browsing
VLC	File and network browser
Neo Video	Server discovery, thumbnails, resume positions and photo browsing
Playback engine
VLC	Uses VLC's playback engine
Neo Video	The iOS app uses VLCKit for compatibility playback and native playback where possible
Cost
VLC	Free
Neo Video	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Neo Video vs Kodi

Kodi is a free, open-source media center for local and network media. It can fetch metadata, use skins and install add-ons.

Item	Kodi	Neo Video
Setup	Runs as the media center and reads local or network storage	Uses a server on your computer and separate player apps
Library	Fetches metadata and artwork	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Customization	Supports skins and add-ons	No skins or add-ons
Apple devices	iOS and tvOS require manual installation outside the App Store	iPhone, iPad and Apple TV apps are in the App Store
Cost	Free	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Setup
Kodi	Runs as the media center and reads local or network storage
Neo Video	Uses a server on your computer and separate player apps
Library
Kodi	Fetches metadata and artwork
Neo Video	Shows video and photo folders without fetching metadata
Customization
Kodi	Supports skins and add-ons
Neo Video	No skins or add-ons
Apple devices
Kodi	iOS and tvOS require manual installation outside the App Store
Neo Video	iPhone, iPad and Apple TV apps are in the App Store
Cost
Kodi	Free
Neo Video	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Neo Video vs nPlayer

nPlayer is a network media player for iPhone, iPad, Android and Android TV. It opens files from SMB, NFS, WebDAV, FTP, cloud services and UPnP/DLNA sources.

Item	nPlayer	Neo Video
Source	Uses an existing network share, cloud service or DLNA server	Uses Neo Video Server on Mac, Windows or Linux
Apple TV	Uses AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad; no native Apple TV app	Native Apple TV app
Purchase	iOS and Android are separate purchases	One purchase covers the devices available through the same store account
Cost	$4.99 for iOS or Android; nPlayer Plus $8.99 on iOS	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Source
nPlayer	Uses an existing network share, cloud service or DLNA server
Neo Video	Uses Neo Video Server on Mac, Windows or Linux
Apple TV
nPlayer	Uses AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad; no native Apple TV app
Neo Video	Native Apple TV app
Purchase
nPlayer	iOS and Android are separate purchases
Neo Video	One purchase covers the devices available through the same store account
Cost
nPlayer	$4.99 for iOS or Android; nPlayer Plus $8.99 on iOS
Neo Video	Free trial; $5.99 one-time per store

Neo Video vs Air Video HD

Air Video HD pairs a Mac or Windows server with an iPhone and iPad app. It supports live conversion, offline downloads, user profiles and remote access through a server PIN. The iOS app has not been updated since April 26, 2016.

Item	Air Video HD	Neo Video
TV playback	Apple TV through AirPlay	Native Apple TV app
Conversion	Converts incompatible video on the server during playback	Streams compatible files directly; converts unsupported Apple HLS video and audio to H.264/AAC
Remote playback	Uses the developer's server PIN service	Requires a VPN you provide
Media	Video	Video and photos

TV playback
Air Video HD	Apple TV through AirPlay
Neo Video	Native Apple TV app
Conversion
Air Video HD	Converts incompatible video on the server during playback
Neo Video	Streams compatible files directly; converts unsupported Apple HLS video and audio to H.264/AAC
Remote playback
Air Video HD	Uses the developer's server PIN service
Neo Video	Requires a VPN you provide
Media
Air Video HD	Video
Neo Video	Video and photos

When Neo Video is a good fit

Your videos and photos already live in folders on a Mac, Windows PC or Linux computer, and you want to keep browsing those folders.
Your library is mostly home videos or other personal footage, where 16:9 thumbnails are more useful than movie and TV posters.
You mainly watch on your home network and want the server and apps to find each other automatically.
You do not want a service account or an outside service receiving your library data and playback activity.
You prefer a one-time app purchase to a subscription.
You already use a VPN to reach your home network (if you want to watch away from home).

When Neo Video is not the right pick

You want built-in remote playback without setting up a VPN.
You want posters, descriptions and a curated library instead of folders.
You need the server to transcode for old TVs or slow connections.
You want to download media from the server to a device.
You want live TV or DVR.

Common questions

Can I use my existing Plex or Jellyfin library?

Neo Video cannot connect directly to Plex, Jellyfin or Emby. However, you can add the same media folders to Neo Video Server without moving or copying any files.

Can I try it before buying?

The free trial lets you browse your library, watch three full videos and view all your photos.