Choosing the Right NAS for Media – Plex versus Kodi and XBMC

 Many people are looking to set up their comprehensive digital media libraries and with it, be able to access all there media from any device in their home, via the internet and anywhere in the world. With this many questions are raised from data security to the organisation and interface that many will use to access said media. With many options available, the bulk of users have championed two main services – Plex and Kodi (otherwise known and refered to as XBMC).

They may appear the same but both are more and more becoming catered to different markets. Without knowing about either of them or giving both a good try, many find the prospect of deciding between the two Media Server solutions quite daunting. Never fear, we at SPAN.COM have complied videos and this handy guide to help you make the decision on which NAS based steaming service is right for you. 

Both utilise a system known as scrapping (or ‘scrape-ing’), which pulls images, artwork, descriptions and other such pertinent information via METADATA

+ a  paid for Premium serviced to utilise extra features that go above and beyond media (many of which are already provided by Synology or QNAP in your NAS once purchased at no additional cost)

No big financial outlay is required at the start for a NAS, however transcoding/re-encoding of files to be accessible to host devices is done by the host device itself. So a 1080p file being viewed in .MKV format that is way, way over the top for a smartphone will be required to transcode the file and have to work hard at it! But is ably supported on ARM devices such as lower end NAS devices and Raspberry Pi

The real cost of KODI in the long run is having a series of KODI supported devices that are mid range in power

Single Server source and data is mostly accessible via a web interface (with the exception of mobile apps which are dressed up versions of the same). 

Media can be readily and easily accessed remotely via the internet (so outside your home network). Chiefly designed to give you the ability to access and share your media outside of your home network.

Client based access on every device giving you access to your devices contents and those accessible on the same home network (same router/network) via installed mobile apps or desktop software.

Accessing outside of your home network, though not impossible, is difficult and by no means user-friendly. Chiefly designed to give you access to media across all devices on your home network – not external access. You can set up a web server but has a steep learning curve.

Media is organised in a far more graphical fashion –those familiar with Amazon Instant, Netflix etc will be at home with it. Automatically scanning and updating libraries (new additions, images, details, etc), as well as giving you the ability to create playlists and keep track of your watched-unwatched media. This is especially helpful via the web-interface and largely possible due to that SINGLE server architecture design.

No real design customisation is available, and most fully featured add-ons are Paid-for. Though it does let you add numerous online content such as TED talks, Youtube, vimeo, etc

Heavy emphasis on the cross axis design… categories left to right and sub-categories up and down.

Much more file based. Playlist etc are possible but this is more for someone who wants to see more information on screen about their media.

VERY customisable with a community of modders and users making newer and better skins and interfaces. Some of these are geneuinely innovative and give a real sense of individuality.

Much larger support and choice of internet TV channel and VoD services. Really spoilt for choice upto and including near live TV services

More readily available in App form on more devices. From consoles like PS4 and Xbox one all the way through to Roku, Amazon fire etc – however many of these require additional payment (around  5 dollars or pounds).

For online/remote steaming of your own media when away from home, it is the front runner.

Being an open-source software, you do not get the support you would from a corporate cooperated company. They is  a huge community of users, support members  and forums with guides, tutorials and updates but no real LIVE/instant support

Kodi is available on many platforms, though not as many as PLEX, however a few require you to go into the setting and configure the software manually to optimise the software. This lack of uniformity across platform case result in slight performance crippling on lower powered devices as they communicate with devices on the network on different platforms.

That said, this effects a very small number of setups between devices and not a strong enough argument to overlook Kodi. Definitely the front runner of network Media Sharing setups.