Streamyfin vs Swiftfin
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Streamyfin
Free and open-source Jellyfin client for mobile devices
VS
Swiftfin
Native Jellyfin client for iOS and tvOS
| Feature | Streamyfin | Swiftfin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Swift |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,207 | ★ 4,175 |
| First released | 2024 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Infuse, Plex mobile app | Infuse, Plex for Apple TV |
What are Streamyfin and Swiftfin?
Streamyfin
Streamyfin is a free and open-source mobile client for Jellyfin servers built with React Native and Expo. It offers native playback, downloads for offline viewing, and Chromecast support as an alternative to the official Jellyfin apps.
- Native Jellyfin playback
- Offline downloads
- Chromecast support
- Trickplay scrubbing
Swiftfin
Swiftfin is a free, open-source native Jellyfin client for iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS written in Swift. It uses native video players to deliver smooth playback on Apple devices for media hosted on a self-hosted Jellyfin server.
- Native iOS and tvOS apps
- VLC and native player backends
- Server connection management
- SwiftUI interface
Streamyfin vs Swiftfin: key differences
Streamyfin is written in TypeScript, while Swiftfin is built with Swift. Swiftfin is the more established project (first released 2021), while Streamyfin arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Streamyfin if…
- Modern mobile UI
- Active development
Watch out for
- Requires existing Jellyfin server
- Mobile only
Choose Swiftfin if…
- Smooth Apple TV experience
- Official Jellyfin project
Watch out for
- Apple platforms only
- Requires Jellyfin server
Frequently asked questions
Is Streamyfin or Swiftfin better?
Neither is universally better. Streamyfin has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Streamyfin and Swiftfin free and open-source?
Yes. Streamyfin is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Swiftfin under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Streamyfin and Swiftfin with Docker?
Streamyfin: check the project docs for container support. Swiftfin: check the project docs for container support.