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WaveFlow
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Comparison

WaveFlow Server vs Plex

A polished media service with a paid pass, and an open server that keeps everything on your side.

WaveFlow Server 2.2.1 and Plex 1.43.5 facts read on November 8, 2026

The short answer

Plex is a long-running, closed-source media server for films, series and music, with Plexamp, a well-made music app, and a relay that reaches your server from anywhere without opening a port. Playing your own music in Plexamp, at home or away, is free; downloads, lyrics in Plexamp and several Plexamp features need a Plex Pass. WaveFlow Server is open source and free in full, speaks OpenSubsonic to the apps you choose, and keeps tracks offline in its web player; you reach it from outside through your own reverse proxy. Plex wins on polish, reach and history; WaveFlow Server on openness and on everything being included.

What matters

Eighteen equally weighted criteria for your music server. Each confirmed advantage earns one point; equal or unconfirmed capabilities remain neutral.

  1. Spots lossless files made from lossy ones

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    Analyses the audio of lossless files to flag suspicious encodings.

    Plex

    No

  2. Offline listening in the web player

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    Yes · Built in.

    Plex

    No

  3. Podcasts

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    Yes · Built in.

    Plex

    No · Ended in April 2022.

  4. Price and openness

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    Free in full and open source, under the AGPL.

    Plex

    Closed source; the server and streaming music are free, while downloads, lyrics and Plexamp extras need a Plex Pass (6.99 USD a month).

  5. Sends nothing out unless you allow it

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    At its default settings it contacts no outside service; you switch each one on, and its documentation lists every request.

    Plex

    Its privacy policy lists data collected from every server, such as library details, with no opt-out for that part.

  6. A new server cannot be claimed by a stranger

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    The first setup asks for a one-time token written on the server, so only the person running it can create the admin account.

    Plex

    A new server is claimed by signing in with a Plex account; anyone on the same local network can do it first.

  7. Backs up its database before every upgrade

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    Copies the database and its key before every upgrade, and backs up on demand with one command.

    Plex

    A scheduled task copies the database every three days; no copy before an upgrade is documented.

  8. Synced lyrics found online, free and built in

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    Fills in synced lyrics from LRCLIB when a file has none, once you switch it on.

    Plex

    Online lyrics come from LyricFind, with a Plex Pass.

  9. Mixes made from your own listening, free and built in

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    Builds mixes from what you actually play, in the web player.

    Plex

    Mixes For You need sonic analysis, a Plex Pass and Plexamp.

  10. Listening statistics, free and built in

    WaveFlow Server Better here

    A statistics page with plays and listening time per day, and your top tracks, artists and albums.

    Plex

    Play history and top played in the dashboard need a Plex Pass.

  11. Smart-playlist rule editor in the built-in web player

    Neutral

    WaveFlow Server

    Yes · Built in.

    Plex

    Not confirmed

  12. Converts on the fly

    Neutral

    WaveFlow Server

    MP3 · Opus · AAC · ReplayGain

    Plex

    Yes · Built in.

  13. Accounts and sharing

    Neutral

    WaveFlow Server

    Several accounts, share links, and scrobbling to Last.fm, ListenBrainz and Maloja.

    Plex

    Plex Home and managed users, libraries shared with friends' accounts, and Last.fm.

  14. Starts on Windows and macOS without a terminal

    Neutral

    WaveFlow Server

    Archives for Windows and macOS start with a double-click, FFmpeg included, and open the web player.

    Plex

    An app on macOS and an installer on Windows.

  15. Apps that play from it

    WaveFlow Server

    Any OpenSubsonic app, with dated test results for four of them; no phone app of its own yet.

    Plex Better here

    Plexamp, its own music app, and Plex apps on phones and televisions; Subsonic apps do not connect.

  16. Setting it up

    WaveFlow Server

    One container for amd64 and arm64, or an archive for Windows, macOS or Linux with FFmpeg inside.

    Plex Better here

    Installers for Windows, macOS and Linux, FreeBSD, many NAS systems, and a container for amd64, arm64 and 32-bit ARM.

  17. Beyond your music

    WaveFlow Server

    Music, podcasts and radio.

    Plex Better here

    Films, series, live TV and music, in one place.

  18. Track record

    WaveFlow Server

    First release in August 2026, stable since October 2026.

    Plex Better here

    Developed since 2008 by a company, with a very large number of users.

TallyWaveFlow Server 10Plex 4Neutral 4

What each one can do

Yes, no or not confirmed: not confirmed means no official page settles it either way. WaveFlow Server is read at 2.2.1.

Capabilities of WaveFlow Server and Plex
CapabilityWaveFlow ServerPlex
Music first
Offline listening in the web player
Yes
No
Smart-playlist rule editor in the built-in web player
Yes
Not confirmed
Spots lossless files made from lossy ones
Yes
No
Podcasts
Yes
NoEnded in April 2022.
Synced lyrics from LRCLIB when the file has none
YesOff until you switch it on.
YesFrom LyricFind, with a Plex Pass.
Mixes from your listening history
Yes
YesWith a Plex Pass, in Plexamp.
Listening statistics page
Yes
YesWith a Plex Pass.
Peace of mind
Nothing sent out at default settings
Yes
No
First setup protected by a one-time token
Yes
No
Database copied before every upgrade
Yes
No
Getting it
Free to use in full
Yes
NoDownloads, lyrics and Plexamp extras need a Plex Pass.
Open source
YesAGPL-3.0.
No
Official Docker image
Yes
Yes
64-bit ARM, such as a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5
Yesamd64 and arm64; no 32-bit ARM image.
Yesamd64, arm64 and 32-bit ARM (v7).
Runs without Docker
YesArchives for Windows, macOS and Linux, FFmpeg included.
YesWindows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD and NAS packages.
Starts on Windows and macOS without a terminal
Yes
Yes
Listening
Web player built in
Yes
Yes
OpenSubsonic API, for Subsonic apps
YesSymfonium, Feishin, DSub and Juliet tested, results published.
No
Official phone apps
NoWaveFlow on the desktop plays from it; the phone apps are not released yet.
YesPlexamp, free, with paid extras.
Converts on the fly
YesMP3, Opus or AAC, with volume levelling on the server.
Yes
Offline listening in its own player
Yes
YesDownloads need a Plex Pass.
Library
Synced lyrics for your apps
Yes
YesTimed .lrc files; lyrics in Plexamp need a Plex Pass.
Smart playlists
Yes
Yes
Internet radio
Yes
Not confirmed
People
Several accounts
Yes
Yes
Sharing with other people
YesShare links, with an optional expiry and visit limit.
YesWith other people's Plex accounts.
Last.fm scrobbling
Yes
Yes
ListenBrainz scrobbling
Yes
Not confirmed
Beyond the basics
Films and series too
No
Yes
Reachable from outside without opening a port
NoThrough your own reverse proxy; a Caddy setup comes with it.
YesThrough Plex's relay; free for music in Plexamp.
Plugins
No
No

Which one to pick

Choose WaveFlow Server if…

  • you want everything included, with nothing behind a pass
  • you want open source, and apps you choose through OpenSubsonic
  • you listen to podcasts, or want to know which lossless files are real

Choose Plex if…

  • you want Plexamp, and films and series on the same server
  • you want to reach your server from anywhere without setting up a proxy
  • you want a mature product with apps on almost every device

Where WaveFlow Server still loses

What Plex does better today, said plainly. A loss stays on this page until it is no longer true.

  1. Reaching it from outside: Plex's relay works without opening a port; WaveFlow Server needs your own reverse proxy.

  2. Apps: Plexamp is a mature, official music app; WaveFlow Server's phone apps are not released yet.

  3. Video: Plex serves films, series and live TV; WaveFlow Server is for audio only.

  4. Track record: Plex has been developed since 2008; WaveFlow Server's first stable release is from October 2026.

About Plex

Plex is a media server and a set of apps from Plex, Inc., started in 2008. It organises films, series, music and photos on your own machine and streams them to its apps, and Plexamp is its app made for music.

Made by
Plex, Inc.
Licence
Proprietary, closed source
Price
Free server; Plex Pass from 6.99 USD a month for downloads, lyrics and more
Its own builds for
Windows · macOS · Linux
Version compared
1.43.5released October 23, 2026
Website

Method and sources

Every fact about Plex was read on its own website, documentation, repository or store page on November 8, 2026; nothing comes from reviews or from memory. A capability is yes only when an official page shows it, no when an official page rules it out or the area is covered and it is absent, and not confirmed otherwise. Descriptions are our own words.

WaveFlow Server facts come from its repository, at the 2.2.1 release (November 10, 2026).

This page has no speed or memory figures: we only publish a measure we can rerun, with the versions, the machine and the method beside it.

The data behind this pageReport a mistake

Sources for Plex

Sources for WaveFlow Server

Questions

  • Do I need a Plex Pass to play my music away from home?

    Not for streaming: Plex says its remote playback rules do not apply to music in Plexamp. Downloads for offline listening, lyrics and several Plexamp features do need a Plex Pass, at 6.99 USD a month or 69.99 USD a year as Plex announced in 2025.

  • Can I use Plexamp with WaveFlow Server?

    No: Plexamp only talks to Plex. WaveFlow Server works with Subsonic apps such as Symfonium, Feishin, DSub or Juliet, and with WaveFlow on the desktop.

  • How do I reach WaveFlow Server from outside my home?

    Through a reverse proxy with HTTPS. The repository ships a Caddy setup that gets and renews the certificate itself; there is no relay like Plex's.

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