tofaPrivacy
Private by default
Your library lives on your own hardware and the cloud never stores it. No ads, no trackers, nothing sold. Data-sharing features are opt-in, off until you turn them on.
Plex alternative
A Plex alternative that keeps your library yours.
tofa is a self-hosted streaming service built for the people who actually run the server. Your library stays private on your own hardware, remote streaming is included, and the import wizard brings your watch history across from Plex.
Why tofa is different
Independence
Built for self-hosters, not investors
tofa is independent, with no outside investors to answer to. The roadmap comes from the people who run the servers, and beta users and supporters vote on what gets built next.
Pricing
Pricing that doesn't move the goalposts
Free to use, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding. The optional Supporter tier has a lifetime price that's locked for founders. Nothing you rely on quietly slips behind a paywall later.
Trust
Secure by design
Your library streams straight from your hardware, never out of a central store. Remote connections are encrypted, and server updates are signed, verified, and roll back on their own if a build fails its health check.
Architecture
A modern core
tofa is written in Rust from the ground up, with no decade of legacy holding it back. It stays fast and light, and runs well even on modest hardware.
Ownership
Yours to keep
Your files stay exactly where they are, in your folders, on your drives. Leave whenever you want and everything is still there.
Coming from Plex?
Plex and tofa, side by side
tofaPlex
Who it answers toSelf-hostersInvestors
Built onRust, built freshMature platform
Remote streamingIncluded, freePaid add-on
Hardware transcodingIncluded, freePaid add-on
Lifetime option$120 to $250$750
Ads and promoted contentNever, only your libraryYes
Data collectionOpt-in onlyOn by default
Bring your library and historyBuilt-in wizardOn your own
Server-down alertsEmails you when it dropsNone
Playback problem reportsDashboard and daily emailNone
Capacity and health monitoringBuilt-in, with forecastBasic
Vote on what gets builtYesNo
Reflects publicly announced Plex pricing and defaults as of 2026. Plex is a trademark of its respective owner.
What you keep when you switch
Point tofa at your current folders and it indexes them in place. Nothing is moved or renamed. The import wizard carries your watch history over from Plex and keeps it in sync, so you can run both until you're ready to switch off the old one.
Want the line-by-line view? See tofa vs Plex, point by point.
Switching from Plex
Plex alternative FAQ
Is tofa a good alternative to Plex?
tofa is a self-hosted streaming service for people leaving a media server they already run. Remote streaming is included at no extra cost, there are official apps for Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android TV, Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web, and an import wizard brings your Plex watch history across. It's in closed beta now.
Can I move my Plex watch history to tofa?
Yes. The import wizard reads your watch state from Plex, carries it over, and keeps it in sync while you move, so you pick up right where you left off.
Do I keep my existing library when I switch from Plex?
Yes. Point tofa at your current media folders and it indexes them in place, with nothing moved or renamed. Your layout stays exactly as it is.
Is remote streaming free on tofa?
Yes. Streaming to your own devices from anywhere is part of tofa, with no per device fees. Direct connections run at full speed, and when a direct path isn't possible the stream is relayed as a capped fallback, 2 Mbps on free and 4 Mbps for supporters.
How much does tofa cost compared to Plex?
tofa is free to use, including remote streaming and hardware transcoding. An optional Supporter tier funds the work, with monthly, yearly, and lifetime options that all undercut Plex. The beta is free and unlocks every feature.
What can tofa not do yet that Plex can?
tofa doesn't have live TV and DVR, music, or photo libraries yet, and its plugin layer is still on the roadmap. The gaps are listed on the features page, and beta users vote on what gets built next.
Bring your library to tofa.
Join the closed beta and run it next to Plex until you're sure. We'll reach out as invites open.
Join the closed beta
Beta testers get every feature unlocked. We send one email when your spot opens, and never share your address.