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
Plex alternatives for your own library.
Choosing a Plex alternative in 2026? Compare the server you want to run and the apps your household needs. Tofa is one option alongside Jellyfin and Emby. We make Tofa, so this guide explains where it fits and where another choice may suit you better.
Reviewed September 24, 2026. Tofa is in beta. Store downloads require a Tofa account and access to a Tofa server.
Which alternative fits your setup?
Jellyfin fits people who want free software, no central vendor account, and a community client ecosystem. Emby offers a mature server with a mix of free and Premiere features. Tofa fits people who want its official apps and server tools, free hardware acceleration, and a migration path from Plex or Jellyfin.
Do you need a new server or a new player?
If the server works for you and only the Apple TV player is frustrating, try another Plex-compatible client first. Tofa's apps connect to Tofa Server; they don't replace the player on an existing Plex server.
What to check before switching
Test your household's devices, subtitles, remote connection, and watch-history import. Tofa doesn't offer live TV/DVR or music libraries. Keep your existing server available until the features you rely on work for you.
What Tofa offers
Independence
Independently owned
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
Free to host and stream
Hosting, streaming, sharing, and hardware transcoding stay free. Optional Supporter adds extras for everyone on your server, with one owner payment and no separate viewer subscriptions.
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 and runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and Docker.
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
| Feature | Tofa | Plex |
|---|---|---|
| Current access | Beta; account required | Public registration |
| Remote personal video | Included; relay limits apply | Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass requirements apply |
| Hardware transcoding | Included on supported hardware | Generally Plex Pass; specific device exceptions |
| Optional paid features | Supporter; currently unlocked in beta | Plex Pass |
| Live TV / DVR and music | Not available | Available; feature requirements vary |
| Try alongside your server | Reuse media folders; preview Plex history import | Keep your current setup during the trial |
Plex remote viewing can be covered by the server owner's Plex Pass, or the viewer's qualifying pass. Hardware-acceleration exceptions include NVIDIA SHIELD and specified WD My Cloud Pro devices. See Plex plans, Plex hardware requirements, and Tofa pricing and limits. Product names belong to their respective owners.
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, Android phones and tablets, Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web, and an import wizard brings your Plex watch history across. It's in beta.
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. Supporter adds extras for your server and the household and family members you invite: $4.99 a month, $49 a year, or one of 500 founding lifetime passes at $120. Viewers don't need their own subscription. Optional Supporter features are available to preview at no charge during beta.
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.
Create your account and run Tofa alongside Plex while you try it. Tofa is free to use, with an optional Supporter tier for extra features.