Media Server vs File Server in a nutshell

Media Server vs File Server in a nutshell

A media server is like your personal Netflix. It doesn’t just store your movies, shows, or music – it also organises them, adds cool stuff like posters and descriptions, and remembers where you stopped watching. It can even adjust the files so they play perfectly on any device you’re using. Examples? Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby.

A file server, on the other hand, is like a shared storage box. It just holds your files and lets you access them from your devices. You can still watch your movies or listen to music from it, but there’s no fancy organisation, no movie posters, no “resume playback,” and it won’t fix any file that doesn’t work on your device.

So, think of it this way:

Media server = organised, smart, user-friendly.

File Server = simple, no-frills file storage.

References:

- https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-file-server/

- https://medium.com/@divitia/jellyfin-vs-plex-what-should-you-choose-4f8337cd4508