How we compare to Plex, Jellyfin, and Infuse
Plex started great, but it's lost its way. Mandatory accounts, aggressive transcoding, ads in the free tier, a UI cluttered with streaming services you didn't ask for. Your server, their rules.
Jellyfin is free and open source—that's genuinely great. But the apps are rough. Web clients wrapped in Electron, inconsistent mobile experiences, and the Apple TV app is a community afterthought. The server is solid; the clients let it down.
Infuse is a beautiful, native player. But it's just a player—it needs Plex, Jellyfin, or Emby as a backend. Now you're maintaining two pieces of software, and you still have the problems of your chosen server.
We built the server and the clients together, as one integrated system. Native apps that don't compromise. A server that stays out of your way. No accounts, no subscriptions, no third-party dependencies.
Jellyfin's iOS app is a web view. Plex's apps are cross-platform Electron. Infuse is native, but needs another server. PixelBrite apps are built in Swift and SwiftUI—hardware video decoding, proper system integration, and interfaces that feel right on Apple devices.
Plex transcodes first and asks questions later—even when your device can handle the file. We do the opposite. PixelBrite attempts direct play for every file, only transcoding when there's a genuine incompatibility. Your 80GB remux plays as an 80GB remux.
Plex just paywalled remote streaming. We made it free. Full quality local AND remote streaming costs nothing. Pro ($29.99/year) unlocks power features—offline downloads, unlimited users, watch sync—but the free tier is genuinely useful, not a demo. Half the price of Plex Pass.