FAQ
Questions, answered.
Coming from Plex?
Kinara reads the same folder layout, so you can point it at your existing library and try it side by side. It never changes your files, and it keeps its own data in its own folder.
Do I need an account?
Not at home. On your own network everything works without one. An account is only for remote play and for signing in across devices.
Does my media go to the cloud?
No. Your movies and shows stay on your server. The cloud only handles sign-in and helps your devices find your server when you are away.
What hardware do I need?
Any always-on PC or server running Windows, Linux or macOS, or anything that runs Docker. An NVIDIA, Intel or AMD graphics chip helps when 4K needs converting for a device.
What does it cost?
Nothing. Kinara is free and will stay free. It is a passion project that came out of frustration and a lack of other good options. The only charge will be a few dollars for remote play through our relays, because that bandwidth costs real money. If you would rather not pay, you can bring your own relay instead.
Is it open source?
The server is. Its code is on GitHub, so you can read it, build it yourself or contribute. The apps are closed source for now.
How can I support it?
If Kinara is useful to you, a donation helps keep it going. It pays for servers and time, and it never unlocks anything.
Free, with no catch.