AnyStream

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to AnyStream

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to AnyStream.

AnyStream is a web-based video-on-demand platform for managing and streaming personal media libraries. It provides browser-based playback, remote access, media organization and cataloging tools to stream and access video content.

Alternatives List

#1
Tube Archivist

Tube Archivist

Tube Archivist is a self-hosted YouTube media server to download, index, search, and watch your archived videos with subscriptions and watch status tracking.

Tube Archivist screenshot

Tube Archivist is a self-hosted application for archiving YouTube content and browsing it like a personal media library. It downloads videos, stores metadata, and provides a web interface to search and play your offline collection.

Key Features

  • Subscribe to YouTube channels and periodically rescan for new videos
  • Download videos via yt-dlp and manage a download queue
  • Index video metadata and enable fast full-text search via Elasticsearch
  • Web UI for playback and library browsing
  • Track watched/unwatched status for your archive
  • Optional integrations such as a companion browser extension and media-server plugins

Use Cases

  • Build a personal offline YouTube library for long-term archiving
  • Maintain searchable collections for research, tutorials, or education
  • Centralize family or team viewing from a shared server

Limitations and Considerations

  • Playback compatibility depends on the chosen codecs and browser support
  • Any download/extraction limitations of yt-dlp also apply
  • Limited flexibility in the naming of downloaded media files

Tube Archivist is well-suited for users who want ownership of their YouTube collection with strong search and library management. It combines automated downloading, indexing, and a convenient playback UI into a single stack.

7.4kstars
350forks
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#2
RapidBay

RapidBay

RapidBay is a self-hosted torrent video streaming service that searches via Jackett, streams selected files in-browser, downloads subtitles, and supports Chromecast, Apple TV, and Kodi.

RapidBay is a self-hosted torrent streaming web app that lets you search for torrents, select a specific video file, and then download and transcode it into a format playable in browsers and on casting devices. It integrates with common indexer backends and automates subtitles and media conversion to make torrent playback feel like a simple streaming experience.

Key Features

  • Torrent search via Jackett as the indexer/search backend
  • Select individual files within a torrent for streaming
  • Automatic video and subtitle transcoding for broad device/browser compatibility
  • Automatic audio conversion to AAC when needed for browser playback
  • Automatic closed captions/subtitle download (OpenSubtitles support)
  • Magnet link handling (can register RapidBay as a magnet link handler)
  • Automatic disk cleanup to reclaim storage
  • Kodi support (usable as a frontend)

Use Cases

  • Stream torrent-based video to a browser, Chromecast, or Apple TV without managing local players
  • Run a lightweight “torrent-to-stream” service on a server or VPS for personal media access
  • Use Kodi as a living-room frontend while RapidBay handles downloading and transcoding

Limitations and Considerations

  • Requires a running Jackett instance for torrent search
  • Subtitles integration may require OpenSubtitles credentials depending on configuration

RapidBay is best suited for users who want an automated torrent streaming workflow with transcoding, subtitle handling, and casting support. It focuses on simplifying playback rather than acting as a full media library manager.

811stars
54forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running