Plexamp is a genuinely good player — but it only works with a Plex server and a Plex Pass (lifetime US$249.99, rising to US$749.99 on July 1, 2026). Navidrome + EKO is the self-hosted alternative: you own the library, the server is free, and the Mac app is native. No subscription required.
Honest about the alternatives · facts as of June 2026
This isn't about which player sounds better — it's about what you own. Plex is a great product but it's a platform: the player, the server, and your streaming access are all gated behind Plex's pricing decisions. Navidrome + EKO is a stack you control.
| Stack | Server | Mac player | Cost | You own it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navidrome + EKO THIS SITEOpen source · self-hosted | Navidrome — free, open source | EKO — native Mac, free + Pro | Free + Pro · $15 one-time | ✓ Yes |
| Plex + PlexampPlatform · subscription | Plex Media Server — free tier limited | Plexamp — requires Plex Pass | Plex Pass US$249.99 lifetime · US$749.99 from Jul 1, 2026 | ✗ Platform-locked |
Plexamp is a well-designed player and Plex is a legitimate product — this comparison is about ownership, not quality. Plexamp only works with a Plex Media Server, and full streaming features require Plex Pass (currently US$249.99 lifetime — rising to US$749.99 on July 1, 2026 — or monthly/annual). Navidrome is free and open source; EKO is free with an optional one-time Pro upgrade. Your library, your server, your player — no third party in the loop. Facts as of June 2026.
You want a managed, polished, all-in-one media platform — movies, TV, and music — with minimal setup. If you've already paid for Plex Pass and it's working, there's no reason to switch just for music.
You want your music library to be genuinely yours — no platform dependency, no subscription, no gating. Navidrome runs anywhere, EKO is a native Mac app with bit-perfect output, and the cost is free + an optional $15 one-time Pro.
EKO sets your DAC to each track's native sample rate and sends the samples un-resampled — then shows you, with a signal-path seal that lights only when the path is genuinely clean. No macOS mixer in the way.
Free and open source. Native macOS. Navidrome, Subsonic and local files. No Plex Pass required.