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Stremio is a free media center for Windows, Mac, Android and TVs that gathers movies, series and channels from installable add-ons into one library, remembers where you stopped on every device, and plays video in its own player.
Stremio is a free app that puts movies, series and channels from different sources into one tidy library on your PC.
What shows up in that library depends on the add-ons you install, and Stremio remembers where you stopped on every device you sign into.
Stremio 5 is the version to install on Windows today, with Stremio 4.4 still offered for anyone who needs the older app.
What Stremio Actually Does
Out of the box, Stremio shows a catalogue of films and series with posters, descriptions and episode lists. Pick a title and Stremio asks your installed add-ons where it can be played, then lists the options.
It is not a streaming service and hosts no content of its own. It also doesn't play Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+ inside the app - at most, an add-on can tell you which service has a title.
- One library. Save films and series from any add-on to a single list, with a calendar for new episodes.
- Continue watching. Progress syncs through a free Stremio account, so you can start on the PC and finish on your phone or TV.
- Built-in player. Stremio 5 for Windows plays video in its own mpv-based player, with an option to open streams in an external player instead.
- Subtitles. The OpenSubtitles add-on fetches subtitles in your chosen language automatically.
- Apps everywhere. Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, Samsung and LG TVs, plus a web version.
How Add-Ons Work
Add-ons are small plug-ins that feed Stremio with catalogues, streams or subtitles. You install or remove them with one click from the add-on screen, and nothing is permanently built in.
The official add-ons cover catalogue information, subtitles and legal sources such as YouTube channels and free public-domain films. Community add-ons go much further, and they are where the legal questions start.
Is Stremio Safe and Legal?
Stremio itself is legal software, and most of its code is public on GitHub. Download it from the official site or our download page, not from repackaged installers.
Community add-ons are a different matter. Many connect to torrents or unlicensed streams, and watching copyrighted material that way is illegal in most countries.
The safe rule.
Stick to official add-ons unless you know exactly what a community add-on does and where its streams come from. You are responsible for what you watch through them.
Our guide on whether IPTV is legal covers the same questions for live TV.
Which Version to Download
| Version | For | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|
| Stremio 5 x64 | Most Windows PCs | You want the current app with the new interface |
| Stremio 5 ARM64 | Windows on ARM laptops | Your laptop has a Snapdragon chip - this build is still marked beta |
| Stremio 4.4 | Windows, macOS, Linux | An add-on or feature you rely on doesn't work in version 5 yet |
Mac users can choose Stremio 5 for Apple Silicon or Intel. Linux, TV and iOS options are on the official Stremio downloads page.
Stremio vs Kodi, Jellyfin and a Plain Player
Stremio is built for finding something to watch. It is the wrong tool for organising files you already own.
- Kodi is a full media center for a TV and a remote, with deep library management for your own files.
- Jellyfin Server turns a PC into your own streaming service for the family's files. Emby does the same with a paid tier.
- VLC media player or mpv are better when you just want to double-click a file and watch it.
Many people use two of these side by side - Stremio for discovery, and Kodi or Jellyfin for the personal collection. On an Android TV box, Google TV fills a similar front-end role for your paid services.
Codecs and Playback Outside Stremio
Because Stremio uses its own player, you don't need a codec pack for it. If a stream fails inside Stremio, the problem is usually the source, so try another stream from the list.
The rest of Windows is different. To play HEVC files in the Films & TV app or show their thumbnails, install the HEVC Video Extension.
For players that rely on Windows decoders, the K-Lite Codec Pack covers the rest. Our Codec Checker shows what your PC can already decode.
On Android, VLC for Android and Kodi for Android are good companions for files Stremio doesn't handle.
Watching Live TV
Stremio is not an IPTV player. A few community add-ons can list live channels, but M3U playlists work far better in a dedicated app.
TiviMate is the popular choice on Android TV, and our list of the best free IPTV players for M3U playlists covers Windows too.
To find legal free channels, try our IPTV Channel Finder.
Quick questions
Is Stremio free?
Yes. The app and the account are free, with no subscription.
Is Stremio legal?
The app is legal. Some community add-ons link to pirated streams, and using those is illegal in most countries, so stick to official add-ons.
Should I install Stremio 4.4 or Stremio 5?
Stremio 5 is the current Windows version and the one to start with. Keep 4.4 only if something you rely on doesn't work in 5 yet.
Can I watch Netflix in Stremio?
No. Stremio can show where a title is available, but Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ still play in their own apps.
Do I need an account?
No, but without one your library and watch progress stay on that one device.
Does Stremio need a codec pack?
No. Its built-in player handles playback on its own, so codec packs only matter for other players on your PC.
Download Stremio 5.0 and see how it fits your setup, or tell us how you got on if you have used it before.
