Jellyfin has become my favorite way to stream my personal media library, but its UI always felt a little generic. Having previously used Kodi as my media player, I found its customizable skins to be one of its biggest perks, and while searching for a Jellyfin equivalent, I stumbled upon Moonfin.
This third-party Jellyfin client offers a more modern, customizable interface across a range of devices, transforming my user experience, and it’s hard to go back to the original.
Moonfin gives Jellyfin a fresh coat of paint
I was drawn to Jellyfin’s flexibility and control; however, its default interface may not suit everyone, and I found myself getting a little bored with it over time. Moonfin offers a redesigned client that improves the streaming experience and makes it feel more like a subscription service, but with a choice of aesthetics and layouts.
It is available on multiple devices, including phones, tablets, desktop computers, and compatible TVs, with interfaces adapted for touchscreens, mouse input, and remote controls. It changes how you interact with the Jellyfin server and streamlines everything without interfering with your library.
I liked that I can view trailers before deciding what to watch, and that it shows snippets as you browse, just like Netflix and Amazon Prime do. While these aren’t essential functional features, they contribute toward Moonfin’s premium UI feel. I also like how it suggests similar titles, so you have helpful choices right away instead of scrolling aimlessly through libraries.
I can make my UI work the way I want
Moonfin gives you more ways to customize your streaming experience
While I was happy enough with Jellyfin’s one-size-fits-all solution, Moonfin provides customization options for its layout and navigation that can be switched for different users and devices. From the initial setup, I could change themes, customize home-screen rows, and apply game-controller navigation.
You may need Moonfin’s companion server plugin to access some features, but like Kodi, Moonfin supports integrations that can expand what you do from within the app. For example, connecting Seerr through the Moonbase server plugin can add buttons for requesting movies and TV shows that aren’t already in your library.
During setup, I added a modern, cinematic movie screen with tabs for cast and extras, moved my navigation to the left, and arranged previews to appear at the top of my home screen. These additions, while much better-looking, also made finding, organizing, and viewing content more convenient.
I use the same client on my other devices
Moonfin works across more than just your TV
I recently wrote about using Tailscale to access Jellyfin from remote locations, and now Moonfin feels like the final piece of the puzzle. All media servers let you view your content on more than one screen, but Moonfin extends that flexibility with clients for Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
This is ideal if, like me, you want to switch between watching on a TV, viewing on a tablet in the kitchen or bedroom, and browsing your collection on a computer. Instead of relying exclusively on Jellyfin’s standard client, simply install Moonfin on the devices you use most.
I tested Moonfin on iPad, since it is the device I’m most likely to use on the go, and the experience was as straightforward as I’d hoped. My Moonfin setup translated especially well to a mobile UI and felt much better with touchscreen functionality and a compact layout. Now my Jellyfin server is truly remote and feels like the best parts of Plex and Kodi combined.
Getting started with Moonfin is easy
Install the app, connect your Jellyfin server, and you’re away
One thing I found working with Kodi was that installations and customizations could be fiddly. Jellyfin was much more user-friendly from the get-go. If you already have a working Jellyfin server, you don’t need to rebuild your setup to try Moonfin.
First, simply download the app for macOS or Windows, or visit the Moonfin-Core GitHub repository and follow its installation guide to find the appropriate version for your device. Then, connect it to your Jellyfin server using Moonfin’s activation code by going to Jellyfin account > Quick Connect, or choose Add Server and enter your Jellyfin server address.
You’ll then be taken through a quick setup guide, where you get to choose your theme, controls, and preferences to make Moonfin your own. After the initial setup, Moonfin only needed a few tweaks in its Settings menu to work the way I wanted. It did require a restart before it showed all the available images and metadata, but aside from that, the process was smooth.
Give your Jellyfin library a different feel
I was impressed by how much Moonfin’s client influenced my experience with my personal media server. I kept Jellyfin’s library management and self-hosted setup but with a more appealing interface, more customization, and support for a wide range of devices.
Of course, whether it’s the best fit for you will depend on your ideal setup, hardware, and preferred features. However, if you are currently uninspired by the standard Jellyfin UI, Moonfin offers an easy, free alternative that feels like a premium upgrade.