Kodi for Mac

Kodi for Mac is an open-source media player and streaming application that has gained immense popularity across various platforms for its ability to not only easily reproduce content from large local libraries of media, but also expand its streaming potential by adding custom plugins for P2P media sources.

Designed as a successor of a popular media player XBMC, this multi-platform home-theater software hosts an incredible variety of tools for effortless access, organization, and streaming of multimedia content from various sources, including local files, network shares, and online streaming services.

With built-in support for all modern multimedia file formats and codecs, extensive customization of the user interface, and tools for the management of large content libraries, this tool quickly built a reputation as one of the best versatile solutions for media enthusiasts.

This app also includes hosting services, enabling users to re-route its multimedia features to nearby connected devices such as smartphones, smart TVs, Android TVs, and others.

Best yet, this app and its powerful home-theater feature set are available to everyone for free!

Key Features

• Home Theatre – Transform any modern or legacy Mac into a highly versatile home theater media player.
• Extensive Media Library Management – Organize and manage large media collections, including videos, music, and images.
• Streaming and Online Content – Connect to various online media streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and others.
• Custom Media Sources – Manage plugins for accessing P2P media content.
• Highly Customizable Interface – Take full control of not only built-in tools and services, but also complete UI layouts, colors, icons, menu structures, and visual themes.
• Multi-Platform Support – Avaiable for all major OS and hardware platforms, including smart TVs and mobile devices.

Installation and Setup

Installing this app on a Mac is a very straightforward process. While the app is not offered for download on the official App Store, users can easily get it up and running on their home computers by getting the official installer from the app’s main website or the secure FileHorse servers.

Once fully installed the app does not require any additional setup as it does not require users to log in with any account credentials, ensuring free and unrestricted use both offline and online.

How to Use

Upon starting the app, users can browse its interface and discover extensive customization options.

The app can handle the reproduction and management of both local and online content libraries, with an easy way to start the reproduction of video and audio files.

However, due to the complexity of the in-app plugin system, newcomers are recommended to learn about the capabilities of this app via official documentation and community-created tutorials.

Remote command over this home theater platform can be achieved via the official Kodi Remote app that is distributed on the App Store.

User Interface

Kodi's user interface is highly customizable, allowing users to personalize the layout and appearance of the app. The main dashboard provides easy access access to various sections, including Videos, Music, Pictures, and Settings.

Users can add media sources by clicking the "Add Video" or "Add Music" buttons and selecting the desired files or folders, commanding the app to automatically index the content and make it available for playback.

While the default interface is clean and intuitive, with clear labels and easy-to-use controls, some newcomers may find it overwhelming.

FAQ

What is Kodi?
It is a free and open-source media-streaming application that allows users to manage and play multimedia content across multiple devices.

Is it safe?
Yes, if it is downloaded from a secure source. Users should also be cautious when installing add-ons and plugins from unknown sources.

Alternatives

Plex – A popular media server application for in-home streaming and large media library management.

Elmedia Player – A robust media player for Mac with built-in support for in-home streaming.

Emby – A media server platform that organizes, streams, and manages personal media content across devices with easy access and remote control features.

Pricing

This app is 100% free.

System Requirements

OS X 10.13
(older versions of the app can be used on macOS 10.8 or later)

PROS

• Wide range of media playback features.
• Support for online media streaming.
• Highly customizable Interface.
• Multi-Platform Support.
• Free and Open-Source.

CONS

• The steep learning curve for newcomers.
• Complicated add-on and plugin Management.

Conclusion

Kodi for Mac is a powerful and versatile media-streaming application with extensive options for user expandability via plugins and a highly modular user interface.

While it may have a steep learning curve and limited support for iOS devices, its flexibility, multi-platform support, and free nature make it an attractive option for media enthusiasts who want to unify their streaming services and local file playback into a single app.

Note: Kodi does not provide any media itself. Users must provide their own content or manually point Kodi to third party online services. The Kodi project does not provide any support for bootleg video content.

Also Available: Download Kodi for Windows