What is RideStream and how does local Wi-Fi streaming work?

RideStream is a local multimedia player and Wi-Fi streaming server for Windows PC and Android devices. By turning your PC into a host server, RideStream broadcasts your local media library over your home Wi-Fi network so any connected Android phone or tablet can stream movies and music instantly without cloud uploads or internet bandwidth.

How does RideStream compare to Plex or Jellyfin?

RideStream requires zero server administration, no account registration, no background daemons, and no port forwarding. Unlike Plex or Jellyfin which require complex setups and cloud authentication, RideStream runs instantly as an app on Windows or Android with 100% offline local network discovery.

Does RideStream require an internet connection or cloud account?

No. RideStream is 100% offline and operates strictly on your Local Area Network (LAN). No files are uploaded to cloud servers, no account registration is needed, and no telemetry or usage statistics are gathered.

What file formats and codecs does RideStream support?

RideStream supports popular video formats including MP4, MKV, AVI, and WebM with hardware acceleration and original-quality streaming at the file's native resolution. Supported audio formats include MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, OGG, and M4A with dynamic audio normalization and batch audio & video re-encode normalization.

Can I copy media files from my PC to Android for offline playback?

Yes. RideStream Receiver Mode includes a 'Copy from Server' feature that lets you download songs, videos, or full playlists directly over Wi-Fi to your Android device's local storage so you can watch them offline when traveling.

How does RideStream licensing work?

On Android, RideStream is completely free. An optional $0.99 contribution supports the developer and unlocks additional themes; it is not required to use the app. On Windows, RideStream includes a 15-day free trial with all features enabled, after which a one-time $0.99 license unlocks it permanently. Receiver mode is always free on every platform.

RideStream

MULTIMEDIA // LOCAL

Stream media from PC to Android over Wi-Fi — no cloud.

RideStream is a local multimedia player and Wi-Fi media server for Android and Windows. Stream movies and music between your devices over your own network, create mixed playlists, or connect as a receiver — your files never leave home. 100% local, offline, and private.

► Stream, transfer & play media between Windows and Android on your LAN.

Features Licensing Receiver Mode FAQ User Guides Contact

Coming soon

Linux: sudo snap install ridestream · macOS: Download on the Mac App Store

RideStream receiver mode — playing video from host

Features

Everything RideStream does, fully offline.

PLAYLISTS

Mixed Lists

Combine audio and video files in a single unified playlist. Drag, reorder, shuffle, repeat, and play seamlessly.

Android & Windows

BACKUP

Google Drive Backup

Back up a playlist and its media files to your Google Drive on Android, then restore it on another device.

Android

STORAGE

File Pickers

Import media from any folder using the built-in file picker. On Android, also supports SD cards and USB OTG via Storage Access Framework.

Android & Windows

STREAM

Wi-Fi Host

Built-in HTTP server broadcasts your library to any device on the same local network. Auto-host mode starts the server automatically in the background.

Android & Windows

RECEIVE

Receiver Mode

Connect as a client to another device streaming its media library. Browse the server's playlists, pick what to play, or let the host control the queue.

Android & Windows

DISCOVER

Network Discovery

Automatically discover RideStream servers and receivers on your local network. No manual IP configuration needed.

Android & Windows

BACKGROUND

Background Playback

Music keeps playing even when the app is minimised or the screen is locked. Foreground service with persistent notification and media controls.

Android & Windows

VIDEO

Video Playback

Hardware-accelerated video playback with MP4, MKV, AVI and WebM support. Original-quality streaming at the file's native resolution, plus a full set of playback controls.

Android & Windows

AUDIO DSP

Audio & Video Normalization

Dynamic audio normalization (LUFS / EBU R128) levels loudness in real time, plus a batch "Normalize Audio Volume" that re-encodes audio and video tracks to a permanent target volume.

Android & Windows

DESIGN

Premium UI

Modern dark theme with vibrant gradients, smooth micro-animations, fluid screen transitions, and a mini-player widget.

Android & Windows

How do I stream media from PC to Android over Wi-Fi?

RideStream lets you watch and listen to your files from any room — without cables, drives, or the cloud.

Turn your PC into a Wi-Fi media server

Run RideStream in host mode on your Windows machine and it broadcasts your music and movie library over your home network. Browse and play it from any Android device with a tap — no file transfers needed to start watching.

Play on Android with a receiver

Connect an Android phone or tablet as a receiver to stream from the host, control playback remotely, or copy files to local storage for offline playback when you leave home.

Why choose a private, offline player

Unlike cloud services, everything stays on your own devices. There's no account, no upload, no tracking — buffering and transcoding are handled locally for smooth playback even on slower Wi-Fi.

Licensing

Fair, simple, and built for local sharing.

Android

RideStream for Android is 100% free. An optional one-time $0.99 contribution via Google Play supports the developer and unlocks additional app themes — it is never required to use the app.

Windows

RideStream for Windows includes a 15-day free trial with every feature enabled. After the trial, a one-time $0.99 license via the Microsoft Store unlocks it permanently.

	Android	Windows
Price	Free	$0.99 one-time
Trial	Always free	15 days, all features
Host, receiver & playback	Yes	Yes
Mixed playlists & background playback	Yes	Yes
Receiver mode	Free	Free

What the optional Android contribution does

✅ Support the developer

Your one-time $0.99 contribution directly supports RideStream development
Unlocks the additional premium themes
Completely optional — the app is fully usable for free

💻 Windows after the trial

15-day free trial with every feature enabled
One-time $0.99 license via the Microsoft Store
No subscription — linked to your Microsoft Account

Receiver mode is always free on every platform — any Android or Windows device can connect as a Receiver and stream from a host without paying.

Family / shared-use tip: On Windows you only pay once, on the device that acts as the main Host. All other devices on your network connect as Receivers and play freely.

* Android is free forever. The $0.99 is a supporter contribution that also unlocks extra themes, not a required unlock.

Requirements

Android 8.0+ (API 26) — available on Google Play.
Windows 10+ — available on the Microsoft Store.
macOS 12+ — available on the Mac App Store.
Linux — available on the Snap Store (sudo snap install ridestream).
iOS — Coming soon to the App Store.
Storage permissions to access local media files.

Privacy

RideStream never phones home — read the Privacy Policy. No telemetry, no analytics, no cloud dependency. Your media never leaves your devices*.

*except when you explicitly stream to another device on your LAN.

Receiver Mode

What you can do when connected to a host.

BROWSE

Server Playlists

Browse the host's playlists directly from the receiver. See their full library without leaving the receiver UI.

CONTROL

Remote Control

Play, pause, skip, seek, shuffle and toggle repeat on the host. The receiver acts as a full remote control for the host's playback.

STREAM

Direct Playback

Select any track from the server's queue and play it directly on the receiver over Wi-Fi. No download needed — plays in real-time.

IMPORT

Copy from Server

Copy or download playlists and media files from the server to the receiver's local storage for offline playback. Transfer your media between Windows and Android devices over Wi-Fi.

SYNC

State Sync

The receiver stays in sync with the host's current track, position, play/pause state, shuffle and repeat mode — updated every second.

LOCAL

Local Playlist Fallback

Disconnect from the host and instantly resume playing your local playlists. Seamless switch between remote and local mode.

Frequently Asked Questions & Comparison

Everything you need to know about local streaming, privacy, and how RideStream compares.

What is RideStream and how does Wi-Fi streaming work?

RideStream turns your Windows PC or Android device into a local HTTP media server. It streams video and music directly over your home Wi-Fi (LAN) to other devices running RideStream. No cloud, no uploads, and no internet bandwidth used.

How is RideStream different from Plex, Jellyfin, or Kodi?

RideStream requires zero server administration, no account creation, no background daemons, and no port forwarding. Launch the app on your PC and Android, and devices automatically discover each other on your local network instantly.

Does RideStream track or store my media files?

No. RideStream is 100% offline with zero telemetry, zero analytics, and zero external tracking. Your media files stay exclusively on your local devices and local network.

What video and audio formats are supported?

RideStream supports hardware-accelerated video playback for MP4, MKV, AVI, and WebM at the file's original native resolution. Supported audio formats include MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, OGG, and M4A, with dynamic audio normalization and batch audio & video normalization.

Can I copy files from PC to Android for offline playback?

Yes! In Receiver Mode, you can use the Copy from Server feature to transfer songs, videos, or full playlists from your host PC directly to your phone or tablet's local storage over Wi-Fi.

Do I need to buy a license for every device on my network?

No. On Android the app is completely free — the optional $0.99 contribution is only a supporter perk that unlocks extra themes. On Windows, a single one-time $0.99 license covers the host after its 15-day trial. All other devices connect in Receiver Mode for free.

RideStream vs. Other Local Media Solutions

Feature	RideStream	Plex / Jellyfin	VLC / DLNA
Setup Time	Instant (< 1 min)	15–30 mins (Server setup)	Manual file share
Cloud Account Required	No (Zero cloud)	Yes (Cloud auth)	No
Mixed Audio + Video Playlists	Yes	No (Separated libraries)	Basic
Original-Quality Video Streaming	Yes (Original, no re-encode)	Yes (Server transcodes)	Yes (Direct file stream)
LAN File Transfer to Receiver	Yes (One-tap copy)	Paid feature / sync	No
Telemetry & Data Collection	Zero (100% Private)	Server analytics	None