tinyMediaManager alternative
Switch from tinyMediaManager and keep your NFO files.
tinyMediaManager is a mature desktop metadata manager. MetaTana keeps the NFO files and artwork it already wrote, files Good matches on its own, and holds the rest in an Inbox with Undo.
How the two compare.
| Area | tinyMediaManager | MetaTana |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | Java desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. The Docker image shows the desktop app in a browser over noVNC. | Desktop app for macOS (Apple silicon), Windows and Linux, or a Docker container with its own web UI. |
| Workflow | Update data sources, then scrape, edit and rename in the app. | Good matches file themselves. The rest wait in the Inbox with a reason, and Activity can undo renames and moves. |
| NFO and artwork | NFO for Kodi, Plex, Emby and Jellyfin. Artwork from TMDB in Free, Fanart.tv in Pro. | NFO, artwork and season art named for Kodi, Jellyfin, Emby or Plex. |
| Metadata keys | Built-in API keys, with your own keys optional. TMDB is in Free; TVDB and Fanart.tv are in Pro. | Free scans first and you add a free TMDb key later. Pro includes hosted metadata with no key. |
| Automation | Command line, HTTP interface and post-processing scripts, all in Free. | API key and CLI, hooks and webhooks, and an MCP server, all in Pro. |
| Hard matches | Search the providers and pick the match. | A confidence word and reason for each file. AI Vision reads frames from hard files in Pro. |
When MetaTana fits better.
tinyMediaManager suits hands-on desktop curation. These are the cases where MetaTana is the easier fit.
- Your library lives on a NAS or server and you want a web UI in Docker, not a desktop over VNC.
- You want new files filed as they arrive, with only the unsure ones held for you.
- You want to undo a bad rename or move pass from one history.
- You share one library between Plex, Jellyfin, Emby and Kodi and want watched state in step.
Moving over.
Open the importer
Choose I use tinyMediaManager on Home, and drop in your tinyMediaManager data folder or backup.
Keep what it wrote
Trust my NFOs and artwork is on by default: titles with an NFO aren't matched again, and nothing is renamed.
Check the preview
Folders, settings and keys to reconnect are listed before anything is saved. Your tinyMediaManager install is never changed.
Undo if needed
The import has its own Undo, which removes the folders and settings it added.
FAQ
Is MetaTana affiliated with tinyMediaManager?
No. MetaTana is not affiliated with tinyMediaManager. This page compares the two from their public docs.
Is tinyMediaManager still a good choice?
Yes. It is mature, and its Free version includes a command line and HTTP interface. MetaTana suits people who want automatic filing with a review Inbox, Undo, and a web UI in Docker.
Can MetaTana read my tinyMediaManager library?
Yes. The importer brings over your folders and compatible settings, and MetaTana reads the NFO files, artwork and IDs already beside your files. The import can be undone.
Do I need a TMDb key?
No. Free scans first, and you can add a free TMDb key later for better matches. Pro includes hosted metadata, so no key is needed.
Bring your tinyMediaManager library over.
Your NFO files and artwork stay as they are. MetaTana picks up from there.