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BubbleUPnP

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Overview

BubbleUPnP is a DLNA-compliant UPnP media controller, server, and renderer for streaming audio, video, and photos from Android devices to compatible renderers like Chromecast, Smart TVs, and gaming consoles. It accesses media from local storage, UPnP/DLNA servers (e.g., Kodi, Jellyfin, NAS), SMB shares, cloud services (Dropbox, OneDrive), WebDAV, and music services (Qobuz, TIDAL). A companion BubbleUPnP Server runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, or NAS for remote access, transcoding, and proxying media servers.123

Key Features

  • Media Streaming - Streams media from local device, UPnP/DLNA servers, SMB shares, cloud storage, and music services to DLNA/Chromecast renderers.
  • Integrated DLNA Server - Exposes Android/cloud media to other DLNA devices like gaming consoles, Smart TVs, and Roku.
  • UPnP/DLNA Renderer - Acts as a playback device controllable by other UPnP control points on the network.
  • Transcoding - Uses ffmpeg to transcode unsupported formats (e.g., MKV, AVI, FLAC) for Chromecast and other renderers via BubbleUPnP Server.
  • Remote Access - Provides secure Internet access to home media servers through BubbleUPnP Server over mobile/WiFi.
  • Music Service Support - Integrates with Qobuz and TIDAL for lossless audio streaming to Hi-Fi setups.
  • Audio Capture - Captures audio from third-party Android apps (e.g., Apple Music, Spotify) on Android 10+.
  • Playlist Management - Enqueues files, folders, and Internet radio streams like Shoutcast.

Pricing

PlanPriceIncludes
Free VersionFreeBasic casting and playback; no media server or advanced remote features.
Pro/Licensed VersionPaid (one-time purchase via Google Play)Full features including media server, transcoding, remote access, and unlimited usage.

Platforms & Requirements

Primary client app runs on Android devices. BubbleUPnP Server middleware installs on Windows, macOS, Linux PCs, or NAS (e.g., Synology, QNAP). No native iOS app; remote access possible via compatible clients like foobar2000. Requires stable WiFi/mobile for remote streaming; battery optimization must be disabled on Android for background operation.124

Integrations & Ecosystem

  • Qobuz
  • TIDAL
  • Dropbox
  • OneDrive
  • Box
  • SMB shares (Windows, macOS, Samba)
  • WebDAV (Nextcloud, ownCloud)
  • UPnP/DLNA servers (Kodi, Jellyfin)

Alternatives

AppDifference
KodiFull media center with local playback and add-ons; less focused on mobile casting and remote server proxying.
PlexCloud-synced media server with apps across platforms; requires more setup and has subscription tiers unlike BubbleUPnP's lightweight approach.
EmbySelf-hosted server similar to Plex; offers broader client support but lacks BubbleUPnP's Android audio capture and simple transcoding.
AllConnectBasic DLNA casting app; fewer sources and no server component or remote access.

Reputation

BubbleUPnP is regarded as a reliable, feature-rich tool for DLNA/UPnP streaming, particularly praised for Chromecast transcoding and remote access via its server.12 Users value its support for diverse sources and music services, though the freemium model limits server features to paid version.7 Some note setup complexity for remote connections and Android-specific focus as drawbacks.4

Sources (10)
  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BubbleUPnP
  2. https://bubblesoftapps.com/bubbleupnp/
  3. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp
  4. https://www.bubblesoftapps.com/bubbleupnpserver2/docs/connect_with_bubbleupnp.html
  5. https://bubbleupnp.en.uptodown.com/android
  6. https://bubblesoftapps.com
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1pa1yJKTbE
  8. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details/BubbleUPnP_f%C3%BCr_DLNA_Chromecast_Smart_TV?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp&hl=en_ZA
  9. https://groups.google.com/g/bubbleupnp/c/B7rDIkD8m94
  10. https://community.naimaudio.com/t/setting-a-bubbleupnp-help/30410