Benefic is a self-hosting platform that lets you stream your media library from anywhere using WebRTC peer-to-peer connections — no port forwarding, no cloud storage, fully encrypted.

Yes. Benefic uses DTLS-SRTP encryption for all WebRTC sessions. It operates on a zero-knowledge architecture — Benefic never sees your content, filenames, or playback activity.

Does Benefic require port forwarding?

No. Benefic uses WebRTC with STUN signaling to establish direct peer-to-peer connections. No ports need to be opened on your router.

How is Benefic different from Plex or Jellyfin?

Unlike Plex or Jellyfin, Benefic streams directly device-to-device via encrypted WebRTC. There's no central server routing your media, no open ports, and zero knowledge of your content.

What is Benefic? | Benefic Docs

TL;DR

Benefic is a self-hosting platform that streams your media library anywhere via encrypted WebRTC — no port forwarding, no cloud, no exposed services.

Benefic is a modern self-hosting platform that lets you host and stream your personal media library from anywhere — without the networking headaches that come with traditional self-hosting.

How Benefic Works

Benefic uses WebRTC — the same peer-to-peer technology behind HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms and Discord — to create direct, encrypted connections between your devices.

No port forwarding — connections are established via STUN/TURN signaling
No cloud storage — your media stays on your hardware
No central server — after the initial handshake, all traffic flows device-to-device
End-to-end encryption — every session uses DTLS-SRTP

Zero-Knowledge Architecture

Benefic operates on a strict zero-knowledge model:

Acts only as a signaling coordinator to initiate connections
Never routes media through its infrastructure
Never logs filenames, directories, or playback history
Never accesses your encryption keys
Has no visibility into what you watch or share

How Benefic Compares to Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin

Feature	Benefic	Plex / Emby / Jellyfin
Remote setup	Automatic P2P	Port-forwarding or VPN
Security	End-to-end encrypted WebRTC	TLS to a publicly reachable server
Traffic flow	Direct device-to-device	Through a central hub
Internet exposure	None — no open ports	Requires open ports
Privacy	Zero-knowledge	Server has full visibility
Setup ease	Simple sign-in	Router and network configuration
Streaming path	Direct WebRTC	Server intermediary

Encryption Standards

All WebRTC sessions in Benefic are secured with DTLS-SRTP, which provides:

Authentication between your devices
Integrity protection for all transmitted data
End-to-end encryption for audio, video, and metadata
Benefic never holds your encryption keys