TIIO stays light because it never phones home. Everything the app needs from UI assets to playback stacks ship with the installer, so playback feels instant even when the internet is down. Below is a side-by-side look at how TIIO behaves on Windows 11 Pro versus the streaming tools people open every day, plus an architecture snapshot that surfaces the privacy and deployment deltas against Plex and Jellyfin.
Key Takeaways
The pattern across every measurement: TIIO’s standalone desktop build avoids the memory spikes that ship with apps designed for constant streaming, and it never transmits metadata outside your machine. Spotify, YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu all require active network connections, background services, DRM layers, and telemetry. TIIO runs the same whether you are in airplane mode or fully offline because nothing streams, nothing syncs, and nothing is cached remotely.
- No background drain: TIIO idles near 0% CPU when you pause playback, while browser tabs keep decoding pipelines and ad surfaces alive.
- Predictable RAM ceiling: Typical sessions stay near ~150 MB, even with large local libraries indexed.
- Simpler deployment: Install once, point at folders, and work offline with no accounts, servers, or reverse proxies.
System Resource Footprint
These are real-world numbers captured on Windows 11 Pro with TIIO running alongside the most common streaming and media apps. Your hardware may differ, but the spread remains consistent: offline playback consumes fewer resources than permanent streaming sessions.
| App / Tab | RAM (typical) | CPU while playing |
|---|---|---|
| TIIO | ~150 MB | ~0%–8% |
|
~200–400 MB (often ≈300 MB) | Low single digits up to mid-teens (≈8–15%+) |
|
~500 MB – 1.5+ GB (≈1 GB typical) | ~2%–15% with HW decode; higher without it |
|
~400 MB – 1+ GB | Low single digits to mid-teens with HW decode |
|
~400 MB – 1+ GB | Low single digits with HW decode; spikes on DRM issues |
Benchmarks were captured with TIIO running alongside the listed apps. Numbers vary per machine, but TIIO’s offline-first design keeps resource use tightly bounded because nothing streams or maintains live network sessions.
Architecture & Privacy Snapshot
Streaming stacks lean on remote services, while TIIO keeps everything local. The comparison below outlines how TIIO compares to Plex and Jellyfin the two most common self-hosted experiences across deployment, data flow, and user targeting.
| Feature | TIIO |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Design | Local-first desktop app for Windows 10/11. No servers, accounts, or cloud sync. | Centralized server–client setup serving media locally or remotely. | Open-source server–client system; self-hosted Plex alternative. |
| Hosting Model | Standalone app; media never leaves your device. | Requires Plex Media Server on local/NAS/cloud hardware. | Requires Jellyfin Server running on your network. |
| Network Dependence | Offline capable; fully functional without internet. | Needs connectivity for streaming and metadata pulls. | Offline locally, but metadata refresh and sync expect connectivity. |
| Privacy / Data Flow | No telemetry, accounts, or remote calls. Data never leaves the PC. | Cloud-linked; sends usage and metadata to Plex services. | Can be private, but still relies on server ↔ client traffic. |
| Library Management | Reads folders directly; instant indexing of media. | Server scans and stores metadata in its database. | Same pattern: server indexes, clients query. |
| Storage / Access | Files stay in place; optional local cache only. | May transcode and cache on the server. | Can transcode/cache on the server (optional). |
| Playback Pipeline | Local playback via HTML5/Howler.js with direct file streams. | HTTP streaming and transcoding as needed. | HTTP streaming with optional transcoding. |
| User Experience | Straightforward library view for music, video, podcasts, and audiobooks. | Dashboard UI that varies per device. | Functional OSS UI, less unified out of the box. |
| Target User | People who want offline control, privacy, and ownership. | Users streaming libraries across many devices. | Power users managing self-hosted services. |
FAQ
Answers for anyone adopting TIIO. Need more detail? Reach out for custom builds, integration services, or enterprise licensing.
Does TIIO require an internet connection?
TIIO runs entirely offline. Interface assets and playback stacks are bundled locally, and the app never calls external APIs after installation.
Which operating systems are supported?
Windows builds are available now. Mac and Linux builds are in beta; join the waitlist to receive early access packages.
How are add-on folders managed?
Point TIIO at any directory. It indexes metadata without altering files, and you can re-run scans or pause indexing at any time.
Can I customize the interface?
Not yet. Full theme customization is on the roadmap, but today every install ships with the same offline-safe palette.
Want deeper numbers, custom builds, or an enterprise deployment review? Email us for a dedicated breakdown or a private TIIO build tailored to your environment.