For home theatre enthusiasts, digital media revolutionized the video watching space. Where once purchasing physical media such as DVDs, Blu-Rays, VHS, LaserDiscs, or Betamax was necessary, streaming video services like Netflix and Hulu now provide tons of titles at your fingertips. Plus, digital libraries may be curated through ripping DVDs and Blu-rays as well as by purchasing movies and TV shows from sites such as VUDU. PlayOn is a neat home theatre PC (HTPC) software solution. It’s a DVR, media server, and streaming service aggregator all-in-one. And it’s become one of my most used media apps. Learn why in this PlayOn review!
What is PlayOn?
PlayOn is akin to a digital video recorder for your streaming services. Using PlayOn, you can record and download streaming movies from the likes of Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, and a host of other sources. There’s PlayOn Desktop and PlayOn Cloud. With the PlayOn Desktop, you can save recordings to your PC for local playback as well as configure PlayOn as a media server. Then, you’ll be able to access your recordings on compatible client devices such as Android and iOS gadgets.
Additionally, there’s PlayOn Cloud. Whereas PlayOn Desktop requires a host computer, no PC is required with PlayOn Cloud. Instead, you’ll save recordings to the cloud for access anywhere. Like PlayOn Desktop, downloads don’t expire and you benefit from offline viewing on virtually any device. While PlayOn Cloud allows for full TV season recording with a single click, you won’t have access to automatic recording of new episodes or media server functionality.
Is PlayOn Legal?
Although recording from streaming services sounds illegal, PlayOn remains technically legit. DVRs allow for time-shifted recordings, and that’s exactly what PlayOn offers. A means to save streaming media from your own streaming service accounts to your own computer for personal use. And since it doesn’t circumvent any DRM, merely operate as a screen-capture method, it’s not by nature violating any copyright laws. In fact, saved recordings automatically add a card at the beginning with your name and IP address in an effort to quell users uploading saved recordings for illicit file sharing.
How Does PlayOn Work – PlayOn Channels and More
Under the PlayOn umbrella, there are a few different features. PlayOn Channels are streaming services. You can add different channels by entering your username and password for services that you subscribe to, or that you’ve made an account for. My PlayOn lineup includes Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Go, Showtime, Crackle, Tubi, and a slate of others. Once you’ve added a channel, you can select that service, peruse available movies and TV shows, then cast videos to devices around your house or save recordings locally and to the cloud.
When you DVR a movie or show, it basically plays that content in real-time. So if you want to save a two-hour movie, your recording will be complete in around two hours and change. Aside from a personal video recorder for streaming services, PlayOn boasts server capabilities similar to the likes of Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin. You may point PlayOn to your digital media library, then access videos on compatible client devices such as Rokus, game consoles such as the PlayStation 4, PS3, and Xbox One, Android and iOS devices, plus tons more.
PlayOn Channels list:
- ABC
- CBS
- DC Universe
- Hulu
- Roku Channel
- Xfinity
- Amazon Prime Video
- Charter Spectrum
- Fox
- NBC
- Showtime
- YouTube
- AMC
- Crackle
- HBO Go
- Netflix
- Showtime Anytime
- AT&T Now
- The CW
- HBO Now
- PBS
- Tubi
Why You Should Use PlayOn
As a major home theatre buff, I love PlayOn. One of the highlight features, and what originally drew me to PlayOn, was the ability to save DRM-free recordings of my digital libraries for use on my Plex server. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a sizable collection of movies and TV shows from sites like Vudu and Amazon Prime, often via free codes that came on Blu-ray or DVD packages. While I technically own these videos, I can only stream them through their respective apps. And with services such as UltraViolet shuttering, I enjoy having a DRM-free backup that I’m free to play on virtually any device. Using PlayOn, I was able to create backups of my personal movie and TV show collection from legal digital purchases.
Similarly, if you’re going on holiday and want to save a handful of recordings to watch, say, on a plane ride, it’s easy to accomplish with PlayOn. I appreciate the convenience of being able to save recordings that I can transfer and play back with whatever apps and hardware I prefer. However, recordings are limited to 720p and, tragically for audiophiles, there’s only 2-channel stereo support. Still, it’s a phenomenal service with a bevy of use cases, from saving titles from Netflix and Hulu for offline viewing, to creating DRM-free backups of your digital movies and shows from Vudu and Amazon Prime Video. What’s more, an ad-skip feature lets you skip advertisements similar to functionality found in Tivos.
PlayOn Review – An Incredible DVR for Streaming Services
Overall, PlayOn remains one of my most used HTPC apps. I’ve got a massive physical media collection of Blu-rays, DVDs, VHS tapes, and LaserDiscs. With DVD and Blu-ray ripping software as well as capture devices, I’ve successfully converted the vast majority of my media library to digital for streaming on my Plex server. But PlayOn lets me save my digital purchases for free anywhere, anytime use. Dual-purpose DVR and server capabilities make PlayOn a neat piece of software. The channel lineup is a bit limited, but I was able to sync all of my primary streaming services. 4K or 1080p video, and surround sound audio, for recordings would be fantastic, however 720p with 2.0 audio is definitely not a deal-breaker by any means. PlayOn is a unique service, and must-use for any serious media junkies.
PlayOn
Pros
- Lots of channels available including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+
- Recording and casting functionality
- Doubles as a DVR and media server
- Tons of compatible clients including streaming devices, game consoles, and a Kodi app
- Lets you create DRM-free backups of your legally purchased digital movies and TV shows for personal use
Cons
- Somewhat limited channel lineup
- Recordings limited to 720p video, 2.0 channel audio
Recent Comments