When it comes to personal media server software, Plex and Emby are two of the most popular options available. Both provide users with the ability to organize and stream their personal media library, but they have some critical differences in features and functionality.
In this article, we will provide a detailed comparison of Plex vs. Emby, looking at their strengths and weaknesses and helping you determine which software best fits your needs.
What is Plex?
Plex is a media server software that allows users to organize and stream their personal media library on various devices, including smart TVs, mobile devices, and gaming consoles. It is similar to other media server software like Emby and Subsonic, but offers a unique set of features and capabilities. Y
Plex can automatically organize media based on metadata, including movie posters, episode summaries, and album artwork. It also allows users to create playlists, share media with others, and remotely access their media library from anywhere with an internet connection.
In addition to personal media, Plex offers a wide range of video-on-demand (VoD) content including free ad-supported streaming movies and TV. It also offers a premium subscription service, called Plex Pass, that provides additional features like live TV support, offline access to media, and the ability to record live TV.
Plex is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and various NAS devices. You can even run Plex Media Server on the Nvidia Shield TV for a small form factor, energy efficient NAS. It also has apps for iOS, Android, and different smart TVs and streaming devices. While Plex started out as media server software, it’s now added a slew of features like free ad-supported movies and TV shows and Tidal music streaming integration to make it one of the best apps for cord-cutters. There’s even Discover which lets you view movies and television shows available to stream on your subscribtion services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, making Plex a true one-stop-shop for cord cutting.
What is Emby?
Emby is a media server software that allows users to organize and stream their personal media library on various devices, including smart TVs, mobile devices, and gaming consoles. It is similar to other media server software like Plex and Jellyfin, but offers a unique set of features and capabilities.
Emby supports various media formats and can automatically organize media based on metadata, including movie posters, episode summaries, and album artwork. It also allows users to create playlists, share media with others, and remotely access their media library from anywhere with an internet connection.
Emby server is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and various NAS devices. It also has client apps for iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, tvOS, iPadOS, Windows, macOS, and game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Emby offers both free and premium versions, with the premium version providing additional features like live TV support and offline access to media.
Plex vs. Emby: Features and Capabilities
Plex and Emby both offer a wide range of features and capabilities for managing and streaming media content. Here are some of the key features and capabilities of both platforms:
Plex:
- Automatically organizes media based on metadata, including movie posters, episode summaries, and album artwork.
- Provides access to a range of content including live television and ad-supported free movies and TV shows.
- Allows users to create playlists, share media with others, and remotely access their media library from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Offers a premium subscription service, called Plex Pass, that provides additional features like live TV support, offline access to media, and the ability to record live TV (note that it’s completely free to watch live OTA TV using a TV tuner and antenna with Plex, but recording with DVR functionality requires Plex Pass).
Emby:
- Automatically organizes media based on metadata, including movie posters, episode summaries, and album artwork.
- Allows users to create playlists, share media with others, and remotely access their media library from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Provides support for live TV and the ability to record live TV.
- Offers a range of customization options, including the ability to create custom filters and tweak the interface to suit your needs.
Overall, Plex and Emby offer similar features and capabilities, but Plex’s user-friendly interface and wide range of supported devices make it a more accessible option for most users.
Plex vs. Emby: Ease of Use
Both Plex and Emby are relatively easy to use, but they have some differences in terms of user interface and setup.
Plex:
- Offers a streamlined, user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and customize.
- Provides detailed setup instructions and guides to help users get started.
- Offers live online TV channels, free ad-supported movies and television, Tidal integration, Discover for finding content to watch from your paid streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
Emby:
- Provides a more customizable interface that may require more setup time.
- Offers detailed documentation and guides to help users get started.
- Provides a range of customization options, including the ability to create custom filters and tweak the interface to suit your needs.
While Plex and Emby are both easy to use, we find Plex more user-friendly.
Plex vs. Emby: User Interface
The user interface (UI) is an important factor to consider when choosing a media server platform, as it can impact your overall experience with the platform. Both Plex and Emby offer intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces, but they differ in terms of customization and personalization.
Plex:
- Plex offers a clean and simple interface that is easy to navigate.
- It features a range of customizable options, including the ability to add and remove libraries, customize artwork and metadata, and more.
- It features a Watchlist queue that allows you to save media content to watch later. The Universal Watchlist lets you save videos from your personal Plex server library, Plex’s free ad-supported streaming video-on-demand library, or Plex Discover content from other streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix.
Emby:
- Emby offers a customizable interface that allows you to create a personalized media library.
- It features a range of customization options, including the ability to add and remove libraries, customize artwork and metadata, and more.
- It features a “dashboard” view that displays your recently added media content, and other customizable options to help you personalize your experience.
Emby offers more customization and personalization options than Plex, making it a better choice for users who want to create a more personalized media library. However, Plex boasts a slick UI that’s easier to navigate. So Plex is better for most folks while Emby is great for media server enthusiasts.
Plex vs. Emby: Device Compatibility
Both Plex and Emby are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, mobile devices, and gaming consoles. However, they have some differences in terms of platform support.
Plex:
- Offers apps for a wide range of Plex client devices, including iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Windows, macOS, Linux, and various smart TVs and streaming devices.
- Supports streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.
- Has a dedicated app for the Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5
- Plex Media Server runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, and NAS devices
Emby:
- Offers apps for a range of devices, including iOS, Android, Xbox, PlayStation, Windows, macOS, Linux, and various NAS devices.
- Allows for streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.
- Supports DLNA, which allows it to stream to a wide range of devices.
Plex and Emby support loads of media server devices and client streaming platforms. Learn how to install Plex on Firestick.
Plex vs. Emby: Price and Availability
Plex and Emby both offer free and paid versions of their platforms, and both are available on a wide range of devices and platforms.
Plex:
- Offers a free version with basic features, as well as a premium subscription service, called Plex Pass, which costs $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year.
- The premium version provides additional features like offline access to media and the ability to record live TV with an OTA TV tuner (free Plex users can still watch live television with an OTA antenna and TV tuner, but can’t record).
Emby:
- Offers a free version with basic features, as well as a premium version, called Emby Premiere, which costs $4.99 per month, $54 per year, or $119 for a lifetime subscription.
- The premium version provides additional features like support for live TV and the ability to record live TV.
Plex vs. Emby: Final Thoughts
Plex and Emby, as both have their own unique features, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Plex and Emby are media management systems allowing users to organize and access their media files from various devices. However, there are some key differences between the two.
Generally, Plex is best for most people with its ease of use, cord-cutting features like free ad-supported streaming movies and TV shows, plus a great user interface. However, Emby is better for power users seeking outstanding customization options like the ability to tweak metadata.
Ultimately, both Plex and Emby are popular media management systems with unique features, which ultimately comes down to personal preference. It may be helpful to try out both platforms and see which one works best for your needs and preferences.
Your turn: Which media server software do you recommend, Plex or Emby?
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