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Audible vs Emby

Audible logo

Audible

Software

Audiobooks as you've never experienced them

From
$7.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Emby logo

Emby

Software

Your personal entertainment server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Emby has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Audible auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing; Emby hardware accelerated transcoding requires Emby Premiere, so a server GPU sits unused without a subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Audible covers Audiobooks, Emby covers Personal media server.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Audible and Emby actually diverge.

Attributes where Audible and Emby differ
AttributeAudibleEmby
Starting price$7.95/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, Desktop, KindleWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop
Founded19952014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Audible

  • Audiobooks
  • Podcasts
  • Originals
  • Offline listening
  • Amazon Echo
  • Kindle
  • Apple Watch
  • Family library

Only in Emby

  • Personal media server
  • Streaming
  • Library management
  • Sync
  • Remote access
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Mobile devices

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Desktop support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Audible

  • Audiobook listeningnot Emby
  • Podcast consumptionnot Emby

Emby

  • Running a personal media server for films, television and musicnot Audible
  • Streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisionsnot Audible

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Audible

  • Auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing
  • Renewal is charged at the rate of the selected plan within 24 hours before the end of each membership period, per the App Store listing

Emby

  • Hardware accelerated transcoding requires Emby Premiere, so a server GPU sits unused without a subscription
  • The mobile, Fire TV, Xbox and PlayStation apps need Premiere for full access, with only basic playback unlockable per app
  • Offline downloads to phones and tablets are Premiere only
  • Premiere is $4.99 a month or $54 a year, with a lifetime option at $119

Pricing, plan by plan

Audible

$7.95/month
  • Plus$7.95/month
    • Plus catalog
    • Podcasts
  • Premium Plus$14.95/month
    • 1 credit/month
    • Plus catalog

Emby

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Media server
    • Local streaming
  • Premiere$4.99/month
    • Cloud sync
    • Remote access
    • Sync to devices

Which should you pick?

Choose Audible if

  • You need audiobooks.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle.
  • You also want podcasts.
Audible review

Choose Emby if

  • You need personal media server.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop.
  • You also want streaming.
Emby review

Questions people ask

Is Audible or Emby better?
Neither clearly leads. Audible starts at $7.95/month and Emby at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Audible or Emby?
Emby has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.95/month for Audible and Free for Emby.
Does Audible or Emby run on more platforms?
Audible runs on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle. Emby runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop.
Can I use Emby for free?
Yes. Emby has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Audible starts at $7.95/month.
What is Audible best used for?
Audible is most often used for audiobook listening, podcast consumption. Of those, audiobook listening and podcast consumption are not what Emby is typically brought in for.
What can Audible do that Emby cannot?
Audible covers Audiobooks, Podcasts, Originals, Offline listening. Emby covers Personal media server, Streaming, Library management, Sync. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Desktop support.
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