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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Blubrry vs Emby

Blubrry logo

Blubrry

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Podcast hosting with advanced analytics and tools

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Emby logo

Emby

Media & Entertainment

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: Blubrry entry plan at $7 per month allows only 1.5 hours of new audio published per month; Emby hardware accelerated transcoding requires Emby Premiere, so a server GPU sits unused without a subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Blubrry covers Unlimited hosting, Emby covers Personal media server.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blubrry and Emby actually diverge.

Attributes where Blubrry and Emby differ
AttributeBlubrryEmby
Starting price$12/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, WordpressWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop
CategoryPodcast & Audio PublishingMedia & Entertainment
Founded20052014

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

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 Blubrry

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Advanced analytics
  • WordPress plugin
  • Monetization
  • Detailed stats
  • WordPress
  • All podcast platforms

Only in Emby

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Blubrry

  • Hosting a podcast with a managed WordPress site includednot Emby
  • Publishing to podcast directories with IAB compliant statisticsnot Emby
  • Running programmatic and dynamically inserted podcast advertising at the Professional tiernot Emby

Emby

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

Where each one falls short

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

Blubrry

  • Entry plan at $7 per month allows only 1.5 hours of new audio published per month
  • Advanced podcast statistics require the $25 per month Advanced 6 plan; cheaper plans get standard statistics only
  • Monetization features are restricted to the Advanced plans
  • Dynamic ad insertion, programmatic advertising, unlimited shows and sub-accounts sit on a Professional tier with no published price
  • Publishing allowance is measured in hours of audio per month, so a long-form show hits the cap quickly

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

Blubrry

$12/month
  • Basic$12/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Distribution
    • Analytics
  • Advanced$20/month
    • All Basic features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Monetization tools

Emby

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Blubrry if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You work on Web, Wordpress.
  • You also want distribution.
Blubrry 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 Blubrry or Emby better?
Neither clearly leads. Blubrry starts at $12/month and Emby at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blubrry or Emby?
Emby has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Blubrry and Free for Emby.
Does Blubrry or Emby run on more platforms?
Blubrry runs on Web, Wordpress. 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. Blubrry starts at $12/month.
What is Blubrry best used for?
Blubrry is most often used for hosting a podcast with a managed wordpress site included, publishing to podcast directories with iab compliant statistics, running programmatic and dynamically inserted podcast advertising at the professional tier. Of those, hosting a podcast with a managed wordpress site included and publishing to podcast directories with iab compliant statistics are not what Emby is typically brought in for.
What can Blubrry do that Emby cannot?
Blubrry covers Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Advanced analytics, WordPress plugin. Emby covers Personal media server, Streaming, Library management, Sync. Both handle Web support.
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