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Emby vs Hulu

Emby logo

Emby

Software

Your personal entertainment server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hulu logo

Hulu

Software

Stream TV and movies live and online

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Emby has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Emby hardware accelerated transcoding requires Emby Premiere, so a server GPU sits unused without a subscription; Hulu the App Store listing states Hulu offers three plans, Hulu with Ads, Hulu No Ads, and Hulu plus Live TV, and caps simultaneous streaming at two screens at once while allowing up to six profiles per account, without stating any plan price in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: Emby covers Personal media server, Hulu covers On-demand streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Emby and Hulu actually diverge.

Attributes where Emby and Hulu differ
AttributeEmbyHulu
Starting priceFree$7.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, DesktopWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
Founded20142007

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 Emby

  • Personal media server
  • Streaming
  • Library management
  • Sync
  • Remote access
  • Streaming devices
  • User management
  • Remote access controls

Only in Hulu

  • On-demand streaming
  • Live TV
  • Cloud DVR
  • Downloads
  • Current episodes
  • Gaming consoles
  • Profile PINs
  • Account security

Both cover

  • Smart TVs
  • Mobile devices
  • Parental controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support

What people use each for

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

Emby

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

Hulu

  • TV streamingnot Emby
  • Live TVnot Emby
  • Next-day episodesnot Emby
  • Sportsnot Emby

Where each one falls short

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

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

Hulu

  • The App Store listing states Hulu offers three plans, Hulu with Ads, Hulu No Ads, and Hulu plus Live TV, and caps simultaneous streaming at two screens at once while allowing up to six profiles per account, without stating any plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states premium network add-ons such as MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, CINEMAX, and STARZ are each available only for an additional monthly fee on top of a Hulu plan.

Pricing, plan by plan

Emby

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

Hulu

$7.99/month
  • Hulu (With Ads)$7.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ad-supported
  • Hulu (No Ads)$17.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ad-free
    • Downloads
  • Hulu + Live TV$76.99/month
    • Live TV
    • On-demand
    • Cloud DVR

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Hulu if

  • You need on-demand streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live tv.
Hulu review

Questions people ask

Is Emby or Hulu better?
Neither clearly leads. Emby starts at Free and Hulu at $7.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Emby or Hulu?
Emby has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Emby and $7.99/month for Hulu.
Does Emby or Hulu run on more platforms?
Emby runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop. Hulu runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use Emby for free?
Yes. Emby has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hulu starts at $7.99/month.
What is Emby best used for?
Emby is most often used for running a personal media server for films, television and music, streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisions. Of those, running a personal media server for films, television and music and streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisions are not what Hulu is typically brought in for.
What can Emby do that Hulu cannot?
Emby covers Personal media server, Streaming, Library management, Sync. Hulu covers On-demand streaming, Live TV, Cloud DVR, Downloads. Both handle Smart TVs, Mobile devices, Parental controls, Web support.
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