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Entertainment · head to head

Emby vs Infuse

Emby logo

Emby

Entertainment

Your personal entertainment server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Infuse logo

Infuse

Entertainment

Paid media player for Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and Mac with strong network share and cloud library streaming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Emby hardware accelerated transcoding requires Emby Premiere, so a server GPU sits unused without a subscription; Infuse it costs money in every form, subscription or lifetime, where IINA performs equivalent local Mac playback for free.
  • They diverge on capability: Emby covers Personal media server, Infuse covers Apple TV app.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Emby and Infuse actually diverge.

Attributes where Emby and Infuse differ
AttributeEmbyInfuse
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, DesktopMac, iOS, tvOS
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

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
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Mobile devices

Only in Infuse

  • Apple TV app
  • Network share streaming
  • Cloud storage support
  • Automatic metadata and artwork
  • Subtitle and audio track handling
  • Cross-platform library

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 Infuse
  • Streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisionsnot Infuse

Infuse

  • Someone with a NAS full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on Apple TV like a streaming servicenot Emby
  • A household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a Macnot Emby
  • A user who wants automatic artwork and metadata for a personal library rather than plain file namesnot Emby
  • Someone already invested in the Apple TV ecosystem who wants better playback than the built in Apple TV app supportsnot 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

Infuse

  • It costs money in every form, subscription or lifetime, where IINA performs equivalent local Mac playback for free.
  • Full functionality depends on the Pro tier, so the free version alone is limited enough that most serious users end up paying.
  • It has no Android or Windows app, so it does not help a household with non-Apple television or phone hardware.
  • Streaming quality from a network share depends heavily on local network speed and NAS performance, which is outside the app control and can cause buffering.
  • Regional pricing and promotional lifetime pricing has varied over time, so the exact lifetime cost is worth checking on the App Store before buying.

Pricing, plan by plan

Emby

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

Infuse

Free
  • Infuse (free)Free
    • Basic local file playback
    • Limited compared to Pro
    • No network share or cloud streaming
  • Infuse Pro Monthly$1.99/month
    • Full network share and cloud streaming
    • Metadata and artwork fetching
    • All future updates included while subscribed
  • Infuse Pro Lifetime$149.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase, no recurring fee
    • All future major version updates included
    • Regional pricing varies by App Store

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 Infuse if

  • You need apple tv app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, iOS, tvOS.
  • You also want network share streaming.
Infuse review

Questions people ask

Is Emby or Infuse better?
Neither clearly leads. Emby starts at Free and Infuse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Emby or Infuse?
Emby starts at Free and Infuse at Free.
Does Emby or Infuse run on more platforms?
Emby runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop. Infuse runs on Mac, iOS, tvOS.
Can I use Emby for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Infuse is typically brought in for.
What can Emby do that Infuse cannot?
Emby covers Personal media server, Streaming, Library management, Sync. Infuse covers Apple TV app, Network share streaming, Cloud storage support, Automatic metadata and artwork.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Emby: How much does Emby cost?

Emby does not publish pricing information on its website. The service mentions Emby Premiere as an optional premium tier with bonus features including mobile downloads and hardware accelerated transcoding, but no cost is specified.

Source
Infuse: Is Infuse free?

A limited free version exists, but network share and cloud streaming, the main reason people choose Infuse, requires Infuse Pro, sold as a subscription or lifetime purchase.

Infuse: Does Infuse work on Apple TV?

Yes, it has a dedicated Apple TV app with a television-optimised browsing interface, which IINA does not offer at all.

Infuse: Is there a one-time payment option?

Yes, a lifetime purchase is available alongside monthly and yearly subscriptions, currently around 149.99 US dollars depending on region.

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