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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Emby vs Paramount+

Emby logo

Emby

Media & Entertainment

Your personal entertainment server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

Media & Entertainment

A mountain of entertainment

From
$5.99/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; Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: Emby covers Personal media server, Paramount+ covers Live sports.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Emby and Paramount+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Emby and Paramount+ differ
AttributeEmbyParamount+
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, DesktopWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20142021

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & 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
  • Library management
  • Sync
  • Remote access
  • Streaming devices
  • Mobile devices
  • User management
  • Remote access controls

Only in Paramount+

  • Live sports
  • CBS shows
  • Nickelodeon
  • Gaming consoles
  • Profile management

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • 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 Paramount+
  • Streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisionsnot Paramount+

Paramount+

  • TV streamingnot Emby
  • Sportsnot Emby
  • Kids contentnot 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

Paramount+

  • The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.

Pricing, plan by plan

Emby

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

Paramount+

$5.99/month
  • Essential$5.99/month
    • Limited ads
    • Full library
  • With Showtime$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Showtime
    • Downloads

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 library management.
Emby review

Choose Paramount+ if

  • You need live sports.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want cbs shows.
Paramount+ review

Questions people ask

Is Emby or Paramount+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Emby starts at Free and Paramount+ at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Emby or Paramount+?
Emby has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Emby and $5.99/month for Paramount+.
Does Emby or Paramount+ run on more platforms?
Emby runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop. Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Emby for free?
Yes. Emby has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/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 Paramount+ is typically brought in for.
What can Emby do that Paramount+ cannot?
Emby covers Personal media server, Library management, Sync, Remote access. Paramount+ covers Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon, Gaming consoles. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support.
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