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Entertainment · head to head

Emby vs Paramount+

Emby logo

Emby

Entertainment

Your personal entertainment server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

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 (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.

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.

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