Softwr

Software · head to head

Emby vs Patreon

Emby logo

Emby

Software

Your personal entertainment server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Software

Membership platform for creators

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; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: Emby covers Personal media server, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Emby and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where Emby and Patreon differ
AttributeEmbyPatreon
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, DesktopWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20142013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Mobile devices

Only in Patreon

  • Membership tiers
  • Exclusive content
  • Private podcast feeds
  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Payment processing
  • Discord
  • Podcast apps

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android 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 Patreon
  • Streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisionsnot Patreon

Patreon

  • Running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcastnot Emby
  • Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot 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

Patreon

  • Takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of that 10% and are not quantified on the pricing page
  • The total deduction is therefore not calculable from the pricing page alone, and requires reading a separate support article

Pricing, plan by plan

Emby

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

Patreon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free membership page
    • Basic features
    • Community tools
  • ProFree
    • All free features
    • Analytics dashboard
    • Priority support
  • PremiumFree
    • All Pro features
    • Dedicated partner manager
    • Custom onboarding

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 Patreon if

  • You need membership tiers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want exclusive content.
Patreon review

Questions people ask

Is Emby or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. Emby starts at Free and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Emby or Patreon?
Emby starts at Free and Patreon at Free.
Does Emby or Patreon run on more platforms?
Emby runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop. Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can Emby do that Patreon cannot?
Emby covers Personal media server, Streaming, Library management, Sync. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Emby

More on Patreon

Keep looking

Other head to heads