Software · head to head
Emby vs Pluto TV
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Emby hardware accelerated transcoding requires Emby Premiere, so a server GPU sits unused without a subscription; Pluto TV pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
- They diverge on capability: Emby covers Personal media server, Pluto TV covers Live TV channels.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Emby and Pluto TV actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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
- Library management
- Sync
- Remote access
- Mobile devices
- User management
- Remote access controls
- Desktop support
Only in Pluto TV
- Live TV channels
- Movies
- TV shows
- Recommendations
- Account management
- Roku support
- Fire-tv support
Both cover
- Streaming
- Smart TVs
- Streaming 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 Pluto TV
- Streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisionsnot Pluto TV
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot Emby
- Live TVnot Emby
- On-demand 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
Pluto TV
- Pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
Pricing, plan by plan
Emby
Free- FreeFree
- Media server
- Local streaming
- Premiere$4.99/month
- Cloud sync
- Remote access
- Sync to devices
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
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.
Choose Pluto TV if
- You need live tv channels.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want movies.
Questions people ask
- Is Emby or Pluto TV better?
- Neither clearly leads. Emby starts at Free and Pluto TV at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Emby or Pluto TV?
- Emby starts at Free and Pluto TV at Free.
- Does Emby or Pluto TV run on more platforms?
- Emby runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop. Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- 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 Pluto TV is typically brought in for.
- What can Emby do that Pluto TV cannot?
- Emby covers Personal media server, Library management, Sync, Remote access. Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows, Recommendations. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Parental controls.