Entertainment · head to head
Infuse vs Showtime
Infuse
Entertainment
Paid media player for Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and Mac with strong network share and cloud library streaming
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Infuse has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Infuse it costs money in every form, subscription or lifetime, where IINA performs equivalent local Mac playback for free.; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
- They diverge on capability: Infuse covers Apple TV app, Showtime covers Streaming.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Infuse and Showtime actually diverge.
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 Infuse
- Apple TV app
- Network share streaming
- Cloud storage support
- Automatic metadata and artwork
- Subtitle and audio track handling
- Cross-platform library
Only in Showtime
- Streaming
- Original series
- Movies
- Sports
- Live events
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Account security
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Infuse
- Someone with a NAS full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on Apple TV like a streaming servicenot Showtime
- A household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a Macnot Showtime
- A user who wants automatic artwork and metadata for a personal library rather than plain file namesnot Showtime
- Someone already invested in the Apple TV ecosystem who wants better playback than the built in Apple TV app supportsnot Showtime
Showtime
- Premium streamingnot Infuse
- Sports watchingnot Infuse
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Showtime
- Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
- Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Showtime
$10.99/month- Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
- Original content
- Ad-free
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Showtime if
- You need streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- You also want original series.
Questions people ask
- Is Infuse or Showtime better?
- Neither clearly leads. Infuse starts at Free and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Infuse or Showtime?
- Infuse has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Infuse and $10.99/month for Showtime.
- Does Infuse or Showtime run on more platforms?
- Infuse runs on Mac, iOS, tvOS. Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
- Can I use Infuse for free?
- Yes. Infuse has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
- What is Infuse best used for?
- Infuse is most often used for someone with a nas full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on apple tv like a streaming service, a household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a mac, a user who wants automatic artwork and metadata for a personal library rather than plain file names, someone already invested in the apple tv ecosystem who wants better playback than the built in apple tv app supports. Of those, someone with a nas full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on apple tv like a streaming service and a household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a mac are not what Showtime is typically brought in for.
- What can Infuse do that Showtime cannot?
- Infuse covers Apple TV app, Network share streaming, Cloud storage support, Automatic metadata and artwork. Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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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