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Software · head to head

Showtime vs Emby

S

Showtime

Software

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Emby logo

Emby

Software

Your personal entertainment server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Emby has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile); Emby hardware accelerated transcoding requires Emby Premiere, so a server GPU sits unused without a subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Showtime covers Original series, Emby covers Personal media server.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Showtime and Emby actually diverge.

Attributes where Showtime and Emby differ
AttributeShowtimeEmby
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop
Founded19832014

Identical on both: 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 Showtime

  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Account security
  • Content filtering

Only in Emby

  • Personal media server
  • Library management
  • Sync
  • Remote access
  • Mobile devices
  • User management
  • Parental controls
  • Remote access controls

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • 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.

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Emby
  • Sports watchingnot Emby

Emby

  • Running a personal media server for films, television and musicnot Showtime
  • Streaming a home library to phones, tablets and televisionsnot Showtime

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

Emby

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Showtime if

  • You need original series.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want movies.
Showtime review

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

Questions people ask

Is Showtime or Emby better?
Neither clearly leads. Showtime starts at $10.99/month and Emby at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Showtime or Emby?
Emby has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Showtime and Free for Emby.
Does Showtime or Emby run on more platforms?
Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv. Emby runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop.
Can I use Emby for free?
Yes. Emby has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
What is Showtime best used for?
Showtime is most often used for premium streaming, sports watching. Of those, premium streaming and sports watching are not what Emby is typically brought in for.
What can Showtime do that Emby cannot?
Showtime covers Original series, Movies, Sports, Live events. Emby covers Personal media server, Library management, Sync, Remote access. Both handle Streaming, Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Web support.
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