We have spent a lot of time discussing Plex and Kodi in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. After all, these two apps rule the home theater industry:they let you watch, stream, and manage all your media.
Applications deserve a lot of attention. Kodi and Plex are easy to use Your Guide To Plex - The Awesome Media Center Your Guide to Plex - The Awesome Media Center If you have a lot of movies and TV shows saved locally, you need to install Plex. And this is the only guide to getting started with Plex that you will ever need to read. Learn More and It's Packed with Cool Tricks 8 Plex Tips and Tricks You Really Need to Know 8 Plex Tips and Tricks You Really Need to Know Plex is awesome software. Simply put, it allows you to stream your media anywhere in the world, on any device, whenever you want. But there's so much more to it than that... Read More However, there is a third option in the form of Emby.
Emby doesn't have the same level of recognition as her two older brothers, which is unfair. The developers of the app have spent the last few years constantly improving the software. Today, it can rival both Plex and Kodi. In some aspects, it is superior to the offer of the two powers.
So what exactly is Emby? Which are your principal characteristics? And what are its advantages and disadvantages compared to Plex and Kodi? Let's take a closer look.
Emby is a media center app. As expected, it allows you to play music and videos, as well as view photos.
You can download the desktop version of the app on Windows, macOS, Linux, and NAS devices. The mobile version is available for Android and iOS. There is also a web application.
Emby can also work as a streaming app. You can capture IPTV feeds and distribute them in your home, log in to some video on demand services Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime:Which one should you choose? Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime:Which one should you choose? It's been years since we've compared the big-hit streaming services Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. And with changes in pricing, content, quality, and interface, we thought it was time to take a fresh look. Read More
Finally, the Emby app is open source. As well as being an important philosophical point for some users, the availability of the source code means that, like Kodi, Emby has a thriving and active community developing add-ons and other cool tweaks.
Download: Emby
Emby has some advantages over Plex and Kodi. Let's take a closer look at some of the benefits of the app.
If you're a Plex user, you probably know that there is a Plex for Kodi addon Plex for Kodi:What is it and why do I need it? Plex for Kodi:What is it and why do I need it? Did you know that there is an official Plex addon available for Kodi? In many ways, it provides the best of both worlds, so here's everything you need to get started. Read more . It allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds; Plex library management with Kodi customization.
Emby also offers a Kodi addon. And since Emby is open source, it arguably works even better than Plex's offering; The integration between the two is more substantial..
For example, the addon allows Kodi to scrape the Emby database. When the scraping is complete, your Emby content will be visible in Kodi libraries.
On the other hand, Plex content on Kodi can only be accessed through the Plex addon. No content is scraped, and none of your Plex content will be displayed alongside your Kodi content.
Emby takes a leaf out of the Plex book and uses a server/client model. In practice, it means that you install the server application on the machine or hard drive where all its content is stored, and then access it using client applications on other devices.
All you need to access your content is a username and password. This implementation is identical to Plex but very different from Kodi.
The Kodi app is primarily a client app. It is possible to set up Kodi as a server, but it is a much more technical process and not suitable for beginners. And even if you get Kodi to work as a server, the integration isn't as seamless.
As mentioned above, Emby is open source. For reference, Kodi is open source, but Plex is not.
Open source software has a number of advantages over closed source. For example, since anyone can inspect the open source code, you can be sure there aren't any nasty security issues or privacy nightmares looming.
It also lends itself to creating a community. Although Plex recently launched Plex Labs, what is Plexamp and why do you need it? What is Plexamp and why do you need it? In this article, we'll quickly explain what Plex Labs is, and then take an in-depth look at its first featured app, a music player called Plexamp. Read More
Many members of the Emby open source community have developed plugins for the app. When you are running the Emby app, you can navigate to Plugins in the left pane to browse the catalog.
You'll find a plugin for everything from movie trailers to radio finders and TuneIn metadata to Slack notifications.
Parental controls on Plex are hidden behind a Plex Pass subscription. In Kodi, parental controls can be unforeseen. They work fine for locally saved content, but are less reliable for streamed content.
On Emby, parental controls are a native part of the free app. They're easy to set up and work across all media on your device.
No app is perfect, and Emby is no different. There are two negative aspects that you should take into account..
Emby offers a premium level. Subscription unlocks additional features. A monthly plan is $4.99, an annual plan is $54, and a lifetime subscription is $119.
Premium plans are not uncommon in the world of home theater apps. Plex also offers a paid subscription Plex Pass:What do you get for your money? Plex Pass:What do you get for your money? To find out whether or not you need a Plex Pass, you first need to know exactly what you're getting for your money. Read More However, if you're not interested in live TV, most people won't need Plex Pass 5 Reasons You Really Don't Need a Plex Pass 5 Reasons You Really Don't Need a Plex Pass If you have a lot of venues - saved on your computer, Plex is must-have software. But do you really need to pay for a Plex Pass? Let's find out… Read more .
Emby is a different story. Without paying for the Premiere plan, you won't be able to sync content to your devices for offline viewing, podcast channel browsing, DVR features, download and use of free mobile apps, or use of the Emby app on your TV.
Other features offered with Premiere include Amazon Alexa integration, folder backup, and theater mode.
In terms of user numbers, Emby is a considerable distance behind Plex and Kodi. While lower user numbers are not representative of the quality of the app, a smaller user base affects the extended community.
For example, anyone who has spent any time using Kodi will know that there are thousands of plugins for the application. The number of plugins on Emby is an order of magnitude less. If the app could attract more users, the community would grow and the number of plugins would flourish.
Emby is far behind Plex and Kodi Emby vs. Plex:Which is better? Emby vs. Plex:Which is better? If you're new to home media and cord cutting, should you choose Plex or Emby? This article will help you decide... Read More
But the development in recent years has been encouraging. And it feels like there's a foundation for an app that could truly rival its two most prominent competitors for years to come.
Have you tried Emby? If not, will you try it??
