Emby vs Jellyfin: which media server should you run?

Updated October 6, 2026 · 4 min read

Emby vs Jellyfin is a closer call than most comparisons, because the two started as the same program. This page covers where they split, what each one charges for, and which suits which household, with credit where Emby earns it.

One program, then two

Emby began as an open source media server. In 2018 its developers moved the next major version, 4.x, to closed source. A group of contributors took the last open release, Emby 3.5.2, and continued it as Jellyfin, starting in December 2018. Jellyfin has stayed free and open source ever since; its own documentation says there are no premium licenses or features.

That shared start is why the two still feel alike. The libraries, the way folders are named, the idea of users with their own watch history: much of it carries over in both directions. Years of separate work have made them different programs underneath, though, and they don't share plugins.

Side by side

Prices are US list prices as of October 2026. Reelhost isn't affiliated with Jellyfin, Plex or Emby.

Where they differ

Licensing and cost

Emby's server is free to install. Emby Premiere unlocks the features a lot of households end up wanting. The lifetime license is a one-time payment, so Emby can be run without a subscription. Jellyfin has nothing to unlock. If cost is the deciding factor, the cost comparison sets Jellyfin against Plex Pass over five years, and the same logic applies to Premiere.

Hardware transcoding

When a device can't play a file as it is, the server converts it on the fly. Doing that on the graphics chip instead of the processor keeps an older PC or a small NAS from struggling. Emby lists hardware acceleration as a Premiere feature. In Jellyfin it's free, and the converter it needs ships with the official installers and Docker images. Turning on Jellyfin hardware transcoding shows how.

Live TV and recordings

Both servers work with network tuners such as HDHomeRun and with IPTV playlists, and both have a program guide. Emby lists DVR recordings among Premiere features. Jellyfin records for free, series recordings included. If antenna TV is why you want a server, see Jellyfin live TV with an HDHomeRun.

Apps

This is where Emby is often ahead. Its own apps for phones, Fire TV and game consoles are consistent and polished, though full use of them needs Premiere. Jellyfin's apps are free and cover most devices, from Android TV and Roku to LG TVs and iPhone, but they vary in polish from one device to the next. Many Apple households use Infuse, a separate player that works with both servers.

Plugins and extras

Both have plugin catalogs, and they aren't interchangeable. Emby Premiere adds extras such as cinema intros before a movie and cover art styles. Jellyfin's own catalog has plugins such as Trakt sync and subtitle downloads, and community catalogs add more, intro skipping among them.

Development

Emby is built by a company with paid staff and a single roadmap. Jellyfin is built by volunteers in the open, so you can read every change and report bugs where the developers work. Both release updates regularly. Which you prefer is partly a matter of trust: a business you pay, or a project you can inspect.

Which one to pick

Pick Emby if you want the most polished apps on phones and consoles, you're happy to pay once for Premiere, and closed source doesn't bother you. It's a mature product and the company is accountable for it.

Pick Jellyfin if you want everything free, including hardware transcoding and recordings, or you care that the code is open. It also suits people leaving Plex who don't want another account with a company; moving from Plex to Jellyfin covers that switch.

You don't have to decide on day one. Both can run on the same computer and read the same media folders, as long as you sort out a few clashes first. Running Jellyfin and Emby on the same computer walks through them.

Questions