Coming from Emby
Same roots. No paywall.
Jellyfin started from Emby's code, and it's free and open source, with no premium tier. Reelhost installs and runs it next to Emby, or instead of it, with hardware transcoding and recordings included, a web address for watching away from home, and our own apps for your TVs and phones.
Installing Jellyfin next to Emby is free. Emby isn't changed.
Why people move
The features you pay for on Emby are free in Jellyfin.
Hardware transcoding, included
On Emby, converting video on the graphics card is an Emby Premiere feature. In Jellyfin it's free, and Reelhost tests your graphics with Jellyfin's own video engine before it turns it on.
Recordings, included
Emby lists DVR recording under Premiere. Jellyfin records free, and Reelhost sets up your HDHomeRun, fills the guide, and can skip the commercials.
Watching away from home, done for you
Your own yourname.watchhome.app address with HTTPS, router port included. Or private watching with Tailscale.
Apps to match
Reelhost Signal, our own app for TVs, phones and the web: Continue watching everywhere, live TV, the DJ and karaoke. See the apps
Try it side by side
Keep Emby running while you try Jellyfin.
Set up Jellyfin for me installs Jellyfin from Jellyfin's own server. Emby keeps port 8096; Jellyfin gets the next free port, such as 8097. Emby isn't changed.
Two servers on one computer usually clash: apps find the wrong server, both show up in the TV's media list, and each overwrites the other's artwork. The check-up's four Emby checks stop that, on Jellyfin's side only.
Point Jellyfin at the same folders. It reads the .nfo files and artwork Emby saved next to your videos, so titles and posters come back quickly.
Moving from Emby to Jellyfin ยท Jellyfin and Emby on one PC, by hand
- Web port. Jellyfin moves to a free port, so both run.
- Server discovery. Jellyfin stops announcing itself, so apps don't mix the two up; you type its address once.
- TV media list. Only one server shows up on the TV, unless you want both.
- Artwork. Jellyfin keeps its artwork to itself, so Emby's stays as it is.
Staying on Emby? Reelhost looks after Emby too: the firewall, sleep, and watching away from home at your web address. It never turns on Emby Premiere for you.
An honest comparison
Emby with Premiere, or Jellyfin with Reelhost.
| Feature | Emby | Jellyfin with Reelhost |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware transcoding | With Emby Premiere | Free in Jellyfin; tested and turned on by Reelhost |
| DVR recording | With Emby Premiere | Free in Jellyfin; guide, series and commercial skipping set up by Reelhost |
| Watching away from home | You set it up (or Reelhost does it for Emby too) | Your own yourname.watchhome.app address with HTTPS |
| Cost | Server free; Emby Premiere $4.99 a month, $54 a year or $119 once | Jellyfin free; Reelhost Core $24.99 once, Complete $49.99 once, or Yearly $14.99 a year |
Emby Premiere features and prices from emby.media/premiere, US dollars, as of October 2026.
What doesn't come across. People and their passwords, watch history, playlists, Live TV settings and Emby plugins are set up again in Jellyfin; Reelhost doesn't copy them from Emby. People & folders makes adding people and libraries quick, and nothing on Emby's side is lost while you try.
Questions about switching
Do I have to uninstall Emby?
No. Reelhost installs Jellyfin next to Emby. Emby keeps port 8096 and isn't changed; Jellyfin gets the next free port. When you're ready, uninstall Emby the usual way.
What comes across from Emby?
Point Jellyfin at the same folders. It reads the .nfo files and artwork Emby saved next to your videos, so titles, posters and descriptions come back quickly. People and their passwords, watch history, playlists, Live TV and plugins are set up again; Reelhost doesn't copy them from Emby, but People & folders makes adding people and libraries quick.
Can Reelhost help if I stay on Emby?
Yes. When Emby is the only server, the check-up is about Emby: the firewall, sleep settings, and watching away from home at your web address. Reelhost never turns on Emby Premiere for you. People & folders, Free TV, Switch from Plex and Signal's extras work through Jellyfin.
Why Jellyfin?
Jellyfin started from Emby's code in 2018 and is free and open source, with no paid tier: hardware transcoding, live TV and recordings cost nothing.
Emby is a trademark of its owner. Reelhost isn't affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Emby, Jellyfin or Plex; we name Emby only to describe running Jellyfin next to it or switching from it. Reelhost works with Jellyfin. The app screenshots show our test server's made-up titles. More: Emby vs Jellyfin.
Try Jellyfin next to Emby. Free.
Reelhost installs Jellyfin beside Emby and shows every change before it makes it.