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Emby Server vs Channels DVR: catalog facts
Emby Server	Channels DVR
Freemium The server is free to use. Emby Premiere is a paid subscription that unlocks hardware…	Paid The DVR server is a paid product; check the site for current pricing.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Android, iOS, Web	Android, iOS, Self-hosted
Client apps on phones, tablets, smart televisions and consoles Live TV and DVR from a tuner card or network tuner	Records antenna, provider and internet TV in one guide Also serves personal media with metadata
Closed source since 2018 Hardware transcoding and offline downloads need a paid subscription	Paid and closed source Needs a machine at home running the server
Self-hosted, Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.