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Universal Media Server vs Air Video Server HD: catalog facts
Universal Media Server	Air Video Server HD
Free The open-source software is available without a license fee. Hosting, hardware and…	Paid The Air Video HD app is a single purchase covering all of a user's iOS devices; the server…
Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted	Windows, macOS
Transcodes on the fly for devices that cannot play a format natively Speaks DLNA, so old TVs and consoles work without an app	Streams without converting or transferring files Supports subtitles, 1080p and 5.1 surround via Apple TV
Transcoding is CPU-heavy on modest hardware DLNA browsing is clumsier than a dedicated client app	Playback client is only for Apple devices Listed system requirements are old, suggesting infrequent updates
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-2.0	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

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