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Universal Media Server vs Emby Server: catalog facts
Universal Media Server	Emby Server
Free The open-source software is available without a license fee. Hosting, hardware and…	Freemium The server is free to use. Emby Premiere is a paid subscription that unlocks hardware…
Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted	Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, Android, iOS, Web
Transcodes on the fly for devices that cannot play a format natively Speaks DLNA, so old TVs and consoles work without an app	Client apps on phones, tablets, smart televisions and consoles Live TV and DVR from a tuner card or network tuner
Transcoding is CPU-heavy on modest hardware DLNA browsing is clumsier than a dedicated client app	Closed source since 2018 Hardware transcoding and offline downloads need a paid subscription
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Self-hosted, Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-2.0	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account 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 September 21, 2026

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