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Head-to-head · Media Player Software

MediaPortal vs Emby

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score MediaPortal #7 in Media Player Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit MediaPortal
Emby #24 in Media Player Software 6.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Emby

MediaPortal leads on 0 checks, Emby on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMediaPortal · 8.5/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresEmby · 4 of 4

MediaPortal scores higher on our rubric for media player software: 8.5 against 6.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #24.

On license model, Emby gives you Subscription where MediaPortal offers Free.

MediaPortal is the better fit for windows home-theater and live-TV setups. Emby is the better fit for users managing a personal streaming library.

  • MediaPortal fits best

    Windows home-theater and live-TV setups

  • Emby fits best

    Users managing a personal streaming library

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature MediaPortal 8.5/10 Visit ↗ Emby 6.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 6.7
Ranking #7 in Media Player Software #24 in Media Player Software
Best for Windows home-theater and live-TV setups Users managing a personal streaming library
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Email, Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features MediaPortal 3/4 · Emby 4/4
Network playback ✓ ✓
Subtitle support ✓ ✓
Hardware acceleration ✓ ✓
4K playback Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms web, windows, ios, android web, windows, macos, linux, ios, android, self_hosted
Format support MPEG-2, MPEG-1, MOV, H.264, VC-1, DivX, Xvid, AC3, DTS, MP3, AAC, Matroska, DVD, Blu-ray H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, VP9, MKV, MP4, MOV, AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, PCM, AC3/EAC3, DTS, ALAC
License model Free Subscription
Our review
Pros
  • Plays DVDs, Blu-ray discs, subtitles and many common media formats
  • Combines live TV, DVR scheduling, radio, music and network playback
  • Supports plugins, skins, metadata and remote access through web, Android and iOS
  • Organizes personal media with metadata gathering
  • Streams across web, desktop, mobile, TV, and streaming devices
  • Supports transcoding, subtitles, live TV, DVR, and offline downloads
Cons
  • The main desktop player is documented for Windows
  • Hardware acceleration requires configuration through LAV Video
  • Remote web, Android and iOS access is separate from the desktop player
  • Premiere licenses are limited to single-household use
  • Premiere licenses have a 30-device limit
  • Requires a server environment for self-hosted library access
Our verdict

MediaPortal is free, open-source media center software for Windows PCs and home-theater setups. It combines video playback with DVD and Blu-ray menus, subtitle support, movie metadata, music, FM and web radio, live TV viewing, scheduling…

Read the review →

Emby is a personal media server for organizing and streaming a user's own videos, music, photos, and live TV. It suits people who want one library accessible through web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, televisions, streaming devices,…

Read the review →
  1. MediaPortalMedia Player Software 8.5Free plan
  2. EmbyMedia Player Software 6.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • MediaPortal — where it wins

    • Plays DVDs, Blu-ray discs, subtitles and many common media formats
    • Combines live TV, DVR scheduling, radio, music and network playback
    • Supports plugins, skins, metadata and remote access through web, Android and iOS

    Where it doesn't

    • The main desktop player is documented for Windows
    • Hardware acceleration requires configuration through LAV Video
    • Remote web, Android and iOS access is separate from the desktop player

  • Emby — where it wins

    • Organizes personal media with metadata gathering
    • Streams across web, desktop, mobile, TV, and streaming devices
    • Supports transcoding, subtitles, live TV, DVR, and offline downloads

    Where it doesn't

    • Premiere licenses are limited to single-household use
    • Premiere licenses have a 30-device limit
    • Requires a server environment for self-hosted library access

More comparisons

All media player software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update