Emby
Emby Media
Emby unites your personal videos, music, and photos and streams them to your devices, organizing your media into an elegant display with artwork, rich metadata. Emby Server is required as part of your Emby install.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Elegant display of media library
- Good media organization with artwork and metadata
- Easy streaming to various devices
Top Dislikes
- Playback requires in-app purchase or subscription
- App can be buggy and unstable
- Some features require Emby Premiere
Popular Comments
rootbeerdan - Mac App Store User
2023-10-07
Works, but could be better. The entire feel of the app is a beta product. It works as long as you do everything exactly how the developers envisioned you to use it.
Mr B bones Jones - Mac App Store User
2019-05-05
Great looking App but has issues and is not for pc novices. Pros- App is gorgeous both on iPhone and on home PC. It really is like having your own Netflix etc.
st0w - Mac App Store User
2024-12-14
Getting buggier and buggier. Unfortunately the app is getting more and more unreliable over time. It used to be very stable, now it crashes if you look at it wrong.
Reddit User - etn3000
2024-05-17
I've been using Emby for 2 weeks now and I love it so much! It's so much simpler and easier to use than Plex too.
Reddit User - NihilityRogue
2024-04-21
I'm running emby server on an M1 Mac Mini with a NAS over network, very stable, in fact, i don't think Emby ever crashed in the 2 years since i switched to this setup.
Reddit User - bakes121982
2024-05-17
End users tend to hate emby. The ui is dated. Most of the client apps are horrible. No Dolby vision on apple.
Detailed Review
Emby for macOS is a media server and client application designed to organize and stream your personal media collection, including videos, music, and photos, to various devices. To use Emby, you need to install the free Emby Media Server on your Mac or another device. The Mac app acts as a client to connect to this server, allowing you to browse your media library and stream content. Emby aims to provide a user-friendly experience with an elegant interface, automatic media organization with artwork and metadata, and features like live TV and DVR (with Emby Premiere).
Standout Features
- Media Organization: Emby automatically organizes your media library with artwork, metadata, and related content, creating a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate interface.
- Universal Streaming: Emby server transcodes media on-the-fly, ensuring compatibility and smooth playback on a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, mobile devices, and game consoles.
- Live TV & DVR (Premiere): Emby supports live TV streaming and DVR recording, allowing you to watch and record your favorite channels (requires Emby Premiere).
- Parental Controls: Robust parental control features enable you to manage content access for family members, set restrictions, and monitor usage.
- Remote Access: Emby Connect facilitates easy access to your media library remotely, so you can enjoy your content even when you are away from home.
Conclusion
Emby for Mac offers a comprehensive solution for managing and streaming personal media. It excels in media organization and universal streaming capabilities. However, the Mac App Store reviews indicate that the app can be buggy and unstable, and playback requires either a one-time in-app purchase or an Emby Premiere subscription, which might be a drawback for some users. While Emby provides a feature-rich media server experience, potential users should consider the mixed user reviews and the cost for playback functionality before committing to the platform. For users seeking free and open-source alternatives, Jellyfin is a popular option that offers similar functionalities.
