Comparison of DVR software packages

! Windows

! MacOSX

! Linux

! BSD

! Android

! Price

! License

! Latest stable release

! Notes

!Windows

!MacOSX

!Linux

!BSD

!Android

!Price

!License

!Latest stable release

!Notes

! Subscription free
electronic program guide (EPG)

! Power management

! Multiple TV tuner cards support

! CableCARD support

! CAM support

! ATSC tuner support

! Automated commercial skipping

! Teletext

! Schedule timed recordings

! Personalized intelligent recording and schedulingA system similar to TiVo's which enables the DVR/PVR application to record programs based on past viewing habits and interests.

! DRM support

! DVB (T/T2, S/S2, C) tuner support

! Smartphone
/tablet
playback

! Smartphone
/tablet
syncing

! Smartphone
/tablet
remote control

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}To take advantage of operating system power management with Beyond TV, the main user interface must be closed.

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{No}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Partial|DVB; other guide info varies by region{{#tag:ref|Elgato's contract with TitanTV for the US market expired in 2010. When it expired, TV Guide became the sole EPG provider for EyeTV in the United States. There, one year of TV Guide EPG service costs $19.95.{{cite web|url=http://support.elgato.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=3270&nav=0,1,32,2,259&languageid=1&group=englishdefault|title=Why is there a fee for the EyeTV Program Guide?|access-date=2009-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710181317/http://support.elgato.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=3270&nav=0,1,32,2,259&languageid=1&group=englishdefault|archive-date=2011-07-10|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://support.elgato.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=3223&nav=0,1,32,2,259&languageid=1&group=englishdefault|title=How do I use TV Guide with EyeTV?|access-date=2009-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710181747/http://support.elgato.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=3223&nav=0,1,32,2,259&languageid=1&group=englishdefault|archive-date=2011-07-10|url-status=dead}}|group="f"}}}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{yes2}}External add-on

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{partial|LimitedSupport is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free)}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|External add-on}}

| {{yes2|Using Plugin}}

| {{yes2|Using Plugin}}

| {{yes2|Using Apps}}

| {{Yes}}Natively supports broadcast EPG. Able to use alternative EPG, like XMLTV and Schedules Direct in countries that don't provide a decent broadcast EPG.

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Partial}}Support is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free)

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Partial|DVB{{#tag:ref|Supports over-the-air EPG when using cards/boxes which support this functionality, and in areas where such a service is available. For example, over-the-air 7-day programme data is available in the UK for DVB-T services (Freeview, TopUp TV etc; DVB-T2 listings for Freeview HD are encrypted) and Freesat (DVB-S/S2).Unlike the UK DVB-T EPG, the Freesat EPG uses its own channel and thus must be specifically set up in order to be used. Consequently support for DVB EPG may be insufficient to access it.|group="f"|name="OTA"}}/XMLTVSupports XMLTV programme data which is provided by various sources for various costs depending on territory. For example, the (supported) 14-day Radio Times feed for the UK is free of charge.}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Partial}}{{#tag:ref|Version 1.5.0 or higher required - only 'Copy Freely' support - No Encrypted 'Copy Once' support{{cite web|url=http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_MEDIAPORTAL_1/0_What's_New/1.5.x/Using_MediaPortal/Support_for_CableCard_tuners|title=Support for CableCard Tuners|access-date=2014-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129050110/http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_MEDIAPORTAL_1/0_What's_New/1.5.x/Using_MediaPortal/Support_for_CableCard_tuners|archive-date=2015-01-29|url-status=dead}}|group="f"|name="CableCardInfo"}}

| {{partial|Supported on some specific cards}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{yes2}}Using Plugin

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{partial|Partial support}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}{{#tag:ref|via aMPdroid app; requires WifiRemote and MpExtended plugins{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mediaportal.ampdroid|title=aMPdroid - Android Apps|website=Google Play|access-date=2012-09-27}}|group="f"|name="aMPDriodDesc"}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{yes}}

| {{Partial|DVB}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{unk}}

| {{No}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{No}}

| {{No}}

| {{Partial|DVB; other services region dependent{{#tag:ref|Subscription-free EPG is available in areas where program listings data is freely available without violating copyright laws or data owners' Terms of Service. In North America, Schedules Direct provides legally-licensed EPG data for a nominal fee of $25 per year.{{cite web|url=http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Schedules_Direct|title=Schedules Direct|publisher=mythtv.org}}|group="f"}}}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{partial|LimitedSupport is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free)}}

| {{Yes}}Supports hardware-based CAMs [http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB_Conditional_Access_Modules supported by LinuxTV framework].

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{partial|Requires external add-onExternal third-party plug-in required, e.g. "[http://www.templetons.com/brad/myth/tvwish.html tvwish]", "[http://tud.at/programm/mythminer MythMiner]"; not supported.}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}Supports any [http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hardware_Device_Information tuner card supported by LinuxTV framework].

| {{Yes}}{{#tag:ref|The official MythTV plugin MythWeb allows users to browse the programme guide, schedule recordings, manage media and playback video via a Flash-based player, which works on Android phones and tablets.{{cite web|url=https://code.google.com/p/mythdroid|title=MythDroid}}|group="f"|name="MythTVTabletPhone"}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}} (with former purchased license)

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Partial|Partial Using Plugin{{#tag:ref|Support is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free) - Smartphone and tablet control of the full range of Windows Media Center features is possible on iOS and Android.{{cite web|url=http://www.evoscan.com/home/|title=LimitlessLED: 2.4Ghz Wireless Remote Light Bulbs for iPhone and Android|access-date=2011-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123072255/http://www.evoscan.com/home/|archive-date=2011-11-23|url-status=dead}}|group="f"}}}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{yes2|Using Plugin{{#tag:ref|Supported by 3rd party plugins: [http://nextpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Utility/ComSkip ComSkip] and [http://www.dragonglobal.biz/ ShowAnalyzer]|group="f"}}}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{yes2|Using Plugin}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes2|Using Plugin}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{yes2|Using Plugin}}

| {{No}}

| {{yes2|Using Plugin}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}{{#tag:ref|Windows Media Center supports two NTSC (Analog) tuners and two ATSC (Digital) tuners out of the box. Using additional tuners requires registry modifications. Windows 7 Media Center supports up to 4 tuners of each type out of the box, DVB-T, DVB-S, NTSC/PAL.|group="f"}}

| {{Yes}}{{#tag:ref|Windows Media Center supports CableCard when used on CableLabs certified OEM Hardware.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060131-6081.html|title=CableCARD certification rules out home-built Windows MCE boxes, possibly other DIY solutions|date=31 January 2006}} Windows 7 Media Center supports CableCard on any hardware that passes the Digital Cable Advisor tool in MCE.{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/3588|title=The Cable Chronicles: Win7 Digital Cable Advisor Released}}|group="f"}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{yes2|External add-onRequires an external plug-in such as "[http://babgvant.com/Wiki/view.aspx/DVRMSToolbox DVRMSToolbox]", "Lifextender" or "[http://www.mcebuddy2x.com MCEBuddy]"; not supported by Microsoft.}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}{{#tag:ref|Vista Media Center can do partial intelligent recordings based on keywords, actor(s) name(s), or genre.|group="f"}}

| {{Yes}}; also respects "do not record" flag

| {{Partial|Supports DVB-T/T2 and DVB-S/S2; does not support DVB-CDVB-C is achievable using certain cards that are detected as DVB-T tuners. And also using addons such as DVBLink}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes|DVB Guide info varies by broadcaster and TV service provider}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Dunno}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

! MPEG-1

! MPEG-2

! MPEG-4 ASP
{{nowrap|(MPEG-4 Part 2),}}
i.e. DivX, XviD

! H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
{{nowrap|(MPEG-4 Part 10)}}

! HEVC (H.265)

! VP8

! VP9

! WMV

! AVI

! ASF

! QuickTime

! MP4

! RealVideo

! MKV

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

| {{unk}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

| {{No}}

| {{No}}

| {{No}}

| {{unk}}

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| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

| {{unk}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}Possible with third-party software.

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

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| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}Windows 7 only

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{unk}}

| {{yes}}

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| {{Yes}}

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| {{unk}}

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| {{Yes}}

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! Tuner Sharing

! Hard Disk Pooling

! Shared Media Database

! Home Automation

! Media Extenders

! Placeshifting/Spaceshifting

! Two-way Remote Control

! Second Screen

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{unk}}

| {{unk}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

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| {{Yes}}

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| {{Yes}}

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| {{Yes}}

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| {{Yes}}³

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| {{Yes}}⁴

| {{unk}}

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| {{Yes}}

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| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}⁶

| {{Yes}}⁷

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}²

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}⁵

| {{Yes}}²

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}

| {{unk}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{unk}}