This is a comparison of digital video recorder (DVR), also known as personal video recorder (PVR), software packages.
Note: this is may be considered a comparison of DVB software, not all listed packages have recording capabilities.
General information Basic general information for popular DVR software packages - not all actually record.
Name Windows MacOSX Linux BSD Android Price License Latest stable release Notes Beyond TV 4.9.3 (Build 6535) Not compatible with DVB tuners. While Snapstream is providing minor fixes for Beyond TV, they are no longer actively updating and developing the software as they are focusing on commercial applications. Despite the lack of a new version, their fanbase (in the forums) remains active and the program is still available. DVB Dream 3.7.1 Focused on DVB and live TV DVBViewer 6.1.5 Emby(formerly Media Browser) (client only) 4.6.7.0 Compatible with SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuners. EyeTV 3.6.9 (build 7521) Bundled for no extra charge with all Elgato USB tuners, but also sold separately for use with other tuners. Hauppauge WinTV 8.5 (build 37122) Bundled for no extra charge, only works with Hauppauge TV cards and peripherals. InterVideo WinDVR 5.2 Discontinued. Used to be bundled for no extra charge with various TV tuner devices. Jellyfin (unofficially) (client only) 10.10.7 JRiver Media Center 29.0.22 DirectShow video player, madVR, LAV filters, HD audio, images, 10 foot GUI, Remote control, DLNA, Android/iPhone interface, automatic meta-data lookup for Audio, TV and Movies, fully customizable database Kodi(formerly XBMC) 21.0 "Omega" Cross-platform free and open-source software media center application, able to watch live or recorded TV, music, photos and has one of the most expansive collection of plugins/addons, enabling the system to do anything from browsing the web or downloading movies, to dimming the lights in the sitting room. MediaPortal MP1: 1.23MP2: 2.2.2 built on the .NET 2.0 Framework MythTV Limited (client only) 36.0 Under heavy development since 2002, and now contains most features one would expect from a good DVR. NextPVR (client only) Personal video recorder application for Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac and Docker. Supports a wide variety of devices, and a good set of features. Free for personal use. Commercial use requires a license. SageTV (client only) v9.2.16 December 2, 2025 Java based. SageTV was purchased by Google on June 20, 2011, and on August 10, 2015, it was announced that the project was converting to open-source development. Showshifter 3.12.2945 Supports some older TechnoTrend/Hauppauge boxes which are not BDA compliant, such as the Dec 2000-t/3000-s and first generation Nova-t USB boxes, which are unsupported by other PVR software. tvtime 1.0.2 High quality television application for use with video capture cards on Linux systems. tvtime processes the input from a capture card and displays it on a computer monitor or projector Video Disk Recorder 2.4.1 TV Done Right, VDR can use one to eight video cards and support DVB-S, DVB-C and DVB-T. Record and read any DVB flux with a lot of plugins. Windows Media Center 6.3.9600.16384 Included with Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions and Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions. Was available for Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro as part of the Media Center Pack add-on, until it was discontinued on October 30, 2015. Available for Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 unofficially through a windows command script installer. Not available for Windows RT. V@Home 2.59 Bundled for no extra charge with VBox Home TV Gateway - Network TV Tuner, Manage and schedule recordings from any web browser, local or over the internetNameWindowsMacOSXLinuxBSDAndroidPriceLicenseLatest stable releaseNotes
Features Information about what common and prominent DVR features are implemented natively (without third-party add-ons unless stated otherwise):
DVR Subscription freeelectronic 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/tabletplayback Smartphone/tabletsyncing Smartphone/tabletremote control Beyond TV To take advantage of operating system power management with Beyond TV, the main user interface must be closed. EyeTV External add-on WinTV Kodi(formerly XBMC) NextPVR Natively supports broadcast EPG. Able to use alternative EPG, like XMLTV and Schedules Direct in countries that don't provide a decent broadcast EPG. Support is limited to content broadcast as 'copy freely' (DRM Free) MediaPortal Using Plugin MediaPhoenix/ShowShifter MythTV Supports hardware-based CAMs supported by LinuxTV framework. Supports any tuner card supported by LinuxTV framework. SageTV (with former purchased license) Video Disk Recorder Windows Media Center ; also respects "do not record" flag VBox@TV
Video format support Information about what video codecs are implemented natively (without third-party add-ons) in the PVRs.
DVR MPEG-1 MPEG-2 MPEG-4 ASPi.e. DivX, XviD H.264/MPEG-4 AVC HEVC (H.265) VP8 VP9 WMV AVI ASF QuickTime MP4 RealVideo MKV Beyond TV EyeTV WinTV NextPVR Kodi(formerly XBMC) MediaPortal Possible with third-party software. MediaPhoenix/ShowShifter MythTV SageTV Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre Windows Media Center Windows 7 only VBox@TV
Network support Each features is in context of computer-to-computer interaction. All features must be available after the default install otherwise the feature needs a footnote. DVR Tuner Sharing Hard Disk Pooling Shared Media Database Home Automation Media Extenders Placeshifting/Spaceshifting Two-way Remote Control Second Screen Beyond TV EyeTV NextPVR Kodi (formerly XBMC) 4 3 MediaPortal 4 MediaPhoenix/ShowShifter MythTV 3 SageTV Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre Windows Media Center 6 7 2 5 2 VBox@TV 1 Yes with registry change 2 Yes with retail third-party plugin 3 Yes with free supported third-party plugin 4 Yes with free unsupported third-party plugin 5 Yes with free third-party software Web Guide 4 6 Yes with add-on software called DVBLink Server 7 Yes with using symlinks, or just adding folders in settings
TV tuner hardware
TV gateway network tuner TV servers DVRs require TV tuner cards to receive signals. Many DVRs, as seen above, can use multiple tuners.
HdHomerun has CableCARD Models (HDHomeRun Prime) and OTA Models (HDHomeRun Connect) that are networked TV Tuners
See also List of free television software Comparison of video player software Home cinema Home theater PC (HTPC) Digital video recorder Hard disk recorder DVD recorder Quiet PC Media server
Notes
External links FLOSS Media Centers Comparison Chart
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