Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Tvheadend VS OSMC

Compare Tvheadend VS OSMC and see what are their differences

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Tvheadend logo Tvheadend

Redmine

OSMC logo OSMC

OSMC is a free and open source media center built for the people, by the people.
  • Tvheadend Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-16
  • OSMC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27

Tvheadend features and specs

  • Open Source
    Tvheadend is open-source software, meaning its source code is freely available for users to inspect, modify, and distribute, promoting transparency and community-driven development.
  • Versatile Support
    It supports a wide range of network interfaces, including DVB, ATSC, IPTV, and SAT>IP, providing flexibility in how users can access and record live TV content.
  • Web-based Management
    The web-based user interface makes it easy to manage Tvheadend settings, configure channels, and schedule recordings, enhancing user accessibility and convenience.
  • Multi-user Environment
    Tvheadend can handle multiple users and stream to various devices simultaneously, which is ideal for households with multiple viewers with different needs.
  • EPG (Electronic Program Guide) Support
    It supports multiple EPG sources for obtaining program listings, allowing for advanced scheduling and better viewing experiences.

Possible disadvantages of Tvheadend

  • Complex Setup for Beginners
    The initial configuration might be complex for users who are not familiar with networking or server setup, potentially requiring a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Limited Official Documentation
    While there are community resources available, the official documentation may be lacking in details, making it difficult for new users to troubleshoot problems effectively.
  • Reliance on Community Support
    As open-source software, much of the support comes from the community which can be inconsistent and may not always meet user needs promptly.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Users might experience compatibility issues with specific hardware tuners or software setups, requiring additional research or workarounds.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Tvheadend, especially with multiple streams or recordings, can be resource-intensive, demanding significant CPU and memory use on the host device.

OSMC features and specs

  • Open Source
    OSMC is completely free and open-source, allowing users to modify and improve the code according to their needs.
  • Wide Device Support
    OSMC can run on various devices, including Raspberry Pi, Vero, and other compatible hardware, making it versatile.
  • Built-in Kodi
    It comes with Kodi pre-installed, providing a rich media player experience with support for a large number of add-ons and plugins.
  • Regular Updates
    OSMC receives frequent updates, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and security patches.
  • Easy to Use
    The user interface is intuitive and straightforward, making it easy for users of all technical levels to navigate and use.

Possible disadvantages of OSMC

  • Limited App Support
    Compared to other operating systems, OSMC has a narrower selection of available applications and software.
  • Hardware Dependency
    OSMC is primarily designed to run on specific hardware like the Raspberry Pi or Vero, which may not be ideal for all users.
  • Learning Curve for Customization
    While it is customizable, making significant changes or improvements may require a deeper understanding of Linux and coding.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    As with many open-source projects, users may encounter occasional bugs or stability issues.
  • Community-based Support
    Support is mainly provided through community forums and user contributions, which might not be as reliable or fast as professional support.

Analysis of OSMC

Overall verdict

  • OSMC is generally considered a good choice, especially for users who want a straightforward and flexible media center solution. Its open-source nature ensures continuous improvements and adaptability to new technologies.

Why this product is good

  • OSMC (Open Source Media Center) is popular for its simplicity, ease of use, and ability to turn any device into a full-fledged media center. It supports a wide range of formats, offers frequent updates, and has a supportive community. Additionally, it is based on Kodi, providing a customizable interface and access to a vast library of plugins and add-ons.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a free and open-source media center solution
  • People who want to repurpose old devices as media centers
  • Those who appreciate the Kodi interface and its extensive library of add-ons
  • Individuals seeking a customizable media experience

Tvheadend videos

Tvheadend Live TV on Android TV

More videos:

  • Review - Raspberry Pi TVheadend Server
  • Review - Raspberry Pi TVheadend & Kodi Server #1

OSMC videos

Raspberry Pi OSMC Media Player

More videos:

  • Review - OSMC Raspberry PI Kodi Media Center Run Through
  • Review - OSMC Media Center Setup - A Roku Alternative

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Tvheadend and OSMC)
Video
35 35%
65% 65
Media Player
33 33%
67% 67
Video Recording
100 100%
0% 0
Media Players And Streaming Platforms

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Tvheadend and OSMC

Tvheadend Reviews

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OSMC Reviews

The Best 5 Kodi Alternatives You Can Try
OSMC (short for Open-Source Media Center) is a free media player founded in 2014 and it comes as the best alternative to Kodi. It has a simple interface and it’s easy to use. And it offers an app store that enables you to customize your OSMC experience to your taste. This software allows you to play back media (movies, TV shows, music, pictures, etc.) from the local network,...
10 Best Kodi Alternatives You Should Use (2023)
If you are searching for a simple alternative to Kodi, OSMc is a viable option. It is very similar to Kodi. OSMC is open-source software with wifi adapters. You can get some compatibility as it is supported in Raspberry pi, Apple TV and VERO. If you want the replacement for Kodi in a more neat interface, You must go for OSMC.
Source: techdator.net
15 Best Plex Alternatives [2022] – FREE and BETTER Options
OSMC is among the best Plex alternatives as a Debian-based Linux distribution that boots directly to Kodi Media Center. With OSMC it is easy to get started right away with very little tinkering. If you are a tinkerer, OSMC is the best open-source Plex alternative that allows you to make custom changes.
Best Kodi Alternatives for Free Streaming
OSMC is a free and open source operating system that makes heavy use of the Kodi project. Essentially, Kodi is how the user will interact with the operating system for the most part. The benefit of running OSMC instead of an operating system like Android for the purpose of using Kodi is the simplicity that OSMC offers.

Social recommendations and mentions

OSMC might be a bit more popular than Tvheadend. We know about 20 links to it since March 2021 and only 16 links to Tvheadend. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Tvheadend mentions (16)

  • Configuring Tvheadend for ATSC in North America
    Here's how I configured Tvheadend for ATSC (North America). - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Diappearing Autorecs
    I posted this yesterday on the tvheadend.org board, but it's silent so far. I thought I'd try here:. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • MythTV 33 Released – open-source All-in-one DVR
    Fwiw, Xbox One Digital TV Tuners and some RTL-SDRs (with an extra decoder chip) are able to pick up DVB-T2 and are usually £10~20 on eBay. https://tvheadend.org/ can be useful for interfacing with the tuners over USB and exposing web streams. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • DVR/Live TV in the UK?
    If your USB tuner works with Linux, you can use it with TVHeadend, and connect it to Jellyfin via the official plugin. I use it here and it works fairly well. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Getting freeview TV live via internet directly
    They're expensive for what they are, though. If you're techy minded you can make your own using something like a Raspberry Pi, some USB TV tuners and TVHeadend. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

OSMC mentions (20)

  • Is there something like "network attached monitor"
    The devices had a small daemon that would periodically send HTTP requests to the central web service and check if it needed to update the content it was displaying and would update content accordingly. The content was displayed through OSMC. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Pay me the buying power to afford the things you got at my age, and maybe then I'll buy these things...
    Downstairs is a Raspberry PI hooked to large hard drive (8TB). That runs OSMC and provides network access for all computers/phones in the house while being hooked up to the living room TV. The IPTV can run through it but I just watch that on my computer. Source: over 2 years ago
  • one day my friend
    Just put osmc on it and use it as media center. Depending on your hardware it can be pretty solid. And there is a lot you can configure. it's basically an os which boots direcly to kodi. Also it supports hdmi-cec so you can use your normal tv remote, it's awesome. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Plexamp v4.2.2 Released
    I have heard good stuff about https://osmc.tv/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can someone suggest a Smart TV like distro?
    From what I know there aren't many options for this use case, and those that I know of (like OSMC or Plasma Bigscreen) all run on ARM devices like Raspberry Pi, but not x86/64. I would recommend the same as other commenters: to just use a normal distribution and put something like Kodi on it. You could probably configure the system to automatically start up whatever UI you prefer to make it more seamless. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Tvheadend and OSMC, you can also consider the following products

DVB Dream - DVB Dream is DVB player with many nice and unique features (more below), it supports standards...

Kodi - Kodi is an award winning free and open source media player that got its start on the Xbox console.

DVBViewer - DVBViewer allows you to experience Digital TV on your PC.

LibreELEC - LibreELEC is ‘Just enough OS’ for Kodi, a Linux distribution built to run Kodi on current and...

ProgDVB - ProgDVB - the universal and very power software for watching digital TV and listening to radio...

Stremio - Watch videos, movies, TV series and TV channels instantly.