Infuse vs MediaPortal

Infuse is a video player for Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, and Vision. It plays a wide range of video and audio formats, supports network playback, hardware acceleration, and 4K playback. It can connect to Mac, PC, and NAS devices, cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box, and media servers including Emby, Jellyfin, and Plex. The app can retrieve metadata, artwork, cast information, ratings, and trailers, while iCloud can sync library settings, metadata, and server connections between devices. Users can add subtitles, including one-tap downloads from OpenSubtitles. Compatible hardware supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. Parental controls can restrict access by rating or folder. Infuse is free to download. Pro adds features including additional formats, high-resolution Dolby and DTS-HD audio, AirPlay and Google Cast, advanced library synchronization, and cloud streaming. Pro costs $1.99 a month or $16.99 a year; a lifetime option costs $99.99, paid once. A free 7-day trial is listed for monthly and lifetime plans.

MediaPortal is free, open-source software for turning a Windows PC into a multimedia center or home theater PC. It can show and record live TV, display a TV guide, and play or record TV across networked PCs. Its media library covers videos, DVDs, music, pictures, and home videos, with support for network playback, subtitles, and hardware acceleration. Listed formats include MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, MOV, H.264, VC-1, DivX, Xvid, AC3, DTS, MP3, AAC, Matroska, DVD, and Blu-ray. MediaPortal can also tune radio through a TV card or web stations and stream it to PCs connected to its TV Server. Remote access is available through a web browser, Android, and iOS devices, which can also serve as Wi-Fi remote controls. The project offers community plugins and skins. Its download page offers MediaPortal 1 and 2: MP1 is described as maintained with more plugins, while MP2 has fewer plugins. The software is free, with a free plan and no free trial listed.