Channels

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2015
Developer: Channels Development Team
Pricing: $8/mo or $80/year (first month free)
Open source: No
Platforms: iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, Roku, Fire TV, Web

Indexes

Media Servers Streaming Managers

Overview

Channels is a DVR and media server application that enables users to watch live TV, record shows, and stream personal media across multiple devices at home or remotely. It supports a unified experience on TVs, streaming devices, and mobile apps, with features for organizing content via custom channel collections and personal sections.¹³⁴⁵

Key Features

Live TV and DVR - Watch and record live TV from supported tuners via the DVR server.
Remote Access - Stream recordings and personal media from home to devices anywhere.
Channel Collections - Create custom groups of channels applicable to all devices.
Personal Sections - Customize media browsing with user-defined sections and links.
Sidebar Customization - Toggle sections in the app navigation for personalized experience.
Multi-Device Support - Unified interface across TVs, streaming platforms, and mobile devices.
Family-Friendly Setup - Simple interface designed for easy use by all family members.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Monthly	$8/month	Full access to Channels features after free first month.
Yearly	$80/year	Full access to Channels features after free first month; free apps for streaming devices.

Platforms & Requirements

Channels DVR Server runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, and NAS devices like Synology or QNAP, with client apps available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and web browsers. Minimum requirements include compatible hardware for the server and standard specs for client devices. Limitations may include app crashes in restricted profiles on some Android TV devices like NVIDIA Shield.³⁶

Integrations & Ecosystem

TV tuners for live TV and DVR
Personal media libraries
Synology/QNAP NAS
Roku
Apple TV
Android TV/Google TV
Amazon Fire TV

Alternatives

App	Difference
Plex	Plex offers managed user profiles and broader free tier but requires more setup for DVR.
Emby	Emby provides similar media server features with optional paid server access, less focus on live TV DVR.
Jellyfin	Jellyfin is free and open-source, lacking official DVR server and remote streaming polish.
Tablo	Tablo is hardware-based DVR with integrated antenna support, less flexible for personal media.

Reputation

Channels is praised for its simple setup, family-friendly interface, and reliable remote streaming of live TV and DVR content across devices. Users appreciate custom organization tools like channel collections. Criticisms include lack of multiple user profiles, occasional app crashes on certain platforms like Android TV in restricted modes, and dependency on a subscription for full server features.⁶⁷

Sources (10)