Channels DVR

Live TV, DVR and personal media server with standout apps for Apple TV and other devices.

Verified facts: 6 of 6
Alternatives ranked: 4
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Channels DVR

Channels is a TV app and its companion Channels DVR Server, built by a small company around watching and recording live TV. The server runs on your own computer or NAS with no cloud dependency, records from antenna tuners such as HDHomeRun, TV Everywhere logins and other sources, and also organises your personal movie and TV folders into a media library with collections, virtual channels and offline downloads. The apps for Apple TV, iOS, Android and Fire TV are widely praised for a fast, TiVo-like experience with commercial detection and multiview. The server installs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Docker and many NAS systems and needs only modest hardware. DVR use requires a paid subscription. It is less suited than Plex or Jellyfin for music, photos or sharing a library with friends, and app coverage is narrower, with no native smart TV apps beyond the platforms listed.

Best for: Cord-cutters who mainly want a polished live TV and DVR setup at home.

What works

Excellent live TV and DVR experience
Runs locally with no cloud dependency
Light hardware requirements

Why people leave

Requires a paid subscription for DVR
Weak for music and photo libraries
Fewer client platforms than Plex

Top Channels DVR alternatives

See all 4

1
Plex
Broader media library features with DVR included in Plex Pass.
66.5
2
Jellyfin
Free live TV and DVR alongside a full media library.
62.6
3
Emby
DVR via Premiere with a lifetime licence option.
59.6
4
Tvheadend
A free, open-source TV backend for tuner hardware on Linux.
57.2

Why people left Channels DVR

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Channels DVR, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of Channels DVR

Your rating of Channels DVR

Name

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

Title

Your review

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

Did you switch from another app?

Why did you leave it?

How can we verify you use it? (optional)

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

I received money, credit or a gift for writing this review. (Incentivized reviews are shown but don't count toward rankings.)

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

Channels DVR: common questions

Is Channels DVR free?

No, Channels DVR is a paid product. Subscription price: $8/month or $80/year (checked on Channels DVR's own site).

Is Channels DVR open source?

No, Channels DVR is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Jellyfin and Tvheadend.

What platforms does Channels DVR run on?

Channels DVR is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Channels DVR?

The highest-ranked Channels DVR alternatives right now are Plex, Jellyfin and Emby. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 Channels DVR alternatives

Channels DVR facts

6 of 6 verified

Self-hosting: Yes, on your computer or NAS; Checked Oct 25, 2026getchannels.com(opens source in a new tab); “Channels DVR Server runs on your computer or NAS device at home. There's no cloud to worry about.”
Minimum hardware: 1GHz CPU, 1GB RAM; Checked Oct 25, 2026getchannels.com(opens source in a new tab); “With minimum requirements of 1GHz CPU and 1GB RAM, it doesn't take a fast computer to run Channels DVR Server.”
Server platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, NAS; Checked Oct 25, 2026getchannels.com(opens source in a new tab); “Learn More Install Channels DVR Server Select a device Computer macOS Windows Linux Raspberry Pi NAS Synology QNAP”
Client apps: Apple TV, iOS, Android, Fire TV; Checked Oct 25, 2026getchannels.com(opens source in a new tab); “Apple TV iOS Android Fire TV Channels is easy for the whole family to love.”
Subscription price: $8/month or $80/year; Checked Oct 25, 2026getchannels.com(opens source in a new tab); “It costs $8 per month or $80 per year.”
Free trial: First month free; Checked Oct 25, 2026getchannels.com(opens source in a new tab); “You get your first month free and you can cancel at any time.”