Plex is making you pay for remote Playback – Here’s what you need to know

Plex users, brace yourselves—one of the platform’s best free features is about to come with a price tag. The popular media server service is making changes to its pricing model starting April 29, and it’s not just minor adjustments. The biggest blow? Remote playback, which has been free for years, will soon require a subscription.

Price Hikes Across the Board

Plex recently announced these changes in a blog post, presenting them as necessary for growth and future development. Here’s what’s changing:

Monthly Plex Pass: Increasing from $5 to $7

Annual Plex Pass: Now $70/year

Lifetime Plex Pass: Jumping from $120 to a steep $250

If you’ve been considering a lifetime subscription, now is the time to lock it in before prices more than double.

The End of Free Remote Playback

One of the biggest disappointments for Plex users is the loss of free remote playback. Until now, you could stream your personal media library from anywhere without a paid subscription. But going forward, you’ll need a Remote Watch Pass, which will cost $2/month or $20/year.

This change also affects anyone you’ve shared your library with—they, too, will need to pay if they don’t already have a Plex Pass.

Why is Plex Doing This?

Plex says the price increases will help fund new features, including a partnership with Common Sense Media to offer more parent-friendly content, a revamped app for desktop and mobile, and an open API to enhance metadata.

However, the timing is frustrating for many users, especially as streaming services across the board continue to raise prices. Many people rely on Plex to manage their personally curated media collections, especially as paid streaming options become more expensive.

What Are Your Options?

If you want to keep using Plex as you always have, you’ll need to pay. But if you’re unwilling to spend extra, alternative media server platforms like Jellyfin may become more appealing.

With streaming costs rising everywhere, this latest move by Plex is a tough pill to swallow. Will users stick with it, or will they start looking elsewhere? Only time will tell.