I recently learned why my users weren’t able to access a server hosted entirely on my computer, which uses my network and has absolutely no management done by Plex and no cost is attributed to them. Evidently Plex decided they just want money beyond what we already paid them to have several mobile app users.
So I look at what’s required to get my users able to use things how we used to, and it’s a subscription, and not a cheap one.
Or I could pay a $350 subscription for the lifetime
Plex Pass and then, until Plex makes another tier again and strips users of access to a feature they’ve already paid for again, my users will have access to my server.
I’m confused, is Plex hosting my server for me so my media server doesn’t always have to be on? What’s going on here and how does Plex justify several hundred dollars for this? When they offer no other services that the free tier used to offer?
Just for remote access? Still can’t play blu ray, do subtitles correctly without intense user action, or even do basic things like skipping credits or intros.. but they expect hundreds for remote access.
I wonder how many users even use remote access on more than one server? I used to be able to download media to my phone with the tier I had before but now that isn’t even a feature anymore because Plex has neutered their own service. Or watch together?
I’m curious what competitors in the space that are actually pricing their services reasonably offer.
I hoped there would be some suggestions of alternatives here. i don’t have any either, unfortunately.
i just bought in with lifetime pass finally about 18 months ago. now starting to feel like Plex is moving away from why i liked them.
I want a media server service that runs on my own server and i can share with my remote family. and FireTV and Android apps to access it. And i want a DVR with guide service. and DVR scheduling possible remotely.
I don’t want ads. i don’t want recurring subscription fees.
i want what Plex was 18 months ago.
Jellyfin is what ive heard is competitive. but when i looked at it, thrre was a deal breaker for me…something (everything?) missing about DVR i think.
Good luck in your search, and please add an update if you find an alternative.
A lifetime Plex Pass is a one-time payment, not a subscription.
You can save ~$120 on a lifetime Pass if you buy from Plex directly, instead of using the app store of a certain fruity brand.
Even the development of the software, as well as hosting the user management does incur costs. If this is of no value to you, then you can stop using Plex any time.
You are not getting any ads, if you are only using your own server. Anything where ads are involved can be switched off in your account settings.
With a lifetime Plex Pass there is no need for subscription fees. Not even for your remote streaming users as they benefit from your Plex Pass. Having a Plex Pass on one’s own server negates the need for Remote Watch Pass for any user who streams from this server.
It’s odd you listed two aspects that were behind a lifetime paywall through the mobile app two years ago, or none at all if you’re on a computer, and now is behind a $250 paywall arbitrarily for both. As far as I know, user management is a free service anyways, so if this was the core of the cost it wouldn’t be free to make an account. The plex pass JUST allows my users to not have to pay for their own remote watch pass.
What I’m concerned about is that there are no contractual agreements that require plex to keep remote access inside of Plex Pass. So if I buy it and in a year Plex has financial issues, they might come out with Plex Premium for $500 lifetime and move remote access to that like they moved it from the $10 pay wall it was behind previously, which I’ve now paid I think $40 in total for my users.
Plex doesn’t provide hardware, internet, bandwidth, support, or access to any of my content. I am fully paying for all of that already.
To me it sounds like Plex went too hard into the Live TV business model and is starting to bleed money when it was unsurprisingly unsuccessful and is ruining the application for all of its other users.
The idea that me running a local server is somehow bankrupting Plex is a joke.
I’m exploring Emby (which seems to be the best option), Jellyfin as you’re already aware, and Kodi (which seems promising)
Plex live tv being shoved into my users face and having to go into submenus to access my libraries has drove me nuts. People talk about ease of use with plex but to customize your own dashboard isn’t something my 60 year old parents can figure out on their own. I’ll have to figure this out long term so they don’t have to pay for their own plex pass on top of mine, which plex has been shoving in their face repeatedly for the last few weeks and I thought was just ads until I tried myself.
