Plex will Introduce User Charges for its Well-Appreciated and Initially Free Service Offering
Wondering About Your Plex Subscription? Consider Jellyfin Instead!
Hey there, streaming fans! If you've been following the headlines, you might have noticed that Plex, the media server powering up our homes for years, will be shaking things up with a price hike starting next month. Let's dive into Plex's big changes, and why you might want to switch to Jellyfin for a more cost-effective and open-source streaming experience.
Plex, our faithful media companion, has announced some troubling news: price increases across the board. Starting April 29th, the monthly Plex Pass will set you back $7 instead of $5, and the yearly rate will cost a hefty $70. Lifetime subscriptions, too, are getting a significant price bump, from $120 to an eye-watering $250. Don't miss out on those lifetime subscriptions, as new users will be allowed to lock in the old fee before the deadline.
But what's the reason behind this financial shake-up? Well, Plex claims it needs "more resources" to invest in developing new features, support beloved ones, and grow your favorites. That sounds swell, but the question remains: what's it going to cost us, users?
Among Plex's planned improvements, you'll find more parent-focused content teamed up with Common Sense Media. You've probably noticed your millennial parent's libraries morphing into shrines dedicated to Disney, PBS, and Nickelodeon's beloved characters. Plex is also working on a new desktop and mobile app, as well as an open API to pull in more meticulous data about what you're watching.
However, let's not forget the most significant change: Plex will charge for features once touted as free, such as remote playback. If you're not at home and fancy watching your Plex library, be ready to pay if you don't already have a subscription. Even features like skipping an intro song or ending credits will soon come with a price tag. Ouch!
This price increase might just be another industry-wide trend. But remember that Plex libraries are your personal curations, not a big corporation's gatekeeping content. It's a hard pill to swallow when you're losing free remote playback—Plex hardly mentions this crucial change until deep into their blog post.
Unfortunately, Plex's shift stirs some inconvenience in my own streaming setup. After dropping YouTube TV following their price hike to $83 a month, I planned to lean on my Plex library for most of my TV consumption. Now, I might have to switch to Jellyfin if I'm serious about cutting costs. Who's with me?
Want to tag along? Jellyfin is an open-source alternative to Plex that offers a wide range of features for personal media management and streaming. Unlike Plex, it is fully free with no hidden costs for any features. That means no need to pay for remote streaming if you're looking to cut back on costs. So why not give it a shot? After all, change is always an adventure, right?
Sources:[1] https://jellyfin.org/[2] https://www.lifewire.com/overview-of-jellyfin-open-source-media-server-2623781[3] https://www.plex.tv/
- Despite the impending price hike on Plex subscriptions, Jellyfin, an open-source alternative, promises a cost-effective streaming experience with no hidden charges for any features.
- With Plex introducing charges for formerly free features like remote playback, it might be beneficial to explore Jellyfin as a more affordable option, especially for those aiming to reduce costs.
- In light of Plex's decision to increase its subscription costs, switching to Jellyfin, which offers a free remote streaming service, could be an attractive choice for many users.
- As Plex raises its subscription fees, the influx of users seeking cost-effective alternatives, like Jellyfin, could potentially lead to an increase in the popularity of open-source streaming platforms in the future.
