Plex’s remote streaming will cost you money starting this week
In March, Plex announced a significant shift in its streaming policy, revealing plans to discontinue free remote streaming services for users of its personal media servers. This change is set to roll out in stages, starting with the Roku app this week, followed by other supported platforms in early 2026. Until now, Plex users have enjoyed the ability to set up a media server and stream content remotely without any charges, even allowing friends and family to access their servers using shared credentials. However, this free access will soon be replaced by a subscription model, prompting users to rethink their streaming options.
Under the new system, users will still be able to set up and access their media servers remotely, but they will need to subscribe to one of two plans: the Plex Pass or the new Remote Watch Pass. The Plex Pass subscription, which recently increased to $6.99 per month, offers a range of features, while the Remote Watch Pass is a more affordable option at just $2 per year. However, each person wanting to access a shared remote server will need their own Remote Watch Pass. For those who primarily stream within their home network, the good news is that local streaming remains free, allowing users to enjoy their media without additional costs while still accessing their libraries from devices within the same network.
Plex’s decision to implement a subscription model has raised concerns about potential user attrition, particularly among those who have relied on the platform for its free services. In response to these changes, Plex emphasized that the revenue from subscriptions will be reinvested into developing new features and enhancing user experience. For users seeking alternatives to Plex, Jellyfin emerges as a viable option; it is a free, open-source media server that supports remote streaming but requires a bit more setup compared to Plex’s user-friendly interface. As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, users will need to weigh the benefits of Plex’s new subscription plans against their personal media needs and preferences.
Media server Plex announced in March that it would put an end to free remote streaming, but hasn’t yet put the new changes into effect. That changes this week as
Plex plans
to pull the plug on free remote streaming from the Roku app first, with the rest of its supported platforms coming in early 2026.
The change impacts people who use the company’s personal media servers. Until now, a person could set up a server, set it to stream remotely, and access that server from anywhere. In addition, that person could give their credentials to friends and family members and they could stream from the remote server as well. This was all free of charge.
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Under the new system, people can still do all of the above, they just need to have a subscription in order to do it. Customers have two subscriptions to choose from. The first is the typical Plex Pass subscription, which just saw a price increase in April to $6.99 per month. Plex’s second option was made just for this occasion. It’s called the
Remote Watch Pass
, and it costs $2 per year.
For the Remote Watch Pass, each person who wants to access the remote server needs to have one. Thus, if you’re sharing your personal server with four people, each of those four people need a Remote Watch Pass. Remote streaming from within your home network is still free, so you can still set up a server on your PC and stream it to your phone from across the house.
“This price increase will ensure that we can keep investing dedicated resources in developing new features, while supporting and growing your favorites,” Plex said in
a blog post
.
The inclusion of a subscription may chase away some users who used Plex for the free personal media server. For those folks, your best bet at a replacement is Jellyfin. It’s a free, open-source media server that you can stream remotely, but it does take a little extra configuration than something like Plex.
