If you use Plex to manage your media collection, there’s a big change coming your way. Starting April 29, 2025, Plex is raising the price of its Plex Pass subscription and making remote streaming a paid feature. This means if you’ve been streaming from your Plex server while away from home for free, you’ll now have to pay for the privilege.
This is Plex’s first price hike in a decade, and it’s a significant one. Naturally, users aren’t thrilled, especially since the company is also putting a key feature behind a paywall. Let’s break down what’s changing, how much it’ll cost, and what’s still free.
If you subscribe to Plex Pass, you’re about to see a big price increase across all plans:
The new prices apply to both new and existing subscribers, except for those who already own a Lifetime Pass—they’re locked in at the old rate. Because of this, many Plex users are rushing to grab a Lifetime Pass before the price more than doubles on April 29.
One of Plex’s most popular features—the ability to stream your personal media remotely—is no longer free. Previously, if you had a Plex server, you could access your media from anywhere in the world without paying extra. That’s changing.
To stream remotely, you’ll now need:
The Remote Watch Pass is designed for people who don't own a server but want to stream from a friend or family member's library. If you've been sharing your Plex library with others—whether it's your movie collection, TV shows, or specialized content like werewolf stories—they'll now have to pay for access.
On the bright side, local streaming is getting an upgrade. If you only use Plex at home, you’re in luck. Previously, you had to pay a one-time activation fee to stream to Android and iOS devices. That fee is going away when Plex launches its new mobile app update.
This means if you’re streaming on the same Wi-Fi network as your Plex server, you don’t need a subscription, and you won’t hit the one-minute playback limit that existed before.
Plex says these changes are necessary to keep up with rising costs and fund new features. The company has been expanding beyond personal media management, adding:
Plex has also updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. While the company insists it won’t sell data about your personal media library, it does say that user activity (like watch history) may be shared based on account settings.
As expected, the response has been mixed. Many longtime users are frustrated that a once-free feature is now locked behind a paywall, especially since remote access has been a key selling point of Plex for years.
On the other hand, some users are resigned to the change, noting that other streaming services have also raised prices in recent years. Many are grabbing a Lifetime Pass before it doubles in price, while others are looking at alternative media server options that don’t require a subscription.
If you’re a Plex user, here’s what you should do before April 29:
It’s a big shift for Plex, and while some users will stick around, others may start looking for alternatives. Either way, the free-for-all days of remote Plex streaming are coming to an end.
