The Plex app is free, and so is streaming your own library to devices on your home network. Streaming that library from outside your home is not free anymore.
How the rule changed
April 29, 2025: Plex stopped offering remote streaming of personal media as a free feature. It now takes a Plex Pass, or a Remote Watch Pass, which covers remote streaming and nothing else. If the server owner has a Plex Pass, people they've granted access to can stream from it remotely at no extra charge.
April 29, 2026: Plex's blog says the same requirement now covers Plex on Amazon Fire TV and supported TVs such as Samsung, LG and Vizio, plus PlayStation and Xbox consoles, on top of platforms where it already applied.
The paywall covers movies, TV and video. Remote music and photo streaming to Plexamp and Plex Photos isn't affected.
Free regardless
Plex's free ad-supported movies, shows and Live TV stay free. A Plex Pass doesn't remove their ads or add channels, per the plans page.
Prices
| Monthly | Yearly | Lifetime | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plex Pass, plex.tv (Nov 9, 2026) | $6.99 | $69.99 | $749.99 |
| Plex Pass, iOS in-app (Nov 9, 2026) | $6.99 | $69.99 | $979.00 |
| Remote Watch Pass, plex.tv and iOS | $2.99 | $29.99 | n/a |
Buying Lifetime inside the iOS app costs $229 more than on plex.tv.
The $4.99 "iOS App Activation" is for Plex's older mobile apps, which still have a one-minute playback limit unless you have a Plex Pass or pay that one-time fee. The newer apps don't have the limit; playing on a local network is free there.
Sources
- Plex — Important 2025 Plex Updates (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- Plex — Plans (checked Nov 9, 2026)
- Apple App Store (U.S.) — Plex: Find Movies and TV Shows (checked Nov 9, 2026)