this post was submitted on 01 May 2025

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That's all folks, Plex is starting to charge for sharing (poptalk.scrubbles.tech)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I was just forwarded this someone in my household who watches our server. That's it folks. I've been a hold out for a long time, but this is honestly it.

They want me to pay to stream content that I bought from my hardware transcoded also on my hardware.

I'll say it. As of today, I say Plex is dead. Luckily I've been setting up Jellyfin, I guess it's time to make it production ready.

Edit I have a Plex Pass. More comments saying "Just buy a plex pass" are seriously not getting it. I have a Plex Pass and my users are still getting this.

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 day ago (1 children)

In case people aren't clear on what's happening, here is a graphic that illustrates what's happening.

[–] WhyJiffie 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I have never used plex, and never will because I like my privacy, but that 20 usd a year does not sound much. thats less than 2 usd a month

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago

I bought a lifetime plex pass for like $80 in 2016… is Plex getting more annoying? Yes. But is this a huge affront? No.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 19 hours ago

People are angry because everyone's spent too much time on social media and are used to assuming the worst and flying off the handle.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

the people giving their bandwidth away for free now want money to pay their bills?

To clarify, I disagree with needing an account (sharing my email) with Plex in the first place, and personally would not purchase what is essentially a CDN or VPN depending on how plex distributes your content to your end users. However, from these comments it seems like this was a free service they offered and now want money for it, because it is not profitable. Enshittification? Sure, but not unexpected. Apparently this doesn’t affect you if you stream locally either.

This does complicate things though since now users have to consider paying a subscription for network security or begin distributing OpenVPN configurations to people. In some cases it won’t be possible, like on your TV.

I’ll share my secret: configure your VPN so only select traffic is sent down it and if you’re on iOS, AirPlay it to the television if it supports it. Or you can connect a raspberry pi up to it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

That's essentially my point of view. Plex enshittified. I was angry at how they handled the enshittification, throwing my users into a flurry, but I'm also not surprised that they're doing it.

[–] gravitas_deficiency 15 points 1 day ago (25 children)

jellyfin noises intensify

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[–] [email protected] 63 points 1 day ago (6 children)

I have a Plex Pass and my users are still getting this.

To be crystal clear to anyone getting this email: if the server admin has a Plex Pass, users need to do nothing to continue as normal. The streaming pass is only for users who aren’t connecting to a server that has a Plex Pass.

What I find shitty about this is that it’s being indiscriminately sent to every Plex account. There’s bound to be lots of people who don’t understand what this means who will be tricked into buying a streaming pass they don’t need at all. I’ve been getting messages from my users all day asking wtf is going on, and I’m getting tired of trying to convince them to just ignore the email.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Who do you think it should be sent to? Only server owners?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 15 hours ago

Given Plex’s users, I think it’s appropriate to notify everyone with a Plex account for changes like that. No issue there.

What I take issue with is that email. It’s at best lazy and at worst manipulative. It’s worded like “if you stream media you need to buy this new pass”. Ok, clear. This free app I use now costs money.

But then they slap on “alternatively, if you connect to a server with a Plex Pass don’t worry about it”. But that’s not something the majority of consume-only users are going to understand. I have about 15 regular users and the only one who knew what that meant was the one who runs their own Plex server.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's where my head was. If anything, it threw all of my users into a panic, thinking that they had to suddenly start paying. I had a couple immediately uninstall the apps. I don't blame them, the way it was worded it was pretty much pushing them that they had to. Plex undid years worth of trust right there with them.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What gets me is that they didn't message plex pass holders about this first. I would have gladly let my users know that they need to do nothing. Instead I'm fielding all kinds of panicked messages.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

I asked around a bit, but so far none of my users have recieved an email. Other people with their own server (and a plex pass) also haven't gotten any complains. But I pretty much only have two types of users, own server + plex pass or no pass but almost certainly only connected to my server (mostly family).

It seems the e-mails were quite selectivly send out only to people that were actually affected by the change.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

WAIT

WHAT?

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago

Yeah if I didn't buy lifetime pass for like $50 years and years ago I'd be done with Plex probably.

[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"Yes they are your files on your hardware in your home using your internet bandwitdh. But uh... fuck you."

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago

Here's Jellyfin's 'How to Contribute' page.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Been using Jellyfin since plex started to annoy me for using it without an account.

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[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (45 children)

They can just adjust their pricing like that without a warning before hand? Who do they think they are?