this post was submitted on 01 May 2025
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Plex

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That's all folks, Plex is starting to charge for sharing (poptalk.scrubbles.tech)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech to c/plex@lemmy.ca
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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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[–] Kyle@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days 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

[–] cloud_herder@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day 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.

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days 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.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

jellyfin noises intensify

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca -3 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Ok, how do you access Jellyfin remotely?

Well you have to setup wireguard or a vpn tunnel to trick your device to thinking it's on the same local network as your server.

Ok, how do you think you can avoid paying Plex's remote streaming if you really really don't want to just buy a lifetime Plex pass?

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

its not tricking your device, that's how you maintain a connection to your home network. you don't even need to send all traffic through the tunnel, most wireguard apps can do split tunneling per app.

setting up wireguard is really not that hard, and you don't even need to update it because it's in the kernel.

Ok, how do you think you can avoid paying Plex's remote streaming if you really really don't want to just buy a lifetime Plex pass?

with wireguard.

or open up 80 and 443 and let the fun begin if you are adventurous.

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I think you're missing my point. What will Plex see your streaming as if it's behind wireguard: local, or remote?

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago

I put my bets on local

[–] piccolo@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

The vpn is only needed for if

A. Your behind a CGNat

B. On a dynamnic ip and dont want to setup a dyndns.

C. isolating your network from the outside for security reasons.

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca -1 points 2 days ago

Yes, but the point is that if you setup Wireguard then your Plex streaming is now local and free.

[–] ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Ok, how do you access Jellyfin remotely?

WireGuard. VPN’s are more than just hiding your IP behind another country, they allow you to access resources that are not available to the world-wide-web.

Linking a relevant comment I made

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Yes, now keep going with that train of thought and imagine what would happen if you put Plex behind the same wireguard setup. Specifically whether or not Plex would consider that local or remote streaming.

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

plex should consider that local, because now your traffic goes through that network, and reaches computers and services on that network. except if it relies on broadcasts, because wireguard does not forward broadcasts, but even with jellyfin that only affects automatic server discovery and DLNA, if you type in the URL it will work

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Yes, so then OPs issue with Plex charging for remote streaming are irrelevant.

By nature of setting up Wireguard for Jellyfin, you've eliminated the entire purpose of switching to Jellyfin in the first place.

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

you've eliminated the entire purpose of switching to Jellyfin in the first place.

if we are only looking at this issue, then yes

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Outside of ideological reasons or fears of further enshittification, is there anything Jellyfin does better? (Honest question)

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

no outside party will know what, when and where you watch

[–] realbadat@programming.dev 1 points 2 days ago

I'd say hw enc/dec, flexibility on the UI, and plugins still being an options are the big ones.

Along with not having to disable online media sources. Also not having to deal with cert pinning is a major benefit too. No external outage breaks your use.

[–] ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Apologies I neglected to the read your entire comment, all in all I suspect it’ll be a logistical nightmare for Plex.

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago

Yeah, my only point is just that if you're going to switch to jellyfin because of this, you're going to have to setup wireguard, at which point you've circumvented the original issue that made you go to Jellyfin.

If you really can't stand Plex on an ideological basis that's one thing, but I dont think most people here realize the above about wireguard.

[–] i_stole_ur_taco@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 days ago

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.

[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 2 points 3 days ago

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

[–] LeninOnAPrayer@lemm.ee 1 points 3 days ago

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

[–] dirtycrow@programming.dev 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days 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.

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech -1 points 2 days 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.

[–] ClydapusGotwald@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Your users can still stream your content because you have plex pass. This is just notifying everyone who’s on a free account.

[–] RupeThereItIs@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

How is that better? Why is anyone paying to stream your own content?

[–] CaptPretentious@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Because we should support developers.

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

You're right. We should support developers.

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

The $90 million in venture capital can nourish the leeches at Plex just fine.

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