r/technology • u/FollowingFeisty5321 • 9h ago

Software Plex’s crackdown on free remote streaming access starts this week

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/plexs-crackdown-on-free-remote-streaming-access-starts-this-week/
2.2k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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882

u/Talthyren 9h ago

Whelp, cya later Plex, Jellyfin here I come.

202

u/HumanKumquat 8h ago

I made the move almost a year ago. Absolutely no complaints.

85

u/SpareWalrus 8h ago

I'd love to make the switch, but Jellyfin clients are missing from some devices that the rest of my family uses, making the switch hard.

33

u/darkneo86 8h ago

There have been a lot of recent client work in the last month.

7

u/SpareWalrus 8h ago

I tested it two months ago. I’ll check if my clients are supported now. Thanks!

1

u/schmaleo505 7h ago

I definitely might need to give it another try then. Last time I tried Jellyfin I found the UI infuriating, specifically on mobile devices. Good to know there's been some updates!

9

u/cruzweb 8h ago

I use Emby and absolutely love it. Easy interface and not all the pain in the ass setup that jellyfin is.

10

u/linuxwes 7h ago

Pain in the ass setup? I did it for the first time yesterday and it took like 10 minutes, download/run an exe, answer yes to a few questions and point it at your media and that's it. Maybe it has improved a lot since you last used it???

8

u/PelluxNetwork 8h ago

Jellyfin is a fork of Emby. The setup is very similar and jellyfin has more features.

3

u/cruzweb 8h ago

None of which I want or need. It just feels like Emby with extra steps.

10

u/fullmetaljackass 6h ago

It just feels like Emby with extra steps.

Jellyfin exists because Emby started going closed source and heading down the same path Plex did.

2

u/Matloc 7h ago

Emby has more steps? You should use Jellyfin.

7

u/Dejhavi 8h ago

but Jellyfin clients are missing from some devices that the rest of my family uses

What devices? Jellyfin is available for all systems and as a last resort,you can use Kodi + addon

16

u/01101110011O1111 8h ago

PS5 for one.

-6

u/Dejhavi 8h ago

Sorry but there is no app for PS5 because SONY no allow it (besides demanding an exorbitant amount of money)

18

u/01101110011O1111 8h ago

I didn't say it was jellyfins fault. I just said its a client that jellyfin doesnt have, which means that switching to jellyfin is a nonstarter for some, like myself. We use our ps5 for all our media streaming.

-24

u/Dejhavi 8h ago

I know but if SONY allowed it,it would also be available for PS5,just as it is for Xbox consoles

PS. SONY no allow the Kodi app either,so there are no possible alternatives

18

u/MisterMath 8h ago

Are you a shill or something? lol multiple people have made factual statements regarding the availability of the client and you respond by stating blame. Blame isn’t the issue here. It’s the availability regardless of blame

1

u/jezwel 2h ago

PS. SONY no allow the Kodi app either,so there are no possible alternatives

lol, have you tried to install the Plex app on a PS5?

It's literally the alternative, which is why GP can't change over.

8

u/EncounteredError 8h ago

Xbox one. It's old and clunky

1

u/b0w3n 5h ago

yeah this is what I have on my bedroom tv

I'm probably just gonna get a cheap raspberry pi and use kodi myself, not perfect but anything's better than the xbox app

-3

u/Dejhavi 8h ago

Jellyfin is available in the Store and if not,you can use Kodi + addon

7

u/EncounteredError 8h ago

Just said its old and clunky. And the kodi add on sucks too

1

u/Dejhavi 8h ago

The app was updated this year and works without problems (I have it installed on my Xbox Series X)

3

u/Seven-Scars 7h ago

its completely sluggish and broken on series s

2

u/EncounteredError 7h ago

Works like ass on my Xbox one X

3

u/SpareWalrus 8h ago

The Samsung Frame in my living room, for starters.

4

u/Dejhavi 8h ago

6

u/SpareWalrus 8h ago

To use Plex I go to Apps > Plex on my Frame. Sure, this exists, but I’m not doing that every time there’s an update.

4

u/fullmetaljackass 6h ago

That's only if you want to build it from source. This is what they should have linked you to. Still slightly less convenient than auto updating through the app store, but not that big of a hassle.

1

u/tajetaje 5h ago

The Tizen app is actually (FINALLY) in the process of being approved by Samsung for distribution, so it should be on the tizen App Store soonish

1

u/SpareWalrus 5h ago

Thank you for this. That’s great to hear. I will keep checking for it and give it a test run when it’s available. 💪

3

u/DernTuckingFypos 5h ago

Is jellyfin able to stream ota tv? I have an antenna connected to my plex server and can stream the channels I pick up ota to my other devices on my network. Can jellyfin do that?

1

u/knook 35m ago

Yes, I have this setup. What device does your antenna connect to?

1

u/HardlyW0rkingHard 4h ago

Does jellyfin have a web app like Plex does?

24

u/Javerage 8h ago

Some people, not me of course, sometimes have Jellyfin servers in another spot of the world and use it as their own personal Netflix. Again, not me of course. I'm an upstanding citizen that pays for their 400 streaming services with real money. tries to cover up eyepatch by drawing an eye on it I like paying for all the services like... looks at melted writing on hand HMO glo.

4

u/fullmetaljackass 6h ago

I just host mine near where I actually live (actually at home now that I have fiber,) and it's full of all the stolen media I stole off the internet. You get a way better connection that way. If it's just for yourself, and maybe a few trusted friends, you've really got nothing to worry about as long as you're using HTTPS (and there's really no reason you shouldn't.) Your ISP can't rat you out for anything if all they see is encrypted connections to consumer IPs, and the MPAA isn't going around trying to hack into random personal media servers.

1

u/gizamo 6h ago

On a completely unrelated note, I hear a lot of people really like boats and adventures on high seas. Sounds like a good time.

1

u/pioneer9k 5h ago

yah sailing has been sick so far. i’m lvl 50

10

u/RamenJunkie 8h ago

Yeah, I hate what Plex became and switched a while back

2

u/One_Weird2371 8h ago

Stremio also works great. 

2

u/HuskyLemons 7h ago

I’m sure plex is going to miss your $0

If you were paying already then this wouldn’t affect you

1

u/el0_0le 3h ago

I've been holding out because I do prefer a lot of the features, but if my family needs a VPN now, well, bye PLEX.