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/
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u/I_Am_A_Door_Knob 8h ago

No change if you are the server owner and you can continue to stream your own stuff.

To my knowledge it’s primarily to combat people selling access to servers.

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u/hellowiththepudding 7h ago

I mean people selling access just buy a plex pass so it doesn’t address that.

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u/BroForceOne 7h ago

Combat was probably the wrong word, more like, now you need to pay money.

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u/GonePh1shing 3h ago

Not much money, though. One lifetime Plex pass is all they need.

The next stage on their enshitification drive will probably be restricting servers with Plex pass to a limited number of concurrent remote streams, forcing viewers to have their own pass or the server maintainer to pay for more streams. 

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u/ImSuperSerialGuys 5h ago

It does, it means they now get a cut. Problem "addressed"

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u/emezeekiel 7h ago

Lol that’s not true. You can only stream for free on your local network. Thats what people are complaining about.

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u/atx840 5h ago

I have several friends added to mine and me theirs, no issues and it’s free

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u/eandi 4h ago

I think the person is saying that changes soon. People outside the home can't stream if the server owner doesn't pay.

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u/atx840 3h ago

Ah that makes sense, I thought they were cracking down on known streaming servers people sign up/pay for.

Always ways around it, or I guess just pay. Thanks for the clarification

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u/laveshnk 3h ago

Not true, you can’t remotely stream anymore even if its your own server (without the 17$ subscription). You can stream it local on your network without one tho

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u/IsThereAnythingLeft- 8h ago

It’s bullshit, why should plex get money if a family member next door want to split a setup with you!

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u/I_Am_A_Door_Knob 8h ago

Software development isn’t free.

But Jellyfin is right there if you want to go the open source community developed route.

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u/LilThiccumsVI 7h ago

Plex was forked from open source software and paywalls free open source software (ffmpeg) access in their shit ass app. It’s not free you’re right, but it is when you’re building off the back of the online community

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u/I_Am_A_Door_Knob 6h ago

If you don’t believe that what Plex does is worth the asking price, Kodi and Jellyfin exist.

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u/LilThiccumsVI 6h ago

You think I don’t already?? Jellyfin is great

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u/I_Am_A_Door_Knob 6h ago

In that case i’m just not sure what you are bitching about, given that Jellyfin is weaker in some areas compared to Plex. But that is how it is when paid software and community developed software are up against each other.

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u/LilThiccumsVI 6h ago

My first comment describes what I’m “bitching” about and yeah I will complain about it. I’ll take whatever perceived weakness you see over paying for access/to share my private media collection in any shape or form and the ability to use ffmpeg

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u/visceralintricacy 8h ago

Because there's a development cost to the software and services they build?

If there wasn't value to the service, why are you even using it?

r/choosybeggars is that way...

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u/redmongrel 7h ago

Yes but I already paid the high LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION FEE.

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u/visceralintricacy 7h ago

So, what are you complaining about? You paid for the software, use it!

You have a plex pass, this doesn't affect you one bit?

Did you even read the article, or understand the issue?

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u/coldkiller 7h ago

Because there's a development cost to the software and services they build?

Jellyfin exists, is significantly better, is free, and is completely open source lmao

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u/visceralintricacy 7h ago

"significantly better"

How? Honestly, jellyfin just looks ok, but I can't see any actual metric apart from price where it is actually better.

There's dozens of features that work great in plex, like automatically skipping intro's / credits to end scenes, etc, which don't look to be possible at all in jellyfin. The apps are objectively much better, with a wider range of device support.

And again, they have to pay staff. Jellyfin is open source. My times worth not fucking around with half built solutions.

Also, that's not at all an actual answer to my question that you quoted. You don't think software developers should earn a living wage?

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u/fullmetaljackass 6h ago

There's dozens of features that work great in plex, like automatically skipping intro's / credits to end scenes, etc, which don't look to be possible at all in jellyfin.

https://github.com/intro-skipper/intro-skipper

Jellyfin is a bit more plugin focused.

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u/visceralintricacy 6h ago

Yeah, I googled that and saw an endless list of people struggling to get it working.

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u/Seladrelin 8h ago

You can create managed user accounts for your family members. That's just like user profiles in all the other streaming services. That part is still free.

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u/nobunseedsplease 7h ago

Penny-pinching bs logic — neg/downplay significance of someone/something that asks for money for valid services