Do I need Plex Pass to use Plex?
No. The server and basic streaming are free. Plex Pass adds features such as hardware transcoding, offline downloads on mobile and some extras.
Plex Media Server: Personal Media Server
Plex organizes and streams a personal media library to devices across your home and beyond.
Compare with similar apps
How Plex Media Server stacks up against other media servers apps. Add or remove apps to change the comparison.
| Requirement | Plex Media Server | Jellyfin | Norri |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | x86 + ARM | x86 + ARM | Worth checking: x86 only |
| Price | Free + Plex Pass | Free | Free (paid native apps planned) |
| Containers | 1 (app only) | 1 (app only) | 1 (app only) |
| Database | SQLite | SQLite | Postgres |
| Runtime | C++ | .NET | Go |
| Install options | Docker + Linux, macOS, Windows | Docker + Linux, macOS, Windows | Docker + Unraid |
| Clients | iOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinuxWeb | iOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinuxWeb | iOS |
Common questions
Does Plex work without internet access?
Local streaming within your network can work offline, but Plex normally requires you to sign in with a Plex account, and some features depend on its…
Can I run Plex in Docker?
Yes, there is an official image. Mount your media as read-only volumes, keep the config folder on persistent storage and pass in a GPU device if you…
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