Plex is raising the price of its Plex Pass from $4.99 to $6.99 per month and gating a key feature behind the subscription. Starting April 29th, users who want to stream content from their media server outside their homes – and let other people access it for free – will need a Plex Pass subscription.
The price hike goes into effect on April 29th and will also bring its annual plan from $39.99 to $69.99. The lifetime plan will increase from $119.99 to $249.99. This change will affect new and existing subscribers, except those who already paid for a lifetime subscription.
“The reality is that we need more resources to continue putting forth the best personal media experience,” Plex says, adding that these new changes “will help provide those resources.” If you decide not to purchase a Plex Pass, friends or family members will have to subscribe to the new $1.99 per month (or $19.99 / year) Remote Watch Pass to stream remotely.
While it’s pay-gating remote access, Plex is opening up another feature: the service will soon make it free to stream on a local network from its mobile app. Users will no longer have to purchase Plex Pass or pay a one-time activation fee to get rid of the one-minute playback limitation on Android and iOS. This change will go into effect when Plex publicly launches its revamped mobile experience, which it first announced last year. Plex is offering an extended Remote Watch Pass trial to people who have already paid the mobile activation fee.
Plex has made some pretty big changes over the past year or so as it ramps up efforts to become a more “legit” streaming option. Along with new social features like “Discover Together” and public profiles, Plex has also launched a store to buy movies and TV shows. If you have your account set to public, Plex’s updated privacy policy notes that your watch history, reviews, and “other data” may be shared with “public and third parties for marketing purposes.”
