I want to unlock the ability to view content on my mobile device. I can do that with a one-time purchase (payed with google opinion rewards) or with a subscription. I want to unlock the ability for my entire family though, across multiple devices. Do I have to pay the “one-time payment” for every device? If so, the plex subscription might be worth it. Is there any other major benefit to having a plex subscription?
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Normally people are using https://jellyfin.org/ although i have never used it so I’m not sure if it offers the same functionality but it’s worth a try.
Jellyfin has more functionality but is a lot more technical to set up. I didn’t think it was worth the effort since I already have a Plex server running, but I could see going through that if I didn’t.
Been running Plex with a lifetime pass for around a decade. Worth it for me for sure.
I’ve run both, and I found both required about the same level of technical understanding for an in house setup.
I started with Plex as it worked nicer with my remote, then moved to Jellyfin when I picked up an Android TV. It was the hardware transcoding (without having to pay) that sealed the deal for me.
The dealbreaker about plex for me was having to use their auth servers and having to route traffic through them.
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You create logins on your server which is authenticated through them. I don’t think it routes traffic, just sends login tokens.
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This is problematic because if Plex suffers an outage (which has happened before) users are suddenly unable to sign in. Even if your media server is running fine, through no fault of your own your content becomes inaccessible.
Jellyfin does not have this issue because authentication is handled locally.
However, Plex has too many nice features so I’ll be staying with them for the time being. Credits/intro skipping and Plexamp are a godsend, and the UI is in my opinion way better than what Jellyfin has.
It’s really easy to set up if you use Docker.
I want to use Jellyfin, but the clients just aren’t up to par with Plex and last I checked Jellyfin won’t transcode downloaded media.
Jellyfin does hardware transcoding.
If you use Linux Mint, its a one click install from the software manager GUI and the config happens in a web browser. I use a VPN to connect and play videos from it on my phone. I like it and have it set up everywhere I can.
The only thing I can think of when people say jellyfin is more technical. Is there you have to set up port forwarding and some kind of DNS for your server for remote access.
It’s weakness is client side apps. Most are web apps and not native. It’s getting better but in comparison plex has native apps on almost everything.
I’m a lifetime plex pass user since 2016
I personally dislike the Plex apps, but yeah its native support is unmatched. The official Jellyfin app for Android gets the job done but isn’t native. However, Findroid seems like the future to me on Android and I use the Kodi plugin on my TV (which is amazing).
I bought it when it was a one time payment. It’s been worth it but I don’t think I would do it if it was a monthly fee.
They have monthly, annual and lifetime subscribtions. I’m gonna wait for the sale to buy a lifetime subscription.
I think you might be confused, unless something changed. It’s a one time $5 fee to view content within the app.
You can also acess app.plex.tv in your browser, and view content that way for free.
You’re right. I was talking about plex-pass.
Plex pass includes the ability to use the mobile apps
I used to have one. Then I asked myself why I was paying someone else to access my own stuff.
you’re not wrong… but you gotta give credit where credit is due. Plex does a good job of having a client on every platform. Telling family and friends “search for plex on your devices app store” is a whole hell of a lot easier than having them jump thru all the hoops that it takes for jellyfin to work.
This is the main reason I will continue to use Plex over jellyfin
- Open in browser.
Done. Doesn’t seem like that many hoops.
OK great. Now to that on your Roku, Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, smart phone, etc. There aren’t clients for every platform and the ones that do exist frankly are just not even close to as polished looking as Plex is.
Fortunately Roku doesn’t exist in my country. Jellyfin has apps for AndroidTV, AppleTV and smartphones. It really only lacks an app for consoles
Not a good option, at least on desktop it doesn’t direct play hevc
So you built your own software to access your own stuff?
Because Plex provides you with the user interface to access your own content. Atleast that’s how I like to think about it
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Jellyfin is shit
Agreed. But jellyfin is a lot less polished and harder to use for the layman
Jellyfin is just great and easy to configure
Yeah I used to use Plex, Jellyfin all the way now.
Literally everything that makes plex better is pay walled. Support FOSS.
No. Just use Jellyfin
I used to have a Plex Pass, but I dont think it’s worth it anymore. I have remote access via Tailscale, which I use for a number of other services as well.
Can you access to all the Plex content and the UI from remote using tailscale?
Yes. Tailscale is an implementation of the Wireguard VPN. As far as Plex knows my phone is local, no need for remote.
Absolutely not. Plex gets shittier with every update. Their Android app is abaolute dogshit and as been for years. The amount of useless scope creep on their software is insane, and I have a feeling that pretty soon the entire software will be paywalled.
Jellyfin is a great alternative if you’re okay with webports.
Plex is definitely worth plex pass though. Many features and it works well on any device.
I feel like it is, but, be on the lookout for a sale and get the lifetime option when there’s a sale.
Do you know if there’s any frequency to the sale? Like, once per year? Once per quarter? Every major holiday? Or you haven’t a clue?
I don’t really pay attention having bought the lifetime pass years ago, but I do see mentions of it being on sale at least a couple times per year. You may wait for black friday in November if you’re interested but don’t mind waiting.
Most benefits require both the server user and the end user to have Plex Pass.
Personally I prefer Emby or even Jellyfin over Plex.
That’s not true. Only the server needs to have Plexpass to offer downloads and whatnot to regular user.
Does skip intro not require everyone to have pass? Yes it does, https://support.plex.tv/articles/skip-content/
Also app installs requiring either a 1time unlock per user or the end user to have plex pass? Yes it does
That’s not “most” benefits. The most sought after benefits do not require plexpass.
If you download to your tablet, yes
