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Why Is Plex Charging for Remote Access? Simple Guide to New Fees
For a long time, you could watch your movies and shows from anywhere for free. This was great for trips or sharing videos with friends. Now, Plex says this free ride is over.
If you want to watch shows from a Plex server that is not in your house, you must pay. This starts very soon for Roku TV users and will happen for everyone else on TV apps in 2026.
Your Two Choices to Keep Watching
You have two ways to pay if you want to keep seeing your media from outside your home network:
- Remote Watch Pass ($20/year): This is the cheaper choice. It costs about $2 a month or $20 for a whole year. It lets you watch remotely but does not add other fancy features.
- Plex Pass ($70/year): This is the full VIP plan. It costs more, but you get extra tools like skipping intros and better video quality.
A Smart Tip for Saving Money
Here is a secret to save cash: If the person who owns the server has a Plex Pass, you might not need to pay.
If your friend shares their movies with you and they pay for the big Plex Pass, you can likely keep watching for free. Ask the server owner if they have this pass before you buy your own.
Free Alternatives if You Do Not Want to Pay
If you do not want to spend money, you can try other apps that do the same thing for free:
- Jellyfin: This is completely free. It works on computers and does not charge you to watch from away.
- Kodi: This is also free and works on many devices like Fire TV. It can be a little hard to set up, but it costs nothing.