Plex is increasing Plex Pass prices for the first time in a decade and making remote playback for personal media a paid feature at $1.99/month or $19.99/year
By Sarah Perez / TechCrunch. View the full context on Mediagazer.
mediagazer.comHere’s the latest on Plex Pass based on recent coverage up to 2025.
Direct answer
- Plex announced its first Plex Pass price increase in over a decade, effective April 29, 2025. Monthly, yearly, and lifetime Plex Pass prices were raised (example figures widely reported: $6.99/mo, $69.99/yr, $249.99 lifetime). They also began charging for remote streaming for non-Plex Pass users and made related changes to mobile app activation and playback limits. Note that existing Plex Pass subscribers’ access may be affected in different ways depending on how the changes are rolled out to shared servers. These changes were covered by multiple outlets in March–April 2025.
Context and what changed
- Price increase: Plex Pass pricing increased for the first time in about 10 years, with new monthly, yearly, and lifetime rates announced as part of a broader set of updates to Plex Pass and the mobile/remote features. This was reported by TechCrunch and corroborated by other outlets, and Plex mentioned the changes were to support ongoing development and services.[6][8][9]
- Remote streaming becomes paid: Remote playback/streaming outside the local network shifted to a Plex Pass feature, meaning non-Plex Pass users would face limitations unless they upgrade. This was a central part of the 2025 changes across many reports.[8][9]
- Mobile app changes: Plex removed certain one-time activation fees for mobile apps and aligned mobile streaming behavior with the broader paid model; some reports noted that the mobile app experience would continue but with changes tied to the Plex Pass and the new pricing/limits.[1][8]
- Roadmap notes: In coverage surrounding the updates, Plex outlined potential improvements and API enhancements tied to Plex Pass as part of its ongoing strategy, though the primary user-facing items in 2025 were the price increase and the remote streaming change.[9][1]
What this means for users
- If you rely on remote streaming, you’ll want to review whether upgrading to Plex Pass is worthwhile for your household, especially if you have remote viewers outside your home network. The price increase and remote streaming change are the most impactful items for many users.[1][9]
- If you’re a current Plex Pass subscriber, you should verify how the changes affect your plan at renewal time and whether any grandfathering or transitional options apply. Reports emphasized that the changes were designed to align with ongoing development and access rules for shared servers.[9][1]
Where to read more
- TechCrunch and MacRumors summarized the price changes and remote streaming shifts in March–April 2025 and are good starting points for the official details and implications. TechCrunch: Plex price increase and remote streaming changes; MacRumors: Plex raises Plex Pass price and changes to remote streaming.[10][8]
- Additional coverage that discusses the broader impact, including opinions and how-to considerations, is available from TechMeme aggregations and PCMag note on how users can potentially work around or adapt to the changes.[2][6]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact current pricing tiers and create a quick comparison table or a chart showing pre- vs post-change prices and feature eligibility. Just tell me which format you prefer (text table, bullet list, or a plotted chart).