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Plex has free movies and TV shows available with no sign up required.
- Table of Contents
- A Computer to Run the Plex Media Server
- Storage for Your Media Library
- Video Files to Populate Your Library
- Should I Pay for Plex Pass?
- The Best Tech Newsletter Around
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The most important component of your Plex server is the computer that manages your media files and runs the Plex software. This computer should be small and power efficient, as it requires a wired internet connection and will run 24/7. Of course, you can save a lot of money turning any old PC or laptop into a Plex server, but such a machine will take up a lot of space and use a lot of power.
WD
Unless your chosen Plex server has a ton of onboard storage, you're gonna need an external drive to house your movies, shows, music, and other media files. Thankfully, you don't need an expensive SSD to handle this task. A cheaper HDD is fine for storing Plex media and won't impact the quality of your streaming.
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A Plex server is useless without a media library. In a perfect world, you could buy movies and shows from the Plex app and download them directly to your Plex media server. But we don't live in a perfect world, so you have to source your video files from a couple of DRM-free distributors, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs.
Plex
Plex is free to download, but it isn't free to use. You either have to pay a one-time fee for each device registered with Plex, or pay a monthly fee for the premium Plex Pass service. But the benefit of Plex Pass isn't that you get to skip the device registration fee, it's that you unlock exclusive features like live TV and DVR, offline downloads for mobile devices, hardware transcoding, and optional content restrictions to keep your kids from seeing R-rated content on their Plex account.
So, should you pay for Plex Pass? If you plan to stream to just one or two devices, the answer is probably no. But if you want to share your library with family and friends, then Plex Pass is essential. Hardware transcoding can take a huge load off your server, and Plex Pass' expanded functionality for families makes the service feel like a serious streaming platform.
A month of Plex Pass is just $5, which is the same price that you usually pay to register a device with Plex. I think that it's worth giving the service a test run, even if you don't expect to use it all that much.
Plex Pass
Plex Pass unlocks premium features like offline downloads, hardware transcoding, and content restrictions for families. It also allows you to skip the usual $5 device registration fee, which is helpful if you plan on streaming to a bunch of different devices.
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Learn what you need to stream your media collection to any device with a Plex server. Compare different devices, storage options, video files, and Plex Pass features.
- Andrew Heinzman
- Editor
Jan 2, 2020 · Learn how to stream your media library to multiple devices and share it with friends and family using Plex. Follow the steps to pick the hardware, install the server, create and manage your libraries, and install a Plex app on your favorite devices.
Learn how to install Plex Media Server on Windows 7 or newer, with 32-bit or 64-bit options. Follow the steps to download, run, and configure Plex as a service or a user account.
Aug 25, 2023 · Plex server lets you share movies and music across all of your mobile devices and game consoles. It has apps for your tablet, XBox, Playstation, and phone, along with an embedded DLNA server that can talk to Smart TVs and even some DVD players.
Oct 19, 2022 · Plex Media Server lets you stream your media files from one computer to any other device. Learn how to download, install, set up, and access Plex with the free or premium service.
Nov 13, 2023 · Learn how to set up Plex on your Ubuntu system to stream your media across multiple devices and platforms. Follow the steps to download, install, enable, and configure Plex via the web UI.
