Main Takeaways
- Plex is the best choice for streaming and organizing media due to its reliability and easy-to-use interface.
- Plex offers a free basic version and a paid Plex Pass version for advanced features like remote streaming and DVR recording.
- Compared to competitors like Kodi, Emby, and Jellyfin, Plex remains the better choice thanks to its seamless functionality.
What is Plex?
First, you might be wondering, what is Plex? In short, it’s an all-in-one platform that lets you stream subscription-based content and manage local content you’ve already purchased.
As a media server, Plex provides remote access to content you've already purchased. You can also add streaming platform subscriptions, making Plex a one-stop shop for all your entertainment needs.
Where Plex really shines is in its organization and overall user experience. From the attractive layout to the ways you navigate around Plex, it’s seamless. Plex can categorize your content to create a more cohesive experience that includes not only titles you’ve purchased, but also those you can access for free through Plex (or through a paid subscription service).
In addition to storing purchased titles and integrating paid subscription content, Plex offers a free, ad-supported streaming service with over 20,000 free titles.
Focusing on user experience, Plex aggregates information about media content and provides a more immersive experience similar to traditional streaming platforms. For example, Plex can categorize media and provide information like the runtime of a title and cast information in one easy-to-access place. It can also inform viewers about the music titles playing within a movie or TV show.
The basic version of Plex is free and acts as a media server, allowing streaming to non-mobile devices such as smart TVs, computers, and game consoles.
If you're looking for more features, Plex Pass can sync offline, record live TV in DVR style, implement parental controls, and stream remotely. Plex can be downloaded as an app or media server, and a Plex Pass can be purchased for $4.99 per month, $39.99 per year, or $119.99 for a lifetime pass.
kodi vs plex
Kodi mirrors Plex's infrastructure, but it doesn't quite live up to the overall offerings that Plex offers. Kodi is an open source, non-profit platform that is run by the generosity of volunteers. Because of this, it doesn't have the same capabilities as the paid Plex platform.
The program is primarily focused on local playback, and is therefore only capable of streaming content remotely using additional services from third-party sources. In comparison, the basic version of Plex acts as a media server that allows streaming to non-mobile devices such as smart TVs, computers, and gaming consoles.
While Kodi offers an excellent opportunity to store media in one place where you can watch it, Plex allows you to store media in one place and play it across multiple devices. This limitation of Kodi is its biggest drawback. Overall, Kodi is great for local storage of media like movies, TV, and music, but Plex is the better option for anyone who wants easy access to media remotely.
Impi vs plex
Although it doesn't have as many additional features as Plex, Emby is a leading contender on the market. It offers the same ability to enjoy media locally and remotely.
It has similar functionality to Plex but at a higher price. Similar to the Plex architecture, Emby offers enhanced features for a fee. Emby Premiere is priced at $4.99 per month or $54 per year. This fee gives you access to features like DVR, cover art components, and offline media access. It’s important to note that Emby has a 25-device limit and that the fee can be higher than the paid version of Plex, depending on the type of purchase, which costs $5.99 per month, $39.99 per year, or $119.99 for a lifetime pass.
Emby’s main drawback, other than its higher annual price point, is its lack of user interface features. Overall, it’s an excellent option, but it hasn’t caught up to Plex’s reliability and feature-packed build. For example, Plex has better library organization tools that can provide media categorization and information, such as a title’s runtime and cast information, all in one easy-to-access place. It can also inform viewers of music titles playing within a movie or TV show. To get the most out of these tools and customize Plex to your liking, be sure to implement these best Plex tips and tricks.
Jellyfin vs Plex
Similar to Kodi, Jellyfin is an open source platform. Its main goal is to become the best free open source media streaming platform, eliminating centralization and restricted features. It is made up of volunteers who give their skills to the project for free and can provide a similar experience to Kodi but with support for remote media access.
While this volunteer-based structure is admirable, it can lead to some of Jellyfin’s biggest downsides. Given the lack of support and the unreliable performance I found the app to be, I’d rather pay for one of the better services listed above. The Jellyfin experience isn’t smooth, and its inconsistency makes the more reliable Plex a better option.
For example, while you can configure Jellyfin for remote viewing (similar to Plex), the steps involved are somewhat complex. There are many tutorials on the subject, and it can be difficult to know what a particular configuration and troubleshooting requires. When Plex’s remote viewing feature works so well and is often seamless, it’s hard to suggest such a difficult process.
Ultimately, the best choice comes down to user preference. However, you should stick with Plex for its ease of use and consistent functionality. By combining the capabilities of a media server with the versatility that streaming services can offer, Plex has paved the way for unifying entertainment in one place. With its superior overall user experience, easy-to-use interface, and remote access, Plex is the best choice for those who like to organize their media and stay connected.