# Cost Breakdown

> What this stack actually costs to run, depending on whether you choose Plex or Jellyfin as your media server.

# Cost Breakdown

The total cost of this stack depends mainly on one decision: **Plex or Jellyfin**.

Everything else is open source and free: Sonarr, Radarr, Prowlarr, SABnzbd, and Seerr.

## Plex vs Jellyfin: the cost difference

Jellyfin is fully free. All features, including hardware transcoding and remote access, are included at no cost.

Plex is free for basic local streaming, but the features you need for a proper multi-user setup require **Plex Pass**: hardware transcoding and remote access outside your home.

| | Plex | Jellyfin |
|--|------|----------|
| Media server software | Free (hardware transcoding locked) | Free (all features included) |
| Hardware transcoding | Plex Pass required | Included |
| Remote streaming | Plex Pass required | Included (needs reverse proxy) |
| Plex Pass monthly | $6.99/month | — |
| Plex Pass annual | $69.99/year | — |
| Plex Pass lifetime | $249.99 (price increasing to $749.99) | — |

The lifetime pass is the only option that makes Plex cost-competitive over time. If you are not ready to pay for it now, Jellyfin gives you the same capabilities for free.

## Usenet provider

Both Plex and Jellyfin setups use the same download stack. The only ongoing cost for either option is the Usenet provider.

This documentation uses [Newshosting](/docs/home-server/media-automation/automation-download/providers) as the primary provider.

| Plan | Cost | Notes |
|------|------|-------|
| Newshosting starter deal | $23/year (~$1.92/month) | Includes EasyNews free for one year |
| Newshosting standard | ~$10–15/month | Full unlimited plan |

The starter deal covers a home setup easily. Check the [Providers page](/docs/home-server/media-automation/automation-download/providers) for the current promo link.

## First-year totals

| Setup | Year 1 | Ongoing (annual) |
|-------|--------|-----------------|
| Jellyfin + Newshosting starter | ~$23 | ~$23/year |
| Plex (annual Pass) + Newshosting starter | ~$93 | ~$93/year |
| Plex (lifetime Pass, current price) + Newshosting starter | ~$273 one-time, then ~$23/year | ~$23/year after |
| Plex (lifetime Pass, future price) + Newshosting starter | ~$773 one-time, then ~$23/year | ~$23/year after |

If long-term cost is the deciding factor, Jellyfin has no ongoing software cost. Plex lifetime at the current price ($249.99) breaks even with the annual plan in about 3.5 years. At $749.99, that shifts significantly.

## What you do not pay for

- Sonarr, Radarr, Prowlarr, SABnzbd, Seerr: all free and open source
- Cloudflare Tunnels for remote access: free tier is sufficient for this use case
- Proxmox VE: free to use (subscription is optional, only required for enterprise support)
- Docker: free

The hardware (server, disks, GPU) is a one-time cost covered in the [Prerequisites](/docs/home-server/media-automation/installation/prerequisites) page.