Last updated Oct 15, 2026
Plex#
Plex is a media server that organizes your local media library and streams it to any device — phone, TV, browser, or dedicated app. You host it yourself; Plex provides the apps and the metadata (artwork, descriptions, ratings).
In this stack, Plex runs in a dedicated LXC container on Proxmox and reads media from the ZFS pool that Sonarr and Radarr write to.
Why Plex#
Plex has the widest client support of any self-hosted media server. The apps are polished and available on every major platform. Remote access works out of the box through Plex's own relay, without needing to configure port forwarding or a reverse proxy.
Plex Pass (paid subscription) adds hardware transcoding, remote streaming outside your home network, offline sync, and multi-user home management. Hardware transcoding is the main reason to buy it — without it, the server has to software-transcode every stream that doesn't match the client's native format, which is CPU-intensive.
Plex Pass pricing: $6.99/month, $69.99/year, or $749.99 lifetime. The lifetime price rose from $249.99 on July 1, 2026, according to Plex's announcement↗. Existing lifetime holders keep their pass, and the monthly and annual prices did not change. At $749.99, the lifetime pass takes about eleven years to pay off against the annual plan.
Remote streaming outside your home needs a Plex Pass on the server owner's account, or a per-account Remote Watch Pass for people who stream from someone else's server.
If you are not ready to commit to Plex Pass, consider Jellyfin instead — it includes hardware transcoding and remote access for free.
Client app updates can break a working setup#
In September and October 2026 Plex rolled out a redesigned app on Apple TV and Android TV. Many users reported removed settings, slower navigation and subtitle problems. The server was not affected, only the client app. I wrote up what people report, how to roll back the Apple TV app to the last old version (8.45) and what to use instead in Plex's New App Is a Mess.
If a client update breaks something you rely on:
- Turn off automatic app updates on that device so the problem does not get worse.
- Roll back the app if the platform allows it (Apple TV and Android TV do, Roku and most smart TVs do not).
- Try another client for the same server, such as Infuse or Plezy, or run Jellyfin next to Plex and move one device at a time.
Alternatives#
Jellyfin is the fully free alternative. It is open source, includes hardware transcoding at no cost, and has no cloud dependency or account requirement. The client apps are slightly less refined than Plex on some TV platforms, but cover all major devices. If you want to avoid any paid subscription, Jellyfin is the practical choice. See the Jellyfin page for setup instructions.
Emby sits between the two — open source base with a paid "Emby Premiere" tier for hardware transcoding and mobile sync. Less community momentum than Jellyfin.
| Plex | Jellyfin | Emby | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (HW transcoding and remote need Pass) | Free — all features included | Free (some features paid) |
| Plex Pass / equivalent | $749.99 lifetime (was $249.99 before July 1, 2026) | Not needed | Emby Premiere required |
| Client apps | Wide support, incl. PlayStation and Xbox (redesigned TV apps still settling, see below) | Good, all major platforms | Good |
| Hardware transcoding | Plex Pass required | Free | Emby Premiere required |
| Remote access | Plex Pass required (built-in relay) | Free (manual reverse proxy) | Manual setup |
| Account required | Yes | No | No |
| Community | Large | Large | Smaller |
Where to go next#
Setup steps are in the Installation section:
- Create Plex LXC — creating the container in Proxmox
- Install & Configure Plex — installing the server and adding libraries