Use code "PROTIPS2022" to take it from A$159.99 to A$127.99.
Good if you've been using Plex and planning on getting the pass eventually.
Personally I like Jellyfin the most as it is open source (fully free) and really growing quite good.
Also check out Emby which is like Plex and mostly free but has a paid premium feature set.
For me, a while back when I had my old Xeon server (Westmere, 2010), the hardware transcoding was the main draw for the Plex Pass as I had a spare GTX1030 with the unlimited transcoding script to bypass the limit of two concurrent transcodes.
Since then, I really like the skip intro, it's especially handy if you watch a lot of TV shows, cartoons, anime etc. Plexamp is pretty good too if you have your music library imported.
If none of those that I mentioned really interest you, then it's most probably not something you'd really need.
Is managing the library as easy as in Kodi?
I haven’t used Kodi for a few years - but it’s much better in my experience. It could just be that I’ve only used older versions of Kodi and XBMC.
I use the library management tools in Plex to find duplicate content. Audiobooks need a bit more manual handling to get them to index accurately, but as long as I’m rigorous about file naming conventions and organisation - other content is smooth AF. I’ve got some batch scripts and stuff to tidy my libraries a bit - but nothing complicated. Delete unwanted file types and sort files into directories.
Much easier than Kodi, you can create a library and point to single or multiple directories. The beauty of Plex compared to Kodi is the processing and transcoding all runs on the server, and you can use it with multiple clients like Phone, Tablets, Browser or Smart TV and share your libraries remotely to your friends or relatives if you have good internet connection. But only buy Plex Plus if you use the additional features not included in the free version, personally I don't have Plus as I don't use these features.
Depends what you do. I personally prefer the simplicity of kodi setup, point it at a folder and I get a simple folder structure which even the oldies can navigate.. Where as Plex looks pretty but over complicates things. It take a bit of stuffing around to remove all the channels & crappy content they're pushing. Which seems to sometimes magically re-appear after some updates.
But what plex is great for is being able to continue where you left off on different devices. Plex is also more stable then Kodi on Google TV.
I dont have Plex Pass anymore and I still have the Skip Intro button on shows on the app on my Shield, is that meant to be a paid only feature?
I believe its the server admin account that needs plex pass, if you are using someone else's server to watch that might be why.
My Plex runs on a NAS. It refuses to do much with most MKV files I have unless I have hardware transcoding, which is locked behind Plex Pass.
Which is odd, because I can play the same files locally via VLC and they play just fine.
HW Transcoding, free apps on every platform. Plexamp is great, especially on phone or tablet. Better account controls, intro skipping, sonic analysis (discover music by similar sound, not just by metadata).
Best money I ever spent. Full list of differences:
Activate/unlock our Android and iOS mobile apps simply by signing into your Plex account within the app.
Access the Plex Labs apps: Plexamp and Plex Dash
DVR Recording: Record over-the-air broadcasts available in your area, using a compatible tuner and digital antenna.
Stream trailers and extras (interviews, behind the scenes, etc.) for content in your movie or TV show libraries.
Add lyrics from LyricFind to your music libraries to follow along whenever you want.
Invite full Plex accounts (not just managed users) of family members to be a part of your Plex Home, allowing easy switching between accounts, and restrict what content you share from your server.
Skip intros in TV episodes in your personal library.
Premium music features like Loudness Leveling, Sweet Fades, and Sonic Analysis.
Hardware-accelerated streaming/transcoding.
HDR to SDR tone mapping to help preserve colors for playback.
One criticism is that I find audio playback on android TV app a little flakey at times.
I've noticed audio going outta sync on my Shield app if I rewind/ff. Sometimes need to re pause and it fixes it.
Overwhelmingly though Plex is exceptional.
Last year got Plex lifetime for $70 from much better deal "Plex Pass Lifetime TRY₺617,24 (~A$69.66)" https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/666383
If you have a large library of media…. I cannot recommend this enough. Absolute PERFECTION!
What's your recommended method of ripping physical media?
Thank you for the recommendation, was going to pay for Plex, but found out about Jellyfin. Have donated that amount to their collective instead.
I have 6 kids and a wife who likes her shows and PLEX is just the best here. I am a chef by trade and have zero knowledge about techie stuff, but I managed to organise a NAS with Plex on it and what a joy it is to have.
I'm happy to give them some coin for their effort with the huge amount of use we get from it.
We've used the free movies and shows they have at times too. Don't expect to see the latest Top Gun movie any time soon or the new Lord of the Rings series, but we've all found something at some point.
Now, if I had Plex before we had kids… Maybe we'd have no kids as we'd be watching TV all the time. 😁
Have a great day.
There's other ways to get the latest Top Gun and Lord of the Rings, so pair them together and you'd have a pretty sweet setup!
I've been hanging on for a lifetime pass deal for a while but I'm not in a rush, is it likely to get any cheaper for black friday/cyber Monday?
Unlikely by much. The price trends upwards over time as well. Granted it was a while ago, but I remember when it used to only cost $80 or so.
It looks like it's gone down over time if anything, I'm finding deals from a few years ago saying it's discounted TO $159, which seems to be the standard price now. It's also gone below $100 a few times since then, so I might just hold on for now
It's a fine line really… I mean if you don't need it now, will you ever? But if you could do with it now then why bother putting it off and doing without the features for a year or two just in case you get to save $10 doing so?
A question - when people say they have large collection of media, what do they exactly mean? Media ripped from DVDs/Blurays? Or just downloads from sources like torrents?
Bootlegs
Lots and lots of "Linux ISOs" from torrents/usenet.
Wasn't there recently a data breach on Plex?
Yes, there was also one on uber, and a long list of other platforms, if your online its the risk you need to run with, at least plex also works in local mode if you're concerned
If you are even just a little bit technical - Kodi, Emby for Kodi - that is all.
I'm blown away that people pay for plex
Legit Emby has the same structure as Plex, including its lifetime pass to get a similar set of features
Which is why I said Emby for Kodi - 99% of features are available for free in Kodi, you just use Emby as the library manager.
Plex is actually polished with apps for all devices, and regular updates, a team of devs cost money
I'd strongly dispute calling Plex on the Shield a 'polished' app. Crashes constantly or just doesn't work, sometimes for days. Struggles to play shows with subtitles, chews through battery on the tablet and "the server is not powerful enough to…." message. Does a poor job matching files to cover art. Coming from the old classic WDTV Live Hub and not really needing 4k I didn't see much of an upgrade.
Works very well on ipad and seamless when i download for a trip
When you actually look at how many versions/formats/devices its supported on its impressive, for such a small company
the server is not powerful enough to
That sounds like an issue with your hardware not Plex
Does a poor job matching files to cover art.
Not if you follow the guide on how to properly name your media, its not magic it can not decipher what ever format/release group you have downloaded it in, plus its a 5 sec job to choose cover art to your choosing
WDTV Live Hub
Is that even supported anymore? not watching in 4k HDR in 2022 is a disservice to yourself
I have Plex Pass but also like Emby too as an alternative. It feels slightly snappier to me and can play a bit nicer with certain problematic 4K HDR media and subtitles.
Plex also has that free TV & Movie streaming garbage which clutters up the home page by default (I know you can pin your media libraries to the home page but who wants to do that on every client)
I use to looooove XBMC/Kodi back in the days before children appeared and I become instantly time poor. In the end I got sick from the mrs nagging me her shows weren't playing. I was always fixing little bugs/glitches and broken addons when an update happens. Also unless you faff around with MySQL you couldn't sync/resume your media libraries between client devices easily
Yeah back in the day it was like that - I was the same - sick of getting calls from the wife/kids that things aren't working.
Now Nvidia shields in each room, Kodi and emby for Kodi on each one, there has not been a single failure and each room is setup with a different Emby profile, so watch lists, resumes etc all function (in same room) - the shields are awesome bits of kit
Have to agree Nvidia Shields are great. I run 2 along with an Apple 4K TV which is also fantastic
was waiting for this. Thanks OP
I found with Emby/Jellyfin it's not as smooth as Plex. I have all 3 running simultaneously and use mainly just Plex
I've been using Plex and have had the lifetime pass since roughly 2016. My housemates use it and the remote access feature allows friends to access media from their houses. I also like that it doesn't require a high end computer to run the server app on and most of the time, the pc I have it happily idles away.
Doesn't work anymore unfortunately
Nope, I've just been trying some of the workarounds and it's too good at matching your CC with country of origin. You can't even select the cheaper regions like Turkey or Argentina if you switch to PayPal. I think they've managed to plug most of the holes.
Makes sense with Turkey being cheaper. Look at their rate of inflation…..just plain scary!!!!
I'll stick to 100% off JellyFin, and have everything run locally instead of requiring internet for authentication.
With how Plex is showing ads etc now, I don't see them lasting more than 5 years. JellyFin on the other hand keeps improving.
i wonder why people still use microsoft office when openoffice is free and keeps improving!
I gave this an upvote assuming sarcasm
Where are you seeing ads?
I don't recall ever seeing ads in Plex, besides perhaps movie/tv show recommendations on the Discover page
But that can just be unpinned where you'll never really see it again
I was loving JellyFin, but I switched to Emby when I realised it is better at identifying stuff. Particularly for me it was the UFCs that it wasn't recognising, but also some more rare documentaries. Emby picked it up straight away.
That's surprising, since JellyFin was created from the Emby source.
I found it surprising too, there's probably something I could configure better in Jellyfin, but I could never work it out. Emby on the other hand worked right out of the box, in the set up wizard it gives you the choice of 'match' services to match up your content, I don't think JellyFin gave that option I think you are stuck with whatever their default one is.
@bleeder: You can set JellyFin to use whatever metadata provider you prefer, and these can be set up with priorities.
There's multiple by default, and more can be installed via plugins.
I've heard the term Plex over the years, and never known what it was all about.
Is it similar to Kodi ?
Is it similar to Kodi ?
Started off as a fork of XBMC which became KODI so technically 'yes', but in real-world use it's more 'not really'.
Generally with KODI the media would be local, or maybe just mounted up from a shared drive.
Plex works better in a clent-server model where you have all your content on a server/nas/pay-someone-dodgy-for-every-tv-and-film-ever, then access it one your phone/tablet/pc/set-top/smartTV etc.
Plex also syncs your progress across all your devices, has a neat watchlist feature now and a few other bits and pieces, but lacks a lot of the flexibility and deep-config of KODI. It also has client on nearly every platform you can imagine which is a massive benefit.
I use subtitles a lot.
The fact Plex can't add subtitles without transcoding (4K files including) probably is the biggest showstopper for me.
Don't use subs myself but the ASS transcoding was supposedly fixed just over a month so IIRC. Well, depends on your client platform too.
@zfa: In the past (last time I checked) one of the most wanted feature was an ability to disable transcoding.
I might give Plex another shot if there is way to disable transcoding.
Cheers legend
Have been using Plex for a few years as a lifetime subscriber, works well but isn’t perfect. If you are keen on starting your own media sever it’s worth it. Just to note there are some really good free open source media servers likes Jellyfin. Look into that before paying. :)
Lots of support and tutorials out there for getting started too.
Currently at sitting at ~ 12tb media on my Plex.
Honestly, just bought this not because I need plex pass features, but rather, been using plex for years now and it's worth the money even if you only use the basic features.
Noob question: I have Emby premium, what's the difference between Plex and Emby?
Has anyone tried VPN to turkey to buy plex lifetime subscription?
Approximately $55 AUD if you use the above code.
When does the coupon expire?
is this code expired? Just tried and it didn't work
“Downloads, Advanced User Controls, HDR Tone Mapping, Plex Dash, Plexamp, Trailers & Extras”
Apart from downloads, I don’t know what features I’d even maybe use? Plex is great and the audiobook integration with Prologue is unbelievably good. But none of the Plex pass features sell.