Updated
Updated · XDA Developers · May 26
Plex Raises Lifetime Pass to $750 by July 2026 as Jellyfin Offers Similar Features Free
Updated
Updated · XDA Developers · May 26

Plex Raises Lifetime Pass to $750 by July 2026 as Jellyfin Offers Similar Features Free

3 articles · Updated · XDA Developers · May 26

Summary

  • $750 will be the new price of Plex's Lifetime Pass in July 2026, triple the current $250 and 10 times its original $75 launch price.
  • Plex locks features such as remote streaming, intro skipping, offline downloads and hardware-accelerated transcoding behind Plex Pass, making the increase especially significant for self-hosting users.
  • Jellyfin, Plex's open-source rival, now offers native or plugin-based equivalents for nearly all of those features at no cost, including remote access, downloads, Live TV and tone mapping.
  • The sharper price gap could push more users toward Jellyfin, especially as setup has become easier and some users see the hike as a way to steer customers toward monthly or annual plans.

Insights

As Plex's lifetime price triples, has the free and open-source Jellyfin finally become the superior choice for everyone?
Beyond the subscription fee, what hidden costs in personal data does Plex's new privacy policy reveal to its users?