Plex vs Jellyfin: Plex Pass Prices vs Free Self-Hosting

Pick Plex if you want apps on almost every TV and console and remote streaming for friends and family, and you are fine paying for a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass to get it. Pick Jellyfin if you want a completely free, open-source media server with no account, no tracking and no paid tier, and you are comfortable setting up remote access yourself.

Both do the same core job: they organise the movies, shows and music you already own and stream them from your own computer or NAS to your other devices. The real differences are cost, who controls the software, and how much work remote access takes.

Plex vs Jellyfin at a glance

Is Plex free, or do you need Plex Pass?

Plex is free at home and paid away from home. Plex says it is "totally free to download the Plex software, set up your server, and start streaming to any device on your local network." To stream your own videos remotely, you need one of two subscriptions:

• Remote Watch Pass: remote streaming of personal media from any server you have access to, and nothing else. It has a 14-day free trial.
• Plex Pass: remote streaming for everyone on your server, plus hardware transcoding, downloads for offline viewing, Skip Intro and Skip Credits, live TV recording (antenna and tuner required), parental controls and the Plex Dash monitoring app.

One detail matters for families: if the server owner has Plex Pass, anyone with access to that server can stream remotely without paying. Plex Pass does not remove ads from Plex's own free movies and live TV channels.

Which is cheaper, Plex or Jellyfin?

Jellyfin, because it costs nothing at all. On 6 November 2026 we checked both sites. Plex's US plans page listed Plex Pass at $6.99 a month, $69.99 a year, $249.99 for five years or $749.99 once for lifetime, and the Remote Watch Pass at $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. Jellyfin's site said, on the same day, that the server and official apps "are free to download, now and always", with no costs "hidden or otherwise". The project is run by volunteers and paid for by donations.

Over a few years the gap adds up. If you only watch at home, though, free Plex costs the same as Jellyfin: nothing.

Is Jellyfin harder to set up than Plex?

For home use, both are straightforward: install the server, point it at your media folders, and open an app. The difference shows up when you want to watch outside your home.

Jellyfin does not run any servers for its users, so it has no relay service. Its documentation says your server does not have to be on the internet at all, but if you want remote access you set it up yourself through port forwarding or a reverse proxy, using its default ports 8096 (HTTP) or 8920 (HTTPS). With Plex, you turn on Remote Access in the server settings, and remote viewers need an active pass (or a server owner with Plex Pass).

Plex also has the longer app list. Its apps cover PlayStation, Apple TV, Google TV and Meta Quest, while Jellyfin's official apps cover Android, iOS, Android TV and Fire TV, Roku, LG webOS, Samsung Tizen and Xbox. Jellyfin also has an official add-on that plays your Jellyfin library inside Kodi.

Is Jellyfin more private than Plex?

Jellyfin gives you more control. Its site says it has "no tracking, phone-home, or central servers collecting your data," and because it is free software under the GNU GPL, anyone can read and modify the code. Plex is closed source: its terms forbid trying to discover its source code. Plex says it encrypts connections between apps and your server and that information about the contents of your server is never shared with Plex or third parties.

If you are weighing other options too, see our list of Jellyfin alternatives.

Which should you choose?

• You only watch at home: either works for free. Plex has apps on more devices.
• You want to share your library with family in other homes: Plex with a Plex Pass on your account, so they stream for free.
• You never want to pay or create an account with a company: Jellyfin.
• You need hardware transcoding without a subscription: Jellyfin.
• You watch on PlayStation or Apple TV: Plex, which lists apps for both.

FAQ

Is Jellyfin completely free?

Yes. The server and all official apps are free, with no paid tier. The project is funded by donations.

Do I need Plex Pass to watch Plex away from home?

You need either a Plex Pass or the cheaper Remote Watch Pass, unless the server owner has Plex Pass, in which case remote streaming is free for everyone on that server.

Is Plex open source?

No. Plex is closed-source software. Jellyfin is open source under the GNU GPL.

Can I run Plex or Jellyfin on a NAS?

Yes. Plex offers server packages for NAS systems such as Synology, and both Plex and Jellyfin can run in Docker.