Plex, the personal media server platform used to stream content like movies, TV shows, and music from a user’s own media library, is implementing a significant change to its subscription model. On April 29, 2025, Plex will increase prices for its Plex Pass subscription for the first time in more than a decade:

• Monthly Plex Pass: increasing from $4.99 to $6.99
• Annual Plex Pass: increasing from $39.99 to $69.99
• Lifetime Plex Pass: increasing from $119.99 to $249.99

Existing lifetime Plex Pass holders will not be affected. For monthly and annual subscribers, the new prices will apply at the next renewal following April 29.

Alongside the price changes, Plex is launching a new subscription option: the Remote Watch Pass. This pass allows users to stream content from another person’s Plex server remotely—even if the server owner doesn’t have a Plex Pass. It will be available for $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year.

Additionally, Plex will eliminate the one-time activation fee previously required to stream from its mobile apps. Local network streaming will become free, removing the one-minute playback limitation for mobile users who haven’t unlocked the app or subscribed.

INSIDER TAKE

While the price increases are substantial—particularly the 108% increase for the lifetime Plex Pass—they reflect the platform’s growing infrastructure demands and product expansion. For subscription businesses, Plex’s changes offer a few strategic insights:

1. Long-Term Monetization Requires Price Reevaluation: Plex had not raised prices in over a decade. This move underscores the importance of periodically aligning subscription pricing with product value and costs, especially for infrastructure-heavy platforms.
2. Micro-Subscriptions for Passive Users: The Remote Watch Pass introduces an interesting micro-subscription model. It targets users who don’t host their own servers but consume content shared by others—tapping into a passive user base with minimal friction.
3. Eliminating Barriers to Onboarding: By removing the mobile streaming fee for local content, Plex is lowering the activation barrier and increasing app usability—likely aiming to grow engagement before upselling higher-tier features.

Overall, this update shows Plex is strategically rebalancing its pricing while expanding its monetization model to include new user segments. The rollout also serves as a reminder for other subscription businesses: legacy pricing can become a liability, and micro-subscription tiers may unlock revenue from under-monetized users.