Plex will stop charging free users of its media server software for access to its companion apps for mobile phones and tablets in the near future, the company promised on Wednesday.
The change was noted in a broader announcement that mainly focused on an upcoming price adjustment, which will see some users of the company’s Plex Pass pay more for the privilege of enhanced features.
Plex allowed users of its streaming platform to launch their own media apps and stream content to their smart TVs for free. But the company charged a one-time $5 fee for the privilege of doing the same on mobile devices and tablets, unless a user purchased a Plex Pass, which unlocked access to Plex’s smartphone and tablet apps.
The company is in the process of redesigning those apps from the ground up, with a promise that the new app experience will deliver a more-streamline experienced with premium features. Accordingly, Plex announced a forthcoming price increase that will see Plex Pass users pay $7 per month or $70 per year for access to premium features, though they can also pay $250 for a lifetime Plex Pass.
At the same time, Plex said it will remove the mobile activation charge for those who prefer to use Plex’s media server software without a Plex Pass, which will enable them to stream their own video and audio files across smart TVs, phones and tablets without paying the company a dime.
Plex said the mobile activation charge will be removed from its phone and tablet apps when the new Plex app experience exits its preview period and launches more broadly to the public, which is likely to occur later this year.
The Plex smartphone and tablet apps also include access to hundreds of streaming TV channels ranging from news, sports, classic TV shows, movies and documentaries, along with thousands of TV shows and movies that are available on-demand, all free to view and supported by ad breaks.
Plex also allows streamers to rent movies from a handful of studios through its smart TV, phone and tablet apps.
