The simple version is that it’s my own personal Netflix.
I have a significant collection of Blu-rays and DVDs that I’ve copied to my computer. Plex organizes those files, collects metadata about them, and lets me watch from anywhere.
This means I can watch what I want, when I want, without having to hope that my favorite movies are still available on some expensive streaming service.
There is no charge to you for using my Plex.
It’s a hobby that I’ve put some money into, but it is a free service.
NOTE: The company also offers their own ad-supported streaming content and a handful of titles you can pay to rent — this is completely separate from whatever might be hosted by individual server owners.
All you need is a free Plex account and an internet-connected device that can run the Plex app.
I recommend something like an Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, or an Onn Streaming Device, but whatever you have is probably fine.
I have a computer (“Server”) with files from my media collection. Plex runs on that computer, gets information like titles, plot summaries, and trailers, and creates a streaming service to play them.
The Plex app on your device (“Client”) understands that device’s capabilities; my server then streams media to that device in a format it can handle, converting to new formats if needed.
🟢 If the Client is 100% compatible with the source file, it will just stream the file exactly as-is. This is called Direct Play.
🟡 If the Client can’t handle something, the Server will convert the file to something the Client does support. This is called Transcoding — the content has to be re-created in realtime in a format your player can handle, which may result in some buffering.
Transcoding isn’t bad, it just means your video might buffer occasionally while the Server catches up with re-creating the stream.