The simple version: 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 that content and lets me watch from anywhere.
This means I can watch what I want, when I want, without having to hope some expensive streaming service still has the rights to my favorite movies.
There is no charge to you for using my Plex.
It’s a hobby I’ve put some money into, but it is 100% free for you to use.
The company that makes the software also has their own ad-supported streaming content and a handful of titles you can pay to rent. This is completely separate from whatever might be available from someone’s personal Plex server.
If you see “Available to Rent” or “Free On Demand”, or if you ever see ads, that’s coming from their company, not from me.
All you need is a free Plex account and an internet-connected device that can run the Plex app.
You can watch on your phone or tablet anywhere you have Wi-Fi.
You can even use Chromecast from your iPhone or iPad to devices that allow it.
I regularly acquire new stuff to add to my Plex server. (I already said it was a hobby.) If there’s something specific you want to see, let me know and I’ll try to find it.
I have a computer (“Server”) with files from my media collection. Plex scans that content, gets information like titles, plot summaries, and trailers, and makes it all available to stream.
The Plex app on your player (“Client”) understands that device’s capabilities; my server then streams media to your device.
🟢 If the Client can handle the source file exactly as is, it will just stream the file directly to you. This is called Direct Play.
🟡 If the Client can’t handle something, the Server will convert the stream as needed. This is called Transcoding — the content has to be modified in realtime, 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.