Plex is about to shake up how remote streaming works, and if you use a Roku, you’ll feel the impact first.
Starting next week, the company will require either a Plex Pass or the newer Remote Watch Pass to stream your personal media library remotely through the Roku app. Free remote streaming, at least on Roku, is coming to an end.
This shift is part of the larger overhaul Plex announced earlier this year, which introduced its revamped subscription model and the Remote Watch Pass. The new paywall will expand beyond Roku in 2026, covering all Plex TV apps – Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and even third-party clients that use the Plex API.
Alongside the change, Roku users will also get Plex’s updated navigation experience, which previously appeared in preview builds.
To keep streaming remotely, Plex users now have two subscription paths. A standard Plex Pass subscription unlocks remote playback for everyone who connects to your server. Even if you don’t host a server yourself, a Plex Pass lets you stream remotely from any server you’re shared on, plus you get premium perks like Skip Intro and Skip Credits. It’s the all-in option designed for server owners or anyone who wants full functionality.
The Remote Watch Pass, meanwhile, is meant for people who don’t want the full Plex Pass feature set but still want remote access. It lets individual users stream from any personal Plex server they have permission to access, whether that’s their own setup or a friend’s library.
Plex is already nudging users to make the jump with a 40% off sale on all Plex Pass tiers, including Lifetime, running until December 1, 2025.
For long-time Plex users, the message is pretty clear: If you rely on remote streaming, especially on your TV, you’ll soon need to pay for it one way or another.
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