If you have lots of locally saved media on your computer, Plex is a must-have piece of software. Unlike Kodi, it's easy for beginners to set up and has apps available for every major operating system and media streaming device.

The other significant difference between Plex and Kodi is pricing. While Kodi is entirely free, Plex offers a paid tier. Called the Plex Pass, this paid tier introduces several additional features.

But do you actually need a Plex Pass? Is a Plex Pass worth it? Arguably, many people could do without a Plex subscription.

What Is a Plex Pass?

The basic Plex app is free on every platform, whereas the Plex Pass has three price tiers. You can pay $5/month, $40/year, or $120 for a lifetime subscription.

As you'd expect, there are numerous Plex Pass benefits that are unavailable on the free version of the app.

The most useful additions are arguably the Plex live TV and DVR offerings. If you add an antenna and tuner to your setup, you can watch and record any over-the-air channels in your area through the Plex app.

Plus, while you probably upload digital content to your Plex account, Plex Pass lets you download content from the service to watch offline. There used to be a way to download content without Plex Pass as long as it was in someone else's library, but Plex seems to have removed this workaround.

The Plex Pass also includes intro skipping, 4K support, mobile syncing for offline viewing, support for multiple users, parental controls, movie trailers, and music features such as lyrics and offline listening.

You will even get access to Plex Labs. It gives you first access to Plex's newest features, meaning you can impress your friends before they've had the chance to try out the features themselves.

Clearly, these are all great features. However, for most users, they're totally unnecessary. In fact, there's a lot of misinformation out there. Many people believe you need a Plex Pass to perform certain tasks when the reality is different.

Do You Need a Plex Pass Subscription?

If you want to do it with Plex, chances are you can do it without Plex Pass or you can't do it with Plex Pass anyway.

1. Remote Streaming

Viewing and approving devices and apps associated with a Plex account.

One of Plex's best attributes is its remote streaming function. It allows you to view all your media from anywhere in the world as long as you have the Plex app installed on the device you want to watch on.

This is especially useful for keeping the kids entertained when you're away from home or if you spend a lot of time bouncing around hotels as part of your job. After all, there's only so long you can internet TV channels online before you start pulling your hair out.

However, the perception is that you need a premium Plex Pass to watch remotely. It's not true; all users can stream remotely. You can even approve devices to access your account in advance or check if anyone is using your account illicitly by going through the settings and selecting Authorized Devices.

2. Use Plex on Mobile

You can access your Plex server using your mobile device's web browser, but you can tell that that's what you're doing when you try to navigate the experience. To streamline things a bit, Plex has a dedicated mobile app for most mobile device operating systems, smart TVs, game consoles, and other devices.

You can download the app from Plex's website for free, but it has some restrictions. Each video and music file is limited to one minute of playback, and your photos will have a watermark added.

To remove the restrictions, you'll be asked to pay a one-time fee of $4.99. It's a fraction of the cost of a full Plex Pass. Of course, you don't get access to any Plex Pass features, but if you just want to watch content on a tablet a few times per year, it's more than adequate. Also, remember that Plex lets you cast to a smart TV, so using Plex on mobile can be a powerful experience.

3. Share Media Libraries

Grant library access to another Plex user

Are you the tech guru in your household? If you are, there's a good chance you'll want to share the benefits of Plex with the rest of your family.

But, setting up Plex on lots of different devices is time-consuming. And unless you're willing to continually add new media to other people's computers, it's almost impossible to keep everyone updated.

Luckily, Plex lets you share your library with anyone. They don't even have to be on the same network as you. Best of all, the feature doesn't require a Plex Pass—all the other person needs is a free Plex account.

To share your library with friends and family, open your Plex Server app and make sure you are signed in. Then, select the wrench icon to access your settings and select Manage Library Access from the column on the left side of the screen. Then, click the Grant Library Access button and enter a Plex username or select one of your Plex friends.

You can also exclude certain movies/shows, labels, and tags, depending on who you are sharing with.

4. Non-Mobile Plex Apps

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All non-mobile Plex apps are entirely free to download and use. That includes the native apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, and, where applicable, smart TVs.

If you're using the app on your local network or if you want to use a streaming dongle while you're traveling, you don't need a Plex Pass to access the benefits.

You can also access your Plex server from any Plex media player app without charge.

5. Watch Plex Without Ads

While you might assume that Plex Pass is the way to finally watch Plex without ads, that's not the case. According to Plex, "We do not currently offer any option for watching Plex-provided content without ads."

If you have your own content in your Plex library, this content streams without ads whether you have Plex Pass or not.

A Plex Pass Supports the Developers

You don't need a Plex Pass to access any of the five features discussed above. However, if you love Plex, use it every day, and share your library with lots of other people, you should consider buying a Plex Pass anyway. A lifetime Plex Pass offers fantastic value for money.

In addition to the extra functionality we discussed at the start of the article, you're also helping to support the developers and fund the app's long-term future.