Plex is among the most popular and user-friendly solutions for creating a media server in your home network. In contrast to many other applications, which are often Windows-only, the Plex server is compatible with Linux, Mac, and even single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi.
Today we’d like to invite you to kick the tires on Plex HTPC, a brand new app for home theater PCs! (or Macs, Linux coming soon)
Plex HTPC is the phoenix rising from the proverbial ashes of the Plex Media Player TV layout: it’s a dedicated home theater app with a gorgeous UI designed specifically for the big screen and all the HTPC essentials like sophisticated remote/controller support, refresh rate switching, multi-channel audio, and more. Plex HTPC brings together the app framework used by the Plex Windows and macOS apps with the UI that powers our modern smart TV and game console apps. Both of these are actively developed, which means newer features like skip intro and the Live TV grid guide are available for the first time in a Plex HTPC app. If you’re interested in the technical details of how we got here, you can read more here.
For now, though, we’d love for you to try out the app and let us know what you think!
Download Links
Plex is popular because of its sleek user interface and capability to manage and play extensive libraries of movies, TV shows, and music. However, streaming downloaded content isn’t all you can do with the digital media player. Plex North Pickup Soccer. Adult Pickup Soccer - Spring Schedule Tuesdays 11:30AM-1:30PM Fridays 11:30AM-1:30PM Fridays 6:00PM-8:00PM (4/16, 4/23, 4/30 only).
Plex HTPC for Windows (Windows 10 or later, 64 bit only)
Plex HTPC for macOS (macOS 10.13 or later, 64 bit only)
What’s new in Plex HTPC?
- Support for lots of newer features, including:
- Skip intro
- Live TV & DVR grid-style program guide
- Tracks from movies and TV episodes
- Free on-demand movies and TV shows from Plex
- Free live TV channels from Plex
- More screen saver options: media artwork and photos
- The app is designed to be run in fullscreen on a TV or projector. It has a fixed 16:9 aspect ratio, and you can choose between 1280x720 (720p), 1920x1080 (1080p), and 3840x2160 (4K) in settings.
- Updated some input mappings. A few Plex Media Player input mappings are no longer available in Plex HTPC (complete list here). Inputs and mappings can be customized similar to Plex Media Player (more details here).
- Updated Bluetooth gamepad mappings for DualShock 4 and Xbox One on macOS and Windows. DualSense and Xbox Series X are only supported on macOS for now. The app only responds to gamepad input when it’s focused.
- Updated the player engine. We’d love lots of feedback around the playback experience. How is 1080p and 4K playback working compared to PMP?
- Updated CEC integration. If you use CEC in your setup, please try this out and let us know how it goes!
System Requirements
Plex HTPC requires Windows 10 or later (64-bit only) or macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later (64-bit only). Linux support is coming soon. Plex HTPC can be run alongside earlier versions of Plex Media Player and/or the Plex desktop app.
If you're a longtime reader of Cordcutting.com, you've probably noticed that we're fans of Plex. We've ranked it above competitors, showed you how to turn a Raspberry Pi into a Plex client (and, over on The Pi, how to turn one into a Plex server). But what is Plex, exactly? What does Plex do, and what makes it different from its competitors? And how much does Plex cost?
We'll answer all of these questions and more below in this new and updated version of our What is Plex? guide. Plex has added a host of new features since our last piece debuted two years ago, and the service has really cemented its place at the top of a competitive (and impressive) media server market. Here's what you need to know.
What Is Plex?
At its core, Plex is a media server application. That means that it turns local content into streamable content: if you have some videos, photos, and other media on a desktop computer but want to view them on your iPhone, Plex can help you do that. You set up a Plex server on one device and download client apps to a bunch of others, and just like that, media that was once limited to a single device is now available everywhere you go.
Plex is the industry leader in the media server space. It's the most established and feature-heavy of the media server applications, which is why we ranked it ahead of competitors like Emby and Serviio in our article on the best media server applications.
Plex is also a media center application – that is, a program that makes it easy to access your media. Plex acts as an organizer, content discovery tool, and portal to all of the content on your server – as well as to streamable content from outside of your personal collection. The hardy boysthe creative archive. This latter feature comes courtesy of “channels,” or in-program apps.
In this sense, Plex is a bit like competitor Kodi (which is a media center application, but not – at least out of the box – a media server) and even platforms associated with devices, such as Roku and Fire TV OS. But because Plex is also a media server, none of these are direct competitors – in fact, Plex even has apps and plugins for Roku, Fire TV, and Kodi, so you can use it within those systems.
Plex Channels
As mentioned, Plex offers channels that let you watch streaming content as well as your local stuff. The channels are created by volunteers, but Plex grants them official status, so Plex has largely avoided the piracy issues that have been such a headache for Kodi. There are channels for all kinds of streaming content, from Nickelodeon to South Park. There's no channels for the major streaming services, tragically – but since Plex has apps for other media center platforms like Roku, it's easy enough to enjoy both Plex and big-shot services like Netflix on the same device.
Plex's Platform Support
Speaking of platform support, Plex excels there, too. Plex has accumulated a pretty robust list of supported devices and platforms. Among the highlights:
- Android TV (including Nvidia Shield)
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- Computers (there's a Windows app and an in-browser app that works on other operating systems, including Mac OS)
- Fire TV
- Kodi
- Mobile (Android, iOS, and Windows Phone)
- PlayStation 4
- Roku
- Xbox 360
Plex's Features
Plex handles a ton of different types of media, including video (movies and TV shows as well as personal videos), music, photos, and even live TV (more on this in a moment). This content can be streamed to any device running the Plex app, including devices outside of your home network.
Plex has grown its list of features a bit since the first iteration of our What is Plex? article. Among other things, they've added cloud storage. This means that your server can draw on content you add to one of several cloud storage services, rather than from a device of your own. While it's easy to use everything from a desktop to a Raspberry Pi as a Plex server, it's nice to use cloud storage instead and not have to worry about running a device 24/7. Plex supports Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
Plex also supports live TV. Plex itself isn't how you'll get the live TV – you'll need an antenna and a digital tuner for that. But if you connect the antenna and tuner to the device running your Plex server, Plex can take that live TV and put it on your server, enabling you to watch live TV anywhere you go. For instance, you can connect an antenna to your desktop computer, run a Plex server on it, and watch live TV on your iPhone.
Better still, Plex allows you to record this content in a cloud DVR. That means it's easy to turn live over-the-air TV into on-demand streamable content.
Since over-the-air TV is free, of course, the only costs to worry about are the purchase prices of the antenna and tuner and the fee for Plex itself.
How Much Does Plex Cost?
Speaking of Plex's fees, here's how they work:
Plexus Worldwide
Plex has a free version, which offers the basic functionality you'll need to run a server in your home and watch your local content on a bunch of different devices. It's quite useful, but it's dwarfed by the premium version of Plex, called Plex Pass.
Plex
Plex Pass is, of course, a paid service. It will run you $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. The annual plan is a better deal, and Plex die-hards can save still more by opting for the lifetime plan, which is $119.99.
Plex Download Windows
The free version of Plex is perfectly serviceable, but the features that really put the competition to shame are mostly locked up behind the paywall. Live TV support, the cloud DVR, offline viewing, and integration with cloud services like Google Drive are all premium features. So are a host of minor perks, from lyrics for your music to special discount offers.