Updating Plex Media Server when running as a service. One issue when running Plex Media Server as a service is that it cannot be updated using the Web application without first stopping the service. Basically, the following steps would need to be performed to update Plex: Stopping the PlexService service. Run the Plex Media Server update. Plex Media Manager will not open, only a page that says 'Plex' with no clickable content appears, page address. A second computer which could access the Media Manager concurrenlty also behaves the same. This second comper is a Windows 7 laptop and formerly hosted this PMS installation.
Plex Plugins have been deprecated. Hence, some of the Plex plugins might not work depending on the Plex version.
Last year, Plex shutdown the plugin support, but fortunately it still allows you to manually sideload them via WebTools. The only problem now is, with no app store, how do you find good Plex plugins? Well, I’ve been using some Plex plugin myself which let you stream live TV, auto-download subtitles, and even change the Plex interface. So, let’s check them out.
Before we begin
Plex Free Movies
The way to sideload all Plex plugins is exactly the same. So, let’s see how you install plugins on the Plex Media Server.
Firstly download the zip file of the plugin. You can use the links given below or head over to the Plex forum. Once you have the zip file downloaded, extract it and copy the plugin_name.bundle folder to your local Plex Plugins folder. To access the local folder, right-click on the Plex icon at the bottom tray and click on “Open Plug-ins Folder”. Alternatively, you can also copy-paste the following location in the Run box and hit enter.
Read: 4 Free VPNs That Work With Netflix (2018)
After you have copy-pasted the plugin bundle folder, restart your Plex Server. Post the restart, you should be able to see the plugin under the Plugins section.
For Ubuntu, macOS or Debian, visit this GitHub page for the plugin Installation process.
Best Plex Plugins in 2019
1. WebTools
WebTools is an unofficial Plex App Store for the Plex server. It lets you download all the previously listed apps directly to Plex. WebTools App store is a web portal and has to be accessed on a separate IP which will be displayed once you click on the plugin. The credentials for WebTools will be the same as Plex.
By Default, Plex Media Server doesn’t assign password to your account. So, setup a Password before you access WebTools.
Download WebTools
2. Trakt Scrobbler
Trakt.tv or Trakt Scrobbler is an amazingly popular plugin among Plex users and it was disappointing when Plex removed it from Plex Channels. However, you can still download it via WebTools and it works flawlessly. In case you didn’t know, it tracks your progress on TV shows and movies you have watched by syncing your playlist with your Track ID and also provides ratings for the clips.
However, if there are multiple individuals watching the same content over a Plex Server it has a hard time maintaining the sync and it could get annoying at those times.
Visit Trakt.tv GitHub
3. mangahere
If you read Mangas or a majority of your users do, mangahere is a neat plugin to add Mangas to your Plex server. mangahere routes mangas from Manga Here. The plugin is present inside WebTools and you have to just install it to push on your Plex server. The plugin provides an interface to read mangas on Plex itself instead of visiting the Manga website.
Download mangahere
4. IPTV
IPTV is a handy plugin that tries to bring live TV experience to your Plex Media Server. It reads live TV stream over the Internet and passes them onto your Plex Server. This provides more of a cable TV experience for your Plex users. The live TV stream includes movies, news channel and pretty much every category.
Download IPTV
5. FilmOn
FilmOn takes the media streaming experience to another level by integrating free TV channels. You have channels from pretty much every category like Sports, Comedy, Horror, etc. It streams channels from different countries to you irrespective of the Geolocation. You will have to pay for the paid content and it also includes a pay-per-view service.
You will need to register on the FilmOn website and enter the credentials on Plex Server.
Download FilmOn
6. Tautulli
Plex already has an inbuilt Activity dashboard and that might be enough if you deal with fewer people on your server. But, when you scale up, an advanced plugin like Tautulli aka PlexPy would help. Tautulli gives you a graphical view of watch time, current running shows and bandwidth consumption of other people. So, if you have multiple IPs accessing from a singe IP it’s easy to pinpoint the bottleneck.
Download Tautulli
7. Sub-Zero
Lately, I started watching Korean series suggested by significant other, and it’s a hard time to understand the context without subtitles. Sub-Zero is another Plex Plugin which builds subtitles for your movies. Now, Plex already provides an inbuilt subtitle generator called OpenSubtitles but most of the time it fails to work. Even Sub-Zero is not perfect and has its own flaws but it gathers in subtitles from 10 individual subtitle provider sites and APIs.
In case subtitles don’t work, you can also go online and find the SRT(SubRip Subtitle file) files and manually supply it to Sub-Zero. This GitHub Wiki will guide you through the entire process.
Download Sub-Zero
![Plex Media Manager Plex Media Manager](https://cupertinotimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/plex-media-manager.jpg)
8. Ombi
Ombi is a plugin you should only use if you get frequent requests from users to download or upload content on your Plex Server. It provides a web portal to manage all the movie requests. So, instead of every user contacting you directly, they can raise a request for the content on the portal. As soon as you upload the content, the user is notified via email about the upload. Users can also report issues for a particular issue.
It is similar to PlexRequests but it has comparatively active development.
Download Ombi
9. TheaterTrailers
TheaterTrailers is an interesting Python script that downloads movie trailers for you from YouTube. The best thing is the trailers are automatically deleted as soon as the release date is passed. It’s a good way to keep the content on your Plex server engaging. TheaterTrailers would require Python, YouTube-DL, and TMDB to be installed on your Plex Web server.
Download TheaterTrailers
10. Old Movie Time
As the name suggests, Old Movie Time lets you play old classics on your Plex Server. The UI is plain simple with movie genres listed out such as Action, Crime Mystery, OMT B Classic, etc. Old Movie Time lets you stream content in FullHD with AAC audio codec. Although the collection of movies is quite small but definitely worth trying. The classics listed are definitely a treasure to explore. You can find OMT in the WebTools store.
Download Old Movie Time
11. IceFilms
If you are a Roku user, this plugin is a must-have on your Plex server. IceFilms sources various TV shows and movies from Roku TV on your Plex server. You have the option to set up an email ID so that IceFilms can notify you when your favorite show is available. There might be chances that IceFilms doesn’t function for you as desired because the GitHub version was never updated. You can fall back to LetMeWatchThis which is an alternative to IceFilms.
Download IceFilms and LetMeWatchThis
12. openPHT
![Link Link](https://troypoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/plex-share.png)
Plex Server doesn’t have a dedicated app and to check on the server or upload content, I have to open the web portal every time. openPHT is a third-party add-on that provides an intuitive front-end for the Plex media server. It is available for almost every Operating System including macOS, Debian, OpenBSD, etc. The best use case I have derived is instead of logging to the web portal to listen to content, I prefer opening openPHT and stream content on the server.
Another similar Plex client is Transmorgify which is a Google Chrome extension. It provides quick shortcuts on the Plex web client and even some useful statistics. These come useful when you have your Plex server loaded with content and users.
Download openPHT
13. Plex Export
Plex Export is a handy plugin when you want to share your media list without providing them access to the entire Plex server. It produces an HTML page with all your Plex contents. Now, this HTML doesn’t require any credentials and can be shared with anyone.
You do need PHP installed on your Plex Server
Download Plex Export
Wrapping Up
Plex might have cited that the number of users using Plex channels is minuscule but the availability of plugins is vast. This GitHub page has a list of some other small Plex plugins which can open TV, music channels for you. WebTools also has a vast app repository that lets you install plugins at a single click.
For any queries or issues, let me know in the comments below and I will get back to you.
Also Read: 5 Best Android Apps to Download Subtitles
Media centers are the perfect place to store collections of images, music, and videos that people create on their computers, smartphones, or other devices. Their primary function is to store this media, such as your latest vacation photos or your favorite film. However, you may find your patience being tested if you start searching for a particular file, only to realize that nothing is organized properly.
If you’re looking for a suitable management platform for your media files, you will no doubt come across Plex eventually. Launched as a freeware project in 2007, Plex has an impressive range of features and is undoubtedly one of the best media centers of all time. Thanks to various streaming portals and services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, or Vevo, Plex users can play online content directly through their media center interface. However, Plex does have some formidable alternatives.
What should a good alternative to Plex be able to do?
The primary function of a media center is to organize all media files (audio, video, and image) on the selected computer system in a clearly arranged format. The user interface should make it easy for you to find and play back the content you want.
Tiny Media Manager Plex
Plex alternatives (as well as Plex itself) should not just allow playback on the original device, but should also be able to play through external devices. Streaming your own media content on a TV should be a standard feature, which is why most media center interfaces are also designed to be used with smart TVs.
The best Plex alternatives should also be able to stream video and information services. Of course, your personal interests are most important here: Netflix and YouTube are more widely supported than other services because of their popularity. However, if you are not interested in these mainstream platforms, streaming links will be irrelevant to you as a user. It is therefore advisable to check the additional features in advance (often available as optional add-ons) that can be used as a respectable alternative to Plex. It is also important that the selected media management option allows multiple devices to access the library at the same time. If you want to enjoy a film while a roommate or a family member is streaming music, your chosen Plex alternative must always be usable by several people at the same time.
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What are the best alternatives to Plex?
In addition to the range of functions, cost and compatibility play an important role when it comes to choosing the best media center. The latter does not just deal with which systems the media center should be created on, it is also about what platforms you can access the media center from. You should also consider how up to date the Plex alternative is when making your decision: since many media centers are interconnected with web services, timely updates to close security holes are particularly important.
To make finding a suitable Plex alternative easier, here are some interesting examples of the best media centers and a guide to their advantages and disadvantages.
Mezzmo
On December 20th 2007, the Australian-based software company Conceiva released their home entertainment product Mezzmo. The software was initially available as a paid program for Windows, but Conceiva now relies on a freemium model: you can download and use the basic model for free, while the pro edition (which includes a web interface so that you can access using standard browsers) has lots of extra features and requires a subscription fee. There is also a paid Android app which was released in 2014. The app is mainly used as a remote application to retrieve content stored on the local Mezzmo media server on Android devices. Thanks to an integrated digital media server (DMS), you can also stream files stored on the device itself with the app.
Mezzmo is very easy to set up: after installing the program, it automatically searches and organizes all the movies, video clips, music, photos, and stored subtitles saved on the system being used. These files can subsequently be played back on all devices in the network that support UPnP or DNLA, or that have the app installed (Android only) – Mezzmo transcodes the media content in real time to ensure optimal streaming quality. You can access the media collection simultaneously with multiple devices at any time, so that sharing the media center is no problem. If you are having technical problems with Mezzmo, you can contact Conceiva with a ticket or through the user forum.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Multi-user capability | Media center cannot be used on macOS/Linux systems |
Android app with its own media server | Web interface is only available in the paid pro edition |
MediaPortal
In February 2014, Erwin Becker launched the GPL-licensed open source programMediaPortal, which is now managed by the MediaPortal team. A core feature of MediaPortal is that it supports TV cards so that you can watch TV through your media center. Additionally, the free-of-charge Plex alternative combines FM and internet radio with TV stations, information services (weather, news, etc.), and all media files stored on the computer in a single user interface. It’s up to you to decide how content should be categorized: you can sort songs by artist, album, or genre, and video clips and movies by cover, actor, or genre.
MediaPortal is an open source application and therefore benefits enormously from collaborating with the community: plugins developed as a supplement that provide additional functions that can be installed and integrated just as easily as skins to give the user interface a new appearance. This Plex alternative is only available for Windows and there are no separate apps for smartphones, tablets, or smart TVs – but there are extensions that allow remote access to your MediaPortal library from these same devices. All skins and plugins are available at any time from the official download page.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Supports standard TV cards | Media center can only be used with Windows |
Customizable user interface with skins | Complex installation and setup |
Kodi
One Plex alternative, originally designed primarily as a media player solution for the Microsoft console Xbox, is Kodi. Published as ‘Xbox Media Center’ (XBMC) in 2004, the media center kept this name even when it became available for other platforms. In 2014, it decided to rename the open source application, distributed under the GNU-GPL license, to Kodi. This made it clear that it was no longer primarily aimed at consoles. However, the media software is not really an alternative to Plex: the Kodi project – or it’s Linux version, to be more precise – formed the basis for Plex. Strictly speaking, Plex is an XBMC separation code.
Kodi delivers all the central features of a good media center: you can organize all your media content easily and play it back through the user interface, which supports a variety ofaudio, video, and image formats. Implementing new formats and technologies (like video acceleration) is handled by the Kodi team in real time. The Plex alternative automatically retrieves metadata from the web to provide additional information about archived content. Kodi’s greatest strength, however, is that the software is platform independent. There are not only installation packages for Windows, Linux, and macOS, but also for Android, iOS, and Raspberry-Pi. Remote control apps for iOS and Android complete the range of options.
Take a screen. Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent | Complicated multi-user setup (focused on one device by default) Can word open pages. |
Can also be used with alternative hardware like the Raspberry Pi | |
Experienced developer team |
Stremio
The Bulgarian startup Stremio launched an exciting alternative to Plex in 2015 with their application of the same name, which was quickly met with enthusiasm from film and TV fans. The open source media center, which is easy to use, focuses entirely on organizing video content, and integrates video-on-demand services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. in an interesting way: add-ons allow content from different providers to be combined with the Stremio interface. Video clips, shows and movies on your own device are also taken into account when creating the library. Thanks to the integrated calendar function, you can also always keep track of new episode releases or highly anticipated films.
By integrating various streaming providers, Stremio not only provides an excellent overview of when and where content is available, but also offers a good price comparison. In terms of compatibility, the open source platform is just as well set up as Kodi: desktop versions for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available, as well as free apps for Android and iOS. Additionally, the developer plans to release a web application for the Plex alternative, which will then allow them to manage and access their own library as well as the existing clients for desktop PCs and mobile devices.
Third-party add-ons that allow free streaming of paid video content are illegal and should not be used or installed.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Very easy to set up and use | No function for organizing music and image files available |
Calendar features help to keep track of new movie releases, series, or episodes | Number of official developer add-ons is very manageable |
Universal Media Server
The Universal Media Server is also an example of an open source program, written in Java. The spin-off program from PS3 Media Server was developed in May 2012 by the developer SubJunk, who had previously played a decisive role in the media server for Sony’s game console. As an alternative to Plex, the software is particularly impressive because of its broad device compatibility: both DNLA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and UPnP (Universal Plug & Play) are supported, so that music, videos, and images can be streamed easily on all devices that work to these standards (this includes PS4, Xbox 360, iPhone, Android devices, and various smart TVs). Universal Media Server runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, thanks to its multiple versions.
The media center is regularly updated by the developer team. Recent updates are often available as a beta version for download – however, users must expect that the software may not always work properly in these pre-releases. The Plex alternative has an optional web browser interface and is expandable with plugins. This can be used, for example, to integrate a link to SoundCloud. Further information on the development status and useful links to interesting Universal Media Server websites can be found in the official directory for the project on Github Github.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent thanks to broad device support and an optional web interface | No separate client applications/apps for accessing the media server |
Time consuming, uncomfortable to start with, and not easy to connect devices |
Emby
If you’re looking for a good alternative to Plex, you will no doubt come across the Emby. The largely royalty-free application (GNU-GPL), which has been maintained by Emby LLC since 2015, provides all the features you might need for the multi-device organization of your media files, starting with a free-of-charge media server available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as NAS and docker platforms. Configuration for the Emby server takes place independently of the chosen system through the very complex web interface. The server is automatically recognized by all DNLA-capable devices – but the developers also offer various proprietary (and partly chargeable) apps for mobile devices (iOS, Android, Windows) as well as for smart TVs and consoles (Samsung, LG, PS4, Xbox One).
If you start the Emby server after installation, the web dashboard will automatically open, allowing you to configure all the necessary settings for your personal media server. This is not just about filling the library, but also about finding the perfect setup for transcoding the content. It is also possible to create different user profiles, including access authorizations. This way you can ensure that adult content is not accessible to children, for example. If you subscribe to the monthly Emby Premiere package, you can use numerous additional features like cloud and folder synchronization, a cover configurator, and a backup function. In addition, you can stream videos and music to individual devices, as well as save them when you take out a subscription so that they can be played without a network connection.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Excellent user account management | Limited extensions available |
Apps for various platforms/devices available | Some features are only available in the paid premiere subscription |
TVersity
TVersity is a proprietary Plex alternative from TVersity Inc. Their paid media server package uses DNLA/UPnP technology to enable users to stream content from their own PCs to a wide variety of devices (content can also be accessed through standard web browsers). If the format/codec on the target devices is not supported, the TVersity server will transcode the corresponding files in real time. Indexing photos, songs, and videos happens automatically in the background, ensuring that your collection is always up to date. When it comes to server operation, unfortunately this Plex alternative only runs on Windows.
There is a free version of TVersity, but it only supports a small portion of the formats and codecs. In addition, there is no real-time transcoding in the free output, which then limits streaming capabilities considerably.
TVersity combines your personal media collection with useful web content like free video streams, RSS feeds, or podcasts that can be retrieved from the client on the chosen device. If you’re looking for a specific file, you’ll benefit from the media center’s outstanding performance, which is sure to impress even large libraries with more than 100.000 entries. A large part of their fast, uncomplicated file retrieval system is the powerful search mask and integrated cache function, which caches transcoded content. The Plex alternative has a REST API that allows you to integrate the media center into other tools easily.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Platform independent web app available | Server application is only available for Windows |
A tabular comparison of the best Plex alternatives
Media center | Release year | Developer | License | Media library platform | Payment model |
Emby | 2015 | Emby LLC | GNU GPL, proprietary (Apps) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, NAS | Freemium |
MediaPortal | 2014 | Team MediaPortal | GNU GPL | Windows | Free |
Mezzmo | 2007 | Conceiva | GNU GPL, LGPL Lotv terran units. | Windows, Android | Freemium |
Kodi | 2004 | Kodi Team | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi | Free |
Stremio | 2015 | Stremio | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Free |
TVersity | 2005 | TVersity Inc. | proprietary | Windows | Paid Pro edition, free basic edition |
Universal Media Server | 2012 | SubJunk and others | GNU GPL | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free |
Plex is one of the most popular applications for organizing your own multimedia collection on PCs, smartphones, and other devices, but there are a number of good alternatives that don’t have to hide behind the mainstream media centers when it comes to functionality and streaming quality. This article explains exactly what characterizes software that manages and plays back audio, video, and image files, and what Plex alternatives are available.