Plex has previously stressed its requirement to adapt to “increasing expenses,” which encompass supporting a variety of devices and codecs. It has also indicated that it requires funding to roll out new features, including integration with Common Sense Media, a novel “custom server management app” for overseeing server users, and “a transparent and documented API for server integrations,” featuring custom metadata agents,” according to a blog post from March.
In January 2024, TechCrunch announced that Plex was on the verge of profitability and secured $40 million in funding (Plex had raised a $50 million growth equity round in 2021). Theoretically, the new remote access regulations could also boost subscription revenue and enable Plex’s investors to see a return on their investments.
Nevertheless, Plex’s transformation might alienate long-time users who have depended on Plex as a media server over the years, along with those uninterested in subscriptions, FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) channels, or film rentals. Plex is improbable to abandon its streaming venture, however. In 2023, Scott Hancock, Plex’s former VP of marketing, stated that Plex had more individuals utilizing its online streaming service than its media server features since 2022. For users looking for software options that focus more directly on media hosting, Plex alternatives, such as Jellyfin, are becoming increasingly appealing.
