Plex

What Plex does

Plex is a global streaming and personal media platform operating the free, ad-supported Plex streaming service in nearly every country worldwide alongside the self-hosted Plex Media Server application. The company serves two interlocking consumer segments: mass-market cord-cutters who use Plex's 50,000+ free ad-supported on-demand titles and 1,300+ FAST linear channels (the world's largest FAST line-up), and tech-savvy self-hosters who run their own Plex Media Servers to organize, transcode, and stream personal video, music, and photo libraries across devices. Plex's technology stack combines a proprietary media server with hardware-accelerated transcoding (VideoToolbox, V4L2, Quick Sync), a cross-service universal watchlist and discovery engine that aggregates Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and Apple TV/iTunes, and FAST/AVOD infrastructure supporting 600+ live channels and HDR-enabled playback via a Technicolor partnership.

The company monetizes through four streams: (1) programmatic CTV advertising across on-demand content and FAST channels via partners including Amagi, TripleLift, and Xumo; (2) the Plex Pass subscription ($6.99/mo, $69.99/yr, or $249.99 lifetime rising to $749.99 on July 1, 2026) unlocking hardware transcoding, mobile activation, DVR, and Plexamp/Plex Dash exclusives; (3) the Remote Watch Pass subscription ($2.99/mo) introduced in 2025 to gate remote streaming of personal media; and (4) transactional movie rentals launched in February 2024 at $3.99 per film. Plexamp also generates affiliate/referral revenue through a TIDAL integration covering 60M+ songs.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Los Angeles as a 100% remote global company with 101–250 employees, Plex, Inc. is a privately held Delaware corporation that has raised approximately $120 million across rounds in 2010, 2014, 2021, 2022, and 2024 from investors including Intercap, Kleiner Perkins, and Klass Capital. The company is led by CEO Keith Valory, CPO/co-founder Scott Olechowski, CTO Schuyler Ullman, CFO Jason Eustace, and first CMO Matt DiPietro (appointed January 2025 from Twitch). Recent strategic moves include the June 2026 launch of the Plex Social discovery platform, the 200% Lifetime Pass price increase, and the rollout of Remote Watch Pass to smart TVs and game consoles.

Name

Plex

Legal name

Plex, Inc.

Website

https://plex.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Plex is a global streaming platform combining free ad-supported movies/TV and 1,300+ FAST channels with self-hosted personal media server software, serving 25M+ monthly active consumers and self-hosting enthusiasts worldwide via subscriptions, advertising, and rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Free Ad-Supported Streaming (FAST/AVOD)

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Subscription Bundles & Super-Apps (Music+Podcasts/Audiobooks) (MPAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Streaming & Low-Latency OTT Orchestration (LL-HLS, DASH, WebRTC) (MPAHAJAK), DRM, License Delivery & Content Protection (Widevine/FairPlay/PlayReady) (MPAHAJAI)

Keywords

• Free ad-supported streaming
• Personal media server
• FAST channel distribution
• Media discovery platform
• Movie rental marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Gatos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Advertising (AVOD / FAST): Ad-supported free streaming across on-demand movies/TV and 1,300+ live FAST channels; revenue from programmatic CTV advertising through partners including Amagi, TripleLift, and Xumo.
2. Plex Pass Subscription: Recurring monthly ($6.99), annual ($69.99), and lifetime ($249.99, rising to $749.99 on July 1, 2026) subscriptions unlocking premium personal-media features including hardware transcoding, remote streaming, Plexamp exclusives, mobile activation, and DVR.
3. Remote Watch Pass Subscription: New lower-tier subscription introduced April 2025 to gate remote access to personal media after ending free remote streaming; priced $1.99/month or $19.99/year intro, $2.99/month or $29.99/year standard (effective June 1, 2026).
4. Movie & TV Rentals: Transactional digital rentals marketplace launched in early 2024, offering premium movie rentals (e.g., starting at $4.99 in Canada, $3.99 in U.S.) through Plex's app and partners.
5. Premium / Subscription Hybrid (Freemium): Freemium core: Plex Media Server and free ad-supported streaming are free for all, with premium upgrades to Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass gating power-user features; tiered pricing drives land-and-expand upgrades.
6. TIDAL Music Integration (Plexamp): 30-day free trial and seamless integration of TIDAL's 60M+ high-quality song catalog inside Plexamp; revenue share / affiliate economics with TIDAL.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Plex operates a free, ad-supported streaming platform delivering more than 50,000 on-demand movies and TV titles plus 1,300+ live FAST channels across nearly every country worldwide, alongside its free Plex Media Server software that lets users organize and stream personal media libraries to any device. Premium tiers (Plex Pass, Remote Watch Pass) unlock hardware-accelerated transcoding, remote streaming, mobile activation, DVR, and the Plexamp audiophile music player; complementary offerings include a movie rental marketplace and cross-service universal search/discovery.

Product overview

Plex operates as a unified streaming and personal-media platform combining a free, cross-device media server application (Plex Media Server) with a portfolio of companion apps (Plexamp, Plex Photos, Plex Dash), subscription tiers (Plex Pass, Remote Watch Pass), and consumer-facing streaming services (Free On Demand movies/TV, Live TV, Rentals, Plex Arcade). The same account unlocks social discovery (Plex Discover, Discover Together with Lists/Discussions/Match Score), a public Developer API, and Plex's own media-player apps that bridge personal libraries with cross-service search across Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Apple TV/iTunes, and more. Plex Media Server is the core free product, Plex Pass is the premium tier that unlocks hardware transcoding, remote streaming, DVR, downloads, and member-only companion apps, while Remote Watch Pass offers a stripped-down option strictly for remote streaming of personal media.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Plexamp: Custom music player companion app built for audiophiles, integrated with Plex Media Server libraries and TIDAL.
• Plex Dash
• Plex Photos
• Plex Labs
• Plex Discover
• Plex
• CordCutter

Products and services

• Plex Media Server

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ million global monthly active users
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• LionsgateflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlex partnered with Lionsgate in September 2019 to expand its ad-supported video library and continues to license Lionsgate films for its free streaming lineup. Lionsgate is one of the major content partners monetizing Plex's free ad-supported service.
• Warner Bros. DiscoveryflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlex partnered with Warner Bros. in 2019 to launch into free ad-supported streaming, with Warner Bros. movies and TV shows forming a major part of Plex's free ad-supported catalog. Plex has signaled the Warner Bros. deal as the first of many major studio partnerships.
• AMC Networks / CrackleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlex added AMC and Crackle as content partners for its free ad-supported streaming service. AMC contributes free live TV channels and on-demand titles while Crackle distributes its programming through Plex's platform.
• NBCUniversalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn February 2025, Plex boosted its free streaming lineup with 20 new channels including a slew of NBCUniversal and A+E Network channels, expanding distribution of NBCUniversal content via Plex's FAST channel ecosystem.
• A+E NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlex added A+E Network channels as part of its 20 new channels launch in February 2025, expanding Plex's free FAST channel lineup with A+E's content.
• FOX CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn February 2023, Plex teamed up with FOX to launch 4 new free channels on its streaming service, expanding FOX's reach via Plex's CTV distribution.
• T-MobilecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIn April/May 2024, Plex partnered with T-Mobile to grow its Connected TV reach, leveraging T-Mobile's distribution to expand Plex's CTV audience.
• TechnicolorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn March 2025, Plex announced a partnership with Technicolor to enhance its AVOD services with Advanced HDR format, supporting high dynamic range playback of FAST, AVOD, and live sports content including the Paris Games and UEFA European Football Championship.
• AmagicoreTechnology or IntegrationPlex joined Amagi's CTV content marketplace in January 2023 as a platform partner; in May 2026 Amagi launched its In-Content Ads platform with Plex among the deploying partners, enabling programmatic advertising overlays/squeezebacks/PiP ads across streaming channels.
• TripleLiftcoreTechnology or IntegrationIn November 2025, TripleLift announced a major expansion of its Programmatic Pause Ads solution including new publisher integrations with Xumo and Plex to enhance CTV advertising effectiveness on Plex's platform.
• XumominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorXumo and Plex jointly participate in TripleLift's Programmatic Pause Ads expansion (November 2025) and distribute third-party AVOD content like Creator Television (Sabio Holdings).
• ATX TVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlex and ATX TV announced a five-city Friday Night Lights roadshow to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary, with screenings, cast reunions, and Q&A sessions at Alamo Drafthouse locations (Dallas, San Antonio, San Francisco, Brooklyn, Kansas City) beginning July 9, 2026. The roadshow is part of NBC's ongoing NBC100 centennial celebration.
• PBS / Capitol Broadcasting / Gray MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnicolor's broadcast partners that expanded Advanced HDR distribution alongside the Plex partnership for HDR-enabled AVOD streaming.
• ShortsTVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlex added a free global short movie channel from ShortsTV in September 2022, launching Shorts in the U.S. on the Plex platform.
• Rakuten TVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn June 2022, Rakuten TV launched on the Plex app, expanding Rakuten's distribution via Plex's free streaming platform.
• Nexstar Digital / The HillminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn August 2022, Nexstar Digital launched 'The Hill' political-news FAST streaming channel on Plex, expanding Plex's news category with Nexstar's political content.
• Hearst (Very Local)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn June 2022, Hearst's Very Local streaming channel launched on Plex, adding Hearst's local-news content to Plex's free streaming lineup.
• Bell MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn June 2024, Bell Media's 10 FAST channels set to launch on Plex (and Roku Channel), expanding Plex's Canadian content distribution.
• TIDALcoreTechnology or IntegrationPlexamp integrates with TIDAL to provide seamless access to 60 million high-quality songs, with TIDAL's music catalog beautifully organized inside the user's Plex music library. A 30-day free trial is offered.
• Moniker PartnersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMoniker Partners is the luxury corporate retreat and incentive travel agency that worked with Plex on a multi-day corporate retreat in France; their work won the 2026 SITE Crystal Award for Excellence in Incentive Travel: Europe.
• Sabio Holdings (Creator Television)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn October 2025, Sabio Holdings launched its Creator Television AVOD service on Plex and Xumo Play, expanding the distribution channels for its creator-led streaming network of original content from social media creators.
• Open PR / various media outletsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlex's Plex Gear merchandise store (https://plex-gear.myshopify.com/) and various media-outlet partnerships for co-marketing campaigns (CordCutter microsite at cordcutter.plex.tv).

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tubi: Fox-owned free ad-supported streaming service and one of the largest FAST/AVOD platforms in the U.S. Tubi is a direct competitor to Plex's free streaming offering, with a comparable library of licensed movies/TV, ad-supported model, and similar target market of cord-cutters seeking free, legal streaming.
• Pluto TV: Paramount-owned FAST/AVOD streaming service offering 700+ free live channels and on-demand movies/TV. Pluto TV is a direct competitor to Plex's FAST channel line-up with similar ad-supported monetization, content licensing approach, and cord-cutter audience.
• The Roku Channel: Roku's owned free ad-supported streaming service with thousands of free movies, TV shows, and live linear channels. The Roku Channel is a direct competitor to Plex with a similar AVOD/FAST model, but with a structural advantage of being pre-installed on Roku's massive installed base of CTV devices.
• Xumo: Free ad-supported streaming service offering 350+ free live channels and on-demand content, owned by Comcast/Charter. Xumo is a direct peer of Plex, distributing many of the same content partners (e.g., Creator Television via Sabio) and integrating with the same programmatic CTV ad platforms (TripleLift, Amagi).
• Jellyfin: Free, open-source personal media server software that lets users self-host and stream their own video, music, and photo libraries. Jellyfin is a direct competitor to Plex Media Server, targeting the same self-hosting power-user segment, but with a community-driven, no-paid-tier model.
• Emby: Personal media server software that organizes, streams, and transcodes user-owned video, music, and photo libraries. Emby is a direct competitor to Plex Media Server, with a freemium subscription model (Emby Premiere), hardware transcoding, and similar self-hosting target audience.

Broad incumbents

• Samsung TV Plus: Samsung's free, ad-supported FAST service pre-installed on millions of Samsung smart TVs globally. Samsung TV Plus is a broad incumbent competing with Plex's FAST line-up, with a structural OEM-distribution advantage and backed by Samsung's hardware ecosystem.
• Vizio WatchFree+: Vizio's free ad-supported streaming and FAST channel service integrated into Vizio Smart TVs. WatchFree+ competes with Plex's FAST offering on the same CTV surface and benefits from Vizio's device installed base, recently expanded via Walmart acquisition of Vizio.

Others

• JustWatch: Cross-service streaming search engine and universal watchlist that aggregates content from Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, and other SVODs. JustWatch is a direct competitor to Plex Discover/Universal Watchlist in the cross-service discovery category, though it lacks Plex's FAST, personal media server, and social layers.
• Reelgood: Cross-service streaming aggregator and universal watchlist for movies and TV across SVODs and AVODs. Reelgood competes with Plex Discover in the universal-search and watchlist category, offering a focused aggregator experience but without Plex's FAST channels or personal media server.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/plex
• Facebookfacebook.com/plexapp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plex-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plex