Streaming media server

Host Plex Stream your movie and TV collection to any device

VPS Dedicated

Recommended configurations

Plex is a media server that organizes your own video files, music, and photos, then streams them to any device — smart TV, phone, tablet, game console, or browser — with automatic metadata, subtitles, and transcoding.

Light use

Direct play, 1–2 streams Devices that play files natively without transcoding
From €3.99/mo
VPS
CPU
2 cores
RAM
4 GB RAM
Storage
200 GB SSD
Network
Unlimited traffic

Sufficient for direct play to modern devices that support the file format natively

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Most popular

Standard

Transcoding, 3–5 streams Multiple users, mixed devices
From €19.00/mo
VPS
CPU
4 cores
RAM
8 GB RAM
Storage
1 TB SSD
Network
Unlimited traffic

Recommended — handles multiple simultaneous streams with transcoding

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Heavy

4K transcoding, 5+ streams Large library, many concurrent viewers
From €49.00/mo
Dedicated
CPU
6+ cores
RAM
16 GB RAM
Storage
2 TB+ NVMe
Network
Unlimited traffic

For 4K transcoding and 5+ simultaneous streams from a large media library

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Why self-host Plex?

Hardware transcoding saves CPU

Intel Quick Sync and NVIDIA GPUs handle video transcoding far more efficiently than the CPU. With hardware transcoding (Plex Pass), a single server handles 4K transcoding for multiple concurrent streams without breaking a sweat.

Automatic metadata

Plex fetches posters, ratings, cast info, trailers, and subtitles automatically. Name files correctly (Movie Title (2023).mkv) and Plex matches them to the right metadata — no manual editing needed.

Stream from anywhere

Your Plex server has a public IP — stream your library from any network, any country. The Plex app handles relay or direct connections automatically based on your network.

Plan for traffic with 4K content

A 4K stream uses 25–100 Mbps depending on encoding. With multiple users and high-resolution content, traffic adds up fast. Choose a plan with unlimited traffic to avoid overage charges.

Frequently asked questions

Does Plex require a paid subscription?

The core Plex server is free. Plex Pass ($4.99/mo or $119.99 lifetime) adds hardware transcoding, offline sync (download to phone), live TV & DVR, and multi-user home management. For a private server with direct play, the free tier is sufficient.

What is transcoding and when do I need it?

Transcoding converts a video file to a format a device can play in real time. A MKV file with AC3 audio that a smart TV can't play natively gets transcoded to H.264/AAC. If all your devices can direct play your files, transcoding is rarely needed — but mixed device environments typically require it.

How much CPU do I need for Plex?

Direct play uses minimal CPU — any modern server handles it. Software transcoding needs roughly 2000 PassMark score per simultaneous 1080p stream. Hardware transcoding (Intel Quick Sync or NVIDIA) reduces this dramatically — 4+ streams on modest hardware. For 4K, hardware transcoding is effectively required.

Can multiple users access my Plex server?

Yes. Share your Plex library with other Plex accounts. Plex Pass enables managed users with custom restrictions. Up to two users can share a Plex home for free; more require Plex Pass.

What video formats does Plex support?

Plex direct plays MKV, MP4, MOV, AVI, and most common container formats. H.264, H.265 (HEVC), AV1, and most common codecs are supported. Unsupported formats or codecs trigger transcoding automatically.

Plex is the most widely used self-hosted media server, with apps for every major platform — Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Chromecast, and web browsers. It organizes your personal media library automatically: point it at a folder of your own video files and Plex fetches posters, ratings, cast information, trailers, and chapter images from The Movie Database and TheTVDB. Transcoding converts video files to a format compatible with the requesting device in real time — a file your TV cannot play natively becomes streamable without re-encoding your entire library. Hardware transcoding (Intel Quick Sync, NVIDIA NVENC) offloads this work from the CPU, allowing multiple simultaneous streams on modest hardware. Plex Pass adds offline sync, hardware transcoding support, live TV with a tuner, and multi-user home management. Plan your server with unlimited traffic to ensure smooth playback regardless of simultaneous viewers.

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