Plex Cloud has exited beta and ready for all users to use. You still need to be a Plex Pass subscriber to use the service, but if you are, you can host all or part of your personal media library in the cloud without needing to run a local Plex server. The service first debuted last year with support for Amazon Drive, but now only supports Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
Normally with Plex, you use your own PC or NAS to store your media and run their free Plex server software. Then you use one of their apps, available for most popular platforms like the Fire TV, to view your media. The apps and service are free, but you can choose to pay for a Plex Pass subscription to unlock additional features. One of those features is Plex Cloud.
With Plex Cloud, you do not need to have an always-on PC or NAS to run the Plex server software and store your media. You upload your media to one of the three supported cloud drive services and stream that content to the various Plex apps directly from the cloud drive.
Advantages of Plex Cloud, over running your own Plex server, are quick setup and ease of use. You just upload your content, launch the Plex app, and link it with your cloud drive. Your content will be available to stream from anywhere without needing to configure routers and home networks to allow outside access.
The big disadvantage is having to pay for cloud storage. Plex Cloud was very promising when it launched with Amazon Drive support because you could get unlimited storage for just $59.99 a year. Plex dropped Amazon Drive support within a month due to “technical problems.” None of the remaining three cloud drive services offer an unlimited plan. With Google Drive you’ll pay $20 per year for 100 GB, $100 per year for 1 TB, or $100 per month for 10 TB. With OneDrive you’ll pay $24 per year for 50 GB, $70 per year for 1 TB, or $100 per year for 5 TB. Dropbox is $100 per year for 1 TB.
Until Plex Cloud supports a cloud drive service that offers unlimited storage, it’s probably not a viable option to store a massive media library. It may be worth setting up to store select titles you want easy access to, or if you just want to give Plex a try without having to setup your own local hardware.
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Also remember it takes forever to upload your library to the cloud. Way longer than the traditional Plex Server method.
Accessing my Plex Media Server running on my Mac didn’t require any router/network port forwarding or configuration whatsoever. You can simply log in at plex.tv/web and see your available servers. The mobile apps work outside of your home network the same way.
Just wanted to clarify as this is a big reason I use Plex at all. Simple remote access to my media.
Pretty disappointed in this… the only reason I signed up for Plex in the first place was because of this so called Amazon Drive Cloud support which they dropped right after I signed up. Sounds pretty useless without Amazon Drive support.
This is great. If you have media in the cloud already like I did you just go in and set up folders for it. Works flawlessly.