Media & Entertainment · head to head
Plex vs Apple TV+
Apple TV+
Media & Entertainment
Original stories from the most creative minds
- From
- $9.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Plex has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Plex plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned; Apple TV+ standalone subscription costs 12.99 USD per month after a 7 day free trial, with no lower priced tier
- They diverge on capability: Plex covers Financial management, Apple TV+ covers Apple Originals.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Plex and Apple TV+ actually diverge.
| Attribute | Plex | Apple TV+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $9.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Ios, Macos, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Web |
| Founded | 2009 | 2019 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & Entertainment).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Plex
- Financial management
- Manufacturing execution
- Supply chain
- Quality management
- Analytics
- IoT platforms
- REST APIs
- Webhooks
Only in Apple TV+
- Apple Originals
- 4K HDR
- Dolby Atmos
- Family sharing
- Downloads
- Apple devices
- Smart TVs
- Gaming consoles
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Plex
- Industry 4.0not Apple TV+
- Real-time monitoringnot Apple TV+
- IoT integrationnot Apple TV+
- Smart manufacturingnot Apple TV+
Apple TV+
- Original content streamingnot Plex
- Family entertainmentnot Plex
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Plex
- Plex restricts free remote streaming on certain platforms including Roku, with expansion to Android TV and Apple TV planned
- Remote streaming quality degrades significantly if Plex cannot establish direct connection and falls back to relay mode
- Upcoming sunsetting of plugins, Cloud Sync, and Watch Later features
Apple TV+
- Standalone subscription costs 12.99 USD per month after a 7 day free trial, with no lower priced tier
Pricing, plan by plan
Plex
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Plex review.
Apple TV+
$9.99/month- Apple TV+$9.99/month
- All originals
- 4K HDR
- 6 family members
Which should you pick?
Choose Plex if
- You need financial management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want manufacturing execution.
Choose Apple TV+ if
- You need apple originals.
- You work on Ios, Macos, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Web.
- You also want 4k hdr.
Questions people ask
- Is Plex or Apple TV+ better?
- Neither clearly leads. Plex starts at Free and Apple TV+ at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Plex or Apple TV+?
- Plex has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Plex and $9.99/month for Apple TV+.
- Does Plex or Apple TV+ run on more platforms?
- Plex runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Apple TV+ runs on Ios, Macos, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Web.
- Can I use Plex for free?
- Yes. Plex has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Apple TV+ starts at $9.99/month.
- What is Plex best used for?
- Plex is most often used for industry 4.0, real-time monitoring, iot integration, smart manufacturing. Of those, industry 4.0 and real-time monitoring are not what Apple TV+ is typically brought in for.
- What can Plex do that Apple TV+ cannot?
- Plex covers Financial management, Manufacturing execution, Supply chain, Quality management. Apple TV+ covers Apple Originals, 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos, Family sharing. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Plex: Is Plex Media Server free?
Yes. Plex Media Server and the ad-supported streaming catalog are free. Plex Pass is an optional subscription at 6.99 USD per month or 69.99 USD per year that adds features like hardware transcoding and offline sync.
SourcePlex: Can I access Plex content offline?
Yes, but downloads have limitations. Downloaded content may have an expiration period and is specific to the device where downloaded. Downloads are not available on shared libraries in some cases.
SourcePlex: What devices does Plex support?
Plex apps are available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Server software runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and Docker.
SourcePlex: What is included in the free Plex catalog?
Plex's free ad-supported streaming catalog includes 14,000+ movies and shows from Lionsgate, MGM, Warner Bros, and Crackle Originals.
Source