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Plex is popular because of its sleek user interface and capability to manage and play extensive libraries of movies, TV shows, and music. However, streaming downloaded content isn’t all you can do with the digital media player. By installing Plex plugins, you’re able to expand its functionality and enjoy content from online sources.
Tip: With a VPN, you can bypass the unfair practice of bandwidth throttling and prevent third parties like your ISP and the government from seeing what you’re streaming on Plex. Learn more
The official Plex plugins that everyone loved are no longer available as Plex withdrew the official Plugin directory along with its support. Currently, Plex does not provide official or unofficial plugins but still supports the manual installation of third-party plugins.
There are hundreds of third-party plugins for Plex, but not all of them are worth your time. Fret not, though as we’ve done the leg work for you. Below, you’ll find a list of the best Plex plugins that you should use in 2024.
Top 10 Must-Have Plex Plugins
1. WebTools
One of the most widely-used Plex plugins, WebTools features the Unsupported App Store that offers access to a host of user-generated content and unofficial Plex channels. It also features logging tools and a playlist management module along with a subtitle management module. You also have the ability to scan for unmatched or missing media.
2. Cigaras IPTV
Did you know many TV networks worldwide air their shows through IPTV? Cigaras IPTV lets you access your favorite broadcasts, unless they’re geo-restricted (you’ll require a VPN to unlock them!). If you want to add content, M3U playlists or streaming URLs can be found via a Google search. The app supports channel categories, custom channel logos, and on-screen program guides as well.
3. Tautulli
Tautulli is a must-have add-on for anybody who shares their library with others. It provides statistics surrounding your Plex server like what has been watched and who watched it. Furthermore, Tautulli is a good notifications tool and enables you to use custom scripts that modify the functionality significantly. For example, you could limit streams to users on your local network.
4. Sub-Zero
Though Plex can manage subtitles natively, it comes with a few limitations. For starters, you only have access to a few subtitle libraries. Plus, the tool can’t retrospectively load subtitles to existing content. Sub-Zero finds the best subtitles by scanning eight repositories and even searches for missing subtitle files. It also features customization tools like timing offset, color, and more.
5. TheaterTrailers
Some Plex users want their server to recreate the theater experience at home, and a huge part of that involves watching trailers for yet-to-be released and upcoming movies. The TheaterTrailers plugin automatically adds and plays the latest movie trailers before your video begins. These are removed as soon as the film is released to the general public.
6. Plex Export
Want someone to view your Plex library without granting them access to the server? Plex Export is the perfect add-on as it lets you create an interactive HTML page for others to browse. Your content is displayed by section, and there are a number of live filters as well so users can quickly determine what’s available.
7. Crunchyroll
If you’re a fan of anime, chances are that you’ve heard about Crunchyroll. The platform gives its subscribers access to tons of anime series in subbed or dubbed versions. The unofficial Crunchyroll add-on is simple to configure and lets you stream all the available content in high definition (HD) quality. However, you’ll need to have a premium Crunchyroll account.
8. Webisodes
Webisodes is one of the most commonly used Plex plugins. It pulls videos from your favorite shows on streaming sites (like YouTube, Vimeo, & Daily Motion) and adds them to your Plex library. Furthermore, Webisodes also works with RSS Feeds – your preferred videos are made available as soon as soon as they show up on it!
9. quavarus
Do you have a premium Spotify account of your own? If so, you can listen to the music and playlists you love with quavarus. However, you’ll have to enter your Spotify Username and Password to be able to use the add-on.
10. Facebook
Are you a Facebook user? Who isn’t, really! It’s the most popular social media network worldwide, and can be used on Plex using the unofficial Facebook plugin. It’s optimized for the Plex interface and shows your photo library, newsfeed, and more.
Always Use a VPN for Plex
Here’s why you need a VPN for Plex:
· To Avoid ISP Throttling
We don’t encourage or condone piracy, but do believe that ISP throttling is a deceptive and unfair practice. Many ISPs slow down the Internet speed of users when they engage in bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming. With a VPN, you can prevent your ISP from snooping on your traffic and, ultimately, throttling you.
· To Bypass Geo-Restrictions
Unable to stream certain content? It could be unavailable in your country or region due to geo-restrictions. You can work your way around these roadblocks by making your online activities appear to come from another country. This is where a VPN can help – it lets you spoof your IP address to access the content you want on Plex!
· To Protect Your Privacy
Privacy on the Internet is non-existent, and you can’t trust anyone but yourself to keep your browsing history hidden. Using a VPN, you can safeguard your connection with AES 256-bit encryption (also known as military-grade encryption). As a result, third-parties like ISPs and hackers won’t be able spy on your streaming activities.
· Open ports on Plex with PureVPN’s Port forwarding Add-on
With PureVPN’s Port forwarding add-on you can easily open ports on Plex Multimedia Server.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are some commonly asked questions about Plex and plugins:
How Do I Add the Unofficial App Store to Plex?
If you want to use any of the Plex plugins mentioned above, you’ll first have to install the Unofficial App Store. Here’s how:
- Download and install WebTools.
- Unzip the bundle.
- Move the unarchived version into the Plex Plugins Folder.
- Go to Plex’s plugin management page and you’ll see the WebTools add-on has been installed.
- Open the plugin and copy one of the supplied URLS.
- Paste it in your web browser and login using your Plex Username and Password.
- Find your desired plugin and click Install.
- Once done, the add-on will be added to Plex!
Can You Add Netflix to Plex?
Yes, Plex includes Netflix support via a third-party plugin called Silverlight. It only works with MacOS, though. Just follow these steps.
Do Plex Plugins Still Work?
Plex has killed its Plugin Directory, but still continues to support manually installed plugins (third-party plugins).
Why Did Plex Remove Plugins?
The move to remove support for plugins and a host of other features came after Plex discontinued its Cloud service due to technical difficulties. However, users can still use plugins on Plex by installing them manually.
How Do I Find Plex Plugins?
The easiest way to find the Plex Plugins is to visit the Plex forum. It even has a dedicated page where you can discover the latest third-party plugins and the different issues users face with regards to their installation, usage, etc.
Is Plex Safe to Use?
Absolutely. Plex uses SSL certificates to protect important information and allows setting custom access restrictions for content sharing. However, you should exercise caution when installing Plex plugins as some of them could be malicious.
Wrapping Things Up
There you have it! We’ve reached the end of our guide to the 10 best Plex plugins to install in 2024. Try them out and let us know what you think in the comments section below.
PureVPN
January 1, 2024
4 months ago
