Plex is a versatile media server software that work with Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS and FreeBSD. With this free option, you can forget about the cord and enjoy your favorite media anywhere you are. It is ideal for taking full advantage of your smart TV, tablet, TV box, gaming consoles and other devices, to manage and access your media in one place. Plex supports videos, music and photos and it offers a convenient interface. Apart from being able to watch your own videos, with Plex you can stream content from popular platforms like Vimeo, YouTube or Netflix, if you have a subscription to this service. The Media Server is the core of Plex and it scans your media to give you access to it through a clean, smart interface that organizes your library, ensuring that you can stream it at any time.
You can even access files stored on a different device that has Plex installed. The Media Player allows you to manage your content with flexibility, so that you can play music, organize your photos in a slideshow or watch a movie of a video from your personal collection. There are also add-ons that allow you stream media from a variety of sources. You can decide what to watch without having to check each streaming service separately. Plex can be downloaded for free, but there is a Plex Pass subscription that gives you the possibility of accessing your media even if you are away from your home network.
Why do you need a VPN for Plex?
If you use Plex along with a VPN service, you will be able to unlock the full potential of this software. Plex gives you the possibility of enjoying content from different platforms on your smart TV and other devices. However, a lot of the media that is available on YouTube is subject to geographical restrictions. Netflix also has blocks in place that prevent you from accessing content from a different version of the app. As you may know, Netflix doesn’t offer the same content in every country supported. Subscribers in some countries have access to more and better content.
With a VPN, you can disguise your IP address and appear as if you were located in a different country. This means that if you want to watch a video that is only available in United States, or check what movies and TV series are available on Netflix US, you just need to connect to a VPN server in that country. While Netflix has implemented strict block to prevent this from happening (due to the licensing agreements that they have in every country), some VPN services are still effective when it comes to unlocking content from this streaming service.
Using a VPN also provides security and privacy, which is important when you are using Plex plugins. A VPN encrypts your online traffic and hides your real IP address, keeping your activities, personal information and location protected. Thai will make it very difficult for third-parties to trace you or to see what you on the internet. If you install unofficial Plex channels like IceFilms, which can be buggy or direct to malware in some cases, it is important to add a layer of protection using a VPN. The below VPN services offer good performance for streaming and they also support a wide variety of devices.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is perfect for streaming thanks to its high quality apps and its super fast servers. Their network covers 94 countries at the moment and the provider is known for offering great customer support and detailed guides that will help you to set up the VPN on several platforms. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep logs of your online activities and it secures your connection, using strong encryption and offering features like DNS leak protection and kill switch.
Buffered
Buffered offers an easy to use client and efficient servers in over 30 countries to provide a flexible and enjoyable streaming experience. Buffered supports a variety of platforms including Roku and routers, which are ideal for running Plex. In addition, Buffered is one of the services that works well when it comes to unblocking content from Netflix. Buffered offers professional customer support and a generous 30-day money back guarantee.
PureVPN
If you want to have a wide range of global locations to enjoy content from pretty much anywhere, PureVPN could be the best option for you. They have over 700 servers in 141 locations. PureVPN aims to offer a great streaming experience for its customers and for this purpose, it offers dedicated technology to provide fast loading times. The provider also applies a high level of encryption to keep your data safe from eavesdroppers. In addition, they don’t log or monitor your online traffic.
NordVPN
NordVPN focuses in security and privacy since it includes features such as double hop encryption and Tor over VPN, which offer a very strong layer of protection for your traffic. However, NordVPN is also a good option for customers who want to bypass online restrictions and stream content with Plex. NordVPN has over 730 servers, many of which are optimized for streaming. They have presence in 58 countries at the moment and offer excellent configuration guides.