If you have a Plex server, you don’t have to be locked into using a Plex client with it. Try these alternatives to improve your content viewing experience.
For anyone who wants to have a NAS or home server from which they can stream their collection of movies and TV shows whenever they want, Plex is still one of the most important options. It may not necessarily be the best or most efficient, but it is one of the most popular options on the market.
That is, unless you’re willing to make something like Jellyfin, but that’s another article. More likely, if you had a Plex lifetime plan before the price increase, you’ll probably keep it for a few more years.
That doesn’t mean you have to be all-in on the Plex experience. Sure, Plex has its companion apps that you can run on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, but you don’t have to use them.
What’s the deal with Plex?
It’s safe to say that, for many users, the default Plex experience offers a lot. If you want to watch something stored on your Plex server, you don’t have to stray from what already works quite well.
The problem is, it can always be better. It only takes a little effort to set up another app.
For starters, not everyone is happy with how the Plex app handles things. Despite paying for the server, users complain about problems that should be resolved in a relatively short period of time.
A recent example would be October, with the beta releases of the iOS and tvOS apps. There were reports of 4K Dolby Vision content not loading, while 4K HDR worked fine, despite running well in an older build.
Later, more detailed analysis showed that each Dolby Vision 8.1 MKV profile would result in the player opening but displaying a spinner. Since this is a paid app and sold by subscription, the complainants were quite vocal about the fact that such a glaring problem had been overlooked.
Having alternative clients available can, at a minimum, allow you to view archived content when the problem is client-based, like this one.
Why alternative Plex clients are a good idea
Changing clients won’t change how much you pay Plex for the privilege of using its server. However, they can also provide other useful benefits that the main Plex client can’t match.
For starters, the Plex client has become a bit bloated and slow to use, simply because it has so many features and other elements as part of it. While you might want to watch a backup recording of a TV series you really love, a slow UI and having to browse through many sections can really take the shine off the experience.
Alternate clients don’t necessarily have the same level of functionality they need to incorporate, allowing them to work much faster. The developers behind the alternatives also give their own interpretation of what a video publishing app should look like, and they tend to be better than the Plex version.
They can be made leaner and meaner, providing you with the core experience, while keeping annoying clutter completely out of sight.
Then there are things like bypassing the whole paid membership thing entirely. Paywall-blocked features such as remote streaming are sometimes accessible from these third-party clients.
Finally, if you somehow have multiple servers at your disposal, such as one each for Plex and Jellyfin, you’re more likely to discover multi-server support in third-party clients. Plex apps work only with Plex, likewise with the main Jellyfin clients, but the alternatives are not bound by the same restriction.
Pleasant
Plexy is one such example of how to run a third-party app properly. It is a client that has a very modern interface, as well as being extremely clean and intuitive.
It also has many of the core features you want from a gamer, including browsing libraries on Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby. Recommendations are available from services including Plex Discover, MyAnimeList, and Seerr.
Plezy on iOS
There is broad codec support including HEVC, AV1 and VP9, as well as live TV and DVR functions, downloads and even background playback of stored music.
Plezy is open source, so you can download the source from GitHub if you want. Plus, the App Store’s one-time fee of $5.99 for iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS versions is a small price to pay.
It is also available for macOS, Windows, Google Play, Fire TV and Linux.
Rivolo
If you just want your TV experience to be better, you really can’t go wrong with Rivulet. It is an app created specifically for Apple TV, with this limitation making it extremely focused on providing an elegant and simple user interface.
It also works with Plex and Jellyfin servers with multi-server support. There’s the option to use Plex Home profiles, complete with watchlists, collections, and playlists.
Rivulet Player for tvOS
It can output 4K HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision, along with Dolby Atmos and lossless audio support. If you have Plex Live TV and DVR, you can use that too and even watch up to four channels at once with multi-view.
The app is free, and developer Bain Gurley calls it a non-commercial project.
Infuse
Infuse by Firecore is another cross-platform client that serves Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby. You can access video libraries on each, along with metadata, graphics, and sync watch history and ratings.
You’re not limited to just those servers, as you can also access content stored on cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive. Once you get content streaming, you can also use AirPlay or Google Cast to cast it from your iPhone to your TV.
Infuse on iOS
There is a wide range of video types, including MP4, MKV, M4V and MOV, with support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby and DTS audio.
For the Apple ecosystem, there is a lot of support, including apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision.
While the basic app is free, Infuse Pro is also available, starting at $1.99 per month or $16.99 per year, up to a lifetime version for $99.99.
Dusk
A native Plex client for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, Dusk is intended as a fast, targeted option that gets content out of the way.
It too handles many formats, including MKV, HEVC, DTS, TrueHD, SRT, PGS subtitles and more, without the need for server transcoding. When you watch the content, there are features such as automatically skipping the intro or credits, autoplay throughout the season, “You’re still watching” faint protection, offline playback, and even picture-in-picture for some versions.
Dusk
While it doesn’t have support for Jellyfin, it works with multiple Plex servers, which you can switch between at will. There is also library search with real-time results.
Dusk is a completely open source app that you can fork and make your own, and it’s also free in the App Store.
However, instead of having a “Pro” option, you can instead pay to support developer Marvin von Rappard, including one-time coffee purchases from $2.99 to larger deals, like the $24.99 Annual Supporter or the $49.99 Patron.
Coaxial
One of the more unusual options available, Coax goes off track by not providing you with the usual genre and method of selecting shows or movies. Instead, it scans your library and turns it into a digital television schedule, complete with multiple channels and many programs “on air” at a time.
You don’t choose a show to watch, as you are actually selecting a specific channel to watch the show on. Some channels will provide you with content based on a genre, but you can also create custom channels based on a variety of metadata.
Coaxial for iOS
Since it “broadcasts” everything on a quasi-schedule, you also have to be aware of joining a show halfway through. You can’t start from the beginning of an episode like a DVR, you’re stuck with what’s “broadcast” at that time.
If you get bored and don’t mind watching a particular episode of something, you can always change the channel. In a world of a la carte options for what to watch, it’s an interesting alternative that takes away most of the options.
Coax is available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. It’s a free download and you get the first week free, but it will cost $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with a lifetime option available for $74.99.
