Existing articles online are full of outdated information about which plugins are functional, so I’ve tested all the plugins on this list to ensure they still work. Many of them will also hugely benefit your overall Plex experience! Plugins are third-party code-based files that may come from unofficial sources, so you must use a VPN to download them. A VPN makes your internet traffic anonymous and, thus, secures all your downloads. I recommend using ExpressVPN because it provides airtight security and top-notch privacy.
Quick Guide: 10 Best Plugins for Plex (Updated January 2023
Finding the right plugins for your Plex app can be difficult, especially considering that Plex no longer supports many plugins it used to. I picked out the 10 most popular plugins that still work. However, I recommend using a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN while downloading these plugins to stay secure. Try ExpressVPN with Plex Plugins
10 Most Popular Plex Plugins That Still Work — Tested January 2023
1. WebTools
With WebTools, you can add several utilities to Plex to give you more administrative control over its core functions. Its primary features include:
Log viewer: Check logs of Plex server activity and plugins from the dedicated web interface. Manage subtitles: Download additional subtitles and check their contents. Unsupported AppStore (UAS): Allows for the installation, removal, or updating of plugins. FindMedia: Discovers media files on your hard drive that haven’t synced to your Plex server.
2. Kitana
Kitana was created when Plex decided to remove its Plugin Directory, since it was supposedly used by less than 2% of users. You can easily install and manage Plex plugins with Kitana. You can even install it on a separate device such as a smartphone and manage your plugins remotely — or use Kitana install to manage multiple Plex servers. Due to its remote capabilities, it’s worth using a VPN with Kitana to protect yourself and your data when you’re on the move.
3. Bazaar
Bazarr finds accurate subtitles for your Plex media files. However, you’ll need to install Bazarr alongside its companion apps Sonarr and Radarr, since those are where Bazarr gets its information on media files from. Bazarr also supports over 25 subtitle providers and will update existing subtitles if better ones become available for any of your media files.
4. Request
Ombi lets users with access to a shared Plex server request new content from the server owner. You can visit the dedicated web app, search for content, and see whether it’s already available on the server or not. You can also submit a request that the server host will receive and can add to their requests list. This makes the whole process of requesting new content easy and streamlined without the host getting numerous requests through other services. Of course, this plugin isn’t necessary if you don’t share your server with many people.
5. Tautulli (PlexPy)
If you’re a Plex server administrator, Tautulli offers several features to monitor activity on your server, including:
Who watched what, in real-time. When and where something was watched. How a file was watched. Notifications triggered by specific server events. Check recently added content. Send newsletters to inform users of new content. Remote access to check all data on the go (currently just on Android).
Much of this data is viewable in polished graphs, so you get the most accessible overview of everything that’s happening on your server. I was impressed by how neatly it presents data, making it comprehensible even to beginner users.
6. Trakt.tv (Funnel Scrobbler)
If you enjoy tracking exactly what you’ve watched, as well as your own ratings and playback progress, Trakt is the plugin for you. It synchronizes all of this data and uploads it to your Trakt.tv profile for a complete overview of your movie and TV watching history. Every user of your Plex server can also set up their own profile to track their own watch history. You can also connect other services to track, including Netflix, Kodi, VLC, and Emby. It then uses your watch history to recommend what to watch next and even tells you where to find this content.
7. OpenPHT
OpenPHT is a client app for your Plex server which can be visually customized with interface tweaks and new skins. Unfortunately, OpenPHT hasn’t been updated in a few years, but it functions properly, and some Plex users still swear by it as their core player. You simply need to install it and log in with your normal Plex credentials, and you can start watching!
8. Plex-Sync
If you operate multiple Plex servers, Plex-Sync ensures they’re always matched up. You can sync the watch status of all your media files to continue exactly where you left off on different servers. You can only use Plex-Sync via a command-line utility, so the setup is for users with slightly more technical expertise.
9. FileBot
Plex sometimes has difficulty loading the right metadata or cover art for badly-named media files. FileBot is a separate app from Plex, but you can load it up with your Plex-linked media files and it will rename them to have a better naming scheme. It also has an integrated subtitle downloader if you prefer that option with the same app. Note that FileBot’s most current versions are paid. However, you can find a free older version on their website too.
10. Lambda
When you sync your media files with Plex, you generate plenty of metadata — but it’s only connected with Plex. You can use Lambda to save your Plex metadata locally and keep it stored in the folder right alongside the original video file. I find this especially useful for downloading high-quality posters and subtitles that were fetched through Plex for use in other video players. You can also use it in reverse to curate metadata yourself and then upload it back to your Plex library!
How to Use the UAS to Install and Remove Plex Plugins
Since the official Plex plugin directory is not available anymore, the quickest way to install plugins is via UAS (Unsupported App Store).
How to Manually Install Plex Plugins
Stay protected with ExpressVPN
The Importance of Using a VPN With Plex
I recommend having a VPN when using plugins and remote streaming. This is because a VPN protects your personal data and devices from potential security flaws in third-party plugins and hides your activity from your ISP and copyright holders. Much of your Plex media collection may come from “unofficial sources,” so it’s important to stay secure when downloading. My #1 VPN for use with Plex and torrenting is ExpressVPN. You’ll get secure servers to hide your online activity from your ISP, copyright holders, and malicious parties with high speeds, so you don’t notice any slowdown in your online activities. You can try it out risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee and see for yourself.
How to Use a VPN with Plex in 3 Easy Steps
Use ExpressVPN with Plex
The Best VPNs to Use With Plex for Complete Security (Updated 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall Performance and Security for Streaming Content on Plex
ExpressVPN provides over 3000 servers across more than 94 countries, making it one of the best and my go-to VPN for streaming and torrenting. ExpressVPN performed exceptionally well on my speed tests, providing no speed drops on nearby and mid-range servers and a negligible speed drop of 4% on distant servers. I could stream my favorite movies and shows without any buffering. Another reason why I prefer ExpressVPN over any other VPN is its exceptional security features and customer-focused privacy policy. It encrypts your internet traffic with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. It also includes a kill switch so that whenever your connection to the VPN server drops for any reason, you’ll automatically get disconnected from the internet. This gave me peace of mind that my data won’t leak even in the worst-case scenario. Overall, ExpressVPN has all the nuts and bolts that make it a VPN only a few can compete with. It provides the perfect balance of performance, security, and usability. I highly recommend you try it out for yourself with its 30 money-back guarantee. Secure yourself with ExpressVPN! ExpressVPN works on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and more.
2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers for Bufferless Playback on Plex
CyberGhost is a great choice for using with Plex because it packs a ton of streaming and downloading-focused features. It has streaming-optimized servers, which provide low latency and minimal speed drops so you can enjoy buffer-free streaming. Although there are no optimized servers for Plex, you can use any optimized server located nearby to increase your speeds. CyberGhost also has P2P-optimized servers to make your downloads faster and more secure. After extensive testing, CyberGhost delivered excellent speeds on nearby and mid-range servers. On distant servers, I got speed drops of around 15%, which is still pretty good. Either way, I could stream content without any buffering. If your internet is slow, I suggest connecting to streaming-optimized servers for optimal performance. CyberGhost encrypts your internet traffic with AES 256-bit encryption, so you needn’t worry about your ISP snooping on you. I ran several DNS leak tests, and CyberGhost didn’t leak my data even when the connection to the server dropped. It also includes an ad-blocker that blocks malicious pop-up ads which will give you peace of mind when downloading 3rd party plugins for your Plex server. You can use CyberGhost on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, smart TVs, routers, and gaming consoles. All its apps have a user-friendly interface and are suitable for beginner users. You can try out CyberGhost with its 45 money-back guarantee and request a refund if you’re unsatisfied. Protect your device with CyberGhost! CyberGhost works on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, smart TVs, routers, and gaming consoles.
3. Private Internet Access — Extensive Server Network for Reliable Connections on Plex
Private Internet Access (PIA) boasts one of the most extensive server networks I’ve seen. It boasts over 35000 servers across 83 countries, most of them located in North America and Europe. Having this many servers means you can always find one that will give you fast speeds. After rigorous testing, I found that it delivers great speeds on nearby servers. However, when I connected to a distant server in Australia, I got frequent speed drops of up 25%, which is concerning if you have slow internet. Fortunately, it comes with streaming-optimized servers located around the world which will help you boost your speeds while streaming on Plex. I liked that PIA provides flexibility to choose between 128-bit and 256-bit encryption. Although I prefer using the latter because it’s more secure, I wanted to see if bringing it down to 128-bit encryption would reduce the speed drops, and it did — by about 20%. However, there shouldn’t have been a trade-off between speeds and security in the first place, so I wasn’t quite happy with PIA. For unmatched speed and security, try ExpressVPN. Overall, it’s a good VPN but might struggle in performance on distant servers. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers. It also supports browser extensions for Chrome and Opera. It provides a 30 money-back guarantee, so you can take it for a test run without risk. Stream with Private Internet Access! PIA works on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers.
4. PrivateVPN — Great Budget-Conscious Option for Streaming on Plex
PrivateVPN hosts over 200 servers across 63 countries, which is sufficient for average users who just want to stream TV and movies on Plex or surf the web. However, it’s not an extensive server network, so you won’t have many server choices in many countries. PrivateVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption and includes a strict no-logs policy and a kill switch. I was happy to see it pass my DNS leak tests, ensuring that my data remain anonymous when I’m downloading plugins for Plex. It also offers split tunneling, which allows you to route some of your internet traffic via a VPN server. Being one of the best monthly VPNs, PrivateVPN provided me with good speeds on nearby servers but struggled to keep up on distant servers. I got a 7% drop in speeds on nearby servers and approximately 35% on distant servers. You might experience frequent buffering while using Plex when you’re connected to a long-range server, especially if you have slow internet. PrivateVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous device connections and is compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers. Overall, PrivateVPN is a decent option for budget-conscious users looking for adequate security and good speeds. You can try it out risk-free using its 30 money-back guarantee. Try PrivateVPN without any risk PrivateVPN works on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers.
5. IPVanish — Use Plex on All Your Devices With Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
IPVanish’s standout feature is its unlimited simultaneous device connections, so you don’t have to fight with your family over who gets to choose what to watch. I tested it by connecting to Plex on my iPhone, Macbook, Mi Box, and iPad at the same time, and never had any slowdowns or trouble connecting. IPVanish has a sufficiently large server network, comprising more than 2000 servers across 75 countries. I connected to a nearby server and got good connection speeds with negligible speed drops. However, I did get a handful of speed drops during my 4-hour-long streaming session, resulting in some buffering. The speed drops became much more noticeable when I connected to a distant server in Australia. At this point, I couldn’t even stream YouTube without buffering. I was impressed that IPVanish lets you choose multiple security protocols, such as WireGuard, IKEv2, IPSec, L2TP, and OpenVPN. I suggest using the OpenVPN protocol because it has a kill switch and a feature called “Scramble,” which lets you bypass strict firewalls in high censorship countries. IPVanish is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers. It provides a 30 money-back guarantee, so you can test IPVanish without risk. Protect your devices with IPVanish! IPVanish works on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Plex
I considered the following aspects when picking out the best VPNs on my list.
Performance — I extensively tested each VPN’s performance on nearby, mid-range, and distant servers. Security — I chose VPNs that provide AES 256-bit encryption and have a verified no-logs policy. I also checked for extra security features, such as a kill switch and split tunneling. Unblocking capabilities — The VPNs on my list have an extensive server network, which correlates to how well it can unblock geo-restricted home content when you’re traveling. Compatibility — I selected VPNs compatible with all the major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, to name a few. Money-back guarantee — I chose VPNs that offer a money-back guarantee so you can test them out without risk.
Where can I download Plex plugins?
The quickest way to download Plex plugins is through the UAS (Unsupported App Store). However, you can also find them on GitHub or the plugins’ websites themselves. Apart from that, you can also find Plex plugins on the Plex forum. I was impressed to find that it hosts a dedicated page containing the most recent third-party plugins. I’ve picked out the best Plex plugins that provide a range of features, including fetching accurate subtitles and managing your server.
Which Plex plugins have been discontinued?
Plex no longer supports many of the plugins that it used to. It’s safe to say that most of the old plugins don’t work now. The only ones that are still working use API functionality. Therefore, it has become increasingly difficult to find plugins that work on Plex.
How can I get subtitles in Plex?
You can use the Bazarr plugin to get subtitles in Plex. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to install Bazarr’s companion apps (Sonarr and Radarr) to fetch subtitles for your favorite movies and shows. Bazarr supports more than two dozen subtitle providers and automatically updates subtitles if better ones come out.
Why aren’t my Plex plugins working?
There may be many reasons why Plex plugins may not be working for you. First, make sure the plugins are updated and compatible with Plex’s latest version. If you install a non-updated plugin, it may not work on Plex’s updated version. Second, make sure you’re using the right port in the URL if your plugin is accessible via a browser. For example, if you’re using WebTools, the port should be set to “localhost:33400.” Lastly, you should check if the plugins have the necessary support features. For example, a plugin may not have PHP support, which is needed for Plex Export. If the plugin is compatible, you can install it in a few simple steps.
Are Plex plugins safe?
It depends. Plugins are code-based files, most of which aren’t supported by Plex anymore. Therefore, you must always download them from a reliable source, such as GitHub, UAS, or the official website. You must use a VPN to download plugins to stay secure when downloading. I’ve selected the best and most reliable VPNs for downloading plugins safely.
What devices does Plex work with?
Will a VPN work on all my Plex streaming devices?
Not necessarily. You must check if your VPN is compatible with the device you’ll be using Plex on. For example, if you’re using a Windows laptop or a Macbook, it’s likely that your VPN will work on those devices. However, if you’re using a streaming box like Roku, Mi Box, or AppleTV, you’ll have to check beforehand if the VPN will work on that. I highly recommend ExpressVPN because it’s easy to set up on a smart TV and works with a range of operating systems and devices.
Can I use a free VPN for Plex?
Yes, but I don’t recommend it. Even the best free VPNs often come with some form of catch. They may infect your computer with malware, store your personal data and sell it to third parties or advertisers, or lack the essential security features to keep you and your data safe from prying eyes. Therefore, it’s always better to go for a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. Try ExpressVPN with Plex
Stay Secure While Using Plex and Downloading New Content
Plex is already a phenomenal free service, and the plugins on this list only make it better. Although many have become outdated over the years, there’s still a great selection that you can use to elevate your Plex experience. Using a VPN is essential to protect yourself while using Plex plugins and downloading new content. With an encrypted high-speed connection, you’ll have no potential legal issues to worry about. If you’re streaming from a remote Plex server to a mobile device on a public network, a VPN will also hide your data from any malicious parties sharing the network. I recommend you get ExpressVPN for Plex to keep all your online activities anonymous and safe. Stay secure with ExpressVPN!
