Streaming service and software maker Plex has announced its first price increase in a decade for its premium subscription service Plex Pass, which offers power users a variety of additional features. The service will now cost $6.99 per month, up from $4.99 previously, with yearly and lifetime options also seeing significant hikes.

The price changes, set to take effect on April 29, will allow Plex to keep up with the rising costs of supporting subscribers and those who use Plex for managing their personal media collections. This includes Plex's plans for new features like a coming integration with Common Sense Media to bring its ratings and reviews aimed at parents to Plex Pass holders.

In addition to the price increase, Plex has announced several other changes to its service. The company is removing the "mobile unlock" fee, which was previously required to remove the one-minute playback limitation on streaming content from a Plex Media Server to a mobile device on iOS or Android. This change will be rolled out with the new mobile Plex experience.

Another significant update is the introduction of a new paid feature for remote playback for personal media. Previously free, this feature will now require either a Plex Pass subscription or a new Remote Watch Pass subscription, which will be available starting on April 29 for the introductory price of $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. This new subscription option is designed for those who don't run their own server but want to stream from a family member or friend who's not a subscriber.

Plex has also updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, stressing that it does not and will not share or sell user data related to personal media, titles in the media library, or use of a personal media server. The new policies explain how Plex's sharing of user data has changed to include Plex activity, based on the user's Account visibility and activity settings. Existing users will be asked to consent to the new terms at a later date, while new users will be subject to the updated policies.

The changes come as Plex continues to invest in new features and improvements, including a new server management app for web and mobile and an open API for server integrations. These updates are likely a response to the increasing competition in the streaming services market, where other paid services like Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube TV, and others have repeatedly raised their own subscription rates.

In a blog post, Plex acknowledged that the changes "weren't made lightly" and that the company has "spent a lot of time weighing the best path forward to ensure we can continue to balance value with a best-in-class personal media experience for years to come." The price increase and new features are likely an attempt to strike a balance between providing value to users and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the service.

As the streaming services market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how users respond to Plex's changes and whether the company can maintain its position as a popular option for managing personal media collections.