I’m happy to report that PrivateVPN works with Plex!
If you’re like me and enjoy organizing and streaming media files, you’ll appreciate the Plex media server too! Even better, the Plex client pairs seamlessly with PrivateVPN to protect your streaming activity, bypass geo-blocks, and prevent ISP throttling.
Not convinced? Let me put my money where my mouth is and prove the VPN’s efficiency by sharing thorough research and first-hand test results.
Read on to see how PrivateVPN works with Plex.
Testing PrivateVPN With Plex: Trusted Results!
You can access Plex without a VPN service to stream the free live channels and on-demand content. However, if you want to access region-locked channels such as Hulu and BBC iPlayer, you must enable PrivateVPN to bypass the geo restriction.
Similarly, if you want your streaming activity to go undetected by your ISP and copyright trolls, you can connect to a PrivateVPN server and use Plex under the radar.
My tests below prove that PrivateVPN is reliable at offering both services successfully.
Right, let’s get testing!
Test One: Can You Use PrivateVPN to Unblock Content on Plex?
The answer’s a big YES! You can use PrivateVPN to unblock content on Plex.
To test this, I first tried to watch The Great on Plex without connecting to PrivateVPN.
Now, bear in mind that I’m in South Africa, and this series is not available on any of my local channels or streaming sites.
Of course, this screen display was expected:
I immediately received a pop-up saying, “There are no streaming services available for this title.” This was a sign that my location had been detected.
Next, I connected to a PrivateVPN server in New York, US.
I opened Plex again and searched for the same title.
Huzzah!
I was offered a selection of channels and streaming sites to watch this title on!
To ensure it was all legit and that PrivateVPN helped me bypass the geo-block, I clicked on the “Hulu” option to see if I could, indeed, stream this title.
Success continued to be the name of the game!
Test Two: Does PrivateVPN Keep Your Plex Activity Private?
A quick DNS leak test using dnsleaktest.com proved that PrivateVPN does keep your Plex activity private. This peace of mind ensures you can anonymously use your Plex server to stream all available channels.
Once I enabled these features, I opened dnsleaktest.com in my web browser and ran an “Extended Test.”
My real location doesn’t show, meaning my IP address didn’t leak and was replaced with a static IP from a USA-New York server.
Moving to speed!
Is PrivateVPN Fast Enough for Plex?
Even though I was using a slow data connection at the time of testing, PrivateVPN is still fast enough for Plex. So, if you’re concerned that PrivateVPN will cause buffering or you won’t get HD streams, don’t be!
Need more convincing?
If you compare my base download speed with my download speed when connected to a New York server, you’ll notice a 24% difference. This difference is not significant enough to influence a notable change when using PrivateVPN with Plex.
My 9.65 Mbps base speed:
My 7.31 Mbps PrivateVPN speed:
Overall, I’m happy with PrivateVPN as a VPN for Plex and can’t find fault with its security, privacy, or speed performance.
Does PrivateVPN Support Port Forwarding for Plex?
Only a few VPNs have a port forwarding feature, and PrivateVPN does!
This is good news for those who want to run a Plex server with a VPN from anywhere!
Port forwarding via PrivateVPN can also increase connection speeds, allowing for smoother, faster streaming.
How to Set Up Port Forwarding on Plex Using PrivateVPN?
Setting up port forwarding on a Plex media server using PrivateVPN is as easy as entering a port number from PrivateVPN into a port box on Plex.
Here goes:
- Subscribe to a PrivateVPN plan and complete the steps to activate your account.
- Download and install the VPN app.
- Log in to your app using your account credentials.
- Click on “Change” to access the VPN’s server list.
- Select “All Servers” to view the VPN’s entire list of available servers.
- Connect to your preferred server.
- Click Advanced View > Dashboard. OR just “Dashboard” if you’re already in Advanced View.
- Note the port number found next to the option “Port Forwarding.”
- Open your Plex client.
- Click Settings > Server > General > Show Advanced.
- Enable “Manually specify public port.”
- Enter the PrivateVPN port number you noted into the box and click “Apply” or “Retry.”
Port forwarding on Plex with PrivateVPN should now be enabled, and you can bypass NAT firewalls and enjoy even faster VPN speeds.
How to Watch Plex With PrivateVPN?
Watching Plex with PrivateVPN entails connecting to a PrivateVPN server before running the Plex client. But the process can differ depending on the device you’re using.
I’ll walk you through the steps below so you can access Plex from anywhere on your PC, smart phones, and Android TV.
Let’s start.
How to Watch Plex With PrivateVPN on PC?
Watching Plex with PrivateVPN on a PC is easy because you don’t have to download a Plex app.
But! If you download a Plex media server, you get to access advanced features and settings that will enhance your media experience. So, I included this in the following steps:
- Purchase a PrivateVPN plan and complete the steps to activate your account.
- Download and install the PrivateVPN Windows app on your PC.
- Open your PrivateVPN app and log in with your credentials.
- Click on Advanced View > Connection Guard to adjust your VPN settings to your preference. For example, you can enable the kill switch under this menu.
- Click on “Dashboard” to change your server location. When you select “Change,” a list of server options will appear.
- Connect to your preferred VPN server.
- Open Plex in your web browser.
- Sign up or sign in if you already have a Plex account.
- Watch Plex on your web browser. OR continue to download the Plex media server for Windows to access advanced settings and features like port forwarding.
Organize your Plex library using PrivateVPN!
How to Watch Plex With PrivateVPN on Your Mobile?
All you need to do to watch Plex with PrivateVPN on your mobile is download the Plex and PrivateVPN apps, and connect to an encrypted VPN tunnel.
Here are the exact steps:
- Purchase a PrivateVPN plan and complete the steps to activate your account.
- Download and install the PrivateVPN Android or iOS app.
- Open your PrivateVPN app and log in with your credentials.
- Tap on the menu bar and “VPN Settings” to enable the kill switch and change other setting preferences. PS Kill switch setting isn’t on iOS devices but automatically enabled.
- Navigate back to the app’s home screen and tap “Change” to view PrivateVPN’s server list.
- Connect to your preferred server.
- Go to your mobile device’s app store and download and install Plex.
- Open the Plex account and continue to sign up or sign in using your credentials.
- Enjoy Plex content securely over your PrivateVPN connection.
How to Watch Plex With PrivateVPN on Your Android TV?
Watch Plex with PrivateVPN on your Android TV by downloading and installing the relevant apps. Luckily, PrivateVPN has a dedicated app for Android that extends to Android smart TVs.
To use Plex TV on Android TV with a VPN connection, you should:
- Purchase a PrivateVPN plan and complete the steps to activate your account.
- Download and install the PrivateVPN app to your Android TV (from its Google Play Store).
- Open your PrivateVPN app and log in with your credentials.
- Adjust the features to your preference under “Settings” and “Connection Guard.”
- Navigate to the app’s home screen and select “Change” to view PrivateVPN’s server list.
- Connect to your preferred server.
- Go back to the Google Play store to download and install the Plex app for your Android TV.
- Open the Plex app to access your organized streaming services.
What Can I Watch on Plex for Free With PrivateVPN?
Plex streaming service offers access to free movies, series, and music!
But remember, PrivateVPN is a paid-for VPN service, and you must purchase a subscription if you plan on streaming Plex safely from anywhere.
If money’s tight, you can use PrivateVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee to test the VPN for free.
Just remember to cancel your subscription before 30 days elapses!
As for the type of free content you can enjoy on Plex, here are some personal favorites:
| Movies | The Witch, Prince Avalanche, Get Big, Vengeance, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Train to Busan, Breaking All the Rules, Violet Daisy, Hot Summer Nights, The Wolf House, Hard Candy, Awake, I Like Me, Hick, Almost Friends, To Dust, Saturday the 14th, Jurassic Shark, Some Freaks, My Last Day Without You |
| Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun, Nosey, Silk Stalkings, Room to Improve, Wild Card, Operation Repo, 110 Crime Scene Solvers, Blue Mountain State, Doc Martin, The Prisoner, Unsolved Mysteries, A Cook’s Tour, Top Million Dollar Agent, Pure Desire, The Funniest Pets and People, Dream Car Garage, Intentions, Trigger Happy TV, Fabulocity |
| Music | The All-American Rejects, Hellogoodbye, Motion City Soundtrack, Paramore, Arctic Monkey, The Used, No Doubt, Beyonce, Drake, Hot Chip, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, Danger Mouse, Harry Styles, The Weekend, Drake, Future, Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Slipknot…and so much more! |
FAQs
Can I Use a Free VPN With Plex?
Technically, you can use a free VPN with Plex. However, you won’t benefit from the same fast speeds, privacy, and unblocking features that paid-for VPNs offer.
Free VPNs often don’t include essentials such as unlimited bandwidth, reliable content unblocking, kill switches, port forwarding, and bullet-proof encryption.
If money is an issue, rather choose a budget-friendly VPN like PrivateVPN to get the job done properly!
Is It Illegal to Watch Plex With PrivateVPN?
It’s not illegal to watch Plex with PrivateVPN since it’s a safe and legal VPN service.
However, streaming copyrighted material is frowned upon in most countries, and you may just find yourself in hot waters if you’re caught.
So, enable your PrivateVPN kill switch and only access Plex over its servers to ensure total anonymity.
Which PrivateVPN Port Should I Use for Plex?
There are several PrivateVPN ports that can be used for Plex, but you will have the best luck using ports in the 20,000 to 50,000 range.
Since PrivatePVN doesn’t show port numbers until after you’ve connected to a server, you may need to persist with trial-and-error until you find an ideal port in your preferred location.
PrivateVPN support recommends connecting to a Dedicated IP server for a better Plex-PrivateVPN streaming service.
Signing Out…
If you’re looking for a reliable VPN for Plex, PrivateVPN offers unlimited bandwidth for streaming your favorite music and shows. Plus, you’ll benefit from its military-grade encryption and access to geo-restricted content.
Sign up for one of PrivateVPN’s affordable plans now and benefit from a secure and enhanced Plex media server experience! If in doubt, you can always test it risk-free with an included 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you need more insight into PrivatePVPN’s overall potential, I recommend reading the PrivateVPN Review.
