If you run a Plex Media Server on a PC then you need to keep it running so that you can always access the server, same goes for a NAS device that hosts a Plex server. The company is now eliminating that need with Plex Cloud. It will allow you to run a full featured Plex Media Server in the cloud so it will always remain on and accessible. Even all of the transcoding capability that’s found in powerful home servers will be available to Plex Cloud users as well.
Those who want to take advantage of Plex in the cloud will require a Plex Pass that costs $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year. Since this cloud service is powered by Amazon, Plex users will also require an Amazon Drive subscription which costs $59.99 per year for an unlimited amount of storage.
Features that are currently unavailable on Plex Cloud include Mobile and Cloud Sync, Camera Upload, DLNA, Media Optimizer, and DVR. Plex has also said that it’s going to evaluate adding support for cloud storage providers other than Amazon Drive.
Plex Cloud is currently only available to a limited number of interested Plex Pass users who have to sign up for the invite-only beta program. Plex says that it’s going to expand this program over the coming weeks.