Real-Debrid with Plex

How to set up Real-Debrid with Plex

Plex only plays files in its library folders, so every setup makes your own Real-Debrid account look like a folder it can scan. There are four ways to do that. They differ in what you run, where it runs and what it costs.

Updated

Four ways to do it

The lists show what each one asks you to keep running. Each has its own section below, and a table at the end matches them to your setup.

Zurg and rclone

  • Linux, NAS, Windows or Mac
  • Free
  • Open source

The most control, and the most to look after. Zurg serves your Real-Debrid library over WebDAV, and rclone mounts it as a folder for Plex.

  1. 1ZurgA config.yml with your API token
  2. 2rclone mountWebDAV at localhost:9999/dav
  3. 3Plex libraryOne per Zurg folder
  4. 4Scan scriptZurg asks Plex to scan one folder
  5. 5Start at bootsystemd, Docker restart or launchd
rclone mount zurg: /mnt/zurg --dir-cache-time 10s --vfs-cache-mode full

Windows needs WinFsp for rclone; a Mac needs macFUSE or FUSE-T. Zurg shows what's already in your account. To add titles, use Real-Debrid's site or a library manager.

Plex settings for a mount

Settings › Library · Zurg's script asks for scans instead
  • Scan my library automatically
  • Run a partial scan when changes are detected
  • Scan my library periodically
Settings › Library · A dropped mount would empty the library
  • Empty trash automatically after every scan
Settings › Library · Each reads whole files over the internet
  • Generate video preview thumbnails
  • Generate chapter thumbnails
  • Generate intro and credits markers
Settings › Scheduled Tasks · Reads whole files over the internet
  • Perform extensive media analysis during maintenance
Where it breaksWhat happensFix
After a rebootPlex starts before the mount and finds empty foldersStart the mount first; keep Empty trash off
Sleep or a network changeThe mount goes stale and Plex hangsUnmount and mount again
Real-Debrid removes a filePlex keeps a title that won't playIt goes at the next scan
Slow starts and seekingrclone's cache settingsTune them yourself
macFUSE MacNeeds a kernel extension; on Apple silicon, lower startup security in RecoveryFUSE-T or rclone nfsmount, with their own quirks
Docker Desktop MacCan't hand a FUSE mount to macOSRun rclone on the Mac itself
launchd MacAgents start at login, so nothing mounts until someone signs inSign in after every reboot

Automation tools

  • Usually Linux in Docker
  • Free
  • Open source

These add titles to your Real-Debrid account from a watchlist or requests, then tell Plex to scan. They sit on a mount, so everything under Zurg still applies.

Decypharr

Poses as a qBittorrent download client for Sonarr and Radarr, and leaves a symlink where Plex looks.

  • Sonarr
  • Radarr
  • A mount

cli_debrid

One app that watches your lists, such as your Plex Watchlist, and asks Plex to scan.

  • Zurg and rclone

Riven

A similar all-in-one, with a web interface and a database.

  • A mount
  • A database

You set up the content sources they search yourself. These projects change quickly: some hosts have dropped cli_debrid and Riven in favor of Sonarr, Radarr and Decypharr, so check each one's recent activity before you commit.

Hosted

  • In the cloud
  • Monthly
  • Run for you

Someone else runs the server, the mount and the automation. You bring the accounts.

Example
ElfHosted runs Plex, the mount and the automation on its servers
You bring
Your own Real-Debrid account, and your own Plex Pass
Cost
Roughly $25 a month or more depending on the bundle, plus Real-Debrid. Prices change, so check the host's store.
Runs at home
Nothing
Every stream
Counts as away from home in Plex, because the server isn't on your network, so the Plex Pass rules always apply

StreamBridge

  • For your Mac
  • Free, Pro $39 once
  • No Docker

One Mac app takes care of the mount, the Plex connection and the stream, and adds films and series from Stremio's catalogs to your Plex library. It streams from your own Real-Debrid account to every Plex app.

  1. 1InstallOn the Mac with Plex
  2. 2Sign in to PlexIn your browser
  3. 3Paste your tokenYour own Real-Debrid API token
  4. 4Add to PlexFilms and shows from catalogs
A film page in StreamBridge: poster, rating, synopsis and a Watch button, with similar films below

The stream is chosen for you

It measures your Real-Debrid speed and picks the file that plays without stopping. Every source is listed by quality if you'd rather choose.

Links that expire get replaced

When a link dies, the same file is found again, and a source that's too slow gives way to another copy.

Scans stay quick

About 25 MB per title stays on the Mac, so Plex never scans over the internet.

Quitting doesn't stop the film

The part that serves films runs on its own, so quitting, restarting or updating the app doesn't interrupt what's playing.

Catalogs and your Watchlist

Stremio catalogs and your Plex Watchlist become Plex collections that keep themselves current.

Subtitles in one language or two

Pro

A film in Plex gets them in Plex's own menu, on every device.

Made to fit your setup

  • Made for the Mac that runs your Plex Media Server, on macOS 15 or later
  • Streams from your own Real-Debrid account, which stays yours
  • Works with your Plex plan: free at home, Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass away from home
  • Plays while the Mac is on, like any Plex server
  • One app we build and keep up to date
Download free for MacHow it works

Which to choose

Find the line that sounds like you.

If you have or wantRouteWhy
A Linux server or NAS, and you like tinkeringZurg and rcloneThe most control, free, works with any media server
You already run Sonarr and RadarrDecypharrPlugs in as their download client
You want a watchlist to fill Plex on its owncli_debrid or RivenAutomation in one app, on top of a mount
You don't want to run anything at homeHosted, like ElfHostedSomeone else keeps it running, for a monthly fee
A Windows PCZurg and rclone with WinFsp, or hostedThe usual route on Windows
A Mac running Plex, and no DockerStreamBridgeOne app, nothing to mount or keep running

Questions

Can Plex play from Real-Debrid on its own?

No. Plex only plays files in its library folders, so something has to make the files in your Real-Debrid account look like a folder it can read: Zurg and rclone, an automation tool that sits on a mount, a hosted service, or, on a Mac, StreamBridge.

Do I need my own Real-Debrid account?

Yes. Every route here uses a paid Real-Debrid account in your name and its API token, which you find at real-debrid.com/apitoken. None of them include an account.

Can I share my Real-Debrid account?

No. Real-Debrid allows one public IP address at a time and doesn't allow account sharing. Devices behind your home router share one address, so a household is fine; a phone on mobile data, a VPN or a second home counts as another. Don't give your login or API token to anyone.

Do I need Plex Pass?

Not at home, where streaming on your own network is free. Away from home, the server owner needs Plex Pass, or each viewer needs their own Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass. That holds for every route here, StreamBridge included, and with a hosted server every stream counts as away from home.

Does any of this download films to my drive?

No. Each route streams from Real-Debrid as Plex reads the file, and keeps only a small cache on disk.

Why did my Plex library empty itself?

Usually the mount dropped after a reboot, sleep or a network change, Plex scanned an empty folder and then emptied its trash. Turn off Empty trash automatically after every scan, and make sure the mount is up before Plex starts.

Does StreamBridge work on Windows, Linux or a NAS?

No. StreamBridge is a Mac app, and Plex Media Server has to run on the same Mac. On Windows, rclone with WinFsp and Zurg is the usual route; on Linux or a NAS, Zurg and rclone or an automation tool.

Is StreamBridge open source?

No, it's closed source. Zurg's public builds, rclone, Decypharr, cli_debrid and Riven are all on GitHub.

Why does Real-Debrid say too many requests?

Real-Debrid limits how fast one account can ask it for things. A library scan or many films at once can go over it, and then a film can stop. StreamBridge paces what it asks, waits as long as Real-Debrid says, and serves the film you started before any scan.

Does StreamBridge host or provide content?

No. It doesn't host, index or sell content, and it doesn't share Real-Debrid accounts. It streams files from your own Real-Debrid account into your own Plex server, and what you watch is your responsibility.