Stremio is the simpler choice for one person on one device. Plex is better for a household, an Apple TV, a Roku, or a library with your own files in it. If you want Stremio's catalogs in the Plex apps, with the stream chosen for you, that's StreamBridge on a Mac.
Updated
Three ways to watch with Real-Debrid, and who each one is for.
One person, one device
A household, and every TV
Stremio catalogs, in Plex
Start from what you have at home.
| If you have or want | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Just you, on a laptop or phone | Stremio | One app, nothing to run at home |
| Android TV or Fire TV | Either | Both have apps in the store |
| Apple TV | Plex | Plex's app is in the App Store; Stremio's is limited or sideloaded |
| Roku | Plex | Stremio has no Roku app |
| A Samsung or LG TV | Plex | Plex is in every major TV store; Stremio's TV apps come and go |
| A household | Plex | Each person signs in and keeps their own progress |
| Watching away from home | Plex | Real-Debrid sees only your home address; needs Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass |
| Your own files as well | Plex | One library for both |
| No computer that stays on | Stremio | Plex needs a server running |
| Just you, without picking streams | StreamBridge | The stream chosen for your speed, subtitles in Plex's own menu |
| Stremio catalogs, watched on every TV | StreamBridge | Pick on a Mac, play in the Plex apps |
The lists are what you install and keep running. Each is set up below.
An app on each device, with nothing to run at home.
Your addons and library follow your Stremio account to each device.
Plex on a computer that stays on, with your Real-Debrid account mounted as a folder.
Every step, the Plex settings and where it breaks are in the Real-Debrid with Plex guide.
Plex on your Mac, with StreamBridge adding Stremio's catalogs to it. There's no mount to keep running.
What it does once a film is in Plex is on the Real-Debrid with Plex guide, and how catalogs get into Plex is on Stremio with Plex.
Side by side, line by line.
| Stremio | Plex with Zurg and rclone | Plex with StreamBridge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on | The app on each device | A server that stays on | The Mac that runs your Plex |
| Choosing a stream | A list of links to pick from | You pick the file when you add it | Chosen for your Real-Debrid speed, with 1080p beside 4K |
| Subtitles | From addons | Plex's search, or Bazarr | In Plex's own menu, in two languages at once (Pro) |
| TVs | Android TV and Fire TV; no Roku app | Every Plex app | Every Plex app |
| A household | One Continue Watching per login | Progress per person | Progress per person |
| Away from home | Each device is its own address on Real-Debrid | Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass | Your Plex plan, like any server |
| Your own files | Not a library | In the same library | In the same library |
| Upkeep | App updates | The mount, a config file and Plex settings | One app we keep up to date |
| Source | Largely open source | Open source | Closed source |
| Price | Free | Free | Free; Pro is $39 once |
| If you | A better fit |
|---|---|
| Don't have a Mac | Zurg and rclone, or Stremio |
| Want open source | Stremio, or Zurg and rclone |
For one person on a laptop, a phone or an Android TV, Stremio is simpler: install it, connect your own Real-Debrid account and watch. For a household, an Apple TV, a Roku or a smart TV, or a library that includes your own files, Plex fits better. StreamBridge is how you get both: pick from Stremio's catalogs on a Mac and watch in the Plex apps, with the stream chosen for your Real-Debrid speed.
Yes. Stremio is an app on each device and nothing runs at home. Plex needs Plex Media Server on a computer, plus something that makes your own Real-Debrid account look like a folder Plex can read.
Real-Debrid allows one IP address at a time and doesn't allow account sharing. Devices behind your home router share one address. With Stremio, each device streams from Real-Debrid itself, so a phone away from home is a second address. With Plex, the server fetches from Real-Debrid and the apps stream from the server, so Real-Debrid sees only your home address.
Yes, as any Plex server does, and it doesn't get around them. Watching on your home network is free. Away from home, the server owner needs Plex Pass, or each viewer needs Plex Pass or a Remote Watch Pass.
Yes. It's made for the Mac that runs your Plex Media Server, on macOS 15 or later. On Windows, Linux or a NAS, use Zurg and rclone with Plex, or use Stremio.
No, it's one closed-source app that we build and keep up to date. If open source matters to you, much of Stremio's code is open source, and so is rclone.
No. StreamBridge reads Stremio's catalogs itself. You pick on the Mac and watch in Plex, with no Stremio app or account.
Yes. Plex shows them side by side in the same libraries and collections, with one watch history. Stremio is built around catalogs rather than a library of your own files.