How It Works
What is PlexBeam?
PlexBeam is a remote GPU transcoding service for Plex and Jellyfin. It intercepts transcode requests from your media server and offloads them to a dedicated GPU worker, so you get smooth 4K playback without upgrading your server hardware.
How does it actually work?
You install a lightweight cartridge on your Plex or Jellyfin server. When a transcode is requested, the cartridge redirects it to your GPU worker via HTTP. The worker hardware-decodes, scales, and re-encodes the stream, then pipes it back. No shared filesystem or SSH tunnels needed.
Does it work with both Plex and Jellyfin?
Yes. PlexBeam supports both Plex Media Server and Jellyfin. The same cartridge system works with either platform.
Do I need to open ports or set up a VPN?
No. Managed workers communicate over standard HTTPS. You don't need to forward ports, configure a VPN, or set up SSH tunnels.
GPU & Performance
What GPU hardware do the workers use?
Managed workers use NVIDIA GPUs with NVENC encoding. Self-hosted workers support Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC, and VAAPI acceleration. The 4K HEVC → 1080p benchmark hit 267 FPS (11× realtime) on Intel QSV.
What happens if the GPU worker goes down?
PlexBeam has automatic fallback built in. If the GPU worker is unreachable, transcoding gracefully falls back to your local server. Playback never breaks — your viewers won't notice.
Will Plex updates break it?
The cartridge includes a self-healing watchdog daemon that survives Plex updates automatically. Set it and forget it.
Pricing & Plans
How much does it cost?
Managed GPU workers start at $19/mo. Early-adopter pricing is 50% off ($9.50/mo), locked in for life. A turnkey Plex + infinite storage plan is coming soon — join the waitlist to be first in line.
Can I self-host the worker instead?
Yes. PlexBeam will offer a self-hosted worker option for users who have their own GPU hardware (Intel QSV, NVIDIA, or VAAPI). The managed plan is for users who want zero maintenance.