PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf you’re asking what you can add to Plex that Plex Pass doesn’t include, start by separating Plex’s own subscription features from third-party tools. Tautulli adds server monitoring and notifications; Kometa supports configuration-driven library workflows. Neither unlocks Plex Pass-only playback or server features, and the available documentation does not verify a third tool well enough to present it as a definitive third pick.
How third-party Plex tools differ from Plex Pass
Plex Pass covers eligible Plex features such as remote streaming, downloads, hardware-accelerated streaming, live TV and DVR, premium music features, access restrictions, and bandwidth or transcoding controls. Availability depends on Plex’s current plan and feature eligibility, so check Plex’s feature overview and plans page for the current details. Plex last modified its overview on December 1, 2025.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Tautulli and Kometa do different jobs around a Plex server: one helps you understand activity, while the other uses configuration and service connectors for library workflows. They are separate software tools, not ways to bypass Plex subscription requirements.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Tautulli: see how your Plex server is used
Tautulli is a Python-based web application for monitoring, analytics, and notifications for Plex Media Server. It can show current activity, viewing history, user and library statistics, media-file details, and analytics. Its notifications can report stream activity and recently added media, giving server operators a clearer picture of what is happening on their system.
#1 Best Overall
- Entry-level NAS Personal Storage：UGREEN NAS DH2300 is your first and best NAS made easy. It is designed for beginners who want a simple, private way to store videos, photos and personal files, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage or external drives and move away from scattered date across devices. This entry-level NAS 2-bay perfect for personal entertainment, photo storage, and easy data backup (doesn't support Docker or virtual machines).
- Set Your Devices Free, Expand Your Digital World: This unified storage hub supports massive capacity up to 64TB.*Storage drives not included. Stop Deleting, Start Storing. You can store 22 million 3MB images, or 2 million 30MB songs, or 43K 1.5GB movies or 67 million 1MB documents! UGREEN NAS is a better way to free up storage across all your devices such as phones, computers, tablets and also does automatic backups across devices regardless of the operating system—Window, iOS, Android or macOS.
- The Smarter Long-term Way to Store: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, a UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $459.98 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $3,599.40 for 5 years. You will save $6,738.82 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH2300 + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Blazing Speed, Minimal Power: Equipped with a high-performance processor, 1GbE port, and 4GB RAM on Board, this NAS handles multiple tasks with ease. File transfers reach up to 125MB/s—a 1GB file takes only 8 seconds. Don't let slow clouds hold you back; they often need over 100 seconds for the same task. The difference is clear.
- Let AI Better Organize Your Memories: UGREEN NAS uses AI to tag faces, locations, texts, and objects—so you can effortlessly find any photo by searching for who or what's in it in seconds. It also automatically finds and deletes similar or duplicate photo, backs up live photos and allows you to share them with your friends or family with just one tap. Everything stays effortlessly organized, powered by intelligent tagging and recognition.
Notifications and event-triggered scripts
Tautulli can run custom scripts on selected events, including playback start and stop. This can support event-driven integrations for users comfortable configuring scripts; it does not make Tautulli a replacement for Plex’s own features. See the custom scripts guide for the documented approach.
There is an important subscription boundary: Tautulli’s notification agents guide says Plex Pass is required to send notifications through Plex mobile apps. Other notification options should be evaluated against their own setup requirements.
Rank #2
- NextGen TV certified - watch live TV on multiple devices simultaneously throughout your home with our Multi room Multi user network tuner solution
- Full whole-home DVR by connecting a USB hard drive - no subscription required (paid TV guide available for advanced auto-record features)
- ATSC 1.0 content is compatible with Android, FireTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sony, XBox, iPhone, iPad, Win10/11, Mac
- ATSC 3.0 DRM-free content is compatible with Android, FireTV, AppleTV, Roku Ultra 4800X and newer, iPhone, iPad, Win 10/11, Mac. Not compatible with DRM protected channels
- 4 tuners (2 ATSC 3.0, all 4 ATSC 1.0)
Kometa: build configuration-driven library workflows
Kometa uses YAML configuration and connectors to work with Plex and third-party services. Its documented integrations include TMDb, Tautulli, Radarr, Sonarr, and list providers. That makes it suited to readers seeking customized library workflows rather than server-usage reporting.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Kometa is configuration-based, and connectors can have their own requirements. Review the current configuration overview and the requirements for the services you plan to connect before setting it up; the documentation does not establish that the process is beginner-friendly.
Rank #3
- Server-Class Home Server Built for 24/7 Workloads - Designed as a purpose-built home server rather than general-purpose SBCs, Mini PCs, entry NAS systems, or routing-only devices. As a compact, pocket-sized single board server platform, ZimaBoard 2 832 combines x86 architecture, quad-core performance up to 3.6GHz, 8GB DDR5 memory, and 32GB eMMC storage for reliable always-on home servers, homelabs, and self-hosted workloads.
- PCIe 3.0 x4 Expansion for Real Server Builds - Built as a server-class platform with native PCIe expansion, ZimaBoard 2 features a full PCIe 3.0 x4 slot for high-speed, low-latency upgrades beyond USB-based limitations. Supports 10GbE NICs, NVMe adapters, GPUs, and AI accelerators to build scalable home servers, homelabs, and advanced self-hosted systems—offering greater expansion flexibility than typical SBCs, Mini PCs, and entry-level NAS devices.
- Native Dual SATA & Dual 2.5GbE Networking - Built with server-class storage and networking I/O, ZimaBoard 2 integrates dual SATA ports for direct HDD/SSD connectivity and dual 2.5GbE Ethernet for high-throughput, low-latency networking. This architecture enables reliable DIY NAS, fast storage, routing, and multi-service home server deployments—while avoiding USB-based performance constraints common in ARM SBCs, Raspberry Pi–based setups, Mini PCs, and entry-level NAS devices.
- ZimaOS Preinstalled + Wide OS Compatibility - Comes preinstalled with ZimaOS for a clean, ad-free private cloud experience—centralized file dashboard, automatic backups, P2P downloads, private photo/video sharing, 500+ plug-ins, and secure on-device AI that keeps your data at home. Also supports TrueNAS, Proxmox, Debian, Ubuntu Server, pfSense, OpenWrt, and Linux containers, making it perfect for Plex media servers, Pi-hole, firewalls, backups, Docker labs, home-cloud services, and multi-service deployments.
- All-in-One NAS, Router, Docker & Homelab Server - Replace multiple devices with one low-power, fanless system. ZimaBoard 2 can serve as a NAS, router, Docker host, firewall, media server, or homelab node—delivering a flexible, open alternative to ARM SBCs, Mini PCs, and entry-level NAS systems.
Which tool fits your Plex setup?
| Tool | Primary job | Setup approach | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tautulli | Activity monitoring, history, statistics, analytics, and notifications | Python-based web application; supports configurable notifications and custom scripts | Operators who want to understand server use or react to playback events |
| Kometa | Configured library customization and automation workflows | YAML configuration with Plex and third-party service connectors | Users who want tailored library workflows and are willing to configure integrations |
These are complementary categories, not competing ways to obtain Plex Pass features. Choose based on whether your unmet need is operational visibility or configured library workflows.
Are these Plex plugins?
Not in the legacy Plex plugin sense. Plex describes plugins as third-party tools, but installation through Plex Web App has been removed; plugins must now be installed manually. Tautulli and Kometa are best understood as separately run software and configuration-driven tools, not entries in a current Plex Web App add-on directory. See Plex’s overview of plugins.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Stream thousands of FREE movies and TV shows from filmmakers around the world with big hits from Crackle, Warner Brothers, MGM, Lionsgate and more! Enjoy everything from Oscar award-winning movies to anime, documentaries, family-friendly shows, and much, much more.
- Watch 600+ channels of free live programming—instantly. From food to news to sports to kids to international content, there's something for the whole family.
- Magically organize all your personal media—photos, music, movies, shows, even DVR-ed TV—and stream it to any device in a beautiful, simple interface; Plex adds rich descriptions, artwork, and other related information.
- 30-second skip, variable speed playback, rich discovery, and full Plex-style support for cross-device playback status (including On Deck, so you can pick back up where you left off on any device).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
