At ADSLZone we have talked countless times about Plex as a multimedia center for our PCs, Smart TV or mobile, with which to watch movies and series or even store our photo bank. However, what we have not discussed as much is the aspect of Plex as a music library, a function that is also very interesting and that will certainly be of interest to those looking for free alternatives to services such as Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music.
For those who don’t know Plex, this is a tool that works as cloud storage in which to save videos, photos or music, and be able to access them from our television, computer or other devices. It is similar to Kodi, and also allows us to install plugins with which to expand its functionalities. Well, to use Plex as a music streaming service, what we will have to do is use Plexamp, a separate app from the main Plex app, but part of the same program.
Plexamp is available in the Play Store for Android and the App Store for Apple, and in application format for Windows, Linux or Mac PC. To use it, we will have to previously have a Plex server and a Plex account. Doing all this is very easy. We just have to download the application to our PC Plex Media Server. To open an account, we can do so from the main Plex website.
Whether you already used Plex or not, you will have to enter the Plex Media Server Settings section to create a new library dedicated to Music, selecting this option in the menu displayed when you press the Libraries option within the Manage tab.
Once this library is created, we will have to add the folders with the music files that we want to include. Additionally, we can configure an external client in charge of downloading the cover images of albums and singles so that the appearance is as similar as possible to a service like Spotify.
Nothing to envy other streaming apps
Having done all this, we will only have to download the Plexamp app on our mobile phone and/or PC. When we open it, the app itself will guide us through the initial configuration process. Once completed, we will see how what we have in our hands is a very well designed app with the library, stations and downloads sections that we are already accustomed to from other music apps.
In fact, in the Settings menu we can perform some of the actions that Spotify also allows us, such as choosing the desired audio quality and other playback options.
Plexamp has several features that make it much more than an online server for our music (although, yes, some of them are reserved for paying users): Super Audio Player provides listening with smooth transitions, an equalizer and leveler volume. On the other hand, Plex has visual animations that are reminiscent of the nostalgic Windows Media Player, with which you can also experience music visually. Finally, Plexamp also lets you search for new artists and songs, download content for offline listening, and connect to radio stations.
Added to all this is Plexamp’s compatibility with Chromecast, AirPlay, Android Auto, Carplay, and smart assistants like Siri.
In the App Store, Plexamp has a high rating of 4.8 out of 5 and good reviews: “I just had Plex and when I realized they had a music app I didn’t hesitate to try it. Very easy to use and very good quality, it’s very fast,” comments one user. If you like Plex for watching movies and other streaming content, this app will probably also become your favorite music streaming center.
