Share your media server with the people you love, and let them help keep it running.
StreamPatron gives supporters instant Plex access when they chip in, and handles renewals and lapses for you. No PayPal-link hunting, no spreadsheets, no manual invites.
Free & open source (MIT) · Self-hosted · You keep your data and your Plex token
The real problem
A great media server costs real money. Asking for help shouldn't be a chore.
You've built something your friends and family love. But storage, bandwidth, and hardware add up fast, and it feels awkward to ask people to chip in. Then there's the busywork: digging up a payment link every time someone new wants in, adding them to Plex by hand, and quietly wondering who's still contributing and who stopped months ago.
StreamPatron makes the ask easy and ties it directly to what people get. Supporters contribute, access appears. They stop, it winds down on its own. You go back to running the server, not managing a spreadsheet.
How it works
Three steps. Then it runs itself.
A supporter chips in
They contribute through your portal with a card, PayPal, or Bitcoin. You set the levels and what each one unlocks.
They get instant access
StreamPatron adds them to Plex automatically, with optional content requests. No manual invite, no waiting on you.
If they lapse, it pauses
Miss a contribution and access moves to a grace period, then winds down on its own. Resume, and it comes right back.
What you get
Everything to run a supporter-backed server, and nothing you don't.
Self-healing access
Contribution in, access on. Lapse, and it pauses; resume, and it restores. No babysitting.
Pay how they like
Card (Stripe), PayPal, and Bitcoin (BTCPay). Turn on whichever you want; the rest still work.
Supporter portal
People sign in with a magic link to see their status, update their Plex email, pause, or cancel. No DMs to you.
Tiers & requests
Set contribution levels mapped to Plex libraries, plus optional media requests through Overseerr.
A donation, not a subscription
Framed as support toward shared costs, with "contribute without access" always available. Keeps it friendly.
Yours to run
Open source (MIT), self-hosted. Your Plex token and payment keys never leave your server.
Install
Up and running in a few minutes.
Runs anywhere Docker runs. A first-class Saltbox role is included for homelab stacks.
# clone, configure, and start git clone https://github.com/taylorbanks/streampatron cd streampatron && cp .env.example .env.local docker compose up -d # then open http://your-host:3000/setup
On Saltbox, use the bundled Ansible role (see the repo's saltbox/ README). A guided setup wizard walks you through Plex, payments, tiers, and your public URL.
Own it
Open source, self-hosted, and honest about it.
StreamPatron is MIT-licensed and runs on your own hardware. Your supporter list, your Plex token, and your payment keys stay on your server. Read the code and see for yourself. You can wire up test-mode keys (Stripe test / PayPal sandbox) and watch the whole flow work before a single real dollar moves.
Personal, not commercial
Support toward shared costs, not a storefront.
StreamPatron is built for private servers shared with friends and family who help cover the bills, not for selling access to strangers. Contributions are framed as personal support, access is a thank-you you can grant or pause, and "contribute without access" is always an option. It keeps the money conversation friendly and the relationship intact.
Questions
Good to know before you start.
Do my supporters need to understand Plex?
No. They contribute through a simple portal and get an invite to your Plex server, which works like a private streaming app on their phone, TV, computer, or streaming stick.
Do I need a Plex Pass?
Yes, a Plex Pass on your (the server owner's) account is required for the current remote-access model. Your supporters do not need one.
Is my data safe?
It's self-hosted and open source (MIT). Your supporter list, Plex token, and payment keys live on your server and never leave it. You can read every line of the code.
What payment methods are supported?
Card via Stripe, PayPal, and Bitcoin via BTCPay Server. Enable any combination; the ones you skip simply don't appear.
Does it work with Jellyfin or Emby?
Plex is supported today. Jellyfin and Emby support is planned. Follow the GitHub repo to track progress.
Is there a hosted version?
Not yet. A managed option for people who'd rather not self-host is in the works. Join the waitlist below and you'll hear when it's ready.