What is FlexTV?

FlexTV (also known as Phlex) is a self-hosted PHP web application that acts as a bridge between Plex Media Server and voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa, as well as Chromecast devices. It enables voice control of Plex playback, casting to Chromecast devices, and integration with download automation tools like Sonarr and CouchPotato. The project provides multiple installation methods including Docker, Docker Compose, XAMPP (Windows/Linux/macOS), and Raspberry Pi. It uses a file-based storage by default with optional MySQL support. The web UI runs on port 80 and is configured via a config.ini.php file. The project is in beta development with the last code update in April 2023.

Should you self-host FlexTV?

FlexTV scores 38/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #104 of 118 in Media Server. It has 210 GitHub stars.

There was no stable release in the past 12 months, so check the repository's recent activity before you rely on it.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. It is Other-licensed and written mostly in PHP.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Jellyfin (88/100, 58 737 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See FlexTV vs Jellyfin side by side.

Features

Alexa voice control
Chromecast Support
Fetcher integration
Google Assistant voice control
IFTTT Integration
Web-based UI

FAQ

I can't link my server!

Refer to the Networking Guide (Talking To The Outside World) for troubleshooting server linking issues.

How do I enable sockets/cast devices?

Enable the PHP sockets extension in php.ini (uncomment extension=php_sockets.dll on Windows or extension=sockets.so on Linux), then restart the web server. Docker images have this enabled by default.

What is config.ini.php and why is it important?

config.ini.php is the main configuration file that stores account linking data for Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Alexa. Deleting it breaks account linking and requires re-linking.