Hi Richi, welcome to Rarebit.
Rarebit
A private invitation
Admit one
Richi
- Seat
- Anywhere
- Showtime
- Any time
Tear off the stub to begin.
Meet Rarebit
Rarebit* is my curated movie and TV library. I share it with close family and friends, and you're on the list :)
Think of it like a private Netflix, but one that will never be enshittified**.
Rarebit works the way the streaming apps you already use do: you browse, pick something, and press play. The difference is that there’s no company behind it trying to squeeze you like a tube of toothpaste to get more money out of you, so it won’t fill up with ads or delete the show you were halfway through without telling you.
*Why "Rarebit"? See this. I lived in Cardiff for a few years. I bought the first parts for Rarebit there. It sounded cute, lol.
First world problems, I know, but isn't this so much more of a chore than it should be?
Rarebit is my tiny rebellion against the enshittification.
Make a Plex account
Plex is the app you’ll watch everything in, and it’s how I send you the invite, so you need an account there. It’s free, and you can sign in with your existing Google or Apple account if you like, so there’s no new password you’ll need to remember.
If you used Google, it’s your Gmail address.
Send me this
Copy it and send it to me in our usual chat. I’ll invite you, and Plex will email you the invite.
Let's get Plex on your screens
Just like Netflix or any other streaming service, Rarebit has apps and a website. The app is Plex, which is free, and the website is rarebit.tv, which works in any browser with nothing to install. Tick the screens where you want the app, and skip any you’d rather watch in a browser.
Accept my invite
Once I’ve added you, Plex emails you an invite like this one. Press accept, then open Plex and Rarebit will be waiting in the menu.
I can’t find the email
Check your spam folder first, because email providers love hiding things. You can also accept it inside Plex on a computer: open Plex in a browser, go to your account settings, choose Manage Library Access, and press Accept under Library Invitations Received. If nothing is there, message me.
Open Rarebit, pick anything, and press play. Subtitles and audio languages are in the player controls. Most media has subtitles, but if something doesn't, you can download subtitles from the player controls. Need help? Feel free to message me.
Were you able to get something playing?
Close Plex completely and reopen it. If Rarebit is still missing, check you’re signed in with the same account you sent me, then tap Stuck? at the top.
ConfirmedAsk for anything that’s missing
If a movie or show you want isn’t on Rarebit yet, you can ask for it! Search for the title, press Request, and (since you're on the VIP list) your request is approved automatically. Rarebit looks for it on its own, so it makes no difference if I’m asleep or in another time zone. Request whatever you want and it’s on its way.
Open requests.rarebit.tv
Does the page show movie posters?
FYI: Rarebit is meant to be online 24x7. However, there may be days when it's turned off, normally, for a little maintenance. If you see a Cloudflare error page, nothing is wrong on your end - just wait for an hour and try again. If you still can't reach it, text me.
ConfirmedHow it works
How long it takes
Depends on how old or new the media is and how obscure or popular it is. Movies typically come through in 10 minutes or less. TV shows depend on how many seasons you’ve requested, so one season is quick and a long-running series takes longer. You can check the status and progress of any request on the requests site.
How you hear back
Pro tip: requests.rarebit.tv is also an app
You can always go to requests.rarebit.tv in your browser, but it's even easier when used like an app. It doesn't take up space on your phone either! Open the site and choose "add to my homescreen". Attn nerds: you'll recognise this as a Progressive Web App (PWA).
If you find issues with the media
For example, if there are missing or out-of-sync subtitles, missing episodes, or quality issues, you can report them in the same place you check on your requests. Just tap the "⚠️" button, describe what's wrong, and hit send. I'll fix it ASAP.
You’re all set, Richi!
Rarebit is ready whenever you are. If a friend wants in, ask me and I’ll sort out an invite for them.
If you have more than one person watching in your household, I highly recommend they use Rarebit with their own account. That way, everyone gets to:
- Keep their own feeds and customise Plex's app to show you what's important to you. For instance, if you're more of a TV show watcher than movies, you can move those up to the top. Don't watch Hindi or Animated content? You can hide that. Personalise the app just like you personalise a Netflix profile.
- Everyone gets their own "Continue watching" feed and can pick up from where they left off - it won't mix episodes you've watched with what someone else was watching using your account
- They can make their own requests for media they want to watch. It will notify them on their devices and preferred channels rather than clogging up your inbox
- Child accounts get parental controls/certain content can be hidden from those accounts (please ask me if you want this)
Happy watching!