Comparing The 23 Best Online Video Platforms in 2024

The demand for top video delivery platforms has skyrocketed in the last ten years, further accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, businesses and professionals are accustomed to carrying out their scheduled tasks online and remotely by utilizing live-streaming software and video hosting platforms.

Broadcasters are hosting virtual gatherings and live-streaming in-person events to generate revenue. Businesses use video streaming platforms for marketing, sales, and internal training. Television and radio stations aim to build a robust online audience via video hosting.

They must use the best video streaming solutions for their global and online audience to achieve quality in their content.

In this post, we will discuss what online video platforms (OVPs) do before we dive into an in-depth comparison of the top players in the professional broadcasting space. 

We will then wrap things up by comparing a few social video platforms businesses and professional broadcasters may find helpful.

We aim to help you narrow in on your business’s ideal online video platform. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Stats and Trends for Online Video Platforms
What is an Online Video Platform?
What to Look for in the Best Online Video Platforms in 2024
1. Security Features
2. White-Label Streaming
3. Monetization Capabilities
4. Multi-Device Support
5. Reliable Content Delivery
6. Access to Video Analytics
7. High-Quality Playbacks
A Comprehensive Comparison of the 23 Best Online Video Platforms
1. Dacast
2. IBM Cloud Video
3. Wistia
4. Vimeo Livestream
5. Kaltura
6.Brightcove
7. JW Player
8. Flowplayer
9. Vidyard
10. Hippo Video
11. Wowza
12. Muvi
13. Cincopa
14. Panopto
15. StreamShark
16. VIXY Platform
Top 5 Social Video Platforms
17. YouTube
18. LinkedIn Live
19. TikTok
20. Instagram
21. Dailymotion
22. Gumlet
23. Mux
FAQs

Video streaming and delivery platforms have significantly increased demand and priority over the last few years. That increase is visible not only in multiple sectors of businesses but also in individuals’ day-to-day lives. We can establish that by looking at statistics and video trends that highlight the growth of online video streaming.

• Over-the-top video revenue worldwide is forecasted to reach US $316.40 Billion in 2024.
• Revenue is anticipated to grow annually at a (CAGR 2024-2029) rate of 6.30%, leading to a projected market volume of $429.40 Billion by 2029.
• The value of the global online video platform industry is expected to grow 8.4% from 2021 to 2028
• By the end of 2024, research estimates that more than 74% of content will be video. 
• Viewers are more likely to retain a message from video content than from articles
• Video content marketing helps to increase revenue 49% faster than other types of content
• Live streams capture viewers’ attention for 10-20x longer than pre-recorded content
• Multistreaming is commonplace now, with many  multistream platforms available to stream to multiple sources

Online video platforms have become the optimum pathway to catch consumers’ attention and dictate their purchasing decisions, which is why many entrepreneurs emphasize their marketing strategies toward video content.

Businesses and organizations that want to get into the professional broadcasting space need the support of an online video platform, which is necessary for getting your video content in front of your ideal audience. 

What is an Online Video Platform?

What to Look for in the Best Online Video Platforms in 2024

With an increased demand for live streaming comes a massive influx in online video platforms. Since so many platforms are on the market, deciphering which ones meet your business’ personalized needs can be overwhelming and confusing. 

Here’s an overview of some key features to look for as you do your research on the top platforms include:

1. Security Features

Security is one of the top qualities you should consider when choosing the best video hosting services. The safety of your videos online depends on it, so you should ensure the platform guarantees some level of security.

Here are the best items to look out for:

• Digital watermarks to track illegal file sharing and illegal uploads online
• AES encryption for effective data protection
• Anti-screen recording to prevent users from recording videos while they’re playing
• Multi-DRM (Digital Rights Management) to protect against piracy and unauthorized access.

2. White Label Streaming

A white label video player is one that does not include any branding or logos. This means that you can adjust the look to your liking by swapping out elements, customizing fonts, or adding your own logos. 

At no point will your audience see your video platform’s logo or brand elements. This lets you personalize all your video streams and promote your brand while at it.

3. Monetization Capabilities

Even though there are a lot of ways to monetize your live streams, the best ones are usually built right within the live streaming platform you’re using. 

These features allow you to:

• Create exclusive playlists and collections behind a paywall. This is fantastic news for anyone making high-quality material or planning to provide video lessons online for a fee.
• Manage ads. It gives you the ability to run your own advertising or introduce adverts from third parties throughout your stream via player and server-side ad insertion (SSAI). This lets your audience stream without ever having to view commercials from competitors.
• Get paid to stream on OTT platforms like Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, etc.

Select a platform that goes beyond the basics and provides more monetization capabilities for your business.

4. Multi-Device Support

Since the advent of smartphones, multi-device support has become an important facet of online video platforms. It enables users to watch videos online using a variety of devices, including PCs, smart TVs, tablets, and smartphones. 

This adaptability accommodates a wide range of viewer tastes and schedules, letting people watch their favorite shows whenever and wherever they like. It’s an essential component of online video platforms since it expands the pool of potential viewers, simplifies the experience for viewers, and increases interaction.

5. Reliable Content Delivery 

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) operate on a worldwide scale to ensure consistent content delivery. They are systems of interconnected servers spread out around the globe. 

They keep your video solution running smoothly by cutting down on delays and improving data transmission. The CDN uses geo-location information to determine which server is closest to the user and sends the requested video from that location. 

A reliable content delivery network is useful for streaming video websites since it ensures that viewers anywhere enjoy the same high-quality picture and sound.

6. Access to Video Analytics

Connecting with third-party analytics tools is not enough. You’ll need a video streaming platform with a built-in video analytics feature. For instance, Google Analytics can tell you what percentage of viewers finished a video, but it can’t tell where they stopped watching.

Metrics such as drop-off rates are crucial for performance analysis. For instance, you may discover that only 20% of your viewers watch the entire video with the majority leaving before the 20-second mark. This may indicate that you need to improve on your introduction. 

With a proper analytics feature, you’ll be able to improve video performance and get better conversion rates.

7. High-Quality Playbacks

You can achieve this by using both HTML5 and HLS technologies (HTTP Live Streaming). 

HLS streaming optimizes video delivery by splitting files into smaller parts and adjusting quality depending on the viewer’s connection speed and device. 

The HTML5 player not only works flawlessly in any browser but also eliminates the need for any other plugins. 

Together, they make for a seamless, buffer-free, and high-quality video streaming experience on your web platform.

As you compare digital video platforms, please remember that OVPs are not one-size-fits-all. Determine the features required to reach your goals and use that to determine which OVP to choose for your business. The best video platform for you depends on your unique business objectives.

A Comprehensive Comparison of the 23 Best Online Video Platforms

To start our reviews, first, we’ll look at 16 of the top online video platforms for professional broadcasting in 2024. We will compare them based on features, streaming pricing, video upload specs, and more. Further below, we will cover the top six social media platforms.

1. Dacast

Overview and Company History

Dacast is a unified streaming solution that hosts live and on-demand video content. Our platform offers cloud-based live streaming solutions and OTT video streaming across all devices, including mobile. 

With Dacast’s video streaming, users can access top-tier live streaming CDNs to reach viewers around the globe. In addition, our online platform is available for small to medium-sized businesses, which means you’ll have a reliable platform to fall back on regardless of your company’s size.

Dacast broadcasters include enterprise businesses, media companies, TV stations, religious community networks, sports leagues, e-learning, government, and municipal organizations.

Key Features

• Secure, global content delivery, including industry-best video hosting
• 24/7 tech support with all plans, including email and live chat
• Video security features, including password protection and AES encryption
• RTMP (real-time messaging protocol), ingest, playback, and streaming support
• VOD platform to monetize on-demand content, and to scale your VOD business
• Low latency HTML5 channels for video streaming
• Player API access for 3rd party player integration
• Video API access on premium plans
• Multi-bitrate streaming for live video and VOD
• Cloud video transcoding with true adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR)
• Live encoding support for the top video encoders
• Real-time video streaming analytics
• Ad-free streaming
• Multi-user access on Scale and Custom plans
• Zoom live streaming integration for meetings and live events in real-time
• Expo 2.0 galleries video portal for immersive video streaming experiences

Detailed Features

• Live streaming and Video on Demand are included in all plans
• Unlimited viewers and live channels
• White label and branding control
• Embeddable HTML5 video player
• Multi-CDN
• SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD pay-per-view monetization options
• M3U8 media links to stream to mobile and smart TV apps such as Roku, Apple TV, etc.
• SDK for player integration on iOS and Android platforms
• Live stream recording
• China Video Hosting and live streaming 
• Pricing plans for every budget

Pros

• Mobile streaming support
• Wide range of video monetization tools
• Top-notch dynamic token security
• Low latency video streaming
• Unlimited viewers and live channels

Cons

• Having so many features requires a slight learning curve for beginners

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: None (but 240p is the recommended minimum)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p or 4K (depends on the user’s hardware and internet)
• Video aspect ratio: No restrictions (but 16:9 is the default)
• Max file size: None
• Max video length: None
• Total file storage: 10-1000GB (depends on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4 (preferred), MOV, M4V, M2V, AVI, MPG, FLV, WMV, MKV, WEBM, OGV, MXF, ASF, VOB, MTS

Pricing

For your business needs, Dacast has many live streaming pricing options. The plan packages are as follows:

• Starter: $39/month (billed annually); ideal for newcomers with 2.4 TB of bandwidth and 500 GB of storage per year
• Event: $63/month (or $750/year); for organizations that would rather not sign a contract, and want to purchase bandwidth separately to live stream an event, offers 6 TB of bandwidth upfront, 250 GB of storage; additional data and storage can be added as needed
• Scale: $165/month (billed annually); includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year, with 2 TB of storage; add phone support, monetization paywall, an M3U8 online player for live channels, ad insertion, white-label video player, and video API access; additional bandwidth is available upon request for monthly plans
• Custom plan: if your enterprise business has high-volume streaming needs, you can contact Dacast for a custom plan tailored to your needs.

Broadcasters can contact Dacast directly to learn more about custom-priced high-volume plans. Dacast is a video media platform that allows professionals access to all the tools they need to customize their video content.

2. IBM Cloud Video

Overview and Company History

Next up in our online video platform comparison is IBM Cloud Video. The platform is primarily geared towards the enterprise streaming market with various cloud video hosting and streaming services (such as storage and GPU computing). Within the IBM Cloud video umbrella,  Streaming Manager is its core product.

Like Dacast, IBM Cloud video includes file upload, management, and live and on-demand content delivery.

Key Features

IBM Cloud Video offers a wide range of key features that help enhance its product. One of the best features they offer is HD live broadcasting, with no caps on bitrate resolution, allowing you to provide your viewers with HD content. 

They provide full support for video streaming from mobile devices on all devices, screen sizes, or bandwidth. 

Another standout feature is their live chat and Q&A modules, which include user management, moderation, and user upvoting. That allows you to create an interactive experience for your viewers. 

IBM Cloud Video offers a wide range of custom channel page features, such as: 

• Highlight past broadcasts
• Highlight upcoming shows
• Add important information for viewers
• Scheduled playbacks at specific times

Pros

Here’s an easy-to-view and comprehensive list of pros regarding IBM cloud video:

• HD live to broadcast
• Recording of broadcasting
• Mobile compatible player
• Convenient easy distribution and workflow
• Live Chat and Q&A
• Multi-CDNs
• Quality of service player
• Live playlists with looping
• Customizable channel page

You can also provide viewers with a great viewing experience via an internal global CDN and adaptive bitrate, which improves your global reach and scalability in the long-run. They also offer some monetization capabilities and Hong Kong (China) video hosting.

Cons

You need a high-end, custom enterprise channel with access to third-party integration and single sign-on (SSO) ability. For a white-label video player, you also need a higher-end plan.

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 480p (480 x 270)
• Maximum dimension:  4K (3840 x 2160)
• Video aspect ratio: No published aspect ratio
• Max file size: 4 GB
• Max video length: No published limits
• Total file storage: 1TB – 5TB (depends on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MKV, MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MPEG2, H264, H263, MPEG4, VP6, VP8, THEORA, WMV, MP3, AAC-LC, NELLYMOSER, PCM, SPEEX, VORBIS, WMA

Pricing

IBM pricing plans range from $129 to $1299 per month and include the following:

• Silver: $129/month
• Gold: $649/month
• Platinum: $1299/month
• Custom: Please contact IBM Cloud video for custom plan pricing.

IBM Cloud Video is one of the oldest streaming platforms, which puts it at the top of the video platform list to consider for your business needs.

3. Wistia

Overview and Company History

Wistia was founded in 2008. The Massachusetts-based online video platform focuses primarily on marketing. Wistia’s core business is providing a television-quality experience for its viewers that helps users grow their audiences. They are known for being the online video platform that puts users in control of their content. 

Wistia is designed exclusively to simplify companies’ daily operations by providing marketing, support, and sales services. However, please note that this OVP does not offer live streaming functionality.

Key Features

Wistia is a video marketing platform. It is designed to help you host, analyze, create, and market using video content. 

They provide you with access to advanced video analytics that you can use to drive your business. Wistia allows you to see who’s watching your videos and how they are engaging with your content and thus how it is impacting your marketing funnel. 

You can run A/B tests to determine the best thumbnail for your content. You can integrate Wistia with your other marketing tools. 

They provide Soapbox, a browser-based screen recorder, so you can easily record your screen or face. Furthermore, Wistia also offers an easy-to-use video trimmer, supporting simple video edits.

Pros

They offer a wide range of security features, such as: 

• Password-protected hosting
• Email gating
• Domain restrictions 

Plus, they offer tech support for all plans, a fully customizable player, and Video API access. They offer a strong global content delivery network, mostly unlimited bandwidth, as easy embedding and sharing.

Cons

Wistia does not support live streaming, only videos-on-demand. They only offer basic integrations with other video software programs. 

If you want premium tech support, you have to update to a custom-priced plan. There is no China video delivery option.

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimensions: None
• Maximum dimensions: Maximum of 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Supported video aspect ratios: Any, though 16:9 is the standard image aspect ratio for HDTV and traditional web video
• Maximum file size: 8 GB
• Maximum video length: 2 hours
• Total file storage: Up to 10 videos with the pro plan ($99 per month), $0.25 per month for every extra video

• Accepted video formats: MP4 (recommended format), .MOV, .AVI, .WMV, .FLV, .MKV, 3GPP

Pricing

Wistia pricing plans have 4 tiers, and include:

• Free – $0/month
• Plus – $24/month
• Pro – $99/month
• Advanced – $399/month 
• Premium – Please contact Wistia directly for pricing information.

Wistia is one of the best video platforms if you need a video media platform that focuses on marketing tools, and you don’t need live streaming capabilities.

4. Vimeo Livestream

Overview and Company History

Next up in our best live streaming platforms review is Vimeo, an online video platform that was originally launched in 2004.

In 2017, the company acquired the Livestream OVP.

In recent years, Vimeo has pivoted toward the B2B sector. One element of this shift is the Vimeo OTT solution, which markets itself as an all-in-one  streaming solution for live broadcasting and video hosting. 

As a streaming service alternative, Vimeo OTT offers uploading from any device, player customization, and video analytics. Overall, Vimeo OTT targets larger-scale businesses with substantial budgets.

Key Features

Vimeo provides you with access to full-HD streaming. They have an all-device video player so everyone can watch your online video content. Their high-quality streaming player allows businesses to use polls, Q&As, and audience chat for viewer engagement. Additionally, they support adaptive bitrate streaming, helping to ensure a quality end-user experience. 

They allow you to embed your videos on any website, offer a full suite of privacy tools, and provide white-label services. These tools include a branded private portal centralizing an organization’s live and on-demand videos with Showcase. Furthermore, security tools allow you to view who sees which videos with a single sign-on. 

Pros

Vimeo offers Vimeo Create, a template-based video builder that allows you to create quality VOD without high-tech skills. You can also use a free screen and webcam recorder to easily and quickly create VOD. 

Plus, they offer monetization tools. They are a comprehensive online video streaming option.

Cons

Vimeo doesn’t support China video delivery. 

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Recommended dimension: 720p (1280 x 720)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 3GB
• Max video length: Information not available 
• Total file storage: Information not available
• Compatible video formats: MP4 (recommended)

Pricing

Vimeo Livestream offers three main pricing plans, including:

1) Vimeo Premium:

• Premium pricing: $75/month
• Their Premium plan includes both live streaming and VOD support. This plan is the best option for professional broadcasting on this platform.

2) Vimeo Enterprise:

• Enterprise Pricing: Please contact Vimeo for custom pricing information
• The Enterprise plan includes white-label service, monetization, and video API access. It also includes branding control and added security features.

3) Vimeo OTT:

• You need to get in touch with the Vimeo team to find the pricing of Vimeo OTT.

Suppose you are a big business with a big budget for your video platform. In that case, Vimeo may be one of your best online video platforms compared to other video platforms with similar pricing.

5. Kaltura

Overview and Company History

With a video management foundation in its open-source software, Kaltura offers a unique focus in the OVP market. Historically, this company has worked most extensively with educational institutions, carving out a niche as the best video platform for the educational sector. As a result, Kaltura Classform forms some of the world’s most rich virtual classrooms and interactive educational experiences.

It offers cloud-based video platform distribution services and hosting solutions for VOD and live streams.

Kaltura’s specialty lies in customization. The open-source nature of their software means that a community of users create and share countless add-ons and integrations.

However, the downside of Kaltura’s extensibility is that the platform can be confusing to use. With so many different features, it can be overwhelming for beginner users.

Key Features

Kaltura offers both live streaming and VOD hosting. They offer secure content delivery through quality CDNs such as: 

• Akamai

• Limelight

• eCDN

If you want, you can also bring along your own CDN. They further ensure a quality end-user experience with multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming. 

What really makes Kaltura stand out is that they offer a highly customizable experience. They offer an open-source online video platform through the Kaltura Community Edition. 

Their regular software offers video APIs, SDKs, developer tools, and code recipes. All of this adds to an experience you can customize and adapt to fit your unique video needs. They offer special tools for education providers, including virtual classrooms, LMS video, lecture capture, and campus portal tools. 

Pros

• Kaltura has monetization tools, including SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD (PPV streaming). 
• Faster content delivery with reliable CDNs

Cons

The biggest drawback of Kaltura is they have a highly complex streaming platform that can be challenging for beginners to develop. They don’t have China video delivery.

Kaltura also has unresponsive tech support. Audio support features are few and limited. In addition, chat functionality and back-end analytics integration are somewhat outdated.

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 180p (320 x 180)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 2GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 10GB to Unlimited (depends on the plan)

• Compatible video formats: MOV, MP4

Pricing

Kaltura does not publish its pricing on its website since each plan is flexible. Please contact them directly for a custom quote.

If you are looking for a robust online video platform for educational use, Kaltura should be at the top of your best online video platforms list. On top of video hosting, they offer unique tools to customize the online learning experience.

6.Brightcove

Overview and Company History

Brightcove is an online video streaming platform that targets large businesses. Brightcove divides its product offerings into several discrete categories. These include Video Player, OTT Flow, Video Marketing Suite, and others. They have recently acquired Ooyala and announced the end of life of the Ooyala platform.

Among other offerings, Brightcove’s hosting and video streaming platform is called Video Cloud. This platform includes an all-screen player and supports monetization. Additionally, it offers a functional analytics feature.

Key Features

Brightcove has many vital features one needs from an online video platform, providing both live streaming and VOD hosting. They offer an HTML5 video player that you can customer, which supports all-device streaming.  

For the end-user experience, they offer cloud transcoding and adaptive bitrate streaming, which help ensure your end users have a quality video experience. They offer easy sharing with social media publishing tools, so you can easily share your content with your audience. 

Want to customize your video experience? Brightcove supports token-based REST APIs as well as custom video portals.  

They support serve-side ad insertion, allowing you to monetize your content. You can also monetize with AVOD, SVOD, and VOD. Viewers can pay with their local currency to access your content. 

They have an attentive customer support team, which can help you with any video issues you experience. They offer CRM integration, helping you have a smoother customer experience.

Pros

• Convenient and efficient sharing options
• Can customize cloud storage
• Easy to organize and save videos categorically.
• The basic editor provides all the tools you need to edit a short video
• It’s perfect for beginners who need something a little simpler.

Cons

• Brightcove doesn’t support China video delivery
  
• Their monetization tools are only available for high-end customers who sign-up for their custom-priced plans. 

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: Determined by user
• Maximum dimension: Determined by user 
• Video aspect ratio: No restrictions (since Brightcove uses a responsive player)
• Max file size: No limits on file size
• Max video length: No published limits
• Total file storage: Varies by plan
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MKV, 3GPP

Pricing

Brightcove offers several pricing plan levels. These include the following:

• Starter: includes 50 to 200 videos, up to 100,000 plays, and 2-5 users
• Professional: unlimited videos, 100,000+ plays, and no overage plays, with +10 users
• Enterprise: unlimited videos, 100,000+ plays, and no overage plays, with 10+ users, unlimited upload, and analytics-only users

Brightcove doesn’t publish its pricing plans for Video Cloud live streaming services online. You must contact them directly for a customized quote to discuss your business needs.

You can also check out a third-party platform review for more details. Note that it might change following the absorption of the former Ooyala video platform.

Nevertheless, Brightcove is one of the top online video platforms for professionals and has the staying power to back up that claim.

7. JW Player

Overview and Company History

JW Player was originally founded as a video player. However, the platform has since expanded to include video hosting and delivery services. It is a good example of a strong platform. 

Recently, the company added live streaming to its offerings as well. JW Player is a competent player that is based on open-source coding. The live streaming platform includes the player itself, among other valuable features.

Key Features

JW player supports live streaming and video-on-demand, making them a comprehensive online video hosting platform. They support up to 1080p HD streaming. Furthermore, they offer multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming for a quality experience for your viewers and global content delivery. 

They offer monetization via advertising. Need to protect your VOD content? They offer digital rights management for custom-priced Enterprise plans, allowing you to protect your contact further.

For customizing the video experience, they offer custom video galleries. They even have a video recommendation engine that creates “watch next” recommendations and keeps viewers engaged with your content. All plans can access video API.

Once you pay for the $100/month plan, you can access email support.

JW player also provides advanced analytics support for your live streams. It’s a beneficial feature for those trying to monetize their audience. JW player allows you to collect data on countries joined, average video completion rate, devices used to watch on, and total plays.

Pros

• DRM works well to protect your content
• Analytics features provide in-depth insights
• Custom video galleries help it stand out from the rest

Cons

They don’t support China video delivery and only offer basic security features. For monetization, they only support ad-based monetization and not subscriptions or pay-per-view monetization methods. 

JW player also gets pricier if you host a large number of devices.

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 360p (640 x 360)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3, 2.39:1
• Max file size: 25GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 25GB to 500GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, 3GP, FLV

Pricing

With JW Player, live streaming support begins at a free trial level.

Publishers and broadcasters should contact JW Player directly for pricing and features.

JW Player offers quality live streaming through multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming support, making it a quality video platform for live streaming.

8. Flowplayer

Overview and Company History

Flowplayer is a top online video platform that serves large media houses and small businesses. Now part of Wowza, they are primarily known for their white-label streaming services and top-of-the-line monetization solutions.

Flowplayer has offices in the United States, Finland, and Sweden. Flowplayer was launched in 2013, but the site provides little background information on the company’s history.

If you are looking for a straightforward online video platform, Flowplayer could be an option for you.

Key Features

• High-quality video player
• Live streaming capabilities
• Award-winning monetization solutions
• Live streaming and VOD hosting
• Real-time video analytics
• Android and iOS SDK for mobile app development

Pros

• Mobile streaming
• Tools for marketing
• Multiple options for video monetization
• Dedicated customer support
• Analytics available to track promotion efforts
• Beginner-friendly / ease of use
• Integration with the website is seamless
• Customisable player
• Support team is very responsive

Cons

• No China Video Delivery
• Very basic platform 
• Pricing plans particularly pricy
• Bug reporting is slow and inefficient
• Ads only go away on their mid-level plan

Pricing

Flowplayer offers only custom pricing plans for businesses. You can get in touch with their team with your requirements to get a quote. If your business needs a simple and easy-to-use online video platform, Flowplayer fits the bill. It is a basic white-label platform that allows for both live streaming and VOD hosting. 

9. Vidyard

Overview and Company History

Vidyard is an online video platform that provides marketing and lead-generation features. Its packages are built for marketing, sales, and corporate communications.

Vidyard is built thoughtfully for marketers, providing all the tools to maximize your audience engagement and measure your real impact. The Vidyard platform includes tools to improve audience reach and viewer engagement so that its users can generate qualified leads. Vidyard’s comprehensive video streaming platform is geared toward turning viewers into customers.

Key Features

• Specialized marketing tools 
• Advanced video analytics
• Interactive viewing and lead capture tools
• Video organization and content management 
• Gold-standard security
• Can manage videos from a single dashboard
• Create branded players and customized playlists
• Split-testing for splash screens to increase click-through rates
• Tie revenue directly to video views

Pros

• Comprehensive professional broadcasting capabilities
• Insightful analytics
• Reliable technical support
• Access to a large user community for additional help

Cons

• Inconsistent user reviews 
• Complicated editing tools
• Editing tools are limited, and few
• Slow in tech support chat
• Homepage confusing and overwhelming for beginners
• No China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension:  360p (480 x 360)
• Maximum dimension:  4k (3840 x 2160)
• Video aspect ratio:16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 5GB to 16GB (depends on the plan)
• Max video length: 1 hour (live stream)
• Total file storage: Not available
• Compatible video formats: WEBM, MP4, MKV, MOV

Pricing

Vidyard pricing plans come in four tiers. All plans are billed annually or monthly, and are priced as follows for annual payments:

• Free – $0/month
• Pro – $19/month
• Plus – $59/month
• Business – Custom pricing

Vidyard is an online video hosting provider with a focus on marketing and lead generation. If that is the focus of your video content, Vidyard may be right for you.

10. Hippo Video

Overview and Company History

Hippo Video is a streaming and online video platform dedicated to video for sales. It’s designed to help businesses boost their sales processes with engaging video content. The platform offers unique solutions for real estate, tech, healthcare, insurance, tourism, and other industries.

This platform is a great choice for streaming-based businesses only using video for sales, marketing,  customer support, and  corporate communications.

Key Features

• Live streaming through integrations
• VOD hosting support
• Video monetization support through a Muvi integration
• Hippo Video is a SOC 2 Type II service provider
• A white-label video player that can be customized through API
• Users can record video and audio with a single click
• Send out guest recording links to allow non-users to create content
• Videos can be effortlessly exported to YouTube
• Videos can be protected with passwords and security links
• Real-time engagement analytics

Pros

• Editing and creation tools
• Customization options
• Marketing tools (CTAs, analytics, etc.)
• Screen recording
• Hosting tools (transcoding, closed captioning, organization)
• Collaboration tools

Cons

• Some complaints about the reliability of tech support
• The platform can be a bit buggy (such as the Chrome extension crashing)
• Does not interface with some desktop interfaces (such as Outlook 360)
• The platform can be a bit buggy
• Some issues with the built-in editor
• The free trial does not represent the platform well

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 480p
• Maximum dimension: 1080p
• Aspect ratio: not available
• Max file size: 3 GB
• Max video length: 5 minutes on Free plans, 2 hours on Premium plans
• Total file storage: n/a
• Compatible video formats: not available

Pricing

Hippo Video has rolled out pricing packages for their online video platform and the most popular ones are geared specifically towards users that are streaming for business, sales/marketing, and conversions via  video. 

• Free – $0
• Pro – $20/month
• Teams – $60/month
• Enterprise – $80/month

Hippo Video also has special pricing plans for Personalization and  Education. Users can contact Hippo Video directly for recorder API pricing.

Hippo Video is a great online video platform example that focuses on marketing, sales, and customer support. It is made for businesses that want to connect with their customers.

11. Wowza

Overview and Company History

Wowza was founded in 2005  to simplify video delivery, as it supports live and on-demand streaming. This online video platform puts a significant focus on all-device streaming.

Wowza offers its Wowza Streaming Engine for self-hosted video workflows and the Wowza Streaming Cloud, a comprehensive streaming solution.

Wowza allows broadcasters to build highly customized streaming workflows using third-party integrations, APIs, and other advanced features.

Key Features

• Cloud transcoding
• Live streaming and VOD hosting
• White-label video player for advanced customization 
• HTML5 video player for all-device video streaming 
• API access
• Top-notch customer support

Pros

• APIs are available
• Live stream recording
• Cloud management portal
• 4K streaming
• Wide range of security options
• WSE is easy to set up
• Supported by commercial webcasting products
• Tolerant of venue origin streams

Cons

• No simulcasting tools
• Lack of video monetization and audience analytics tools
• Julien resources are hard to filter through
• Pricing is complex to understand
• Configuration of servers is not beginner-friendly

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 240p (320 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160) 
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: Not available
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 250 GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, FLV, MP3, SMIL, AMLST, ID3, NGRP

Pricing

Wowza recently overhauled its pricing plans and added several options. These are split into 2 main tiers: Streaming Cloud and Streaming Engine.

The Wowza Streaming Cloud offers three distinct pricing plans and services. Live Event Pricing, monthly plans include:

• Basic: $99/month; includes 20 hours of live streaming and 1000 viewing hours based on video resolution of 720p
• One Month Event: $149 one-time purchase; includes 20 hours of live streaming and 1000 viewing hours also at 720p
• Plus: $499/month; includes 150 hours of live streaming and 7000 viewing hours based on video resolution of 720p
• Pay as you go: $29/month; three-month minimum with additional usage fees

All of these Live Event plans include full brand control, multi-bitrate streaming, and HD and UHD streaming.

The Wowza Streaming Engine has its own pricing plans. These professional-grade streaming plans are billed annually and include:

• Basic: $175/month + $195/month for each additional instance
• One Month Event: $295/month + $295/month for each additional instance and $95/month for each additional prepaid instance
• Enterprise: Please contact Wowza directly for access to their custom-tailored high volume enterprise solutions

Wowza is a good video platform if you are not looking to monetize your video content. 

12. Muvi

Overview and Company History

If you are looking for a SaaS-based and OTT-focused online video platform, Muvi could be an option. The  video platform is designed to help broadcasters easily set up a white-label OTT  streaming platform.

This fully-featured platform has many powerful broadcasting tools, including white-label streaming, a powerful video CMS, all-device streaming, and more.

The great part about Muvi is that it’s a straightforward platform. It doesn’t require any coding and development to produce TV-quality streams. That also makes it a relatively easy-to-navigate platform for new entrepreneurs or beginners to the streaming world.

Key Features

• Customizable video player
• HTML5 video player
• Powerful video analytics
• Video monetization tools
• Secure streaming

Pros

• Professional video hosting
• Powerful CDN
• Well-equipped video CMS
• Cloud transcoding tools
• DRM and other security features
• All-device streaming
• Well-built app for streaming ease
• Opportunities for indie content production houses

Cons

• Hard to integrate with some external tools
• Does not support China delivery
• Additional fees can get expensive
• Less design and customization choices
• Communication errors occur frequently

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 144p (256 x 144)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840  x2160)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: not available
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 1TB, 2TB, 5TB (depending on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, VOB, M4V, AVI, 3GP, MPG

Pricing

Muvi prices its plans at the following five levels:

• Standard plan: $399/month (+ $299/month per app + infra fees), allows 2000 concurrent viewers, 1TB each of bandwidth and storage, and API access.
• Professional plan: at $1,499 per month (+ $499/month per app + infra fees) increases limits further and adds premium support.
• Enterprise plan: $3,900 per month (+ $499/month per app + infra fees) adds a dedicated server with auto-scaling.
• Ultimate plan: Custom pricing. Includes everything in the Enterprise plan plus unlimited concurrent users, monthly security and performance reports, lots of handholding, etc.

When you need a high-level video hosting service that doesn’t require high-tech skills, Muvi is a video platform website you should check out.

13. Cincopa

Overview and Company History

Looking for a comprehensive SaaS online video hosting service that supports hosting other types of media? Cincopa could be an option for you as it allows you to add annotations, make closed captions, create CTAs and chapters, and brand your videos.

This platform is geared toward large organizations that need to store and manage videos, photos, audio, and other types of files. In addition to media hosting, Cincopa offers support for live video streaming.

One significant advantage of Cincopa is that its platform provides plans for various budgets. These plans have powerful broadcasting features, including video monetization, live stream recording, reliable content delivery, and more.

Key Features

• Multimedia video hosting
• Live and on-demand video hosting 
• Customizable video player
• Video monetization
• Integrations 
• Video security
• OTT video streaming
• Powerful CDN partnerships

Pros

• High-quality media sharing
• Powerful streaming tools
• Professional streaming experience
• Reliable customer support 
• Choice for media/sliders input for your website
• Sliders are automatically updated
• Images and videos superbly responsive

Cons

• Not a dedicated video platform 
• Some complaints of media storage limits
• Must pay for features not used (such as image hosting)

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 144p
• Maximum dimension: 4K
• Aspect ratio: 4:3, 16:9
• Max file size: 1, 2, 20GB (depending on the plan)
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 5 videos, 40 videos, unlimited videos (depending on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, M4A, F4A,  F4B, F4V, F4P, M2TS, MTS, VOB, MKV, RMVB, M1V, QT, DIV, DIVX, DV, 3GP, 3GPP, 3G2, MPG, MPEG, MPE, FLV

Pricing

Cincopa offers three different pricing plans, including:

• Plus: $25/month; includes marketing tools (CTAs, email integrations, etc.)
• Corporate: $99/month; advanced broadcasting tools
• Agency/Enterprise: $350/month; advanced broadcasting tools with more flexibility

Please check out Cincopa’s pricing page for a further breakdown of storage and capabilities that come with each plan.

If you need more than just an online video streaming platform and something to host photos, audio, and other files, Cincopa may be the right hosting platform for your business.

14. Panopto

Overview and Company History

Panopto is a video company focusing on internal video streaming for businesses and universities. The platform is geared toward education and training and integrates smoothly with  Learning Management Systems (LMS). Panopto is a unified streaming solution that supports live and on-demand video streaming.

In addition to LMS integration, Panopto supports a variety of education-centric streaming tools. These include mobile streaming, live stream recording, video sharing, video search, quizzing, playlist organization, and more.

Key Features

• Education-focused streaming tools
• Video analytics
• Privacy features for secure streaming
• White-label video player
• LMS integrations
• API access for further customization

Pros

• Audio and video hosting
• Video organization tools
• Asset categorization
• Customizable video player
• Video delivery to China
• Easy to record and edit videos
• Support protocols are constantly being improved
• Responsive tech team
• Runs smoothly as a web recording tool and software application

Cons

• Minimal SEO management
• No version control
• End users may experience some glitches in software application
• Navigation for the video platform is initially difficult
• No option to video call and record at the same time

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Compatible video formats: AVI, MP4, MPG, WMV, MOV, QT, ASF, 3GP, WMA, MP3, M4V
• All other upload guidelines and specs are only available to paying customers. 

Pricing

Please contact Panopto for custom pricing.

After establishing a contract, you have access to unlimited streaming and storage. 

If you are focused on finding an internal video streaming platform, Panopto is a good option.

15. StreamShark

Overview and Company History

StreamShark is an Australia-based online video platform that is a product of MetaCDN. The platform offers reliable content delivery and unique streaming features.

One notable feature of StreamShark is that it can host streams for large-scale, high-profile events. The platform is equipped for managing different aspects of live streaming events from one cohesive interface. It provides an excellent experience for broadcasters and viewers alike.

Key Features

• Access to a multi-CDN network
• Mobile streaming
• Customizable video player
• Secure streaming
• Tech support
• 360 live streaming
• Peer-to-peer streaming
• Excellent live-support model
• Supports multistreaming
• Customisable channel

Pros

• Video encoding tools 
• Localized media ingestion
• Reliable content delivery
• Great storage capacity

Cons

• No playlists support
• Minimal video analytics
• Does not support China video delivery
• Accessibility lacking in in-house closed captions
• Little customisation in the front-end experience
• Confusing homepages for channels

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: not available
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 500GB, 1TB, 3TB
• Compatible video formats: HLS, WebM VP9, WebM VP8, WebM VP9 DASH, MP4

Pricing

Stream shark offers several different monthly streaming plans, including:

• Standard: $199/month; includes 1,000 GB of bandwidth; overage charges of $0.10/GB
• Team: $499/month; includes 4,000 GB of bandwidth; overage charges of $0.09/GB
• Business: $999/month; includes 9,000 GB of bandwidth; overage charges of $0.08/GB
• Enterprise: Please contact StreamShark for their custom enterprise solutions and plans

If your business focuses on large-scale, high-profile events with multiple camera inputs and audio inputs, then StreamShark may be one of the best online video platforms for you.

16. VIXY Platform

Overview and Company History

Founded in 2012, VIXY is a powerful video hosting platform that enables professional content owners and publishers to manage, share, and analyze video content. VIXY allows you to reach millions of viewers globally or engage employees internally.

This all-in-one video platform provides different monetization ways including advertising, pay-per-view, and video subscriptions. It also allows you to stream, and host videos securely with its enterprise-grade security. 

VIXY is a white-label hosting platform that allows you to brand your videos for personalized experience. It also provides adaptive bitrate streaming technology and CDN that ensures fast playback. 

It’s mostly suited for enterprises looking for a powerful video management and streaming platform. The pricing is a bit expensive, making it unsuitable for smaller creators. It also provides more advanced features, such as Video API and SDKs, custom integrations and premium SLAs.

Key Features

• Video on demand and OTT
• Streaming for web, android, and iOS
• HTML5 video player
• User analytics
• Video advertising
• Call to action and lead generation 
• Interactive video player studio
• Reliable video hosting and streaming
• API integrations

Pros

• It provides multiple monetization options
• Provides scalable live streaming
• Provides video sharing capabilities

Cons

• Can’t manage PDF files

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 180p (320 x 180)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: Unlimited
• Max video length: Unlimited
• Total file storage: 100GB – unlimited
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV

Pricing

• Startup: €399/month, 100GB storage, 300GB streaming, unlimited uploads and plays
• Professional: €599/month, 500GB storage, 2TB streaming, unlimited uploads and plays
• Enterprise: Custom pricing, high-volume streaming and storage

Best Use Case

VIXY is best for professional enterprises looking for an all-in-one video hosting and streaming platform with great security and multiple revenue-generation features. 

Top 5 Social Video Platforms

Although professional OVPs are the best option for businesses using online video, there is value in using social online video platforms. The best video and social media platforms grant easy-to-use beginner-friendly tools. Due to these platforms being used by an extensive database of consumers, your content will reach a more diverse audience, and monetization is simpler.

Many businesses post snippets of their online videos on their social media accounts. Some include calls to action urging users to visit their website to see the full video, purchase their products, and sign up for their email lists. Social video platforms can be a great way to direct viewers back to your more controlled video content on your website via a video platform.

Again, these platforms are not substitutes for professional online video streaming platforms but can come in handy. Social video platforms work best to drive traffic to your website and video content.

Here are six social video platforms that could be useful for your business.

17. YouTube

Overview and Company History

YouTube is the most popular video streaming platform on the market. It was one of the first online platforms to make online video streaming popular.

This Google-owned website is one of the best options for consumer-grade broadcasting, but many businesses use it to dip their toes in video broadcasting. It’s also adequate for beginners as the interface is easy to learn, and resources are available on YouTube to help understand YouTube as a streaming platform.

As we mentioned, YouTube is not ideal for business hosting since the platform limits monetization and needs to give users full ownership of their content.

The biggest perk of using YouTube vs. alternatives? It is entirely free to use and easy to navigate.

Key Features

• Ad-based monetization is limited to users with large followings and watch times
• No notable security features
• Popular among consumers
• Powered by Google
• Easy to share videos
• Videos can be embedded in other websites
• No white-label capabilities

Pros

• Free to use
• Viewers are familiar with the site
• User-friendly 
• Easy to embed the player on your website
• Live and VOD hosting

Cons

• No white-labeling
• Only ad-based monetization (with limitations)
• Limitations on broadcasters’ ownership of content
• Off-brand third-party ads and logos

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9 (adds padding to videos with other aspect ratios)
• Max file size: 128 GB
• Max video length: 12 hours
• Total file storage: No storage limit

• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MPEG4, FLV, AVI, Web M, WMV, MPEG-PS, 3GPP

Pricing

YouTube is free to use but has monthly subscription plans to avoid streaming ads.

Best Use Case

YouTube is ideal for small or new businesses that want to embed online videos on their website but don’t have the resources to afford a professional streaming solution. However, monetization is limited, and revenue is lesser than a professional OVP, which means YouTube may disadvantage any income you’re trying to gain from ad revenue.

18. LinkedIn Live

Overview and Company History

LinkedIn is a well-known social media platform designed for networking among professionals. The platform recently rolled out LinkedIn Live, an exclusive offer designed to help brands connect with professionals through live-streamed content.

To stream on LinkedIn Live, broadcasters need the support of a self-hosted streaming setup or a third-party streaming platform (like  Dacast and the other OVPs we’ve discussed).

LinkedIn Live is an excellent platform for broadcasters trying to reach a niche audience, including professionals.

Key Features

• Social media streaming app
• Highly exclusive features
• Only accessible on an application basis
• Integrates with LinkedIn Events 

Pros

• Free to use
• Designed to reach a niche audience (i.e. professionals)
• Builds brand awareness
• Encourages engagement 

Cons

• Access is limited on an application basis
• Requires support from additional streaming technology
• Highly regulated 
• Reach is limited to professionals

Upload Guidelines and Specs

Video guidelines and specs on LinkedIn Live depend on the third-party software that you choose.

Pricing

LinkedIn Live is free to use if LinkedIn accepts your application.

Best Use Case

LinkedIn Live best suits brands that want to connect with their professional network. You need third-party software to use it. 

19. TikTok

Overview and Company History

Originally launched as a China-only video hosting and video streaming platform in 2016, TikTok merged with Music.ly in 2018 and found great success worldwide. The app became particularly popular at the beginning of 2020 when users in their teens and early 20s created a variety of dances and other trendy videos meant for other users to replicate.

This app is gaining popularity, so creators have remarked that the algorithm is much more user-friendly than other social media video platforms. That means there’s room for new users to grow.

TikTok is primarily a social media platform that is based on video sharing. Still, when used strategically, businesses can use it to lead viewers to their websites for their intended conversion.

Key Features

• Highly controlled live streaming tools
• 15-60 second video sharing
• “Dueting” tool which allows users to use parts of existing videos for their own
• “For You Page” that generates content based on viewers’ interests

• Very young users

Pros

• Free to use
• User-friendly algorithm (suitable for quick growth)
• Easy to go viral
• Brings viewers content that matches their interests based on how they use the app

Cons

• No monetization options
• Time limits on live videos
• Cannot remove TikToks branding

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 1080 x 1920
• Maximum dimension: 1080 x 1920
• Video aspect ratio: 9:16
• Max file size: 287.6 MB  on iOS and 72 MB on Android
• Max video length: 60 seconds
• Total file storage: No storage limit
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV

Pricing

TikTok is free to use.

Best Use Case

TikTok is best suited for businesses targeting a Generation Z audience. It’s focused on short content that is under a minute in length. That makes it an adequate platform for small businesses with products that appeal to impressionable audiences. However, TikTok won’t be very fruitful for professionals working in tech.

20. Instagram

Overview and Company History

Although Instagram started as a photo-only platform, the app now includes video sharing, Story, IGTV, and Reel features suitable for sharing videos.

The Reel feature is beneficial as it emulates TikTok’s model for focusing on virality and fast growth via rapid shares. Another benefit of Instagram over TikTok is that its audience and user base comprises people of all ages.

Since the picture and video sharing platform includes tools to help businesses with marketing, many businesses upload small, shareable clips with CTAs leading users to their websites with products or longer videos.

Key Features

• Photo and video posts on the feed
• Reels
• Stories (photos and videos that are available for 24 hours unless saved to a Highlight)
• Easy video sharing
• Serves as a search engine due to hashtags

Pros

• Free to use
• Very popular among users of all ages
• Sharing content is easy
• Posting takes only a couple of seconds
• Special tools designed for businesses

Cons

• No monetization features
• Limited privacy

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 864 x 1080 (recommended)
• Maximum dimension: 864 x 1080 (recommended)
• Video aspect ratio: 9:16, 4:5
• Max file size: 15 MB
• Max video length: Depends on which feature you use
• Total file storage: Unlimited
• Compatible video formats: MP4

Pricing

Instagram is free to use.

Best Use Case

Instagram is handy for B2C businesses, but there are B2B businesses that find success on this platform. It is a great way to drive traffic to your website’s video content. However, it’s important to remember that monetization is little to none for more significant accounts and platforms.

21. Dailymotion

Overview and Company History

Dailymotion is a consumer-grade online video platform considered the French equivalent of YouTube. The main difference between Dailymotion and YouTube is that Dailymotion has minimal content restrictions, whereas YouTube is quite strict on what users can and cannot post.

Dailymotion is also the primary video platform in those territories where YouTube was or is banned. Since it’s widely available in areas that YouTube hasn’t yet monopolized, Dailymotion can reach a much more diverse audience.

The growing popularity of Dailymotion and the greater freedom of expression makes the OVP an excellent choice for many broadcasters.

Key Features

• Basic video-sharing platform
• Based in France
• Small creator’s fund
• Copyright protection tools
• Minimal content limitations

Pros

• Security tools for avoiding piracy and copyright violations
• Minimal content restrictions
• Becoming more and more popular

Cons

• Less popular than YouTube
• Very minimal monetization options
• Limited analytics

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9 (adds padding to videos with other aspect ratios)
• Max file size: 128GB
• Max video length: 12 hours
• Total file storage: Unlimited
• Compatible video formats: MOV, MPEG4, MP4, AVI, WMV,  MPEG-PS, FLV, 3GPP, WebM

Pricing

Dailymotion is free to use.

Best Use Case

Dailymotion is a viable option for businesses on a lower budget that cannot afford a professional video hosting solution.

22. Gumlet

Overview and Company History

Gumlet was founded in 2014 as a PHP image resize library on GitHub. After being used by millions of developers on the site, the founder decided to turn the product into a fully-fledged company, that automates media processing and optimization. The site can be used to process both images and videos and optimize website speed with low code integration making it suitable for beginners. 

Businesses host and stream videos through the Gumlet platform to millions of viewers in a short time. The platform allows for video streamers to brand their content as well. It ensures security from content theft or piracy and offers simple and transparent pricing options.

Key Features

• Ability to upload content with API and webhooks
• Drag-and-drop video features
• Engagement metrics 
• Video import from the cloud and local storage
• Multiple output resolutions from 240p to 4k quality
• Generate and upload subtitles in more than 185 languages
• An ad-free platform that offers personalized branding options

 Pros

• Provides multiCDNs to allow you to stream globally
• Makes it easy to edit and update video thumbnails, subtitles, and SEO details
• Provides instant playback URLs

Cons

• It may not be suitable for established developers

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 5GB
• Max video length: 3 hours
• Total file storage: Unlimited
• Compatible video formats: MP4

Pricing

• Forever free plan
• Starter: $10/month, for individuals, freelancers, and small creators. (1200 storage minutes, 2 TB bandwidth/month)
• Growth: $40/month, for for SMBs and scaling creators. (4000 storage minutes)
• Business: $199/month, for medium-sized businesses and established creators (15,000 storage minutes)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing, for large enterprises (custom bandwidth)

Best Use Case

It’s a great fit for content creators and developers.

23. Mux

Overview and Company History

Mux is a streaming and VOD platform that allows developers to build unique experiences for their brands. Mux uses RTMP to accept live broadcasts and HLS to output streams. This way, you can stream from any device including your mobile device, a hardware encoder, or broadcast software.

The platform also automatically records your live streams so your audience can access them afterward. Mux uses multiple CDNs that optimize your streaming to a global platform. You can easily adapt the platform to your workflow. 

The platform offers affordable pricing options for both streaming and video on demand. This includes resolution-based pricing and volume discounts. 

Key Features

• Wide range of video input formats
• Just-in-time video encoding
• Smart adaptive bitrate ladder
• Subtitles and closed captions
• Auto-generated captions
• MP4 download for offline viewing
• Supports 4k video quality
• Video analytics and engagement metrics
• Headless CMS integration

Pros

• Developer-friendly APIs offering straightforward onboarding
• Makes it easy to scale
• RTMP streaming from different devices
• Ability to broadcast to social media platforms
• Ability to transition from live streaming to VOD seamlessly
•  Token-based security to protect your teams

Cons

• Pay-as-you-go pricing may get expensive

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 720p (1280 x 720)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 1:1, 9:16
• Max file size: Depends on minutes
• Max video length: 4 hours
• Total file storage: Prorated
• Compatible video formats: MP4

Pricing

Pay as you go: $20 in free credits

• Video on demand
  • Baseline assets: Free encoding, $0.003 per minute storage, $0.00096 per minute streaming
  • Smart assets: $0.032 per minute encoding, $0.0024 per minute storage, $0.00096 per minute streaming
• Live streaming
  • Smart assets: $0.032 per minute encoding, $0.0024 per minute storage, $0.00096 per minute streaming

Custom: Personalized pricing tailored to your streaming needs

Best Use Case

Best for developers who want to build unique video experiences for their viewers.

FAQs

1. What is the most popular online video platform?

YouTube is the most popular online video streaming platform with over 2.7 billion users as of 2024. It was among the earliest platforms to popularize video streaming online. 

YouTube is best for consumer-grade broadcasting as it’s free of charge and easy to navigate. It’s, however, not suitable for business broadcasting as the monetization options are limited.

2. Is there another video site besides YouTube?

There are lots of online video streaming platforms besides YouTube, some more suitable for B2B businesses while others are better suited for B2C businesses. Some of these top platforms include, but are not limited to:

• Dacast
• IBM Cloud Video
• JW Player
• Wistia
• Vimeo Livestream
• Flowplayer
• Vidyard

3. Is there a better site than YouTube? 

Whether an online video platform is better than YouTube will depend on a business and what its needs and budgets are. 

B2B businesses may find YouTube insufficient for their streaming needs as they may want more monetization and branding options. Consumer-based businesses, on the other hand, may consider YouTube or other social media streaming platforms. 

It all depends on what your business needs.

4. What is the purpose of an online video platform?

Online video platforms are websites that host both pre-recorded videos and live streams. Typically, users will upload video files to a hosting service through the host website, mobile or desktop application, or other interfaces. They’ll then share access to those videos with their viewers via embed codes or links.

5. What are the advantages of video platforms?

Here are a few benefits of using online video hosting platforms:

• They allow you to get your videos in front of large audiences and on multiple sites
• It’s an effective way to engage with and deliver messages to your target audience
• It’s one way to improve brand exposure and increase conversions
• They’re a crucial way of gathering insights about who your audience is and their viewing habits
• They allow you to create and share promotional videos

Conclusion

The streaming service market is full of many great video platform options. Choosing the right platform can be overwhelming, but we encourage you to take a step back, analyze your goals and priorities, and choose an online video platform that meets your every need. The best online video platform for you is out there.

We also encourage you to test platforms with their free trials to make sure you find the one that is your perfect fit. Our list emphasizes all those live streaming software that offer free trials so you can test out different software to find a good match for your business objectives.

Whether you want to stream live video occasionally, host regular business-related broadcasts, or anything in between, Dacast is here to help. We hope this post has helped you narrow down your OVP options. And when comparing OVPs, we recommend taking advantage of trial pricing when possible.

Meanwhile, if you haven’t already, you can try out the Dacast online video platform for free for 14 days (no credit card required). Just click the button below to sign up and start streaming live today!

Get Started For Free