Top 26 Alternatives to Vimeo in 2024: Pricing, Features & More

vimeo alternatives

Vimeo was one of the first video-sharing platforms that set the stage for those to come. When it first launched, it was unprecedented. Users could upload videos directly in just a few clicks and share them around the world. However, competitors such as YouTube have since taken the world by storm.

As of 2024, Vimeo has a reputation that attracts the artistic crowd. Its thriving community of more than 60 million video creators upload engaging videos in film, art, music, and animation to 175 million members. But, in 2024, is Vimeo still a good option? The fact is that Vimeo now charges between $9-65, depending on what you need. And with YouTube videos and other alternatives so dominant, is it worth it?

In this article, we’ll cover Vimeo – what it does, features, and facts. We’ll discuss its pricing plans and what you get. Finally, we’ll compare the top 26 alternatives to Vimeo.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

  • What is Vimeo?
  • Vimeo Pricing Plans
  • Vimeo vs YouTube
  • Why Shop Around?
  • The 26 Best Vimeo Alternatives
  • Dacast vs. Vimeo: An In-Depth Look
  • FAQs
  • In Conclusion

What is Vimeo?

online video platform

Vimeo is a long-time player in the online streaming game.

Vimeo is a video hosting platform offering prosumer- and professional-grade streaming solutions. As far as what Vimeo is used for, that’s changed over the years. The platform started with only support for video-on-demand (VOD) hosting, but after Vimeo acquired Livestream in 2017, they added live streaming support.

Vimeo used to be more of a social media platform like YouTube designed with indie filmmakers and content creators in mind. Now, Vimeo has since shifted focus to a more professional clientele, but that social aspect lives on through Vimeo Watch.

Vimeo hosting attracts a large chunk of its total audience, consisting of mostly professional or hobby filmmakers and film industry enthusiasts. The community is helpful and a notch above other mainstream apps.

Today, Vimeo offers everything from basic VOD hosting to advanced live streaming support. Offerings are split into Vimeo and Livestream plans, but everything is owned and operated by Vimeo.

Vimeo Stats and Facts

  • Vimeo offers B2C and B2B streaming solutions
  • Broadcasters can host live and on-demand streams on Vimeo
  • More than 175 million viewers,  and 60 million broadcasters use Vimeo
  • Vimeo has registered users in over 150 countries
  • Vimeo plans range from free to custom-priced plans that cost more than $500/month
  • Vimeo acquired Livestream a few years ago
  • The Vimeo player predated Youtube

Vimeo’s Key Features

Here are some top Vimeo features.

  • Ability to replace videos: Vimeo allows you to replace uploaded videos with updated versions. So if you find flaws in your uploaded video, or it gets outdated, instead of uploading an entire new video, you can just update it.
  • Collaboration: You can have multiple users access your channel and access all the owner’s features. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate on projects in real-time.
  • Live streaming: The feature is limited, but you can access it on the Vimeo Premium plan. This allows you to stream events, learning sessions, and other content. You can also stream to social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and other RTMP destinations

Other features include

  • VOD hosting
  • White-label streaming
  • OTT streaming
  • Video monetization
  • Ad-free streaming
  • Video embedding
  • Video analytics
  • Private video streaming
  • Compatibility with Video Editing software

Vimeo User Reviews

Looking at key features gives you a good idea of the functionality of a platform, but one of the best ways to get to know how well the platform works is by reading reviews from real users.

Let’s look at what a few different broadcasters had to say about their experience with Vimeo.

“The interface is clean and logical. There is no unnecessary chatter to confuse the user. I liked that the platform is used mainly by people who know how to make content so that you can find quality content with good quality right here. The feeling itself is about the business environment. I use some of the materials that can’t be found anywhere else and have crystal quality.” – Tacho T., via Capterra

“My experience has been poor. I’ve lost my temper with tech support many times. They just don’t get it, how it should work.”Jack T., via Capterra

“As a photography/videography business owner in which we use and depend heavily on platforms such as Vimeo, this particular software has the potential to be the industry leader, and it’s falling short.” – Verified Reviewer, via Capterra

What File Types Does Vimeo Support

One of the top notable things about Vimeo is that it supports most file types, including MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, and FLV. However, MP4 is recommended.

Vimeo Pricing Plans

Vimeo offers quite a few streaming pricing plans for users with different budgets and streaming needs. Before we dive into Vimeo pricing, it is essential to point out that not every feature is available at every price point.

That said, let’s take a look at the different pricing plans from Vimeo:

  • Basic: Free to use forever; no privacy features, customization capabilities, live streaming, or advanced analytics; 500MB per week of upload space, up to 5GB total account storage; 10 videos per day, create one channel, one group, and three showcases
  • Starter: $9/month; 5 GB of bandwidth per week, 250 GB storage every year, and allocates for a single user; only professional functions available at this level are player customization, privacy controls, and social distribution.
  • Standard: $25/month; 20 GB of bandwidth per week, 1 TB storage every year, and 3 team member seats; Unlocks tools to create and publish unlimited videos, custom video templates, review, and approval; team collaboration projects for up to 3 team members
  • Advanced: $65/month; Up to 2TB bandwidth per month; 5 TB total storage; 10 team member seats; add custom colors and logos
  • Premium: Not disclosed; Unlimited live streaming with 7TB of storage; unlimited viewers; 10 team member seats, with no weekly bandwidth limitations; sales and marketing-specific tools

There are three Vimeo pricing plans under Livestream: Vimeo Premium, Vimeo Enterprise, and Vimeo OTT. Vimeo Livestream pricing plans are broken down as follows:

Vimeo Advanced Pricing:

  • Premium pricing: $65/month
  • 7 TB total storage
  • 10 team members
  • The Premium plan includes both live streaming and VOD support.

Vimeo Enterprise Pricing:

  • 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.

Vimeo OTT Pricing:

  • Starter OTT: Custom pricing
  • Growth and Enterprise OTT: Custom pricing
  • This OTT-specific pricing package comes with the Vimeo.com relationship. These plans include all the basics for starting your web-based OTT channel and growing your OTT business online.

Vimeo vs YouTube

YouTube is the most popular content streaming service that offers somewhat similar services to Vimeo. Being Vimeo’s top competitor, YouTube is often compared to Vimeo.  Therefore, it helps to know the difference between these two platforms.

On the surface, it may seem as though they serve the same purpose. However, YouTube and Vimeo both target different audiences and have their upsides and downsides. 

For starters, YouTube serves a large global audience and has a wide variety of content. It’s more of an ad-based social media platform compared to a video hosting platform. Vimeo on the other hand, is mainly a video hosting platform for creators and businesses.

Here is Vimeo vs YouTube stacked side by side:

Vimeo has a limit to the size of files you can upload on its basic plan. You can only upload 500MBs per week and 5GB in total. This results in a smoother user experience.

YouTube does not have a limitation to the upload size of files. However, only verified accounts can upload videos longer than 15 minutes. 

As mentioned, you’d need to subscribe to a higher plan on Vimeo to upload more content. There are multiple subscription plans that fit different users with different requirements.This helps maintain the quality of content people upload.

Most of YouTube’s features are free to access so everyone can upload content without a subscription. The platform is ad-based, but there’s a premium version that is ad-free.

Vimeo is ad-free but offers other monetization options for its users. These include subscriptions and VOD (Video-On-Demand).

A large part of YouTube’s monetization is based on advertisements. Your viewers have to watch several ads in between your content.

Vimeo attracts a more mature audience, especially for the paid version. 

YouTube is a free platform and may attract an unwanted audience. 

Why Shop Around?

Although Vimeo has a wide range of functionality, there are quite a few reasons why broadcasters may want to migrate from Vimeo or look elsewhere for alternatives.

1. Lack Of Transparency

The first reason to seek a Vimeo replacement option is the lack of transparency. Some information published on the Vimeo pricing page is a bit misleading. For example, some plans are said to come with “Unlimited Streaming.” Unfortunately, “unlimited streaming” is a myth.

There are unpublished limits on bandwidth, and once users get to a certain amount of usage, they may be required to upgrade to a customized plan. That’s an inconvenience to broadcasters with advanced streaming needs.

2. Issues with Customer Support

Reviews from verified Vimeo users suggest that the company does not provide adequate customer support. That could be another major inconvenience, especially if you are live-streaming an event that users are paying to attend.

Imagine hosting a webinar for hundreds of thousands of people, and suddenly, your stream is disconnected. If your video hosting provider isn’t there to offer support, what do you do? The lack of support can put broadcasters in a tight spot.

3. Lower-Tier Plans are Limited

Some of Vimeo’s more basic plans have strict limits on features and the number of videos you can upload each week. Overall, the bandwidth for these plans is also pretty limited.

Of course, this is common among low-ticket video platforms, so there is the expectation that you get what you pay for. However, some consumer-grade and prosumer Vimeo alternatives offer equally basic video platforms for a lower price or for free.

4. High Costs

That said, Vimeo’s higher-tier plans can be costly, especially for individual creators or smaller businesses with a low budget. As such, they may want to consider platforms that offer similar video hosting and streaming services for free, or for a lower price. 

5. Limited Customization

Vimeo’s customization options can be limited especially compared to its white label alternatives. So businesses that are looking for highly customizable video streaming platforms for brand alignment may opt for other white label platforms. 

It’s however important to note that most platforms with such flexible customization options are generally more expensive. 

6. Limited Features

Compared to other platforms, Vimeo’s analytics may seem thin. The platform lacks an advanced analytics tool that offers detailed reports on key streaming metrics such as viewer engagement, location, and viewer behavior. 

Also, Vimeo has limited integrations with marketing software. This limits the way businesses can use their video content for lead generation and customer relationship management. 

The 26 Best Vimeo Alternatives

Wondering if there’s a streaming platform better suited for your unique streaming needs than Vimeo’s professional plan? There are plenty of websites like Vimeo that cater to broadcasters with all needs, from those looking for a streamable high-resolution alternative to those who simply want a more affordable option. Let’s look at the top 26 Vimeo alternatives for live streaming and VOD hosting.

1. Dacast

Dacast is an online video platform that supports live and on-demand streaming on every plan. This platform uses an HTML5 video player and partners with top-tier content delivery networks to ensure reliable delivery to any device.

Unlike many of the other Vimeo alternatives we will discuss, Dacast includes almost all of the advanced tools broadcasters need on all of their plans, even with the Starter plan. The multiple packages and pricing options make Dacast great for new and advanced broadcasters.

Another major advantage of Dacast over Vimeo is that Dacast offers reliable 24/7 support. It’s important when you are streaming on a large scale. Dacast is also very transparent with pricing plans and bandwidth costs. When investing in this sort of software, you must choose one you can trust.

Dacast also supports China’s content delivery, which is valuable for broadcasters who are trying to reach viewers all over the globe.

Key Features:

Dacast has many key features that help it stand out as a solid Vimeo alternative.

Global delivery: Want someone to be able to watch your video seamlessly in the United States, Europe, and Australia simultaneously? That is possible with Dacast’s strong CDN network partnerships that allow for global content delivery.

That way, Dacast widens the pool of potential views for your every video. Making it that much easier to reach them organically.

White-label streamingWhen you embed videos on your website, you want the video platform to match your brand and style. With Dacast’s white-label streaming, that is more than possible!

Customizable video experience: Need more than just a video player? With Player API and Video API access, you can create whatever you want with Dacast’s video features.

Design a video gallery: Create a video gallery with Dacast’s Expo Galleries video portal feature, which turns your videos into an explorable and visually stunning gallery page.

Ad-free streaming: Every video doesn’t need advertisements. With Dacast, you can enjoy ad-free streaming.

In-depth analytics: This is the era of working smarter, not harder. Dacast’s video analytics provide you with feedback on all your videos, helping make the next one better.

Scalability: Ready for an upgrade? Scalability is straightforward using Dacast’s platform. With Dacast, you only pay a higher fee when you need to scale up.

Reliable video hostingDacast offers dedicated video hosting, including:

With Dacast, you get access to top-tier video hosting solutions with the tools to create a customizable and secure experience.

Pros:

Cons:

  • Feature offering can be overwhelming at first

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)
  • 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:

The pricing plans from Dacast include:

  • Starter: $39/month (billed annually); Ideal for newcomers with 1,000 TB of bandwidth and 50 GB of storage per month
  • Event: $63/month (or $750/year); For organizations who’d instead not sign a contract, and want to purchase bandwidth separately to live stream an event. It offers 6 TB of bandwidth upfront and 50 GB of storage; you can add additional data, and storage as needed
  • Scale: $165/month (billed annually); Includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year, with 2 TB of storage; adds phone support, monetization paywall, an M3U8 online player for live channels, ad insertion, white-label video player, and video API access
  • Custom: If your enterprise business has high-volume streaming needs, you can contact Dacast for a custom plan tailored to your needs.

Dacast vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Dacast is a Vimeo alternative for broadcasters and live streamers who are frustrated with Vimeo’s customer support. Dacast has a very responsive 24/7 support team. Dacast also offers live streaming at almost half the cost.

2. Kaltura

kaltura streaming solution for OTT

Kaltura is a great OTT provider for enterprises and educational institutions.

Looking for an alternative to Vimeo that provides total customization of the video player and broadcasting experience? Kaltura may be an option for you.

Kaltura is an open-source online video platform that provides cloud-based hosting and distribution for both live and on-demand content. That’s a great option for organizations with advanced broadcasting needs.

Kaltura serves four main industries: educational institutions, enterprises, media companies, and OTT video services.

Key Features:

Kaltura has several key features that make it a viable Vimeo replacement.

Developer tools: Have a development team? Kaltura offers video clout APIs and developer tools, allowing active media asset management. You can build video apps that scale with their tools.

Video content management system: Kaltura offers a single place for you to manage all of your videos, with tools for:

  • Ingesting video
  • Managing video
  • Publishing videos
  • Analyzing data from videos

Interactive video tools: Kaltura is targeted toward the educational market, and as such, they offer many interactive video tools, such as digital whiteboards, shared notes, chat tools, and more, to create an interactive live video experience.

Live and VOD hosting: Kaltura offers both live and VOD hosting, so you can host all your videos in one place.

Quality video playback: With both multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming, Kaltura offers quality video feedback.

With Kaltura, you can create a completely customizable hosting experience with cloud hosting and transcoding support. They also offer monetization support if you want to make money with your video content.

Pros:

  • Customizable for unique needs
  • Endless options for streaming features via integrations
  • Several options for video monetization
  • Powerful video security
  • Enables free video-making collaboration

Cons:

  • Reportedly slow customer support
  • Can get very complex with all of the integrations
  • Not a great option for beginners
  • No China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 180p (320 x 180)
  • Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920x 1080)
  • 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 offers custom-priced and pay-as-you-go plans to broadcasters. Broadcasters can buy credits to use on features and bandwidth. Although an unusual way of charging, it allows you to only pay for precisely what you use. 

Webinars:

  • Free trial: $0 for two webinars
  • Business: $150/month billed annually
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

Virtual classroom

  • Free trial: 14 days
  • Standard: $23/month up to 10 participants per session and up to 10 hrs of cloud recording
  • Pro: $55/month up to 100 participants per session and up to 25 hrs of cloud recording
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing for up to 10+ classrooms

Media Services

  • Annual discounts – Discounted pricing packages are available for any scale and use-case, enterprise SLA, and developer support. For more information, please contact sales
  • Free trial account – $100 worth of credits for 30 days for testing and experimentation with no commitments
  • Pay as you go – You pay only for what you use

Given the degree of customization of plans with Kaltura, the cost can add up quickly. This option is best suited for large-scale enterprises with larger budgets.

Kaltura vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Kaltura is an alternative to Vimeo for those who feel they might’ve outgrown Vimeo and want to take their broadcasting and live streaming to the next level.

3. IBM Video Streaming

ibm OTT platform

IBM Video Streaming’s biggest setback is its lack of monetization features.

IBM Video Streaming (formally Cloud Video) is a high-end Vimeo alternative respected in the online video streaming market. It offers  video hosting, cloud video streaming solutions, and a variety of professional streaming features.

Mainly known for its high-quality live streaming, IBM Cloud Video also supports on-demand video hosting.

IBM Video Streaming offers a free trial, but videos contain ads that generate revenue for IBM Video Streaming. White-label streaming comes with paid accounts. Enterprise accounts allow for complete custom branding and offer analytics, multiple live channels, content syndication, and more.

Key Features:

IBM Video Streaming is a newer offering from IBM, but IBM has been in the computer industry for decades. IBM Video Streaming is a strong product with many stand-out features.

Internal CDN: Unlike many video hosting services that partner with outside CDN networks, IBM Video Streaming has its own global internal CDN structure they use to ensure the quality delivery of your video content around the globe. They have an extremely comprehensive CDN network.

HTML5 video player: HTML5 is the standard for video players, and IBM’s video platform offers this feature, supporting video playback on all devices

API Access: Need to customize your video experience further? You can with the IBM Video Streaming API access.

Monetization support: Supercharge your monetization with various monetization strategies such as pay-per-view or subscription models.

Brand customization: With IBM Video Streaming, you can employ brand customization, creating a unique experience for your brand. That’s supported through white-label streaming.

Interactive video elements: IBM Video Streaming interactive video elements, such as chat rooms, moderated Q&As, clickable video ad overlays, and live polls.

Great for inter-office communication: Thanks to its CDN support, IBM Video Streaming is excellent for holding virtual meetings, talks, and corporate conferences.

Pros:

  • Simple platform
  • Reliable customer support
  • Fully loaded with professional features
  • Hong Kong video delivery

Cons:

  • HD streaming requires a plan upgrade

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 480p (480 x 270)
  • Maximum dimension:  4K (3840 x 2160)
  • 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 Video Streaming offers four different pricing plans for streaming. These include:

IBM’s video hosting platform also offers a free trial plan, so broadcasters try it before buying it.

IBM Cloud Video vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

IBM is another product like Vimeo that offers live streaming for professionals. IBM, as a brand, has a solid reputation for having strong products for businesses. Therefore, we believe it’s a worthy alternative to consider if you’re unhappy with Vimeo.

4. JW Player

JWplayer video streaming platform

JW Player’s live streaming platform is a sophisticated set of tools with an open-source video player.

JW Player is another platform that is similar to Vimeo. This company has played a significant role in online streaming history. YouTube’s first video player used part of JW Player’s original video player. Now, the platform supports VOD hosting and live streaming.

This solution continues to be known for its powerful HTML5 video player.

Key Features:

JW Player has been around for decades and is a solid, easy-to-use live streaming and VOD hosting service.

Increase video engagement:  You want to keep viewers engaged watching your video content. With the JW Players article matching and recommendation feature, recommended videos develop a “Watch Next” feature and articles, keeping viewers engaged with your content.

Increase advertising revenue: Increase advertising revenue with JW Players’ monetization tools. They offer advertising integration, allowing you to integrate whatever advertising network you work with. You can monetize all videos, including those on mobile and OTT video platforms.

Video analytics: JW Player offers built-in video analytics so that you can learn who is watching your videos and what type of engagement your content is getting.

Quality end-user experience: JW Player supports a quality end-user experience by offering multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming and video security features.

JW Player has an easy-to-use platform that offers some solid key features, such as their watch next features and quality support for advertisement monetization methods.

Pros:

  • Powerful video player
  • Customizable via API
  • Easy-to-use platform
  • Reliable advertising tools

Cons:

  • Live streaming is only available on enterprise plans
  • Only ad-based monetization
  • No China delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

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

Pricing:

JW Player pricing is now custom-based. You need to contact them to discuss your particular needs. They also offer a free trial.

JW Player vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

JW Player is one of the alternatives to Vimeo that offers live streaming at a competitive price. So if you’re just starting live streaming and don’t want to pay the hefty costs to live stream on Vimeo, JW Player is a platform like Vimeo that’s more affordable.

5. Cincopa

video hosting provider

Cincopa offers hosting as one of many solutions.

Looking for multimedia hosting support that surpasses the standard online video platform? Cincopa may be the Vimeo proxy that you are looking for.

Cincopa is a hosting platform suited for storing and managing video, photo, and audio content. Many broadcasters prefer a dedicated video hosting service, but Cincopa is an excellent option for businesses and organizations that need more than that.

Key Features:

Complete content hosting: If you are looking for a place to host your videos and your photo, audio, and video content, Cincopa is a full-service multi-media content hosting platform.

Video galleries: Cincopa works with various content management systems, such as WordPress, Weebly, and Drupal. They have tools to allow you to create both image and video galleries. They also allow you to combine different media types to create multimedia presentations, with over 100 different templates from which you can choose.

API access: Need to create something unique to your business? Cincopa offers API access so you can create a unique multimedia solution for your business.

Video analytics and heat maps: Cincopa provides a full range of tools you can use to learn about your video content, such as analytics and heat maps. A heat map is a different visual way to judge and analyze viewers’ behaviors.

Multiple use-cases: Cincopa offers support for many use-cases, such as online education, eCommerce, marketing, sales, and internal communications.

Pros:

  • Diverse media hosting support
  • Solutions for sales, marketing, education, production, publishing, and more
  • Some monetization tools
  • Video analytics
  • Great for combining different mediums to create videos and galleries

Cons:

  • Not a dedicated video streaming solution
  • Difficult to navigate, and not user-friendly

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 pricing plans for multimedia hosting:

  • 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.

Cincopa vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Cincopa is one of the companies like Vimeo that allow you to customize your video player better, perform more advanced analytics, and do more marketing campaigns. If one of your main motives with video is to build your business, Cincopa is one of the video platforms like Vimeo that you should consider.

6. Panopto

live streaming platform panopto

Pantopto is a training-focused Vimeo alternative.

Panopto is a Vimeo substitute that is geared toward education and training. The platform enables streaming, sharing, recording, and managing video content.

Panopto works for educational institutions and enterprises looking for a centralized video training system. It provides viewer-facing video galleries and integrates with Learning Management Systems.

This platform is best suited for internal streaming needs.

Key Features:

Panopto is geared towards the education market and is designed for beginning users with more advanced tools.

Learning management integration: Panopto explicitly targets the education market and is made to integrate into existing learning management systems easily. That allows you to add a comprehensive video hosting solution to your LMS.

Video recording: Panopto allows you to record and save live streams that you start on their platform with their auto-archiving feature. They also offer tools to record team meetings on other platforms, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webex.

Robust content management system: For educational organizations with deep video libraries, Panopto offers a robust content management system, allowing you to effectively search your video library for the content for which you need access. That allows for internal video organization.

Custom video player: You can create a white-label video player experience, ensuring your video player matches your unique needs.

Accessibility: Need to meet federal accessibility requirements for online video? Panopto offers tools to help you achieve compliance with these guidelines.

Pros:

  • Support for both audio and video streaming
  • Insightful analytics
  • Customizable
  • Internal video organization
  • China video streaming

Cons:

  • No customizable templates
  • No visual editor

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.

Panopto vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Panopto is one of the alternatives to Vimeo, which are better suited for enterprises. Panopto serves a defined niche: educational content. That gives it a leg-up over general video streaming sites considering the recent rise in demand for online learning.

7. Wistia

Wistia is a marketing-focused Vimeo replacement that provides a television-quality experience for their viewers that helps users grow their audiences. They are known for being the online video platform that puts users in control of their content.

This alternative to Vimeo doesn’t support live streaming, so it is only suited for businesses that plan to use VOD exclusively.

Key Features:

Wistia offers many robust features that provide businesses with a video marketing hosting solution.

Robust tech support: Wistia offers robust tech support with a quick-response ticket system. They also have a full help center with information on various categories, including account and billing, embedding and sharing, customizing, and developers.

Video API access: Need to create videos for a unique audience? Wistia offers Video API access.

Customizable player: Use Wistia’s HTML5 video player to create an on-brand marketing experience for your videos.

Quality video experience: Wistia offers a range of tools focused on providing your end-user with a quality video experience, such as multi-bitrate streaming, adaptive streaming, and security features.

Marketing integrations: With a focus on marketing, Wistia offers integration with a range of marketing integrations, with marketing programs such as:

  • HubSpot
  • Adobe Market Engage
  • Pardot

In addition to marketing integrations, Wistia supports integration with analytic tools, compliance tools, email marketing, paywall, production, productivity, and support apps. Their app integrations reflect the platform’s focus on supporting video marketing efforts.

Pros:

  • Unlimited concurrent viewers
  • Global video content delivery
  • Easy embedding and sharing
  • Access to large amounts of bandwidth

Cons:

  • Does not support live streaming
  • No China delivery support
  • Only basic integrations are available
  • Premium tech support requires upgrades

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimensions: None
  • Maximum dimensions: Maximum of 4K (3840 x 2160)
  • Supported aspect ratios: Any
  • 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 come in three tiers. These include:

  • Free: $0/month
  • Pro: $79/month
  • Advanced: $319/month
  • Custom

Wistia vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Wistia has very advanced analytics capabilities. So if you’re a marketer who relishes in data and values the power of analytics, Wistia would be better than Vimeo for you.

8. StreamYard

streamyard live streaming platform

StreamYard is an entirely in-browser Vimeo alternative.

Created to raise engagement, StreamYard is a simple in-browser streaming video platform. Nevertheless, it serves the purpose of broadcasters with basic streaming requirements. StreamYard was created to raise engagement.

The basic nature of this platform makes it a suitable Vimeo live-streaming alternative for new broadcasters. It is important to note that StreamYard does not support on-demand streaming.

StreamYard’s brand customization features are some of the most valuable offerings on this site.

Key Features:

Although StreamYard is a relatively basic in-browser streaming solution, it still has a few key features that stand out.

No Software Downloads: If you are looking for a streaming solution that is easy to set up, StreamYard doesn’t require any software downloads. You just need a browser to get started.

Multistreaming: StreamYard supports multistreaming and seamlessly integrates with Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Twitch, and other additional platforms. You can multistream to custom RTMP outputs.

Collaborative presenting: With StreamYard, you can broadcast up to 10 people on the screen, allowing for collaborative live streams with multiple presenters and participants.

Brand customization: Add your branding to the live video player, adding your logo, colors, banners, name tags, overlays, backgrounds, and more.

Pros:

  • Simple to use
  • Great for improving engagement
  • Collaborative streams
  • Offers exceptional live support
  • Okta SSO integration

Cons:

  • Very basic platform
  • No monetization support
  • No VOD support
  • Limited browser compatibility

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

StreamYard does not publish upload guidelines and specs.

Pricing:

StreamYard offers four pricing plans. These include:

  • Free: Access StreamYard on a limited basis for free.
  • Basic: $20/month; access some advanced streaming features, including unlimited streaming, brand customization, graphic overlays, simulcasting, and stream recording.
  • Professional: $39/month;
  • Enterprise: StreamYard also offers enterprise plans that are priced case-by-case.

The rates we’ve mentioned above reflect the monthly pricing when billed annually.

StreamYard vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

StreamYard is easier to set up and use than Vimeo, making it one of the competitors to Vimeo, a popular choice for smaller companies with simple needs.

9. StreamShark

Streamshark Live Streaming Platform

StreamShark’s OTT platform features a live streaming workflow with easy-to-use features and global CDN delivery.

StreamShark is another great streaming video platform that provides multi-faceted video functionality. This platform is part of MetaCDN so it can deliver fast and innovative video content.

StreamShark excels at live streaming large-scale, high-profile events with an exceptional viewing experience. The plans on this platform are comparable to the Livestream plans from Vimeo.

Key Features:

  • Global video content delivery via a multi-CDN network
  • Mobile-friendly
  • Customizable video player
  • Privacy controls and secure streaming
  • Advertising and customer support

Pros:

  • Localized media ingestion
  • Video encoding support
  • Content redistribution
  • Large storage space

Cons:

  • No channel support
  • No embeddable playlists
  • No China video delivery

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:

Monthly live streaming plans with StreamShark begin at $199 per month and include the following:

  • Standard: $199/month, and includes 1,000 GB of bandwidth, 500 GB of VOD storage, and an additional overage of $0.10 per GB
  • Team: $499/month and includes 4,000 GB of bandwidth, 2,000 GB of VOD storage, and lowers per GB overage prices to $0.09
  • Business: $999/month and includes 9,000 GB of bandwidth, 5,000 GB of VOD storage, and reduces the overage to $0.08 per GB
  • Enterprise: Please contact StreamShark for their custom enterprise solutions and plans

StreamShark vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

StreamShark is more geared towards businesses than individuals and is more costly than Vimeo. However, when it comes to streaming all your videos, it’s one of the top alternatives to Vimeo. Do consider if high-quality video streaming and live support are something you’re looking for. Also, if virtual reality (VR) is something that fascinates you and you could see your business using it.

10. Muvi

Muvi Dacast Streaming Alternative

Muvi is another high-ticket Dacast alternative focusing on OTT streaming.

Muvi is another great Vimeo OTT alternative that is focused on VOD streaming. This online video platform is unique because it provides everything broadcasters need to get their video or audio streaming platform up and running in no time.

The platform includes fully managed, end-to-end solutions, all controlled by single streaming video CMS, with no coding or IT team required.

Key Features:

Pros:

  • Video hosting
  • Reliable CDN
  • Fully loaded video CMS
  • Transcoding support
  • DRM security
  • High-quality and user-friendly mobile application
  • Boasts full IT infrastructure
  • Supports video and audio streaming to multiple mediums: mobile, TV and web

Cons:

  • Not very user-friendly
  • Hard to integrate other software and tools
  • CMS user interface is complex
  • No support for Chinese delivery
  • Definitely one of the more pricer video creation options

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: $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: $8,900/month (+ $499/month per app + infra fees) doubles the bandwidth and storage of the enterprise plan and adds your CDN and unlimited API calls.
  • Black plan: This custom solution includes everything in the Ultimate plan plus premium services and project management.

Muvi vs. Vimeo Verdict:

Think of Muvi as a higher-end version of Vimeo with a much steeper price point. Muvi is one of the sites similar to Vimeo that is geared towards users or businesses with a larger budget and who want to invest in robust versions of the many features Vimeo provides. One key reason you’d consider Muvi is if monetization is your top goal.

11. Wowza

cloud streaming platform wowza

Wowza’s cloud streaming video platform features a streaming engine for business-critical applications.

Wowza offers two main products for video content streaming. The first is the Wowza Streaming Engine. This product is widely used in the industry for self-hosted streaming.

Live streaming services come with Wowza Streaming Cloud, the second offering. The Streaming Cloud functionality includes various features aimed at providing low-latency video content access to global audiences of all sizes. Wowza Streaming Cloud is comparable to the functionality of Vimeo.

Key Features:

Pros:

  • Audience engagement tools
  • Video analytics
  • Powerful security
  • Mobile streaming support
  • Video Looping
  • Supports China video delivery
  • Free 30-day trial lets you try the features out before investing
  • Good scalability capacity: won’t lose quality while streaming across multiple devices

Cons:

  • No video monetization support
  • Complex pricing

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 240p (320 x 240)
  • Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
  • 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 Streaming Cloud offers four distinct pricing plans and services. Live Event Pricing; monthly plans include:

  • Pay As You Go: $25/month, with a 3-month minimum; flexible streaming with low startup costs
  • One Month of Streaming: $149 one-time purchase; includes 15 hours of streaming and 500 viewing hours also at 720p
  • Enterprise: Large audiences or high-volume video. Contact Wowza for custom pricing

All the Live Event plans reflect rates when paid monthly and include full brand control, multi-bitrate streaming, and UHD and HD streaming.

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

  • One Month Event: $295/month + $295month 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 vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Members have consistently rated Wowza as one of the most reliable streaming options out there. If you’re looking for sites like Vimeo with more robust streaming features, Wowza will be one option to consider.

12. Restream

restream alternatives

Restream is a slightly different type of Vimeo alternative.

Restream is an in-browser streaming video platform that is most popular among the gaming, tech, government, sports, media, and music industries. Restream is primarily a multistreaming platform but offers support for collaborative in-browser streaming.

Although Restream specializes in multistreaming, it offers other streaming products, including Restream Studio. This specific offering supports in-browser live video streaming and is the most comparable to Vimeo.

Restream Studio offers streaming capabilities designed to maximize brand exposure and increase sales.

Key Features:

  • In-browser streaming
  • Multistreaming support
  • Engagement boosting tools
  • Peer-to-peer streaming
  • Customization tools
  • Event scheduling

Pros:

  • User-friendly platform
  • Collaboration support
  • On-brand streaming
  • Tools for improving engagement
  • Streams across multiple platforms using a single bandwidth stream

Cons:

  • Not a dedicated live-streaming platform
  • Streaming is a secondary function

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Recommended dimension: 1920×1080
  • Aspect ratio: Unavailable
  • Max file size: 2GB (for pre-recorded streams)
  • Max video length: 1-4 hours (depends on plan)
  • Total file storage: 10 videos
  • Compatible video formats: MP4, MKV, M4V, MOV

Pricing:

Restream has several pricing plans for both individuals and businesses. These include the following plans:

Individuals:

  • Free: $0/month (for individuals)
  • Standard: $16/month (for individuals)
  • Professional: $41/month (for individuals)

Companies:

  • Professional: $41/month (for business)
  • Premium: $83/month (for businesses)
  • Business: $249/month (for businesses)

These prices reflect monthly rates when paid monthly and offer discounts when paid for an entire year in advance.

Vimeo vs. Restream Verdict: 

Restream is a good alternative when you value the ability to live stream to multiple video platforms simultaneously. Best for managing streaming across multiple platforms, even without a very high-speed connection. Restream also makes integrating chats from multiple platforms easy, so those who value engagement should consider Restream.

13. Resi

resi streaming platform

Resi is an end-to-end streaming platform for professionals.

Resi is an end-to-end live-streaming platform that is equipped with a variety of streaming tools. This company offers all the tools broadcasters need to get started with streaming.

Resi offers a variety of live-streaming software in addition to some hardware products. Resi has several notable features, including live stream hosting, simulcasting, and encoding technology, in addition to a few hardware offerings.

Resi is branded as an “affordable” solution, but prices are not listed on the company’s website.

Key Features:

  • Live streaming
  • Simulcasting tools
  • Some encoding functionality
  • Cloud streaming support
  • Video monitoring

Pros:

  • Highly reliable platform
  • High-quality streaming
  • Wide range of functionality
  • Responsive support
  • Short delay ensures a smooth content upload
  • Works flawlessly even with below-average network connections

Cons:

  • Limited access to analytics
  • Limited chat feature
  • Reports of a “dated” interface

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: None
  • Maximum dimension: 1920×1080
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Max file size: 15 GB
  • Max video length: 6 hours
  • Total file storage: Unavailable
  • Compatible video formats: MP4

Pricing:

Interested broadcasters must fill out an inquiry form to get information on Resi’s pricing.

Resi vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Resi is a good alternative to Vimeo for small businesses. It has raving reviews online, though not as many reviews as Vimeo.

14. Uscreen

Uscreen supports live and VOD hosting.

Uscreen is a unified streaming platform that supports live and on-demand OTT streaming. This platform is equipped with all the tools that organizations need to host and deliver educational content, whether it be training videos for enterprises or online courses for schools.

Uscreen has streaming for businesses that want to host an online training platform. Community-related tools are helpful for internal use.

Key Features:

  • OTT streaming
  • Tools for marketing
  • Powerful analytics
  • Community-building features
  • Fee-based video monetization
  • High-level privacy and security

Pros:

  • Simple but comprehensive platform
  • Reliable platform
  • Time-saving tools
  • Powerful video management

Cons:

  • Some complaints about the user interface
  • Slow customer support

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Recommended dimensions: 1080p/2k or smaller
  • Supported aspect ratios:
  • Maximum file size: 13 GB
  • Maximum video length:
  • Total file storage: 3000, 7500, 7500+ minutes
  • Accepted video formats: MP4 (Recommended

Pricing:

Uscreen has three different pricing plans for broadcasting. The pricing above reflects rates when billed monthly and include:

  • Growth: $149/month + $1.99/subscriber
  • Pro: $499/month + $0.99/subscriber
  • Plus: Customizable plans for enterprise users with greater needs

UScreen vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

You should consider UScreen as one of many Vimeo alternatives if you have a subscription-based business and are unhappy with Vimeo.

15. Hippo Video

uscreen ott platform

Hippo Video offers live and on-demand streaming support.

Hippo Video is another platform that is similar to Vimeo. It offers tools for marketing, sales, education, and more.

The basic functionality of Hippo Video is video hosting and streaming. Aside from hosting, Hippo Video also has tools for video editing and creation.

Hippo Video’s unique pricing for different use cases and solutions is notable, so pricing plans are available for all budgets.

Key Features:

  • Live streaming
  • VOD hosting
  • Video editing tools
  • Customizable streaming experience
  • Screen recording
  • Transcoding support
  • Closed captioning
  • Powerful video analytics
  • Tools for teamwork and collaboration

Pros:

  • Editing and creation tools
  • Customization options
  • Marketing tools
  • Screen recording
  • Powerful video hosting support
  • Collaboration tools

Cons:

  • Unreliable tech support
  • Complaints of bugginess
  • Some issues with the editor
  • The free trial can be misleading

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 recently simplified its once-complex pricing structure. Here’s a breakdown of pricing for the most popular categories:

Sales:

  • Free: $0. No credit card required; 2 video flows, 50 videos/month, basic editing and analytics.
  • Pro: $20/month/annually; 5 video flows, unlimited full HD recordings, 5 sales page templates.
  • Teams: $60/month/annually; 15+ video flows, 200 minutes of closed captions, 50 videos with AI editor
  • Enterprise: $80/month/annually; contact Hippo Video to learn more

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

Hippo Video vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

When comparing Hippo Video to Vimeo Pro, people felt they got better value for money with Hippo Video. Hippo Video has very affordable plans, so it’s a good alternative if you’re trying to spend a similar amount of money on a new solution.

16. Brightcove 

If you’re looking for a high-end solution to use as a Vimeo alternative, Brightcove could be an option for you.

Brightcove is a white-label streaming platform that is geared toward advanced broadcasting. This platform divides its streaming product offerings into several solutions. These include Video Player, OTT Flow, Video Marketing Suite, and more.

Brightcove acquired another platform called Ooyala a few years back, and they’ve since announced the end-of-life plans for the Ooyala platform. The Ooyala technology provides additional support for video creation and hosting.

Key Features:

  • Live streaming
  • VOD hosting
  • White-label streaming
  • Powerful HTML5 video player
  • RESTful API access
  • 24/7 tech support
  • Server-side ad insertion
  • Cloud transcoding
  • ABR streaming
  • CRM integrations

Pros:

  • Reliable customer support
  • All-device streaming
  • Good marketing tools
  • Monetization via advertising
  • Easy-to-use platform
  • Robust features

Cons:

  • No China video delivery support
  • Relatively expensive

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 files 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. Brightcove doesn’t publish pricing information for its streaming services on its site, but it does provide a breakdown of several plans. These plans include:

  • 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 uploads, and analytics-only users

For a customized quote, you need to contact Brightcove directly to discuss your specific business needs.

Brightcove vs. Vimeo Verdict:

Brightcove offers a secure platform for sharing, managing, and storing video files. If you value ad-based advertising and have a big budget, Brightcove is a Vimeo alternative to consider.

17. Vidyard

vidyard video and hosting platform

Vidyard is an excellent option for enterprise hosting with plans for different budgets.

Vidyard is another great Vimeo alternative that offers several comparable streaming packages. Designed with e-commerce, Vidyard is an excellent resource for small to mid-sized online retailers. This white-label video platform is built with specialized marketing and lead generation support to help broadcast marketing, sales, and corporate communications.

Vidyard’s top tools are designed to improve audience reach and viewer engagement to help businesses connect with qualified leads.

Like Vimeo, Vidyard has pricing plans for both individuals and businesses.

Key Features:

  • White-label HTML5 video player
  • Specialized marketing tools
  • Powerful analytics
  • Interactive tools for engagement
  • Video CMS
  • Reliable security

Pros:

  • Suited for professional broadcasting
  • Wide range of professional features
  • Reliable technical support
  • Access to a large user community for support

Cons:

  • Inconsistent positive user reviews
  • Complex editing tools
  • 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 (depending 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 a few different tiers, split into two categories: Individual and Teams. All plans are billed annually. Here’s how the pricing plans are broken down:

  • Individuals:
    • Free – $0/month
    • Pro – $19/month
    • Plus – $59/month
    • Business – talk to sales
  • Teams:
    • Team – $300/month
    • Business – $1250/month

Vidyard vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

If you’re streaming or broadcasting primarily for marketing purposes, Vidyard is a strong Vimeo competitor to consider.

18. Flowplayer

The Flowplayer started as an HTML6 video player and focused on user experience and performance.

If you are looking for a straightforward alternative to Vimeo, Flowplayer could be an option for you. Flowplayer is a streaming solution designed to host live and on-demand video streams.

This company was initially known for its powerful video player. However, it has since developed into an end-to-end solution. Today, Flowplayer is primarily known for its white-label streaming service and monetization solutions.

Key Features:

  • Live streaming
  • VOD hosting
  • Powerful video player
  • Monetization tools
  • Real-time analytics and reporting
  • Mobile app development via Android and iOS SDK

Pros:

  • Mobile streaming support
  • Marketing tools
  • Monetization support
  • Accessible tech support

Cons:

  • No streaming to China
  • The platform is relatively basic
  • Sophisticated tools can be hard to use and manage

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 426 x 240
  • Maximum dimension: 3840 x 2160
  • Video aspect ratio: 16:9 (supports others but 16:9 is the default)
  • Max file size: unavailable
  • Max video length: unavailable
  • Total file storage: 50 GB, 150GB, or custom (depends on plan)
  • Compatible video formats: MP4 (recommended)

Pricing:

Flowplayer has three pricing plan plans, including:

  • Free: Up to 10,000 video plays; Up to 250 GB of streaming & 25 GB of storage
  • Pro: $19/month; 500 GB of bandwidth; includes 50,000 monthly plays, custom player, video management, playlists, and analytics
  • Plus: $59/month; Includes 1 TB of bandwidth, full video analytics, customizable branding, automatic captions
  • Business: Talk to sales for custom-build pricing.

Flowplayer vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

This platform is aimed at the tech-savvy crowd that wants high-end features. A good Vimeo alternative to consider if you have technical skills. Flowplayer has extensive documentation for developers.

19. Adilo

adilo video platform

Adilo is a solution geared toward professional broadcasters.

Adilo is a Vimeo alternative that offers VOD hosting services. This online video platform is fully loaded with various features suitable for a professional streaming experience.

Since Adilo doesn’t offer streaming support, it is best suited for users who only need VOD hosting capabilities.

Key Features:

  • VOD hosting
  • 4K streaming
  • Screen recording
  • Secure streaming via DRM
  • Video analytics
  • Watermarking to avoid piracy
  • Multi-upload
  • Cloud encoding
  • Lightweight video player

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use video creation platform
  • Feature-rich platform
  • Powerful video player
  • Secure streaming
  • High-quality video streaming

Cons:

  • Can’t deliver streaming video
  • Some difficulties with removing the Adilo logo
  • Limited playback speeds

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: unavailable
  • Maximum dimension: 4K
  • Video aspect ratio: unavailable
  • Max file size: unavailable
  • Max video length: unavailable
  • Total file storage: 50GB to unlimited (depending on the plan)
  • Compatible video formats: MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV, FLV, and more

Pricing:

Adilo has three different pricing plans. These include:

  • Starter: $0/month; 5GB of storage and 25GB of bandwidth per month
  • Creator: $29/month; 50GB of storage and 200GB of bandwidth per month
  • Growth: $49/month; 200GB of storage and 500GB of bandwidth per month
  • Business: $99/month; unlimited storage and 2TB of bandwidth per month

Adilo vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Adilo is a Vimeo alternative that caters to small businesses, whereas Vimeo caters to businesses of all sizes. For this reason, it’s a strong alternative for small businesses.

20. YouTube

YouTube Video Hosting

YouTube is very similar to the original Vimeo.

Looking for a consumer-grade Vimeo alternative? YouTube could be the option for you. YouTube is similar to how Vimeo was at the start.

YouTube is a Google-owned platform that was one of the sites that made online video streaming so popular. It was designed with consumers in mind, but many businesses use it while they are getting into broadcasting.

This site supports VOD and live streaming, but the most popular content on the platform is on-demand video content that is user-generated.

Key Features:

  • Limited monetization (AVOD for users that meet criteria)
  • No actual security features
  • Top-rated among consumers
  • Owned by Google
  • Easy sharing and embedding
  • No white-label capabilities

Pros:

  • Free and easy to use
  • Most viewers are familiar with the platform
  • Easy to embed video player
  • Live and VOD hosting

Cons:

  • No white-label streaming
  • Limitations on streaming
  • Strict restrictions on the content of the videos
  • YouTube claims partial rights to your videos
  • Third-party ads and logos are distracting
  • Recently, the number of ads has dramatically increased, resulting in an unsatisfied user base

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
  • Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
  • 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.

Youtube vs. Vimeo Verdict:

YouTube offers a huge mainstream audience, meaning free streaming and more exposure. A great option if you’re new to streaming and wish to test the waters without investing in a membership fee. For broadcasters looking to get started with streaming, YouTube is a free alternative. Vimeo requires you to join their $65/month plan to livestream.

21. Dailymotion

Dailymotion is another Vimeo alternative similar to YouTube. It supports both live and on-demand, and it is primarily used among consumers.

One thing that many broadcasters like about Dailymotion is that it allows just about any video content, whereas YouTube is quite strict. The growing popularity of Dailymotion and the greater freedom of expression make this video streaming platform an excellent choice for many broadcasters.

Dailymotion has slowly expanded access to more professional features via its partnership program. Developers and Publishers can apply for partnerships on the Dailymotion website to access advanced broadcasting tools.

Key Features:

  • Basic video-sharing platform
  • Similar to YouTube
  • Professional tools are accessible via Dailymotion partnerships
  • Small creator’s fund for monetization
  • Copyright protection

Pros:

  • Very few content restrictions
  • Growing in popularity around the world
  • Professional partnerships for developers and publishers

Cons:

  • Not quite as popular as YouTube
  • No significant monetization tools
  • Limited analytics

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
  • Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
  • 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.

Vimeo vs. Dailymotion Verdict:

Dailymotion is a rising star growing in popularity. Give the platform a try if you’re looking for a free alternative to the free version of Vimeo that allows you to live stream; Dailymotion is a strong contender.

22. Streamable

Streamable is a video editing and sharing tool.

Streamable is another platform similar to Vimeo that offers a free version. You can create a free account in two minutes and upload your first video within a few minutes. It’s very intuitive to navigate.

Compared to alternatives like YouTube, the free version has quite some limitations. For example, an uploaded video on the free version will go away after 90 days. However, it does have a professional option with robust features for just $12.99 a month.

Key Features:

  • Trim and crop videos
  • Embed video
  • Edit thumbnail
  • Analytics

Pros:

  • Free trial available
  • Free plan available
  • Has had over 50,000 users across 122 countries
  • Very easy to get started with
  • Intuitive
  • Ability to upload 4K UHD quality on the professional plan

Cons:

  • The free plan is minimal compared to other free options
  • Can only upload 10 minutes of video on the free plan
  • On the free plan, videos get deleted after 90 days
  • Customer support can use major improvement

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: No minimum
  • Maximum dimension: Free: 720p (1280 x 720); Professional Plan: 4k UHD 4096 x 2160
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Max file size: Free: 250 MB; Professional Plan: Unlimited
  • Max video length: Free: 10 minutes; Professional Plan: Unlimited
  • Total file storage: 2 TB on professional plan
  • Compatible video formats: MOV, MPEG4, MP4, AVI, WMV

Pricing:

Streamable has three pricing plan plans, including:

  • Free
  • Basic: $9.99/month
  • Pro: $14.99/month
  • Business: Starting at $39.99/month.

Streamable offers a free trial on all their plans.

Streamable vs. Vimeo

When it comes to the free plan, Streamable has some good things. Remember, though, that the free plan offers minimal user support and has many bad reviews. However, the best reason to use Streamable instead of Vimeo is for their professional plan.

23. Facebook

Live Stream on Facebook

Facebook is a social media-grade Vimeo alternative.

Looking for something more casual or a platform that helps you keep connected with your existing audience? Facebook is a viable option for you.

This site supports both live and on-demand streaming. You can host live streams on personal profiles, pages, and groups, but on-demand “Facebook Watch” videos can only be published by Facebook Pages.

Facebook is commonly used by businesses and organizations that are just dipping their toes in live broadcasting since it comes with the expected limitations of a free platform.

It is common for broadcasters who use some of the premium streaming solutions we mentioned above to simulcast to Facebook and their websites. It allows users to tap into their existing Facebook audiences while accessing the professional tools of a video hosting solution.

Key Features:

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Viewers are familiar with the platform
  • Live chat promotes engagement
  • Taps into existing following

Cons:

  • Limited monetization options
  • Limits on live video length
  • Cannot remove Facebook’s branding
  • Not exclusively a video streaming site

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 720p (1280×720)
  • Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920×1080)
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9, 9:16, 2:3, 4:5, 1:1
  • Max file size: 4 GB
  • Max video length: 90 minutes
  • Total file storage: No storage limit
  • Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MPEG4, AVI, 3GPP, WMV, FLV, MKV

Pricing:

Facebook is free to use.

Facebook vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Facebook is another video site like Vimeo that is good for those just getting started with broadcasting. Another reason to utilize the platform is the large number of registered users. When comparing the free versions of Vimeo and Facebook, the former is an excellent free alternative that lets you livestream. To live stream on Vimeo requires you to pay $65/month.

24. Twitch

Twitch Streaming Platform

Twitch is a popular video platform for streaming content geared towards video games and special interests.

Twitch is a streaming app that is primarily a social media platform. Viewers can subscribe to their favorite streamers to be notified whenever they go live.

This site has a well-defined niche, reflecting in the type of audience it magnetizes.  It’s a great Vimeo alternative if you are trying to reach an audience in the gaming, fantasy, or tech industry.

Key Features:

  • Niche streaming platform
  • Viewers can “Tip” streamers
  • Primarily used to stream gaming and special interests/hobbies
  • Tools for viewers to chat in real-time

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Relatively easy for beginners to use
  • Tools for engagement and community interaction

Cons:

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 720p (1280 x 720)
  • Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
  • Max file size: Not available
  • Max video length: 48 hours
  • Total file storage: Not available
  • Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV

Pricing:

It is free to stream on Twitch.

Twitch vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Twitch is a solid alternative to Vimeo for those interested in live streaming for free. Keep in mind, though, that Twitch is mostly about gaming. Since a considerable chunk of the audience on Twitch is below 18 audiences, it’s best to adhere to specific content guidelines. Definitely a great alternative to consider for gamers and those making gaming content and tutorials.

25. LinkedIn Live

Linkedin Live streaming platform

LinkedIn Live is a great streaming video alternative for networking.

LinkedIn recently rolled out LinkedIn Live, an exclusive business offering that helps brands connect with professionals through live-streamed content.

The point of streaming to LinkedIn Live is to target a very specific audience, such as professionals in your industry. However, this could also be a negative for some broadcasters looking to reach beyond one specific industry.

It is worth noting that LinkedIn Live is highly regulated and requires the support of an RTMP-enabled streaming platform to host a stream.

Key Features:

  • Social media platform
  • Geared towards networking
  • Strict quality control
  • Exclusive access
  • Designed to boost engagement
  • Integrated with LinkedIn Events for virtual event hosting

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Particular audience
  • Helps build brand awareness
  • Boosts engagement among an audience

Cons:

  • Users must apply for access
  • Very exclusive
  • Requires third-party support
  • Highly regulated

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

Video guidelines and specs depend on the third-party app that you use for support.

Pricing:

Keep in mind that all content on this platform is closely monitored. LinkedIn Live is free to use as long as LinkedIn accepts your application.

LinkedIn Live vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

When comparing the free versions, LinkedIn Live lets you livestream for free, whereas it’s $65/month to livestream with Vimeo. LinkedIn Live is a place people go to for career guidance. If career-related content and tutorials are your niches, give this free service a go to increase reach. LinkedIn Live is also a good alternative if you’re trying to build a solid reputation on LinkedIn.

26. Instagram

instagram live streaming app

Instagram is one of the top social media apps with multiple video-sharing functionalities.

Instagram is a popular social media app with various video-sharing features. This app is unsuitable for hosting, but it is an excellent option for video sharing on a more casual level. If that is more your speed, this could serve as a great Vimeo alternative for your organization.

Both consumers and businesses upload small, shareable clips to the platform to share with followers. Businesses often use this tool to tease the full-length content on their site or app. They add CTAs that lead users to their websites with products or longer videos.

In recent years, Instagram has rolled out marketing tools for businesses that work well with video content.

Key Features:

  • Deliver streaming video on stories
  • IG TV (for video on demand)
  • Reels (short video sharing)
  • Video and photo sharing on the feed
  • Direct messaging tools (which can be used to share posts and interact)
  • Minimal privacy controls
  • Some business tools

Pros:

  • Free to download and use
  • Popular among most age groups
  • Easy to navigate
  • Uploading, and sharing are almost instantaneous
  • Some business tools

Cons:

  • No monetization features
  • Limited privacy tools
  • Minimal professional features
  • Not meant for video hosting

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 864 x 1080 (recommended)
  • Maximum dimension: 864 x 1080 (recommended)
  • 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 download and use.

Instagram vs. Vimeo Verdict: 

Instagram is a free alternative that lets you livestream. Instagram’s sharing can be a solid alternative to the Vimeo video sharing feature. It’s also easy for friends to see that you’re live streaming on Instagram, whereas with Vimeo, you’d have to tell your friends about your plans in advance.

Dacast vs. Vimeo: An In-Depth Look

Both Dacast and Vimeo have affordable plans and are robust platforms. Although Dacast is similar to Vimeo, it’s better in some ways. One advantage, however, is that Vimeo has a free version. However, the functionality is minimal, and most people outgrow it fast. With that said, let’s take a closer look at Dacast vs. Vimeo.

  • Pricing for live streaming: If live streaming is one of the main features you’re looking for, Dacast allows you to live stream starting at $39/month, whereas you’d need to pay $65 a month when you use Vimeo.
  • Customer support: According to many reviews online, Vimeo’s customer support isn’t strong. When asked to vote between Vimeo and competitors about customer support experience, many chose the Vimeo Alternative. In this case, more people chose Dacast.
  • Custom branding: Custom branding on Vimeo starts at $50 a month, whereas it’s included on all of Dacast’s plans (starting at $39 a month).
  • Monetization features: Vimeo and Dacast have strong monetization features, supporting pay-per-view and subscriptions. However, Vimeo doesn’t support making money through ads (AVOD), while Dacast does.
  • Unlimited live event viewers: Dacast’s plans include an unlimited number of concurrent viewers, whereas on Vimeo it starts at $65/month.

FAQ

What is Vimeo Used For? 

Vimeo is a popular video hosting platform used by millions to share and store their videos. It is known for its high-quality uploads, a wide range of features, and ability to host live events. Vimeo also has built-in tools that allow you to easily upload, organize, and share your videos with the world.

Is Vimeo Safe?

Yes, Vimeo is a secure platform. All files are stored on their own servers and have layers of encryption to keep content safe from hackers. They also have strict policies in place that ensure videos uploaded to the site abide by their guidelines, including no copyrighted material or inappropriate content.

Is Vimeo Free?

Yes, Vimeo has both free and paid plans. The free plan offers basic features such as unlimited video storage, HD streaming, and the ability to embed videos on other sites. But if you want additional features like advanced customization and Vimeo analytics, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. A full list of features can be found on their website.

Are There Free Alternatives to Vimeo?

There are many free alternative video hosting and streaming platforms that you can opt for in place of Vimeo. However, most of these services may not give you as much control over your branding and revenue generation as Vimeo would. Some include:

  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

What are the Differences Between Vimeo and YouTube?

Though both Vimeo and YouTube are popular video streaming services, they are each popular for different reasons. Businesses and professionals prefer Vimeo because it’s an ad-free streaming service with improved privacy options and extensive analytic capabilities. YouTube on the other hand is much more popular and has a larger user base. It’s best preferred for its social sharing capabilities.

What Are the Disadvantages of Vimeo?

Some of the drawbacks of Vimeo that may lead you to opt for its alternatives include:

  • The platform’s pricing lacks transparency as some information that’s included can be misleading. For instance, the streaming bandwidth listed as unlimited is limited. 
  •  Compared to most white-label streaming platforms, Vimeo users have reported problems with customer support in some of their reviews. 
  • Vimeo’s lower-tier plans are limited in terms of features and the bandwidth of videos that you can upload per week.
  • For creators with a low budget, Vimeo’s subscription-based pricing can be expensive.
  • The customization options can be limited especially compared to other paid streaming platforms.

What is the Best Alternative for Vimeo?

The best Vimeo alternative depends on what your business is looking for. If you want a more budget-friendly platform, platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn may be great options. However, you’d give up some level of control over your video streams. 

However, if you’re looking for a more professional alternative so you can create more branded and high-quality streams, white-label platforms such as Dacast would be a great Vimeo alternative.

In Conclusion

While Vimeo is a powerful platform, it appeals to specific niches and is costly, therefore it isn’t for everyone. As we’ve outlined, there are many alternatives to vimeo that provide better value. With the exception of filmmakers, we think there are too many quality options you can use that would better suit your needs.

If you’re a business owner, you’d do better with a platform like Dacast. Dacast is an all-rounder enterprise video platform that caters to companies, broadcasters, professionals and creative individuals. Using Dacast to upload on-demand videos and seamlessly stream to greater audiences while maintaining full control of your content for a competitive price means Dacast is first choice for many.

The great thing is you can try Dacast right now for free for a full 14 days. Test drive its features by signing up today.

Try for free

If you need help with your plan and launching your streaming channels, contact us. You can also join our LinkedIn group for regular live-streaming tips and exclusive offers.

Harmonie Duhamel

Harmonie is a Senior digital marketer with over 6 years in the Tech Industry. She has a strong marketing and sales background and loves to work in multilingual environments.