13 Best Video-On-Demand (VOD) Platforms in 2024

Video has long dominated the Internet as the most popular content type. As a result, more and more video businesses are sprouting up, and if you’re thinking of starting a VOD business yourself, you should first get acquainted with video-on-demand platforms. To help, I’ve compiled a list of the top 13 VOD platforms for video publishers. First, let’s explore what these platforms offer and what to consider when selecting one.

What Is a VOD Platform?

A VOD platform is an online platform with a set of tools that help publishers deliver on-demand content to their audience. These platforms offer an array of solutions designed to make launching and running a VOD business easier. This includes, for instance, a video content management system, a reliable CDN, solutions for secure video hosting, and so on.

How Do Video-on-Demand Platforms Work?

Online VOD platforms work on the basis of over-the-top (OTT) delivery. Firstly, content has to be hosted on a video server. There should also be a library, in the form of a VOD website or OTT app, where users can access said content. 

When a user chooses a piece of content to stream, the video player sends a request to the video server. Through streaming protocols, the hosted video is compressed and sent back to the player, which then decompresses it. This allows the player to begin streaming the video for the user.

Who Are VOD Platforms For?

VOD streaming is widely used across industries, with media and entertainment taking up the biggest share of the market. Other industries where VOD dominates include education, sports, and marketing. In short, anybody who produces or holds the license to video content that they want to distribute could benefit from signing up for a VOD platform.

Features to Look for in a Video-on-Demand Platform

When searching for the right VOD platform for your business, it’s important to know exactly what to look for. Not all platforms are built the same, and not all of them will have the features you need. Let’s take a look at some of the major solutions a good VOD platform should have.

Built-In Video Hosting

First things first, you will need a place to host all of your content. Built-in enterprise video hosting can make the process of delivering content to your audience much simpler. Integrating a third-party solution can cost quite a bit, so choosing a platform with built-in video hosting will not only be a more affordable option but also a more reliable one.

Affordable and Reliable CDN

Video platforms use content delivery networks (CDN) to distribute content to audiences worldwide. So, a reliable global CDN is paramount if you want to build a high-quality VOD service. As a result, it will ensure shorter loading times for your videos, improved user experience, reduced bandwidth consumption, and higher security.

Variety of Monetization Options

The VOD platform you choose doesn’t have to have a wide array of monetization options, but it should at least provide the necessary infrastructure for the monetization model you choose. For instance, if you decide to monetize through advertisements, easy video ad setup should be high on the list of priorities. 

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DRM Protection

Digital rights management (DRM) is the technology used to protect digital assets from copyright infringement, illegal editing and distribution, unauthorized access, and so on. It works by encrypting digital files, which can only be decrypted using a key stored on a DRM server.

Video and User Engagement Analytics

Once your VOD service takes off, you will want to know just how well it is doing. This is where video analytics comes in. With data such as user engagement, video completion rates, and more, you will be able to provide the high-quality service your audience expects.

The 13 Best Video-on-Demand (VOD) Platforms in 2024

Knowing what to look for in a video-on-demand platform is important, but actually browsing for the right one is a task of its own. So to help you make the final decision, I’ve put together a list of the top 13 best video-on-demand platforms for publishers.

1. Vimeo

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
AVOD, SVOD, TVOD	Yes	Starts at $20/month	Yes

Vimeo is a popular AI-powered online video platform that gives publishers tools to create, manage, and distribute on-demand content to audiences worldwide. It offers multiple flexible solutions, depending on content creator/publisher size and industry niche. The platform comes with secure hosting, video editing tools for content creation, live streaming, and detailed analytics.

Vimeo supports various monetization models through its OTT service, including major video monetization models — AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD. In addition, Vimeo integrates well with project management software such as Jira, Github, and similar. At the same time, if there is a need to develop custom software integration features, some companies might opt for outsourcing to Bulgaria, Poland, and other international tech hubs.

Pricing

Vimeo has two separate pricing systems, depending on the services you need. The main video platform has three pricing tiers and a free trial:

Starter ($20/month) — Custom video player, review and collaboration tools, privacy controls;
Standard ($33/month) — Everything in Starter plus Brand kit, teleprompter, AI script generator, engagement analytics, 1TB storage;
Advanced ($108/month) — Everything in Standard plus AI-generated chapters and text summaries, live streaming (live chats, Q&A, polls, multicast), and 5TB storage.

However, if you’re looking to build an on-demand OTT platform, you will need to choose the Vimeo OTT package. The Enterprise plan is Vimeo’s custom plan for publishers looking to build a well-rounded OTT service and incorporate video ad monetization into their strategy.  It includes advanced AI capabilities, more storage and bandwidth, advanced analytics, and a dedicated support team.

2. TargetVideo

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
AVOD	Yes	N/A	Yes

TargetVideo Platform is a video streaming platform that allows publishers to control every aspect of their video business — content management, distribution, and monetization. The platform is a great choice for publishers interested in the AVOD monetization model, as it comes with advanced ad revenue optimization features, including the Yield Optimization Engine which uses AI tools to maximize CPMs and ad revenue for publishers.

TargetVideo also offers premium live streaming with automatic recordings, a unique resume live stream feature, stream schedules and countdowns, as well as advanced advertising options.

In terms of OTT, TargetVideo has a custom OTT solution for just about any device (Android, iOS, Apple TV, Tizen, or WebOS). Most importantly, the full mobile SDK support for Android and iOS devices supports various instream ad formats, including VAST and VPAID ads, and integrates seamlessly with the Google IMA SDK. With the mobile SDK, you’ll get features such as live DVR, variable rate playback, multiple caption tracks, playlists, skin customization, as well as a truly responsive mobile UI. Additionally, your users will be able to enjoy high-quality streaming in HLS, MP4, and MPEG-DASH.

Pricing

TargetVideo Platform comes with a free trial, after which publishers can apply for their custom plan. These plans can be designed to fit the needs of each individual publisher.

3. Uscreen

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
TVOD, SVOD	Yes	Starts at $199/month	Yes

Uscreen is an all-in-one video membership platform designed for publishers and creators who want to monetize their content through subscriptions. It offers extensive tools for video streaming, live streaming, community building, and engagement. Uscreen also allows publishers to launch branded OTT apps on an array of devices and operating systems.

When it comes to monetization, Uscreen specifically supports transaction- and subscription-based models. This also includes content rentals, bundle deals, lifetime access, and free trials. However, the platform doesn’t support ad-based monetization. 

Pricing

Uscreen’s solutions come at three pricing tiers, along with a free trial:

Growth ($199/month + $1.99/subscriber/month) — Great for web-only VOD publishers with limited video needs;
Pro ($599/month + $1.49/subscriber/month) — A good choice for medium-sized web-focused publishers;
Plus (N/A) — For OTT publishers who want to deliver content across channels and scale their VOD business.

4. VPlayed

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
SVOD, TVOD, AVOD	Yes	N/A	Demo

VPlayed is an OTT-focused video platform that allows content creators and publishers to stream, distribute, and monetize videos. It comes with a robust infrastructure for video delivery, including an HLS/HTML5 player, DRM technology and security, cloud transcoding, and video monetization options. VPlayed is great for publishers in industries such as entertainment, sports, education, and church streaming. With the platform’s exclusive benefits, you’ll also have full ownership with no revenue sharing and on-premise or cloud hosting.

In terms of monetization options, VPlayed is quite diverse. This includes subscriptions, one-time purchases, time-restricted purchases, and various pay-per-view plans. Lastly, the platform offers extensive support for AVOD, specifically instream and outstream video ads, but ad demand is only available through third-party providers.

Pricing

VPlayed doesn’t have a publicly available pricing system. To find out how much their services cost, I suggest contacting their sales team.

5. Muvi

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
TVOD, SVOD, AVOD	Yes	Starts at $399/month	Yes

Muvi is a comprehensive OTT video streaming platform. It supports video and audio streaming, live streaming, and multi-device applications. The platform’s key features include content management, DRM and security, real-time analytics, and cloud-based linear TV & FAST channels. The platform also provides publishers with the necessary means to launch OTT apps on an array of devices.

Muvi offers all three major monetization models. With SVOD, publishers can create custom plans on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis with automated recurring payments. The TVOD model includes solutions such as PPV and time-restricted purchases. Lastly, the platform also supports AVOD, which comes with ready-made integrations with third-party ad networks.

Pricing

As I already mentioned, Muvi is by no means a cheap platform. Its pricing tiers are as follows:

Standard ($399/month + $299/month per app) — A white-label website and apps with all necessary features, hosting, and CDN;
Professional ($1499/month + $499/month per app) — Everything in Standard and an AI recommendation engine, DRM technology, and more;
Enterprise ($3900/month + $499/month per app) — Everything in Professional and a dedicated server and enterprise-level support;
Ultimate (N/A) — Everything in Enterprise and monthly reports on security and performance, unlimited concurrent viewers, and more.

6. Brightcove

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
SVOD, TVOD, AVOD	Yes	N/A	Yes

Brightcove is an all-in-one, enterprise-level video platform for large publishers. It offers features such as a video player with SSAI capabilities, live streaming, secure video hosting, an array of video marketing tools, rich video analytics, and so much more. Although the platform is not the most transparent about its offers, it is known to be a staple of the video industry.

Brightcove supports all three major monetization models. It comes with ad server integrations and a secure paywall. However, information on the extent and availability of these features is only available through the platform’s sales team.

Pricing

Much like with their services, Brightcove is quite secretive about their pricing plans, too. To learn more about the cost of using the platform, you will need to contact them directly.

7. JW Player

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
SVOD, TVOD, AVOD	Yes	N/A	Yes

JW Player may have started off as a standalone web player back in the early 2000s, but it has since grown into a robust video platform with a long list of products and features. The platform is designed to help publishers grow their VOD business, with an offer of solutions such as scalable cloud hosting, OTT and mobile apps, multi-level customer support, high-end content protection, audience engagement tools, and more.

JW Player allows publishers to monetize their content using any of the major monetization models. Its AVOD capabilities include extensive ad network integrations, VAST/IMA compatibility, ad podding, and more. The SVOD and TVOD models also come with an array of customizable plans, customizable purchase forms, flexible payment options, and a highly secure paywall.

Pricing

JW Player doesn’t have defined pricing plans. Instead, they offer a custom-tailored plan for each publisher, so you would need to contact their sales team for any further information.

8. Dacast

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
SVOD,  TVOD, AVOD	No	Starts at $39/month	Yes

Dacast is an OTT platform with extensive VOD-focused solutions. With Dacast, publishers can easily host and organize their video libraries, ensure the security of their content, deliver it across the globe with a reliable CDN, and monetize it. Although the platform doesn’t have an OTT app builder, it does offer services for OTT publishers who already have apps.

Dacast allows publishers to generate revenue using any of the three main monetization methods. However, these features are only included in the higher-priced plans, while Starter plan users have to pay extra for the add-on.

Pricing

Dacast has four pricing tiers, and it also offers a two-week free trial:

Starter ($39/month) — Designed for smaller publishers with limited audiences. 2.4 TB bandwidth a year and 500 GB of storage;
Event ($63/month) — Tailored to one-time or occasional virtual event hosts. 6 TB bandwidth upfront and 250 GB of storage;
Scale ($165/month) — Good for businesses and organizations with larger video needs. Comes with 24 TB a year and 2000 GB of storage;
Custom (N/A) — Fully customizable plan according to your needs.

9. Kaltura

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
N/A	Yes	N/A	Yes

Kaltura is not exactly a VOD platform, as it is mainly tailored to companies and organizations looking to host virtual events, webinars, meetings, or courses. However, its Kaltura Streaming Platform is designed to help media and broadcasting companies offer over-the-top content to viewers worldwide.

Although Kaltura claims to support SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD monetization, the information provided on their website is quite vague. It is unclear to what extent these models are supported, and the best way to find out is by requesting a demo.

Pricing

Kaltura has a very complex and non-transparent pricing system. Its plans are divided according to the necessary services, so publishers need to decide whether they need the Virtual Events package, Webinar package, Video Portal package, Town Halls package, and so on. Each of these packages has its own pricing plans with different services. The best way to find out how much you’d have to pay for Kaltura’s services is by contacting them directly.

10. SproutVideo

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
N/A	No	Starts at $10/month	Yes

SproutVideo is an eco-friendly video platform with all the major features a VOD publisher needs, from hosting and security to management and distribution. SproutVideo comes with a white-label solution for building a VOD website, making it easy for publishers to offer a branded library to their audience. However, the platform lacks any kind of OTT app support, so if you’re looking to build a cross-device service, you’ll have to resort to third-party providers.

Unfortunately, SproutVideo doesn’t offer any built-in monetization solutions, either. They do, however, allow third-party paywall integrations.

Pricing

SproutVideo offers its solutions in four pricing tiers, all of which can be tested out for free for a month:

Seed ($10/month) — Platform’s core features for entrepreneurs and smaller businesses;
Sprout ($35/month) — For publishers looking to build a secure VOD website;
Tree ($75/month) — Tailored to teams and larger publishers looking for advanced security features;
Forest ($295/month) — Enterprise-level offer with top-tier security and support.

11. Vidizmo

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
N/A	Yes	Starts at $89/month	Yes

Vidizmo is an all-in-one video and audio platform with an array of enterprise-level solutions. Its streaming solution, EnterpriseTube, allows publishers to launch their own, private streaming service with a white-label website. The solution comes equipped with all tools such as analytics and performance tracking, privacy and security features, AI-powered video redaction, and an HTML5 player with adaptive bitrate streaming. With Vidizmo, publishers can also launch their own mobile video app.

Despite being a robust platform, Vidizmo noticeably lacks any built-in monetization solutions. Monetizing your content with Vidizmo is only possible through third-party integrations.

Pricing

Vidizmo’s EnterpriseTube comes at four pricing tiers, along with a 7-day trial:

EnterpriseTube 50 ($89/month) — Unlimited anonymous viewers, 5 contributors, 40 GB storage, 100 GB bandwidth, standard support;
EnterpriseTube 100 ($139/month) — Unlimited anonymous viewers, 10 contributors, 100 GB storage, 250 GB bandwidth, standard support;
EnterpriseTube 250 ($349/month) — Unlimited anonymous viewers, 25 contributors, 250 GB storage, 500 GB bandwidth, standard support;
A la Carte (custom) — A plan tailored to the publisher’s needs.

12. Vodlix

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
SVOD, TVOD, AVOD	Yes	Starts at £299/month	Yes

Vodlix is a high-performance OTT and IPTV solution with the full stack of features necessary for launching a video-on-demand business. Publishers can create a custom platform, including OTT apps for various devices, and make their content available to audiences worldwide. 

Vodlix has extensive monetization support for all three major models. What’s more, the platform allows publishers to combine two or all three models into a hybrid for maximum revenue. Lastly, all monetization models are available at all pricing levels.

Pricing

Vodlix offers its services at three pricing levels, all of which come with a two-week free trial:

Professional (£1199/month) — 50 TB bandwidth, 5 TB storage, everything in Standard + Android and iOS apps bundle, analytics, CDN, and more;
Enterprise (£2999/month) — 100 TB bandwidth, 10 TB storage, everything in Professional + DRM and AppleTV and Android app bundle. LG, Samsung, and Roku apps available as add-ons;
Ultimate (Custom) — Includes everything in the Enterprise plan and much more.

13. Wowza

Monetization Models	OTT Apps	Pricing	Free Trial
N/A	No	Starts at $25/month	Yes

Wowza’s scalable VOD solution offers cross-device support with an extensive video CMS. It has a high-performance video streaming engine and a top-tier video player with capabilities such as adaptive streaming. Publishers also get full access to Wowza’s API and SDKs, so they can easily integrate the platform wherever they want.

While Wowza has a robust, extensive video streaming infrastructure, it has no in-house monetization solutions. Third-party integrations are the only way Wowza’s publishers can generate revenue from their content.

Pricing

Wowza has a somewhat complex pricing system. Its services come in two separate packages — Wowza Video, an integrated video platform, and Wowza Streaming Engine, an on-premise software solution. Each of them has its own pricing plans.

Wowza Video has three pricing tiers:

One Month of Streaming ($149) — A one-time, 30-day streaming service package;
Pay as You Go ($25/month + per-usage fees) — Best for ongoing streaming needs;
Enterprise (custom) — For publishers with large viewerships and high-volume needs.

Wowza Streaming Engine also comes at three separate pricing levels:

One Month of Streaming ($295) — A one-time, on-premises streaming solution for one month;
Basic Monthly ($195/month) — Best for publishers with medium-sized businesses and needs;
Enterprise (custom) — For publishers who are looking for a plan tailored to their needs.

Control Every Aspect of Your Video Business With TargetVideo

Launching a VOD business doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you have the right platform by your side. TargetVideo Platform gives publishers the freedom to control every minute aspect of their content management, distribution, and monetization. Of course, our expert support team is also there to help every step of the way.

In addition, with our platform publishers get extensive ad setup options, allowing them to monetize digital assets in any way they choose, premium live streaming, and a white-label OTT app for just about any device. Earn more from video with our powerful video streaming platform!

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