The Must Try 7 Best Wowza Alternatives For Streaming Video in 2024

To start, we don’t want to waste much of your time, so let’s get straight to the point. Firstly, when selecting a Wowza alternative, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is the overall cost of the OTT platform, which needs to be less expensive than Wowza.

However, most Wowza competitors are substantially more economical, and they often provide a free 30-day trial period to allow you to fully utilize the platform.

The second factor is the overall video quality, crucial for online video streaming. Ensure that the video appears excellent and loads swiftly on your website. 

Finally, make sure your Wowza alternative offers all the capabilities you require, such as the ability to embed videos on your website, and runs smoothly. With that said, let’s delve a bit more into the meaning of Wowza and explore its alternatives.

What is Wowza

Wowza is a popular online video solution serving various industries, including retail, media, entertainment, healthcare, government, commercial software, and more. The platform incorporates its content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure consistent content delivery globally.

Wowza enables users to customize video formats, delivery options, and video quality. Video owners benefit from patented Wowza software tailored for seamless live streaming performance. Moreover, the Extensible Modular Architecture ensures instant scalability for live video streaming performance.

Some Of The Most Notable Features Of Wowza

• Effective Brand Management & Customization – Wowza allows branding and customization, ensuring a cohesive representation of your brand. 

• Auto-Archiving for On-Demand Viewing – The platform automatically archives content, providing viewers the convenience of on-demand access. 

• Simple-to-Use Video Content Management – Wowza offers an intuitive video CMS, simplifying the organization and accessibility of your video content.

• Reliable Video Security – Ensures the protection of the video content, thereby keeping the content safe from unauthorized access or potential threats.

• Support for Streaming in Ultra HD Resolutions – Supports high-quality streaming, allowing content delivery in ultra HD resolutions. 

• API Integrations for Adding More Features – The platform facilitates API integrations, enabling users to expand functionality and integrate additional features. 

Wowza Review

To be more precise, Wowza can be analyzed through its two main components: Wowza Streaming Cloud and Wowza Streaming Engine. The functionality of Streaming Engine mirrors that of a specialized software package recognized as Wowza Media Server.

It is noteworthy that this server-based application excels in delivering both audio and video content over the web, with additional features like audio/video chat. Impressively, the Wowza media server is adept at presenting video content in stunning Ultra HD resolution, accessible across various devices such as set-top boxes, laptops, mobile devices, and televisions.

Contrastingly, Wowza Streaming Cloud represents an engaging cloud-based iteration of the previously discussed media server. Operating on the SaaS model, it allows users to host and deliver diverse live streams, on-demand videos, and engaging audio content.

Wowza Pricing

When it comes to the Wowza pricing, there are several plans to choose from. Below is the detailed plan structure for your reference. However, if you are not that concerned with Wowza pricing and looking desperately for the best Wowza alternative, then you can skip this section.

No worries at all!!!

Wowza Streaming Cloud

One Time – $149

• One month of worry-free streaming.
• Designed for one-time events.
• 15 live streaming hours.
• 500 watching hours (in 720p).

Pay-Per-Use – $25/month

• Flexible pricing model

Basic – $85 per month

• 180 live streaming hours.
• 6000 viewing hours (in 720p).

Plus – $425 per month

• 1200 live streaming hours.
• 60,000 viewing hours (in 720p).

Custom pricing for enterprises

• Enterprise plans are designed to meet the standard video streaming needs.

Note – All of the above plans (except One Time) are invoiced annually and provide full brand control, multi-bitrate streaming, plus UHD and HD streaming. However, Wowza’s pricing for monthly users is offered at a higher cost.

Wowza Streaming Engine

Basic – $175 per month

• Each additional instance costs $195 per month.
• For every instance, there are 10 concurrent channels per month.
• The response time for support is 48 hours.

Business – $295/month

• Each additional instance costs $295 per month.
• 10 concurrent channels per instance (month).
• 48 hours support response time.

For Enterprises: Contact Wowza to know their tailored high-volume enterprise solutions.

• The offerings are pretty much custom made.
• Includes round-the-clock assistance.

When it comes to video broadcasting, content owners like you may require access to specialized video streaming features. If your requirements exceed what Wowza has to offer, then looking for Wowza alternatives in 2023 is totally making sense.

No second thoughts, go for it!!!

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Top 8 Best Alternatives For Wowza

Wowza Streaming Engine, while offering an accelerated development cycle and innovative streaming solutions with its tools and APIs, may not always align perfectly with every business requirement. Fortunately, several alternatives in the market are there to suit your specific needs. 

Explore this section to discover Wowza alternatives that not only meet your requirements but also come at a cost lower than Wowza. With this clear, let us look into the top 8 alternatives for Wowza – VPlayed, Dacast, GUDSHO, IBM video cloud, Vimeo OTT, Brightcove, Kaltura, and JW Player. 

1. VPlayed

VPlayed can be defined as a complete end-to-end video streaming solution designed for businesses who are looking for flexibility in their Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. It serves a variety of industries including eLearning, entertainment, fitness, sports, religion, and much more. 

VPlayed’s range of Video on Demand solutions utilizes high level streaming technologies such as microservice architecture. The platform offers a white-label solution, allowing you to launch your OTT based platform across various mediums like the web, Android, iOS, and Smart TVs.

With its reasonable pricing structure, robust capabilities, and the ability to reach global audiences, VPlayed emerges as one of the best alternatives to Wowza. 

However, the other options are extremely comparable to Wowza and offer video content creation and publishing capabilities. So, in this blog, look at the other Wowza alternatives for a better comparison. Before that take a look at Vplayed’s feature list.

Key Features Of VPlayed Video Streaming Platform:

• On-premises or on-cloud hosting options.
• 10+ video monetization models suitable for any business.
• 100% customization of apps and websites for effective branding.
• Real-time analytics to evaluate and refine your streaming strategy.
• Intelligent cloud transcoding with variable bitrates for great video quality.
• A powerful CMS for efficient posting and bulk management of information.

2. Dacast

Dacast, making its debut in the online video streaming market in 2010, is a live streaming and video hosting platform. Designed for professional broadcasters, the platform offers effective streaming solutions enabling users to globally host, manage, monetize, and broadcast OTT content. That’s the reason why it is in the top 2 of best wowza alternatives in 2024. 

Dacast’s video player stands out by allowing content owners to insert Calls-To-Action within the videos, contributing to increased overall conversion rates. The platform provides complete control over content and broadcasters.

In terms of security, Dacast employs HLS encryption for data security, although more advanced encryption techniques like DRM are available for enhanced privacy. Dacast also offers password-protected streaming, but it may not be as effective, hence the recommendation to change video passwords periodically.

Key Features Of Dacast Video Streaming Platform Includes:

• White label and branding authority for a customized user experience.
• Various monetization models – SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD via pay-per-view.
• Professional tools and utilities accessible over the cloud for enhanced functionality.
• Security features – password systems, paywall integration, and encryption technologies. 
• Software Development Kit (SDK) for seamless integration of iOS and Android players.
• Domain Name Restriction & Geographic Restriction for specific domains and countries.

3. GUDSHO

GUDSHO comes as an all-in-one video platform that tops the list as the best Wowza alternative. How? Because, it is easy to use, houses multiple monetization models, has a pre-built marketing toolkit, and finally helps creators to build a picture-perfect video streaming service like never before.

Whereas Wowza on the other hand falls short of all the above said. 

And when we look at quality live and on-demand streaming, GUDSHO scores a point higher as it makes use of Akamai-based CDNs and cloud hosting that is sealed with secured authentication mechanisms. 

Well, now is the interesting part. The talk on the promotional aspect where GUDSHO stands unbeatable as it has a marketing toolkit to promote videos and if needed their in-house team will help you market your videos. 

5 points to it right? Trust me, all of these cannot be found on any other platforms.

Key Features Of GUDSHO Video Streaming Platform Includes:

• Real-time analytical dashboard to help creators gain insight on their video performance
• Adaptive bit rate mechanisms for 4k quality streaming
• Cloud storage for maximizing security and privacy
• Five different monetization models to generate income greatly
• Built-in powerful video CMS to manage all video content in one place
• Screenshot protection attribute to restrict users from taking screenshot while streaming videos from mobile app
• Custom subscriptions feature to bring in different subscription parameters for varied users
• Akamai based CDNs to delivery buffer-free quality content

4. IBM Video Cloud

Another solid Wowza competitor is IBM Video Cloud. It serves as an end-to-end solution to both live and on-demand video content, facilitating interactions in diverse settings, from employee communications to academic virtual conferences. 

It leads the way from many other Wowza competitors by organizing, measuring, and monetizing videos while streaming content across multiple platforms. The platform consists of cloud streaming and video services, along with storage and GPU computing capabilities.

Distinguished by unique customization options, IBM Video Cloud competes effectively with Wowza and other Wowza alternatives. Leveraging machine learning capabilities, it aids in enhancing viewer engagement. The platform conducts real-time analysis to monitor video performance, providing data-driven recommendations.

Above all, IBM Video Cloud includes a global network of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), ensuring optimal content quality for your audience regardless of the device they are using.

Key Features Of IBM Video Cloud Video Streaming Platform Includes:

• Content streaming faces no bitrate limitations.
• Schedule videos for playback at specific times.
• Multi-DRM and language support for enhanced versatility.
• Closed captioning and automated video publishing capabilities.
• Offers video hosting, live streaming, transcoding, automated speech-to-text, etc. 
• The video cloud platform empowers content owners to host, encode, & distribute videos.

5. Vimeo OTT

Vimeo OTT is a renowned video hosting platform, assisting millions of businesses in global content delivery. Primarily serving content producers in the B2C sector, the platform supports tasks ranging from video hosting to organization and dissemination. 

Vimeo provides a number of customization options for content owners, allowing them to tailor the app, website, and checkout page to their preferences. As an all-in-one video platform, Vimeo facilitates video creation, sharing, hosting, management, and storage. 

Noteworthy is its cloud-based data storage, ensuring protection against various online threats. However, it is important to note that Vimeo OTT comes with some drawbacks, such as lower traffic compared to other video platforms and potential cost concerns for smaller businesses, although it remains a suitable choice for larger enterprises.

Nevertheless, storage limits vary based on the selected subscription plan. If this is a concern for you, then it is better to look for other alternatives in the market that can fulfill your requirements.

Key Features Of Vimeo Video Streaming Platform Includes:

• Team collaboration capabilities for up to 10 members.
• Video editing software tailored for online video creators.
• Pre-made video templates available (only in premium plans).
• Mobile-ready design and seamless social sharing functionality.
• Customizable video player for a personalized viewing experience.
• Bandwidth limits vary (e.g., 5 GB/week, 20 GB/week) depending on the chosen plan.

6. Brightcove

Brightcove is yet another high-end streaming system capable of hosting both live and on-demand content. Its OTT platform delivers an exceptional playback experience to professionals and amateurs seeking top-quality online video content. 

Particularly suitable for showcasing books and products, Brightcove proves to be an ideal choice for eCommerce stores. However, it is essential to note that this Wowza alternative offers custom-priced plans inclined more towards large enterprises.

Brightcove’s video streaming platform is well-equipped to enhance client monetization and engagement through features like companion advertisements, trick play, and countdown clocks. 

It ensures a rapid increase in organic traffic, with professionals appreciating its versatile marketing tool control. The platform is highly compatible with web-based devices, iPhones, iPads, and Android platforms. Now, with this clear, let us see the Brightcove feature list.

Key Features Of Brightcove Video Streaming Platform Includes:

• Support for Video On Demand (VOD) hosting.
• Inclusion of video security in all Brightcove plans.
• Domain restrictions for enhanced security measures.
• Advanced activity tracking for a more complete analytics.
• Specialized plans designed for effective video monetization.
• Support for white-label streaming, allowing a branded experience.

7. Kaltura

Starting with the basis – kaltura started off In 2006 in New York City. It is a streaming platform offering a wide range of products and services for online video streaming. The Kaltura video platform features two crucial solutions: VPaaS (Video Platform as a Service) and KMC (Kaltura Management Console). 

The first option (VPaaS) involves a fixed set of APIs, primarily targeting media companies, enterprises, and educational institutions. On the other hand, KMC is well-suited for distributing, publishing, managing, ingesting, and monetizing media.

While Kaltura is notably popular among educational institutions, it also caters to broadcasters with advanced streaming requirements. 

Particularly beneficial for video streaming configurations requiring custom software, Kaltura’s flexibility can be overwhelming and confusing due to numerous plugins and integrations. This complexity might pose a few challenges for individuals who are lacking technical knowledge.

Key Features Of Kaltura Video Streaming Platform Includes:

• Video on demand hosting capabilities.
• Extensive support for live video streaming.
• Adaptive bitrate streaming for optimal video quality.
• Easy monetization options through various integrations.
• Multi-CDN approach ensures reliable and efficient content delivery.
• Effective white-label video player for a personalized user experience.

8. JW Player

JW Player is a well known online video streaming platform for publishers and broadcasters. It significantly supports the management, growth, and monetization of various online video streaming initiatives. 

The JW Player video hosting platform integrates with the majority of streaming platforms, enabling video publishing, running video advertising, and streaming web content. It offers the flexibility to customize Over-The-Top (OTT) output by making the most out of tools from various sources and is easily connectable to existing websites or applications.

Ensuring a consistent viewing experience on mobile, tablet, websites, and Connected TV, JW Player as similar to other Wowza alternatives allows users to personalize their interactions. This includes creating custom video-page interactions, toggling between high definition and standard definition video quality, incorporating multi-language support, and more. 

With its HTML5 video player, JW Player delivers a rich video experience on any platform, catering to businesses and individuals relying on online video streaming.

Key Features Of JW Player Video Streaming Platform Includes:

• A complete video management console for efficient control.
• Multiple APIs for distribution and administration purposes.
• Client-side ad insertion (CSAI) for seamless ad integration.
• Digital Rights Management (DRM), geo-blocking, and URL token signing. 
• Native SDK recommendation engine for more personalized content suggestions.
• Video Content Management System dashboard for streamlined content organization.

Conclusion:

By now, we can say that the video market is filled with powerful video streaming platforms, each offering a unique combination of features. Choosing the best Over-The-Top (OTT) platform requires careful consideration and comparison of best Wowza alternatives as well.

However, it is crucial to keep your company’s video streaming goals and feature requirements in mind during this evaluation. OTT platforms like VPlayed (an excellent Wowza alternative) and others present excellent options, but the key is to select the one that aligns seamlessly with your business needs. 

Utilizing free trials can be pretty much useful in making an informed decision and finding the optimal OTT platform for your online video streaming business.

We hope you enjoyed and found value in this article!

If You’re Ready To Incorporate Over The Top Platform Into Your Video Content Streaming, Get In Touch With Us Right Away.