OTT streaming has soared in popularity over the past decade, and the industry continues to expand. In fact, the OTT market is projected to reach a value of $275.30 billion in 2023 and $1.039 trillion by 2027.

This growth will continue to create opportunities for media businesses that want to create OTT streaming experiences for their audiences. With this comes the need for a reliable OTT platform.

In this article, we will discuss all things related to OTT platforms. Specifically, we will review 12 of the best OTT platforms that you should consider for creating fully-branded OTT streaming experiences.

Table of Contents

• What is an OTT Platform?
• What is an OTT Service?
• What to Look for in an OTT Platform
• 12 Best OTT Platforms in 2023
• Stream on Maestro 

What is an OTT Platform?

An over-the-top (OTT) platform is the technology that is responsible for hosting, managing, and distributing video content to viewers over the internet. 

If you’re not familiar, the term “over-the-top” refers to the technology that makes this style of streaming possible. Basically, it uses the internet to “go over” media delivery methods, like satellite or cable.

What is an OTT Service?

An OTT service is a user-facing application that enables viewers to access a collection of content over the internet. This includes TV shows, movies, and other on-demand and live broadcasts. Typically, OTT services are monetized with ads, pay-per-view, or subscriptions.

The rise in popularity of these OTT services has a lot to do with the flexibility that they provide. OTT streaming enables viewers to stream to a computer, smart TV, mobile device, or gaming console, so viewers can access the content they want from anywhere, as long as they have access to the internet. 

Examples of OTT Streaming Services

Here are a few examples of popular OTT streaming services:

• Netflix
• Hulu
• Prime Video
• ESPN+
• Disney+
• HBO Max
• Peacock

There are also tons of OTT streaming services from other businesses and organizations, such as local sports leagues or small media firms.

What to Look for in an OTT Platform

There are three main things to consider when comparing OTT platforms: functionality, features, and pricing. Let’s take a closer look at each of these considerations.

Functionality

Since OTT platforms vary slightly in functionality, it is important to ensure that the options on your list offer the general functionality that you need.

For example, if you want to host live broadcasts, you’re going to need a platform that supports live streaming rather than just video on demand (VOD).

Features

When you’re looking for an OTT platform, it is important to find one that has features that will enable you to reach your goals. 

Although everybody’s “must-have” feature list will be a little bit different, some common features to look for in an OTT platform include:

• Analytics
• Monetization (paywalls, subscriptions, ticketing/PPV, ads, live commerce, tipping)
• Secure streaming
• Video website building tools
• Embeddable video players
• White-label streaming
• Interactivity

We encourage you to make a list of your must-haves, so you know exactly what you’re looking for as you conduct your search for the best OTT platform.

Pricing

Last but not least, it is important to review the pricing of your prospective OTT platforms. Take a look at subscription fees, licensing fees, usage fees, and revenue shares, so you can ensure that the total cost of using the platform falls within your budget.

12 Best OTT Platforms in 2023

There are currently a ton of great OTT platforms on the market. Each of these platforms is a little bit different, which means that with a little searching, you’re sure to find a solution that will meet your needs.

Without further ado, here are the twelve best OTT platforms available for 2023.

1. Maestro

Maestro is an all-in-one OTT platform that enables brands and solopreneurs to build fully branded video destinations to take back control of their content, their audience, and their revenue.

In minutes, you can set up a branded site complete with live streams, VOD, tipping, live shopping, and more. 

Maestro’s easy-to-use technology has powered the biggest names in music, sports, gaming, and technology, including Billie Eilish, the Golden State Warriors, Epic Games, and Apple. 

Functionality

• Live streaming 
• VOD hosting
• Video monetization
• Video website building

Features

• Clickable panels and graphic overlays
• Viewership and revenue analytics
• White-label streaming 
• Total brand customization
• Monetization
• Paywalls for ticketing and subscriptions
• Live commerce for selling products in-stream
• Tipping 
• Multi-currency support
• Community management
• Live chat

Pricing

Maestro offers a few different pricing plans to accommodate video businesses of different sizes. These plans include:

• Start: Free Forever
• Growth: $19/month
• Scale: $99/month
• Custom: Custom pricing 

Sign up today to start strreaming for free.

2. Muvi

Muvi is an OTT streaming platform that is focused on creating highly professional streaming experiences. It comes with a wide variety of tools that are capable of creating Netflix-like experiences.

Muvi provides an advanced solution, and its prices certainly reflect that. With that said, this is best suited for publishing companies and video businesses that have very large budgets.

Functionality

• Live streaming 
• VOD hosting
• Video monetization
• Video website building

Features

• Smart TV app building
• User management
• Built-in CDN
• Monetization
• Multicurrency support
• Subscriptions
• Ticketing
• Pay-per-view
• Ads
• Live commerce
• Support for UGC platforms
• Live stream recording

Pricing

Here are Muvi’s four pricing plans:

• Standard: $399/month + $299/month per app + infra fees
• Professional: $1499/month + $499/month per app + infra fees
• Enterprise: $3900/month + $499/month per app + infra fees
• Ultimate: Custom pricing

Intra fees include $0.09/GB for bandwidth and $0.07/GB for storage.

Muvi offers a 10% discount for those who pay every six months and a 15% discount for those who pay annually.

3. Kaltura

Kaltura is an open-source OTT platform that has a special focus on education. It is geared towards creating scalable cloud video experiences.

Since Kaltura is open-source, it is extremely customizable.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting
• Monetization 

Features

• APIs and SDKs for customization
• White-label streaming
• Video learning management system (LMS)
• Stream recording/lesson capture
• Video CMS

Pricing

Kaltura uses a complex pricing structure for most use cases since customization is a major appeal of this OTT platform. Check out Kaltura’s pricing page for more information. 

4. JW Player

JW Player is another great OTT platform that was first introduced to the streaming space as one of the most reliable HTML5 video players. In fact, this company’s video player technology was even used by an early version of YouTube.

However, JW Player is now available as a video CMS with both live and on-demand streaming support.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting
• Content production

Features

• Powerful video player
• APIs for customization
• Monetization (with ad integration)
• Engagement tools
• Video analytics

Pricing

JW Player uses custom pricing, so interested streamers must request a quote.

5. IBM Video Streaming

IBM Video Streaming is an OTT platform from IBM, a business that offers a wide variety of technology and solutions.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting
• Video monetization

Features

• Video analytics
• Video playlists
• Live chat
• Monetization
• Pay-per-view
• Subscriptions
• Adaptive bitrate streaming
• Scalable content delivery

Pricing

IBM Video Streaming comes at four different price points, broken down as follows:

• Silver: $99/month
• Gold: $499/month
• Platinum: $999/month
• Custom: Contact for a quote

6. Brightcove

Brightcove is a powerful OTT streaming platform that is designed for enterprises that want to create engaging streaming experiences for marketing, communication, and more. Brightcove also offers state-of-the-art support for media monetization.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting
• Video monetization

Features

• • Reliable streaming
  • White-label streaming
  • Analytics 
  • Monetization
    • Subscription
    • Ads
    • And more with integrations!
  • Engagement tools

Pricing

Brightcove does not publish pricing on its website, so interested streamers should reach out directly for a quote.

7. VPlayed

VPlayed is an OTT platform owned by Contus. This solution is focused on monetization and scalable, global streaming. It is particularly valuable for those who want to create streaming experiences that are consistent across all devices.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting
• Video monetization

Features

• Video CMS
• White-label streaming
• Monetization
• Ads
• Subscriptions
• Pay-per-view
• Secure streaming

Pricing

VPlayed does not publish pricing on their site, so interested users must request a quote.

8. Livestream

Livestream is Vimeo’s premium streaming solution that is geared toward creating more professional streaming experience. In fact, Livestream offers a dedicated OTT solution called Vimeo OTT.

Vimeo OTT is equipped with the tools users need to build an OTT streaming service.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting 
• Video monetization

Features

• API and SDK for customization
• Monetization
• Pay-per-view (rental and purchases)
• Subscriptions
• Multi-currency payment
• 24/7 linear live streaming
• Video website builder

Pricing

Vimeo OTT has two pricing options: Starter and Enterprise.

For Starter plans, users pay $1 per subscriber per month, or they can pay 10% on one-time purchases and rental products. Processing fees and taxes apply to both.

Enterprise plans are custom priced.

9. Uscreen

Uscreen is another powerful OTT platform that is dedicated to building mobile and smart TV apps. Their mission is to help video businesses create experiences that are compatible with all types of devices.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting 
• Video monetization

Features

• Monetization
• Membership sites/subscriptions
• Pay-per-view
• Marketing tools
• Analytics
• Video scheduling
• Subtitles
• Video search filters

Pricing

Uscreen has three pricing plans. These include:

 

• Basic: $99/month + $0.50 per subscriber/month
• Growth: $199/month + $0.50 per subscriber/month
• UscreenPlus: Contact for a custom quote

10. Wowza

Wowza is a streaming technology company that offers a variety of products and services. Among those offerings is Wowza Video, an OTT streaming platform.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting

Features

• Analytics
• Tools for engagement
• 360 streaming
• Video CMS
• Adaptive bitrate streaming

Pricing

Wowza Video is available in a few different pricing plans, including:

• One Month of Streaming: $149 (one-time purchase) 
• Pay as You Go: $25/month + usage fees
• Annual: $1560/year
• Enterprise: Custom pricing 

11. Streann

Streann is a high-end OTT platform that is focused on helping video businesses make money with proper distribution and engagement.

Like Muvi, this platform is suitable for highly professional use cases, and the price tag reflects that.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting
• Video monetization

Features

• White-label streaming
• Monetization
• Ads
• Subscriptions
• Pay-per-view
• Engagement tools
• Mobile streaming 
• Live chat

Pricing

Pricing plans from Streann start at $2995/month.

12. Dacast

Dacast is an OTT streaming platform that offers an embeddable video player for white-label streaming. Since Dacast’s focus is on its embeddable video player, it is best suited for users who simply want to add a video player to their existing sites and apps.

Functionality

• Live streaming
• VOD hosting
• Video monetization

Features

• Secure streaming
• Embeddable video player
• Brand customization 
• Monetization
• Ads
• Pay-per-view
• Subscriptions
• White-label streaming

Pricing

Dacast offers four pricing plans, including:

• Starter: $39/month
• Event: $63/month
• Scale: $188/month
• Custom: Users must inquire for a quote

Stream on Maestro 

If you’re looking for an OTT platform that streamlines video hosting and makes it easy to build a sleek streaming experience, look no further. Maestro could be the solution for you. 

Maestro makes it easy for brands and solopreneurs to create an OTT streaming service with interactivity, monetization, and audience management.

Sign up for Maestro to start building your OTT streaming service in no time at all.

Join our Discord server to learn more tips and tricks for streaming on Maestro.