21 Best video hosting platforms for online courses in 2024

by Welly Mulia - October 17, 2024

The Comparison Table

Here are the top 22 video hosting platforms for online course creators in 2024… broken down into key features, pricing, pros and cons, and best use cases for each:

Platform	Key Features	Pricing	Pros	Cons	Best For
VdoCipher	DRM protection, dynamic watermarking, customizable video players, user analytics, secure video streaming, mobile support, APIs	$179 for 200 GB bandwidth and 50 GB storage, larger plans available	Security, quality, support, integration	More expensive than basic platforms, setup can be complex	Businesses and educational institutions that need video hosting and anti-piracy
Panopto	Unlimited storage, AI captions, LMS integration, video libraries, analytics, editing	Free (Panopto Basic), $14.99/month Pro; custom pricing for institutions based on users	Recording and sharing, easy upload, great captions	Can be confusing for newbies, occasional glitches	Educational institutions and organizations looking to improve video learning
Kaltura	Adaptive Bitrate streaming, Advanced analytics, Video security, Marketing automation integrations, Collaboration tools, White-label	Pay-as-you-go; $0.17/GB bandwidth; $0.25/GB storage; $19/month flat rate for some plans	LMS integration, easy to use, strong analytics, supports multiple video formats, scalable hosting	Backend work needed; some users have trouble with certain system integrations	Educational institutions, businesses with video content management, organizations hosting webinars
Vimeo	Video Hosting, Customizable Video Player, Advanced Analytics, Team Collaboration, Marketing Tools	Free, Plus ($7/month), Pro ($20/month), Business, Premium	Ad-free, high quality, customizable players, easy to use, professional	Limited free plan, smaller audience than YouTube, poor customer service	Professionals and businesses looking for high-end video solutions, especially in creative fields
Wistia	Video hosting, customizable player, video analytics, lead gen tools, SEO	Free, Plus ($19/month), Pro ($79/month), Advanced ($399/month)	Easy to understand analytics, customizable player, no ads, good for SEO	Can get expensive, interface can be clunky for collaboration	Businesses looking for video marketing solutions
Brightcove	Many integrations, reliable content delivery, server-side ad insertion, advanced analytics	Pricing: Starter, Pro, Enterprise; $199/month for Starter; custom for the rest	High quality, no downtime, high security, auto transcode for devices	No free plan, more expensive than competitors	Businesses and organizations looking to improve video marketing and comms
JW Player	Adaptive Streaming, Customizable Video Player, Video Analytics, Monetization Options, Multi-Device Support, SEO, Closed Captioning	$10/month; free trial available	Great playback, many integrations, strong engagement analytics, adaptive streaming	High pricing, steep learning curve for some, occasional UI issues	Businesses and media companies looking for video streaming and monetization
Dacast	Live streaming, Video hosting, In-built monetization, 24/7 support, Secure, Analytics, Branding	$39/month for 1,000 GB bandwidth; Starter, Pro, Enterprise plans; custom for large events	Easy to use, reliable streaming, flexible pricing, 24/7 support, robust security	Limited bandwidth on lower tiers, no built-in video editing, more expensive for higher tiers	Businesses, educators, content creators, live streaming
Muvi	Video hosting, Live streaming, Video monetization, Customizable player, Multi-screen, CMS, Analytics	Starting at $399	Good tech support, flexible pricing, user friendly, non-IT user friendly, multiple monetization options	Customer service can be hit or miss, some complaints of miscommunication and delays	Content owners and broadcasters looking to launch OTT platforms
AWS	Live streaming, scalable, integrates with AWS services, transcode with MediaConvert, global content delivery	Too many solutions to list, go here for complete pricing	Flexible options, robust security, many features, cost effective scalability, integrates with other AWS services	Technical setup is complex, outages possible, steep learning curve for new users	Businesses and developers looking for scalable solutions for live streaming and VOD
Google Cloud Platform	Many cloud services: compute, storage, networking, machine learning, big data analytics, serverless computing	Pay as you go; $300 free credits for new users; free tier option	Scalable, many services, strong data analytics and machine learning, flexible pricing	Limited support, more expensive than some competitors	Businesses and developers looking for a full cloud solution and advanced analytics
Hippo Video	Video personalization, video editing, screen recording, analytics, CRM and email marketing integrations, video messaging, landing pages	Free; $20/month/user Pro; $60/month/user Teams; $80/month/user Enterprise	Easy to use, AI personalization, high quality video, robust analytics, good support, sales and engagement	Some users have reported issues with recording feature; limited customization options; higher tiers can be expensive for small business	Sales and marketing teams, small to large business, professionals looking for video marketing solutions
Cincopa	Live streaming, video analytics, customizable players, secure streaming, adaptive bitrate, live transcoding, audience engagement tools, create video channels, supports multiple formats	Starts at $300/year; custom pricing for users	Cheap, many features, detailed analytics, mobile support, customizable players	Complex UI, limited storage in lower tiers, some users will find customization options lacking	Businesses, marketing teams, online educators looking for video content management
Zype	API first, drag and drop streaming, flexible video solutions, app templates, customizable video management tools, multi-CDN	Starts at $500/month	Good integration, easy to use, full content management and analytics, flexible monetization	Pricing is a barrier for smaller users, enterprise focused	Businesses, media companies, content publishers, educational institutions looking to create direct to consumer streaming services
Livestream	Live streaming, customizable channels, customizable player, video review tools, advanced analytics, privacy and security settings, monetization (subscription, pay-per-view, apps), interactive features (live Q&A, audience chat)	Pricing under Vimeo plans: Vimeo Advanced $65/seat/month; custom enterprise plans also available. Vimeo OTT has a starter plan $1/seat/month or 10% of revenue	Full branding customization, supports high quality virtual events and webinars, great video quality, production assistance available	Expensive for small business (starts at $65/month), limited analytics in lower tiers, monetization features only in specific plans	Best for businesses hosting high quality virtual events, webinars and OTT streaming services
Vplayed	Customizable Video Player, Multi Device Support, Adaptive Bitrate Streaming, Video Monetization, Content Delivery Network (CDN), Video Analytics, Digital Rights Management (DRM), Live Streaming, User Management, Video Transcoding, Social Media Integration, API Integration, Offline Viewing, Security Features	Custom pricing based on client needs, no free trial	Great CMS for content management, allows platform branding, live streaming, adaptive bitrate for quality streaming, customizable features	Steep learning curve due to over 1000 features, lacks some interactive elements	Broadcasters, content creators, educational institutions looking for customizable video hosting
IBM Video Streaming	Customizable HTML5 video player, Global content delivery, Tech support, Video API access, Security features, Monetization options	Starts at $499/month	Great video quality, Secure hosting, Custom video portals, Good analytics, CRM integration	Expensive pricing, No live streaming under $499/month, Monetization only on custom priced plans, No hosting in China	Enterprises, Marketing departments, Live event organizers
Uscreen	VOD and live streaming, customizable branding, pay-per-view monetization, membership management, built-in payment processing, analytics and reporting, mobile and TV apps, integrations with third-party tools	Basic: $79/month + $0.99/subscriber; Growth: $159/month + $0.85/subscriber; Custom Uscreen Plus plan with lower per-subscriber fees	Easy to use, great features for live streaming and analytics, customizable branding, multiple monetization options	Limited integrations, more expensive for advanced features, some features behind more expensive plans	Content creators, businesses and individuals looking to monetize video content through memberships or PPV
Echo360	Manage, store and share digital media content; Automatically record lectures and class sessions; Record presentations using Universal Capture software; Automatic video transcriptions; Embed polls directly into videos; Edit videos using Echo360’s built-in tools; Mobile app for viewing and interaction; Integrates with Learning Management Systems (LMS)	No transparent pricing, get a quote from their site	Polls and quizzes, video recording, hybrid and remote learning support, analytics tools for student engagement	Hard to navigate and video controls; some users struggle with setup and integrations; no transparent pricing	Educational institutions, instructors looking for video lecture capture and content management
Opencast	Scheduled recording, live streaming, video editing, content distribution	Free; costs may apply for hosting and implementation	Open-source and customizable; community supported; scalable for different institutional needs	Technical expertise required for setup and maintenance; limited customer support compared to commercial platforms	Educational institutions and organizations looking for custom video management solutions
YuJa	Video recording, editing, captioning, AI integration, interactive video quizzes, analytics and secure sharing tools	No transparent pricing, get a quote from their site	Full features, good LMS integration, user friendly, accessibility features, live support	Custom pricing makes it hard to know the cost, editing features may have bugs	Educational institutions, instructors and trainers looking to manage video content

Video-Based vs Text-Based Courses

In the world of online learning, video courses are getting more and more popular and for good reason. Text based courses have their place but video learning has many advantages that make it the better choice for many students and teachers.

Let’s get into why video courses come out on top.

1/ Engaging Content

Looking at pages full of text vs watching videos — which do you prefer?

If you’re like most, you’d prefer videos because they combine visual + audio elements. With text, you’re just reading words on a piece of screen or paper. With videos, you’re experiencing.

2/ Easier to Explain Complex Ideas

Some things are just hard to explain in writing. Video courses shine when it comes to explaining complex ideas or processes.

Whether it’s a step by step guide to solving a math problem or a demonstration of a physical technique, seeing it in action makes it much easier to understand.

Instructors can use visual aids, animations and real life examples to break down complex ideas in a way that’s much clearer than text alone.

3/ Different Learning Styles

We all learn differently. Some of us are visual learners, others are auditory learners and some learn best through a combination of both. Video courses cater to a wider range of learning styles than text based courses.

They provide visual cues for those who learn by seeing, narration for those who learn by hearing and often include interactive elements for those who learn by doing.

4/ Better Information Retention

Studies have shown that people generally remember information better when it’s presented in a visual format. Video courses take advantage of this by combining visual and audio information which can improve retention.

When you can see and hear the information you’re more likely to remember it later.

5/ Multi-tasking

Sure, you can learn at your own pace with both video- and text-based courses.

But with a video course, you can watch them while you’re doing something else — e.g. when exercising, commuting, feeding your dog, or just doing general chores.

6/ Personal Connection

Text can feel impersonal but video allows you to see and hear the teacher. This creates a more personal connection, almost like you’re in a real classroom.

You can pick up on the teacher’s enthusiasm for the subject which can be infectious and motivating. And seeing facial expressions and body language can add context and emphasis to the information being taught.

7/ Easier to Stay Focused

It’s easy to get distracted when reading long blocks of text. Your mind can wander or you might find yourself re-reading the same paragraph multiple times.

Videos guide you through the content at a steady pace. The combination of visual and audio helps keep your attention on the lesson.

8/ Practical Demonstrations

For many subjects seeing is believing. Video courses excel at providing practical demonstrations.

Whether it’s a cooking class, a DIY project or a software tutorial, being able to watch someone do the task step by step is invaluable. It’s much easier to follow along with a video than to try to interpret written instructions.

Video Platforms — A Much Needed Tool

With online education changing so fast, video has become a “much needed” tool for educators and course creators.

It’s not surprising though… considering 83% of folks prefer watching videos over reading text when it comes to learning.

As the demand for high quality online courses grows, choosing the right video hosting solution has never been more important. This guide will cover everything you need to know about video hosting platforms for online courses so you can make an informed decision to give your students/customers the best online learning experience.

What is a Video Hosting Platform?

Before diving into the specifics, let’s clarify what a video hosting platform actually is. A video hosting platform is a service that allows users to upload, store, and stream video content online. These platforms provide a range of features and tools designed to help users manage and deliver their video content effectively.

To make sure we’re on the same page, a video hosting platform is a service that allows you to upload, store and stream video content online. These platforms provide a range of features and tools to help you manage and deliver your online training programs.

How different are these video hosting platforms compared to video sharing sites like YouTube?

Video hosting solutions/platforms:

1/ Give you more control over your content and branding

2/ Have more security features to protect your intellectual property against illegal downloads

3/ Have tools specifically for educational content

4/ Have better integration options with learning management systems (LMS)

For hosting online courses, a reliable video hosting platform is important as it allows educators to share video content with their students seamlessly and securely.

Key Features When Choosing Video Hosting Platforms

When choosing a video hosting platform for hosting videos, look for:

1/ High quality video and audio streaming: The platform should support high res video and clear audio.

2/ Video security and encryption: Strong security features including encryption and access controls to prevent unauthorized access.

3/ Customizable players and branding: Look for platforms that allow you to customize the video player and add your branding to keep your look and feel consistent.

4/ Delivery infrastructure: A content delivery network (CDN) for fast and reliable video streaming globally.

5/ Video API and integrations: To integrate your video content with other tools and platforms like your LMS.

6/ Analytics and engagement metrics: See how your students are interacting with your video content so you can improve your courses over time.

7/ Content management system (CMS): A simple CMS to organize, update and manage your video content.

8/ Transcoding and adaptive streaming videos: Your videos will play smoothly on all devices and internet speeds.

Why Use a Video Hosting Platform?

A good video hosting platform gives many benefits to different parties in the online education space:

For Online Course Creators and Educators

1/ Interactive video features to engage students

2/ Content security and intellectual property protection

3/ Integration with existing LMS and course platforms

4/ Analytics to track student progress

5/ Professional branded viewing experience

For Businesses and Corporate Training

1/ Easy delivery of online training videos to employees

2/ Secure sharing of sensitive or confidential information

3/ Scalable for all size of organizations

4/ Tracking of employee learning

5/ Cheaper than in-person training sessions

For Content Creators and Influencers

1/ Monetize your premium video content

2/ More control over content distribution and access

3/ Professional video presentation

4/ Viewer analytics to optimize your content

5/ Multi-platform reach

5 Criteria for Choosing Your Video Hosting Provider

Pricing and Cost

Check the cost against your budget. Consider not just the initial cost but also the scalability costs as your course grows. Some platforms have pay as you go options, others have tiered pricing.

Features and Customization

What features do you need for your course? Do you need interactive elements? Advanced analytics? Protected streaming? A user-friendly interface? Make sure the platform you choose .

Scalability and User Experience

How does the platform perform as your global audience grows? Can it handle more traffic without affecting video quality?

Do you want this to happen?

people get distracted if no high quality video

Also check the user experience from the perspective of your students.

Security and Encryption

If your course has proprietary or sensitive information, look for platforms with strong security features. Look for DRM protection, encrypted playback and IP restriction.

Integration with Existing Systems

If you already use an LMS or other e-learning tools, check if the video hosting platform integrates with your existing setup. This will save you time and effort in the long run.

5 Tips to Providing a Great Learning Experience for Your Video Course

Optimize video quality: While high definition videos are great, also provide lower definition options for students with slower internet.
Add interactive elements: Use quizzes, hotspots or chapters to make your videos more interactive.
Make the videos mobile friendly.
Analyze: Review your video analytics regularly to see what content is working and what can be improved.
Use captions and transcripts: They’re good for accessibility, SEO, and students who prefer to read rather than watch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When choosing and using a video hosting platform for your online course, don’t:

Use free platforms with weak security: While tempting, free platforms have no security features to protect your content.
Not thinking about scalability: Choose a platform that can grow with your course. Switching platforms later can be a pain.
Overlooking key features: Don’t be swayed by shiny features that don’t matter. Focus on what’s important for your course delivery.
Not using analytics: Analytics give you valuable insights into student engagement. Use these tools to continually improve your course.
Forgetting about support: Good support is crucial especially when you’re just starting out. Consider this when choosing a platform.

The Future of Video Hosting for Online Courses

As technology advances, so do video hosting platforms. Here are some trends to look out for:

1/ AI features: Expect to see more platforms with AI driven tools like automatic captioning, content recommendations and even AI generated quizzes based on online video courses.

2/ Virtual and augmented reality: As VR and AR becomes more mainstream, some platforms may start to support immersive learning experiences.

3/ Personalization: Advanced analytics and machine learning will enable more personalized learning paths based on individual student interaction with video content.

4/ Better live streaming: With live online classes becoming more popular, platforms will offer more robust live streaming features with real-time interaction.

That’s a Wrap

Choosing the right video hosting platform is an important decision for anyone who creates online courses.

By reading this guide you’ll be well prepared to make an informed decision that suits you and your students. The best platform for you will depend on your specific needs, budget and type of course materials.

Take your time to evaluate multiple options, use free trials where available and don’t hesitate to reach out to the platform providers if you have any questions.

As the e-learning world changes, stay up to date and continually optimize your video content with up-to-date tips.

If Your Needs Are Simple

If you just need a quick way for students/customers who’ve paid for your online course to download a few files (including video files), CartMango could be a good fit for you. It’s our conversion-focused cart/checkout tool for course creators with 1-10 teammates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use YouTube for my online course videos?

A: Even though it’s free and easy to use and you can embed YouTube videos on your site… it lacks many features important for online courses like content security and integration with LMS. It’s better to use a video hosting platform for online courses.

Q: How much does video quality matter for online courses?

A: Video quality is important as it affects student engagement and learning outcomes. But it’s also important to balance quality with accessibility so students with slower internet can still access the content.

Q: What security features should I look for in a video hosting platform for online courses?

A: Encryption, DRM (Digital Rights Management), password protection, domain restrictions and ability to set expiration on video links.

Q: How can I make my course videos more interactive?

A: Use interactive features like quizzes, hotspots and chapters. Keep videos short, use visually appealing graphics and encourage student participation through comments or discussions.

Q: Is it worth paying for a premium video hosting service?

A: For most online course creators, yes. Premium services offer better security, more features, better playback and often better support — all of which can make a big difference to your course quality and professionalism.