# Best OTT Platforms for Small Business *By [Neeraja Prakash](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/neeraja-prakash)* Products classified in the overall OTT Platforms category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business OTT Platforms to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business OTT Platforms category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the OTT Platforms category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business OTT Platforms category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business. ## How Many OTT Platforms Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 88 ### Category Stats (Jun 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.53/5 (↑0.01 vs May 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product**: inoRain OTT (+0.24%) - Among all products in this category, inoRain OTT recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: June 18, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank OTT Platforms Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 1,600+ Authentic Reviews - 88+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### Vimeo Vimeo is the world's most innovative video experience platform. We enable anyone to create high-quality video experiences to better connect and bring ideas to life. We proudly serve our community of millions of users – from creative storytellers to globally distributed teams at the world's largest companies – whose videos receive billions of views each month. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=2386&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=2386&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=2386&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=1387&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=2386&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fott-platforms%2Fsmall-business&secure%5Btoken%5D=9451217bdc17cd918ccbd445db667cd4e5d5ee51142156d2f4f35ecddb545ed1&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2Fenterprise%2Fcontact%3Futm_source%3Dreferral%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3Dg2_cpc%26utm_content%3D701Pc00000tXk2qIAC%26mkc%3D113663&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated OTT Platforms Products in 2026? ### 1. [Vimeo](https://www.g2.com/products/vimeo/reviews) Vimeo is the world's most innovative video experience platform. We enable anyone to create high-quality video experiences to better connect and bring ideas to life. We proudly serve our community of millions of users – from creative storytellers to globally distributed teams at the world's largest companies – whose videos receive billions of views each month. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 700 **How Do G2 Users Rate Vimeo?** - **Quality of Support:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Website Hosting:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Multilanguage Support:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10) - **Video Streaming:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Vimeo?** - **Seller:** [Vimeo](https://www.g2.com/sellers/vimeo) - **Company Website:** https://vimeo.com - **Year Founded:** 2004 - **HQ Location:** New York - **Twitter:** @Vimeo (205,088 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/167813/ (934 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Owner, Marketing Manager - **Top Industries:** Marketing and Advertising, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 64% Small-Business, 27% Mid-Market #### What Are Vimeo's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (101 reviews) - Video Quality (61 reviews) - Features (58 reviews) - Video Management (54 reviews) - Quality (53 reviews) **Cons:** - Expensive (41 reviews) - Limited Features (28 reviews) - Subscription Cost (25 reviews) - Limited Free Version (18 reviews) - Limited Customization (17 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Vimeo? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users appreciate the **ease of use** of Vimeo, finding it intuitive and straightforward for video embedding and management. - Users admire the **high video playback quality** on Vimeo, enhancing their overall viewing and creative experience. - Users value Vimeo’s **diverse tools and integration** , enhancing content sharing, privacy, and engagement tracking for businesses and educators. - Users value the **comprehensive video management tools** of Vimeo, enhancing engagement tracking and content presentation. - Users value the **high-quality playback** of Vimeo, enhancing their professional video hosting experience without interruptions. **Cons:** - Users are unhappy with the **expensive pricing** of Vimeo, feeling it's not justified by the service provided. - Users are frustrated with **limited features** , including restricted monetization options and hidden functionalities on Vimeo. - Users note that the **subscription cost is high** , making it difficult for common people to afford Vimeo's services. - Users express frustration with Vimeo's **limited free version** , finding storage and upload restrictions frustrating for serious video creators. - Users find Vimeo's **limited customization options** frustrating, particularly regarding email notifications and stock footage diversity. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Vimeo? **"[Reliable Video Hosting and Website Embedding with Vimeo](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/vimeo-review-5026186)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Tom P.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/vimeo-review-5026186) --- **"[Vimeo stocks](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/vimeo-review-9098885)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— SAIKRISHNA M.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/vimeo-review-9098885) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Vimeo? - [What is Vimeo used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/vimeo-what-is-vimeo-used-for) - 1 comment - [What is Vimeo Livestream used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-vimeo-livestream-used-for) - 1 comment - [What is Vimeo Record used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-vimeo-record-used-for) - 2 comments - [Can you live stream from Vimeo?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-you-live-stream-from-vimeo) - 1 comment - [Is Livestream Studio free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-livestream-studio-free) ### 2. [Uscreen](https://www.g2.com/products/uscreen/reviews) Uscreen is an all-in-one membership platform built for video creators to launch paid memberships that include an on-demand video library, live streaming capabilities, and their own community space, all in their own branded site and OTT apps. By using Uscreen, creators can build a stronger brand, create a more loyal community, and maintain a sustainable business. Trusted by Yoga with Adrienne, Amy Landino, Brandon Washington, Filmmakers Academy, OnlyPaige, Art of Jiujitsu, Art for Kids Hub, Abundance+, and many others, Uscreen has helped creators earn $150+ million each year, reaching over 9.7 million end-users and still growing. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 94 **How Do G2 Users Rate Uscreen?** - **Quality of Support:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Website Hosting:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Multilanguage Support:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10) - **Video Streaming:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Uscreen?** - **Seller:** [Uscreen](https://www.g2.com/sellers/uscreen) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** North Bethesda, Maryland - **Twitter:** @uscreentv (3,351 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/uscreen-tv/ (121 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Director, Founder - **Top Industries:** Health, Wellness and Fitness, E-Learning - **Company Size:** 95% Small-Business, 2% Mid-Market #### What Are Uscreen's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (11 reviews) - Customer Support (10 reviews) - Features (10 reviews) - Analytics (4 reviews) - Content Management (4 reviews) **Cons:** - Expensive (4 reviews) - Integration Issues (3 reviews) - Limited Features (3 reviews) - Difficult Usability (2 reviews) - Limited Customization (2 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Uscreen? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users find Uscreen to be incredibly **easy to use** , enhancing the overall experience for both creators and consumers. - Users highly value Uscreen's **incredible customer support** , noting their responsiveness and availability for assistance. - Users love Uscreen's **extensive features and customization** , alongside responsive support, enhancing their video-on-demand experience. - Users appreciate the **transparent and intuitive analytics** of Uscreen, enabling confident, data-driven business decisions. - Users enjoy the **easy-to-use content management** features of Uscreen, enhancing member engagement and experience effortlessly. **Cons:** - Users find Uscreen **expensive** , though some see value in its benefits despite the higher cost. - Users desire more **integration options** within Uscreen, feeling limited by current features and third-party reliance. - Users find the **limited features** of Uscreen hinder their ability to share resources and manage content effectively. - Users find **difficult usability** in Uscreen, struggling with category confusion and inconvenient document-sharing methods. - Users desire more **customization options** for website layout and integration features in Uscreen. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Uscreen? **"[Why Uscreen Became Essential for Our Growth](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/uscreen-review-12806704)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Isaac J.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/uscreen-review-12806704) --- **"[Global Voice Acting Academy is onboard with Uscreen](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/uscreen-review-12507003)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— David R.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/uscreen-review-12507003) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Uscreen? - [How many users are on Uscreen?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-many-users-are-on-uscreen) - [Does Uscreen have an app?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/does-uscreen-have-an-app) - [How do you make money from Uscreen?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-you-make-money-from-uscreen) - [What is Uscreen platform?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-uscreen-platform) ### 3. [Muvi One](https://www.g2.com/products/muvi-one/reviews) Built on top of AWS, Muvi One is a revolutionary all-in-one streaming platform that empowers businesses to launch their own Multi-Screen Streaming Service effortlessly. Packaged with the best of IT Infrastructure as well as power-packed features that allow businesses to configure and launch their own custom video service to meet their vision, from Netflix to Udemy, anything can be achieved in a matter of few clicks. Muvi One includes; Powerful Video CMS Supports Multiple Monetization Formats Subscriber Management Analytics and Reports **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 69 **How Do G2 Users Rate Muvi One?** - **Quality of Support:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Website Hosting:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Multilanguage Support:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10) - **Video Streaming:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Muvi One?** - **Seller:** [Muvi](https://www.g2.com/sellers/muvi-3d02c940-269c-4418-bca1-88682586cb16) - **Year Founded:** 2013 - **HQ Location:** Ashburn, Virginia - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/muvi-com/ (201 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Entertainment, Motion Pictures and Film - **Company Size:** 74% Small-Business, 16% Mid-Market #### What Are Muvi One's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Customer Support (13 reviews) - Ease of Use (7 reviews) - Customization (6 reviews) - Features (6 reviews) - Customer Satisfaction (5 reviews) **Cons:** - Bugs (1 reviews) - Complex Interface (1 reviews) - Complex Setup (1 reviews) - Difficult Setup (1 reviews) - Difficult Usability (1 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Muvi One? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users commend Muvi One for its **excellent customer support** , with quick responses and knowledgeable assistance. - Users find Muvi One **extremely user-friendly** , making video management simple and accessible for teams of all skill levels. - Users commend the **customization options** of Muvi One, enabling tailored solutions for diverse OTT needs. - Users value Muvi One for its **feature-rich environment** , providing excellent support and user-friendly customization options. - Users highly value the **excellent customer support** from Muvi One, enhancing their OTT platform experience significantly. **Cons:** - Users note that while bugs exist, they appreciate the prompt **resolution plans** implemented to address issues effectively. - Users find the **complex interface** challenging, but acknowledge that responsiveness mitigates some difficulties in learning it. - Users find the **complex setup** of Muvi One challenging, requiring significant time and effort for implementation. - Users find the **difficult setup** of Muvi One to be time-consuming and challenging, especially for non-technical individuals. - Users find Muvi One to have **difficult usability** , with slow load times and a challenging implementation process. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Muvi One? **"[Muvi’s Attentive Team Made Our Streaming Platform Work](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/muvi-one-review-12581909)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Ann A.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/muvi-one-review-12581909) --- **"[Streamlined Video Management with Seamless Automation](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/muvi-one-review-12718691)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Antony W.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/muvi-one-review-12718691) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Muvi One? - [What is Muvizu used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/muvizu-what-is-muvizu-used-for) - [What is Muvizu used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-muvizu-used-for) - [Where can I watch OTT content for free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/where-can-i-watch-ott-content-for-free) - [What is on OTT platform?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-on-ott-platform) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [Is Muvi free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-muvi-free) ### 4. [Zype](https://www.g2.com/products/zype/reviews) Zype, a Backlight business, is the AI-enabled, API-first video content management system built for mission-critical streaming. We empower enterprises to manage, deliver, and scale video across web, mobile, and OTT with unmatched reliability and flexibility. Our cloud-based platform centralizes video libraries and powers advanced encoding, playout, monetization, and analytics—with automation and integrations that give video teams the infrastructure they need to build and scale. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 38 **How Do G2 Users Rate Zype?** - **Quality of Support:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Website Hosting:** 4.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Multilanguage Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10) - **Video Streaming:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Zype?** - **Seller:** [Zype](https://www.g2.com/sellers/zype) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** New York, NY - **Twitter:** @zype (6,065 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/9348946/ (19 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Broadcast Media, Entertainment - **Company Size:** 59% Small-Business, 26% Mid-Market #### What Are Zype's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Customer Support (12 reviews) - Ease of Use (9 reviews) - Content Management (7 reviews) - Features (5 reviews) - Platform Reliability (5 reviews) **Cons:** - Usability Issues (5 reviews) - Feature Deficiency (4 reviews) - Limited Features (4 reviews) - Bugs (3 reviews) - Integration Issues (3 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Zype? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users value the **prompt and attentive customer support** of Zype, enhancing their overall experience and satisfaction. - Users praise the **ease of use** of Zype, highlighting its efficient CMS and seamless integration into workflows. - Users appreciate the **easy content management** of Zype, benefiting from a responsive support team and organization features. - Users highlight Zype's **user-friendly dashboard** and comprehensive services for seamless video content management across platforms. - Users commend Zype's **platform reliability** , highlighting its ease of use and effective support for diverse streaming needs. **Cons:** - Users often face **usability issues** with Zype, finding the interface unintuitive and requiring excessive navigation between sections. - Users find Zype lacks **many essential features** available in more established competitors, hindering their overall experience. - Users find Zype lacks **many essential features** compared to competitors, impacting usability and efficiency. - Users are frustrated with **significant bugs and limited search functionality** , impacting the overall stability of the Zype platform. - Users face **integration issues** with Zype, especially regarding syncing with Vimeo Pro and navigating separate platforms. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Zype? **"[Zype: Exceptional Support and Powerful All-in-One FAST Channel Management](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/zype-review-11808864)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Kate S.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/zype-review-11808864) --- **"[A Rapid, Stable and Cost-Effective Platform for Managing Apps and OTTs for a TV Show](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/zype-review-11834787)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Zsolt L.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/zype-review-11834787) --- ### 5. [Better Media Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/better-media-suite/reviews) End-to-end solution to manage, monetize and distribute on-demand and live video content. It allows to control several other building blocks of the ecosystem and provides all the advanced integrations necessary to set up and run a successful OTT service. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 44 **How Do G2 Users Rate Better Media Suite?** - **Quality of Support:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Website Hosting:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Multilanguage Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10) - **Video Streaming:** 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Better Media Suite?** - **Seller:** [Better Media Solutions](https://www.g2.com/sellers/better-media-solutions) - **HQ Location:** Wrocław, Dolnośląskie - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-media-solutions/ (8 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Entertainment, Broadcast Media - **Company Size:** 64% Small-Business, 34% Mid-Market #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Better Media Suite? **"[Good app for educational VOD service](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/better-media-suite-review-9381188)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Peter T.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/better-media-suite-review-9381188) --- **"[Usefull application](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/better-media-suite-review-9339758)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Charlotte R.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/better-media-suite-review-9339758) --- ### 6. [Soprano.ai](https://www.g2.com/products/soprano-ai/reviews) Automate QA at Scale - Soprano Allows you to Identify the best calls to QA with no effort Filter call by agent, call scoring by identity in points of interest opens closes and escalations Intuitively screen calls for compliance phrases and redact sensitive phrases **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 21 **How Do G2 Users Rate Soprano.ai?** - **Quality of Support:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Website Hosting:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Multilanguage Support:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.1/10) - **Video Streaming:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Soprano.ai?** - **Seller:** [Soprano.ai](https://www.g2.com/sellers/soprano-ai) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 68% Small-Business, 18% Mid-Market #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Soprano.ai? **"[All-in-one platform:Less is more](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/soprano-ai-review-7311684)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Chintan P.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/soprano-ai-review-7311684) --- **"["Soparano.ai :Elevating AI Orchestrations to New Height"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/soprano-ai-review-8764010)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Abhishek S.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/soprano-ai-review-8764010) --- ## What Is OTT Platforms? [Video Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/video) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to OTT Platforms? - [Video Hosting Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/video-hosting-platforms) - [Video CMS Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/video-cms) - [Live Stream Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/live-stream-software) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right OTT Platforms? ### What You Should Know About OTT Platforms ### What are OTT Platforms? Over-the-top (OTT) platforms allow users to create their own OTT media streaming services. Using OTT platforms, video content can be transported from a video provider to a connected device through the internet outside the traditional cable or broadcast TV methods. OTT services don’t require viewers to purchase or install any proprietary hardware for access, as they can stream content in real time on any smart device, such as smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles, computers, laptops, and tablets. These platforms are the driving force behind popular internet streaming providers, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus. They include subscription management, built-in advertising, live stream, and video content management features. While most OTT platforms are intended to build video-based streaming services, some products also allow users to deliver audio-based streaming services. OTT platforms provide their own or integrate with an established content delivery network (CDN) or enterprise content delivery network (eCDN) to ensure high performance and quality video streaming for viewers. **What Does OTT Stand For?** OTT stands for over-the-top, a media delivery method that bypasses traditional cable or satellite TV methods and delivers media directly to viewers through the internet. It’s a different viewing experience that requires an internet connection and a smart device. ### What are the Common Features of OTT Platforms? As OTT platforms provide everything a user needs to launch their own OTT platform service, they typically include the following features: **Subscription management:** This software comes with the functionality to manage customer subscriptions when they sign up for the OTT service, which includes the ability to store and organize customer information, establish and execute automated payments tied to continuous plans, and manage customer churn. **Advertisements:** Users can partner with brands to show banner ads, commercials, previews, and more on their OTT platform. They can manage both the ad partnerships and monetization with the platform.  **Video content management system (CMS):** This feature allows users to upload, organize, and distribute video content. Once videos have been uploaded, extra materials such as PDFs can also be added. Then the content is prepared for multi-device delivery. Users can set release dates and expiration dates for videos or collections, and they will be published and unpublished automatically on the chosen dates. OTT platforms can offer viewer restriction options, so users can determine who does and does not have access to certain videos. They may also enable tags and provide a search function to help visitors find specific videos.   **Video hosting:** Often a part of the CMS, this feature refers to the ability to upload and store video files that others can then view. Some systems allow for audio hosting for users who want to showcase music, podcasts, and other audio-based media. **Live stream:** Some OTT platforms offer a live TV option so that users can stream live videos for their viewers. This is mostly used for live performances or sporting events. These live streams can be recorded and made available directly after the event. **Branded applications:** Once the OTT platform has been set up with the correct material, OTT apps can be released so that viewers can sign up for a subscription and access the material on a branded app. Most OTT software will provide apps compatible with both iOS and Android devices. ### What are the Benefits of OTT Platforms? Users can think of an OTT platform as an “OTT platform-in-a-box” offering. This saves the user time, resources, and money because they don’t need to create one from scratch. However, the best OTT platforms have additional benefits as well: **Manage and deliver content in one place:** Users need a lot of functionality to deliver content to their viewers seamlessly. With this type of software, users have everything they need to manage and deliver content all in one place, from storing customer information and videos to managing subscriptions and advertising partnerships to providing customer and video content analytics. **Provide a customized experience:** Using traditional streaming platforms, such as YouTube, allow users to reach wider audiences. However, if they have niche material, that’s not necessarily a good thing. With a branded video streaming service, users can attract viewers interested in their niche content and provide the end user with a more customized experience. **Get more control:** OTT platforms give users more control over their content, brand, user experience, audience, and data. ### Who Uses OTT Platforms? Rather than talking about which teams in a business use OTT platforms, it makes more sense to talk about the kinds of personas and businesses that use this software. The OTT market is dominated by larger players, such as HBO, Hulu, and Prime Video, who provide entertainment streaming services. However, many smaller players have begun using OTT video platforms as well to reach and engage their audiences. **Independent creators:** Media creators who primarily create video content and want a personalized platform where they can share this content would benefit from using OTT platforms. As opposed to posting their content on social media, other streaming, or video-on-demand (VOD) platforms, an OTT platform will allow them to cater to a niche audience and more easily monetize their content. This includes musicians, performers, fitness instructors, and other types of vloggers. **Event organizers:** With many previously in-person events becoming virtual, OTT platforms can be an efficient way to deliver live or recorded video content from event sessions to attendees. Attendees can register for the event and use the OTT app to navigate the event by reading session summaries and choosing which ones to watch. **Fashion and retail companies:** Fashion and retail companies can utilize OTT platforms to release videos about their products, upcoming releases or events, and discuss trends in the industry.  **Internal communications teams:** OTT platforms can also act as a or be an extension of a knowledge base or intranet for internal communications. Organizations can engage their employees and keep them informed using video content. ### Challenges with OTT Platforms OTT platforms can come with their own set of challenges.  **Smart TV processing issues:** Most users use a connected or smart TV to watch OTT content. However, many smart TVs don’t meet today's OTT apps' processing and memory requirements. To overcome this, viewers will need to purchase a new TV or a third-party OTT device, which can be costly and inconvenient for both the user and viewer. **Content compatibility:** With the development of multi-device viewing, content creators and distributors are required to deliver multiple versions of the same content in order to be compatible with a wide variety of devices. They also need to update the OTT provider with newly available content formats regularly. It can be extremely frustrating if the content isn’t available on viewers' devices.  **Scalability:** To ensure users have a robust OTT infrastructure, they need to consider scalability. When large amounts of viewers are watching the same content, such as a live event, many streams need to be sent through the network. Operators will need to free up cache resources across their network to ensure they have the capacity to send the live streams. When these resources aren’t sufficient to match the number of viewers, latency issues will arise. Users need to check that their OTT software has a network capacity planning feature built into the CDN to monitor network traffic. ### How to Buy OTT Platforms #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for OTT Platforms There are several OTT platforms on the market that users can choose to host their OTT content. It’s important to figure out which features to prioritize to find one that will help users reach their OTT streaming objectives. There are several features users can look into when comparing options. These include content delivery, video API, monetization, live streaming, security tools, and a CDN. #### Compare OTT Platform Products **Create a long list** After users list the features they require from an OTT platform, they’ll need to prioritize them as different OTT platforms will have different strengths and weaknesses. Users need to think about their purpose in purchasing an OTT solution to help them prioritize. For example, if a user wanted to stream live content to make revenue, live stream and monetization features would be must haves.  By visiting G2’s category for OTT platforms, buyers may sift through the CMP solutions and add products to their “My List” within G2. **Create a short list** Once buyers have created a short list within “My List” on G2, they can further sort their options by checking the product’s ratings on the G2 GridⓇ and reading user reviews to understand their peer’s software experience. **Conduct demos** After narrowing down the selection, buyers must contact the vendors to schedule demonstrations of the solution. Businesses can contact many vendors directly on G2 to request demos by selecting the “Get a quote” button. At each demo, buyers must be sure to ask the same questions and use case scenarios to evaluate each product best. #### Selection of OTT Platforms **Choose a selection team** The selection team should include people responsible for setting up and maintaining the OTT platform. This depends on what the solution is being used for. If someone is launching a complete streaming platform, numerous people should be involved in the selection process to evaluate everything from content delivery capabilities to monetization to branding. However, if an individual content creator started using an OTT platform to deliver their content directly to their audiences, there would be less to consider. **Final decision** Once the person responsible for setting up and maintaining the OTT platform approves the specific product, businesses should feel confident moving forward with a tool. After implementing and using the software, it helps to leave a review on G2, sharing their experience to assist other future OTT platform buyers in their decision-making process. ### How Much Do OTT Platforms Cost? When deciding to start delivering content through an OTT platform, some users may choose to hire developers to create their own OTT platform. While this allows them to completely customize their platform with the features, functionality, and integrations required, it will be costly. This is why many opt to purchase OTT platforms instead. When buyers buy OTT platforms, they purchase a white-label OTT platform that they can personalize with their branding and content. This is usually done through a monthly subscription model, ranging from $10/month or over $1000/month.