10 best OTT streaming platforms (pros & cons for creators)

What is an OTT Platform?

An over-the-top (OTT) platform is a form of media distribution that uses the internet to stream content to an audience, essentially bypassing traditional methods like cable or satellite television. 

The phrase itself refers to devices that go "over" the cable box or television to access video and audio content. Content creators can use OTT to stream video from an app or website, and typically users will have to pay to access the content on either a pay-per-view or subscription (on-demand) basis. 

OTT "channels" or "networks" are what’s built on top of OTT platforms. These are the brands that viewers recognize and subscribe to, like Amazon Prime Video. They curate content, create their own shows, and manage their subscriber base. OTT "apps" are the software applications that viewers use to access OTT video channels. These apps can be installed on a variety of devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices like Roku, and iPhones or other smartphones. 

While more major players are entering the “streaming wars” with the likes of CBS All Access, HBO MAX, and Peacock, consumers are taking interest in smaller players, too. There is nothing stopping you from creating your own OTT channel or OTT app. With the right OTT platform, you create your own app or even live stream.

The demand for OTT platforms

Look at the numbers, and it's clear—a growing number of people are making the jump from traditional television to OTT streaming. 

In the US, the number of OTT subscribers stands at 88% of consumers, compared to the 44% who have a paid cable TV subscription. 

Adding to this is the rise of Smart TVs and the ability to stream content on-demand from the convenience of your couch. Today, OTT has grown to 3x its market size compared to 2020. Between 2018 and 2024, consumer spending on OTT services increased 22%, and content creators are pulling in more than half of their revenue from paid advertisements. 

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OTT monetization models: a breakdown

Many OTT platforms typically have multiple monetization options for your video content, but you should still check which methods are offered through the OTT service or platform you’re considering. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common OTT monetization models: 

• Subscription-based video on demand (SVOD): Audiences pay a recurring fee for access to a library of content. These are typically monthly or yearly fees, though some platforms also allow for seasonal pricing.  
• Advertising-based video on demand (AVOD): Content is free for users. Creators generate revenue through ads that are played before, during, and/or after the videos. 
• Transactional video on demand (TVOD): Users pay for access to individual videos by renting or purchasing specific content. Renting provides access to users for a limited amount of time—48 hours, for example—whereas purchasing gives users permanent access to the content. 
• Pay-per-view (PPV): Like TVOD, PPV lets users pay a one-time fee to view content. The key distinction is that pay-per-view is typically used for live events, such as sporting events or concerts, where users pay to watch a show or program at a specific time and generally can’t watch it after it has aired.  
• Crowdfunding and donations: Another option is to monetize your videos by appealing to your community to give you money through crowdfunding or donations. 
• Hybrid monetization models: A mix of subscription-based (SVOD), ad-supported (AVOD), and rental or purchased content (TVOD). 
• Membership: The membership monetization model is similar to SVOD but with the added benefit of access to an exclusive community where they can engage with the creator and other members. Sometimes, there are multiple membership levels, and the higher-cost tiers include access to additional features or different content types. 
• Freemium model: Some models offer free access to certain content to users and a paywall for advanced features or exclusive content (premium tier).   

OTT platforms even offer varying pricing options like pay-per-view bundles, add-on channel packages, pre-orders, group pricing, etc., along with other discount and promotional options. 

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How to choose the right OTT platform for you

When evaluating an OTT platform, you should be looking for an all-inclusive video monetization tool. For instance, Vimeo's OTT platform includes features necessary to build your video business from start to finish, including: 

• Dedicated support: Enterprise clients have access to a dedicated account manager, technical project manager (TPM), and solutions engineer.
• Comprehensive onboarding: We help you navigate the nuances of app submissions, along with setting up a developer account on app platforms and providing proof of license compliance.
• In-house experts: Transparency is key. All work is done by Vimeo’s in-house team dedicated to serving all your business needs.

And if you want a platform that'll act as a foundation for sustained growth, also make sure it offers: 

• Scalability: The ability to handle an to handle all of your content and monetization needs and can grow alongside and ahead of your needs.
• Stability: Don't be blindsided by your scrappy, early-stage OTT platform suddenly going out of business and leaving you without a channel. Choose a well-established, financially sound company.

There are other things you’ll also want to look for, such as: 

• Control and ownership of your content: Look into how the platform handles content rights and licensing. You want to maintain ownership and control over your content, with the ability to manage rights, distribution, and pricing however you prefer.  
• Digital rights management (DRM): DRM protects your content from unauthorized access and piracy. 
• Security: Look for an OTT platform with robust security features, including encryption and geo-restrictions. 
• Customization and branding options: Your OTT space should reflect your brand, with your logo, color scheme, etc. Choose an OTT platform that offers extensive customization and, ideally, white-label options, allowing you to present your content under your brand name rather than the platform’s name. 
• Analytics and reporting: Detailed analytics help you understand your viewers’ behavior and engagement. Analytics can also provide insights into your revenue streams so you can refine your content and monetization methods to meet the needs of your audience.  
• High-quality streaming: The best OTT platforms support high-quality video streaming (4K, HD, etc.) with adaptive bitrate technology, which delivers the best quality video possible based on the viewer’s network conditions. 
• Monetization options: You want the flexibility to earn revenue in different ways, so look for an OTT platform that supports different monetization models like SVOD, TVOD, and AVOD. 
• User experience: The ideal OTT platform should be easy for you to use, but don’t forget about your viewers’ experience. Easy navigation, accessibility features, and a high-quality viewing experience across devices—TV, mobile, web—are vital. 
• Interactive capabilities: Features like live chat, polling, quizzes, and shoppable links make your videos more interactive, keeping your viewers engaged.   

Let's take a look at the 10 best OTT platforms to start a streaming business this year. 

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The best OTT & streaming platforms: A side-by-side comparison

We’ve broken down the main features of some of the top OTT platforms in the comparison chart below for a quick overview of how they stack up.

The 10 Best OTT Streaming Services

1. Vimeo OTT

Vimeo is one of the first OTT platforms on the market, having launched in 2004. Vimeo OTT customers include business professionals, Internet celebrities, creative teams, and nonprofit organizations.

With over 8 million end users, Vimeo is perfect for content creators who want an easy-to-use platform to stream videos to consumers. 

Vimeo's most exciting features include: 

• Ease of use: You don’t have to hire a developer or support staff to create, launch, and stream content on Vimeo's OTT platform. With our batch upload feature, you can batch upload videos from cloud storage platforms in seconds. 
• Monetization: Earn revenue from live streaming, subscription sales, and pay-per-view events
• Video API: Customize your video content management system with Vimeo's API
• Content delivery: Use the internal server network to take advantage of global content delivery and adaptive bitrate streaming
• Branded mobile and TV apps: Enterprise users can create white-labeled streaming apps for mobile (iOS, Android) and TV (Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV and Tablet, Samsung, LG, Vizio) to extend brand visibility 
• Tax management: Vimeo collects taxes on your behalf and remits them to the appropriate national and global tax authorities so you can focus on your content 
• Support for your subscribers: Vimeo OTT Enterprise users don’t have to worry about resolving viewers’ technical issues because Vimeo provides dedicated support for you and your customers — so you can focus all your time on content creation 

The Vimeo OTT platform also allows live streaming at 1080p. You can live stream videos on your Vimeo OTT channel or app and simultaneously live-stream to other platforms such as Facebook Live, YouTube, Patreon, and more. 

Once the video is ready, you can use Vimeo to compress it to speed up loading times before adding titles and descriptions and customizing the thumbnail. Then, you can stream it to users in 4K Ultra HD to continue monetizing your content.  

Enterprise users can get more brand visibility with branded, white-label apps on a variety of platforms, including iOS and Android mobile devices—plus AppleTV, AndroidTV, Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV and Tablet, and Samsung TV. 

Unlike some of the other OTT platforms on our list, you don't need to know how to code or hire a tech team to help handle the platform—Vimeo does all the heavy lifting for you. In fact, we even provide dedicated support to your subscribers if you’re on a Vimeo OTT Enterprise plan. We even take care of paying your taxes for you—in other words, we handle all the tedious, time-consuming tasks, freeing you up to spend all your time creating engaging content. 

Pros

• Upload content from cloud databases like Google Drive, Dropbox, and FYP
• Monetize content using integrated paywalls and subscription plans
• Customize the platform to match your brand's logos, colors and style
• Embed live polls, audience chat, and Q&A into live streams
• Powerful CMS to upload content from anywhere (including from a mobile device or cloud storage) that lets you upload videos from any device or cloud storage
• Digital rights management to protect your content
• Enterprise users get dedicated support for their customers from Vimeo—and we handle paying your taxes, too
• Inbuilt API and SDK allow content creators to stream video to users' mobile devices

Cons

• Offers a suite of free video tools that may not be needed for all businesses
• Some advanced features may only be available on higher-tier paid plans

Integrations:

Dropbox, Adobe Premiere Pro, Shopify, Webex, Zoom, Cvent and more. 

2. Kaltura