OTT App Development: 10 Best Platforms to Create an OTT App in 2023

In today’s digital era, we tend to spend one-third of our screen time watching videos. This is because people recall information considerably better while watching a video than when reading text with still images. In fact, the majority of executives prefer to learn through video rather than reading text. Yes, you read right, the world has changed a lot.

At this moment, any business communicating online should consider using video in their marketing strategy. There is simply no better approach to increase audience participation.

Regardless of whether you are a small business looking to use video to promote your products & services or a content owner whose videos are the end product, you need to look for the top OTT platform providers who can do wonders for your business.

According to Zemoga research, users in the United States spend more than 100 minutes per day using OTT apps and pay an average monthly charge of $8.53 per service.

What is an OTT App?

In simple terms, OTT is an abbreviation for Over-the-Top. This refers to a new means of delivering video content over the internet that does not require traditional broadcast, cable, or satellite pay-TV providers. In layman’s terms, one can say that “over-the-top” media service is any online content provider that offers streaming media as a standalone product.

The phrase is commonly associated with Video on Demand platforms, but it also refers to audio streaming, messaging services, and internet-based voice calling options. Traditional media delivery methods, such as telecommunication networks or cable TV providers are all circumvented by OTT services.

Indeed, you can use the complete service whenever you want as long as you have a stable internet connection – either locally or through a mobile network.

From past references, we can infer that OTT services are monetized through paid subscriptions, with a few exceptions here and there. However, some of the best OTT services have been tweaked in a way to include in-app purchases or advertising. Isn’t that fascinating?

Considering the rate of video consumption across the top OTT platforms, media revenues are expected to rise to more than 210 billion US dollars by 2026

Why OTT Apps are Important in 2023?

Without a doubt, the year 2023 will be intriguing in terms of how marketers chose to launch brand awareness and engagement in order to maximize their ROI. Moving forward, advertisers need to emphasize strategies that produce results while also allowing them to adapt swiftly in the future.

In the coming years, gaining the most precise campaign data will create a significant difference for marketers.

Given how audiences have shifted from linear broadcasting to online digital streaming, it becomes pretty much important to include top-notch OTT apps as part of your business strategy.

Furthermore, with the majority of viewers streaming across multiple devices, investing in connected TV (CTV) or over-the-top (OTT) advertising will allow you to target consumers with premium content and brand-safe environments.

Now that you came to know why OTT apps are important in 2023 and beyond. Let’s see some of its benefits in the immediate next section.

OTT video ad expenditure is estimated to be approximately $10 billion by the end of 2023, accounting for 3.4% of overall digital ad spending and 10.2% of total video spending.

What are the Benefits of OTT App?

→ Content Variety

As you may have noticed, cable networks only give highly vetted content. Even if the content is limited, it covers a wide range of themes. As a result, the viewer must pick amongst all of these channels to discover something that appeals to their interests.

On the flip side, OTT services offer a diverse mix of paid and free content. While paid memberships allow viewers to become a prime member and watch the most engaging content. However, unpaid profiles can also watch from a wide range of free content. 

→ Customer Segmentation

OTT apps, like normal ads, enable advertisers to segment potential customers more effectively. Consider the podcast – a few years before, firms gave content with little to no understanding of the audience.

On the other hand, modern podcast systems generate content based on users’ geographic location, device kind, interests, and more. The world has excelled a lot. 

→ Viewing on Different Devices

This is most likely the most significant advantage of deploying the OTT application. Users may quickly watch the streamed content, listen to podcasts, or simply enjoy a movie from any device they like.

In fact, having an OTT app for multiple network devices introduces your brand to potential consumers who are actively looking for new OTT services to subscribe to.

Things to Consider When Developing an OTT Application

The media and entertainment industry is on a dream run as users’ content preferences have shifted drastically post covid. While the progressive shift of consumers to OTT mediums was already underway, lockdowns, the necessity for social separation, and a lack of other entertainment options accelerated this trend.

The average amount of time spent watching subscription OTT and VOD content in the United States has climbed by 23% year on year. As the OTT viewing trend continues, more media and entertainment companies are building their own OTT platforms. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider before launching your OTT app. 

→ Security

Users who subscribe to your platform place their trust in you by disclosing personal information such as credit card and other payment method details. If your app is not safe enough to protect user data, you may soon find yourself on a sinking ship, and brand trust may slowly erode away.

For this reason, make sure that you Implement a secure user authentication system that requires users to log in with a username and password or other secure means of authentication.

→ Content Licenses

Before launching your OTT app, it is important to understand the licensing requirements of the content you plan to stream. Different media companies have different requirements, and you will need to make sure you are compliant with all of them.

You will need to negotiate content licensing deals with the media companies that own the content you wish to stream. This can be a complex process, and you should have a good understanding of the industry and the market before entering into any negotiations. 

→ Customization

One can say that customization is the need of the hour, and more customization possibilities are always better. The streaming platform should be designed in such a way that it relieves you of the load by providing a bespoke white-label video solution with a one-time license fee.

Furthermore, the platform should provide complete ownership, which will allow you to customize and be future-ready for efficiency par excellence.

→ Monetization Models

There is no doubt that OTT apps will generate a lot of revenue. However, during the launching time, every OTT app needs to have more than one monetization model that can help in one another way.

Some of the popular monetization models include: AVOD, SVOD, TVOD, SSAI, etc. Along with that, you can come up with a specific plan for users, provide automated recurring payment alternatives, auto-updates in terms of discounts, and fill up with video advertisements.

→ Payment Gateway Integration

You are attempting to earn money with the OTT app, and this is the most critical stage that will get you what you want. If the payment gateway does not feature all of the major payment method integrations as well as security and compliance checks, then this could greatly affect your business as well as your consumers.

Make sure that your payment gateway is easy to use and understand for your customers. Look for an OTT platform provider who offers a smooth checkout process and clear instructions.

→ Branded OTT Apps

It is critical to have a clear picture of who you are targeting before launching your branded apps. This will assist you in determining the type of content to add, the features to offer, and the basic design of your app that will entice more people to come and stay engaged with your OTT platform.

Along with this, creating unique content, streaming live events, and collaborating with other content creators could be extremely beneficial in the long run.

Top 10 OTT App Builders to Create an OTT Video Apps in 2023

In this guide, I’ve ranked and reviewed the best OTT app development platforms with features, pros and cons and pricing. Here’s a shortlist of the top-rated OTT developers to build your OTT app are #1. VPlayed #2. Vimeo OTT #3. Uscreen #4. Muvi #5. Dacast #6. JW Player #7. Brightcove #8. Brid TV #9. Zype #10. Streann

1. VPlayed – Launch a World-class OTT App

VPlayed is a comprehensive video streaming platform that allows content owners to easily create, manage and monetize their own content without any worries. The platform has a wide range of capabilities such as video hosting, content management, in-depth analytics, various customization options, 6+ monetization models, and much more. That is why many business owners consider it as an appropriate single point of contact if they want to take their content to the next level.

Some Outstanding Features of VPlayed OTT Video Apps Include:

• A robust video player that employs adaptive bitrate technology.
• Cloud transcoding with varying bitrates.
• Insightful analytics solutions to track user data.
• SVOD, TVOD, AVOD and other monetization models.
• Advanced streaming security is provided through SSL encryption and Multi-DRM support.

OTT Pricing:

To get things underway, contact CONTUS VPlayed for a perfect product demo and get in touch with the sales team to close the best deal ever.

2. Vimeo OTT – A Powerful OTT App Platform

Vimeo’s OTT platform enables content owners to build their own user-friendly OTT service without relying on any third-party developers or engineers. Vimeo’s statistics dashboard is extremely powerful and its revenue capabilities draw many medium to large organizations to its platform.

Some of its monetization offerings include: subscription, transaction, or advertising-based models. Vimeo also helps content owners in the creation and management of branded content delivery apps, as well as gives the flexibility to make in-app transactions. 

The Best-in-class Features of Vimeo OTT Apps Include:

• A video content management system can be customized using Vimeo’s API.
• DRM protects the video content. 
• Internal server network to take utmost benefit of global content delivery and adaptive bitrate streaming. 
• The platform is capable of streaming 1080p live video with minimum latency. 
• Gain user insight with shareable demographics and engagement charts.

OTT App Development Pricing:

• The Starter Plan costs $1 per subscription.
• Enterprise Plan: A quote-based plan that includes enhanced features and support.

3. Uscreen – End-to-End OTT App Development

Uscreen is well-known for its live video streaming and OTT services. The platform is designed for scalability and expansion, enabling content owners to create and publish their own custom-branded websites, as well as video streaming OTT apps for mobile devices and TVs.

Uscreen also has powerful marketing and customer retention tools, allowing content creators, companies, and brands to expand their online video streaming operations while also keeping consumers engaged with their platform.

The Most Notable Uscreen Features Include:

• Live video streaming with chat functionality.
• Live streaming can be recorded automatically.
• Comes with powerful Content Delivery Networks (CDN).
• All registered attendees can be tracked via a CSV file. 
• Support for live broadcasting to any network device.

OTT Video Apps Pricing: 

The Uscreen pricing model falls under these three categories:

• Basic plan – $79 /month 
• Growth plan – $159/month 
• Uscreen plus – The offerings can be found by contacting Uscreen’s sales team.

4. Muvi – Create Your Branded OTT App

Muvi is an OTT platform that offers both VOD and live streaming. It is a full-featured cloud video platform with advanced capabilities such as cloud encoding, low latency streaming, top-tier distribution, video encryption, and multi-device viewing.

Video owners can use this platform to easily build their own video hosting website or app while maintaining complete control over the content. Its built-in video monetization options appeal more to content owners who are looking to monetize their premium video content to a larger audience.

The Highlighted Features of Muvi OTT App Developer Include:

• Comes with ready to use layouts. 
• Content can be streamed to multiple devices. 
• Support for most popular payment gateways.
• HTML5 video player with enhanced functionalities.
• Video playback with adaptive bitrates is supported.

OTT Streaming App Pricing: 

The platform includes a 14-day free trial 

• Standard – 399$ per month 
• Professional – $1,499 per month
• Enterprise – $3,900 per month
• Ultimate – Covers all of the key features while providing a lot of assistance

5. Dacast – Best OTT Platform Development

Dacast is widely popular for its OTT live streaming, video hosting, and VOD solutions. The platform provides video solutions that are integrated into your existing website and mobile apps. Dacast is based on the SaaS (software as a service) model.

That means you can instantly create an account and start using the platform. Once inside, you will have access to high-quality live streaming via CDNs, as well as an HTML 5 player that works seamlessly across all network devices. 

Some Special Features of Dacast OTT App Include:

• Quick live streaming is supported.
• Recording and auto-archiving of live streams.
• Detailed video analytics. 
• Various privacy and security tools are available.
• An HTML5 video player is used to accommodate mobile devices.

OTT Pricing:

• The Basic Plan is $39 per month (includes 1,000 GB of bandwidth & 50 GB of storage)
• The Monthly plan is $63 per month (includes 6 TB of bandwidth upfront and 50 GB of storage)
• The Scale Plan costs $188 per month (includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year and 1 TB of storage)

6. JW Player – Premium OTT App Builder

JW Player is a prominent online video platform that offers a unified viewing experience across multiple network devices. The platform aids in the management, expansion, and monetization of various online video streaming ventures.

Users can personalize their experience by designing their own video-page interactions, switching between HD and normal video quality, and more. Aside from that, JW Player’s HTML5 video player provides an engaging video experience on any platform.

Standout OTT App Features of JW Player Include:

• A full-featured video management console.
• Multiple APIs are available for distribution and management.
• A video CMS dashboard.
• Client-side ad placement.
• DRM certified, geo-blocking, and URL token signature.

OTT Pricing for Mobile & TV Apps: 

• Starter pack – $10/month
• Enterprise Plan – Contact JW Player’s sales team for more information. 

7. Brightcove – Your One-stop OTT App Solution

Brightcove is a prominent OTT platform that integrates video hosting with marketing to increase revenue for content owners. The platform is well-liked by media companies and corporations. However, it is mainly designed for organizations who can afford to spend more.

Above all, Brightcove’s high-end streaming solution enables both live and on-demand hosting, so developing TV apps is no longer a concern.

The Most Highlighted Features of OTT Features Include:

• Deep analytical insights to turn viewers into paying customers. 
• Provides any sort of advertisement using ad blockers on the server side.
• Maintains high video standards while delivering live or on-demand HQ content.
• Focuses on advanced video security.
• Internal tools for high-level enterprise use.

Streaming Pricing:

• Brightcove’s Starter package costs $199 per month. 
• Annual contracts are usually necessary, and pricing is determined by the package and number of video plays. 
• The company provides a 30-day trial period for users to learn more about the platform.

8. Brid TV – Develop Custom OTT Application

Brid.TV offers a smooth and seamless platform for streaming content all over the world. The platform works well with computers, mobile devices, and tablets. Apart from this,  Brid.TV enables mobile content sharing and live video streaming.

The Brid TV Analytics area provides access to device analytics, user location, demographics, and video interaction. Furthermore, you may view Ad performance in only a few clicks.

Some Special Features of Brid TV Include:

• Detailed analytics for individual users.
• Various monetization options are available.
• Live streaming and DVR.
• Videos from other video platforms can be directly imported.
• Content performance can be effectively tracked. 

OTT Developer Pricing: 

• Essential – Costs $24.99 per month. 
• Business – Costs $89.99 per month. 
• Premium – Custom made as per the business requirements. 

However, A zero cost free version is made available. 

9. Zype – Globally Trusted OTT App Developer

Zype has grown rapidly since its debut, and it now handles the video infrastructure needs of clients all over the world. Zype enables content providers to communicate with their audiences instantly on any screen.

The platform offers an open framework as well as a set of developer-friendly APIs for developing customized video streaming solutions. Its drag-and-drop streaming feature enables customers to swiftly build their own video-on-demand business. 

Here are the Top OTT Application Features of Zype Include:

• Comes with a reliable content delivery network.
• Social sharing across numerous platforms and displays.
• Third-party integrations to ensure a consistent transaction experience.
• API endpoints for creating custom video streaming applications.
• Enterprise-level video CMS with workflow automation and better response times.

OTT Pricing:

Zype comes with three different plans – Network, Premium, and Enterprise.  Refer to the pricing page to get to know what features are included in each plan.

10. Streann – Reliable OTT App Development

Streann provides a distinctive OTT solution that helps broadcasters create apps that effortlessly distribute video content on the go. As a content owner, you can stream live broadcasts to multiple locations.

Indeed, Streann’s software is more on the more expensive side, thus it is targeted for large organizations with sophisticated broadcasting requirements.

Highlighted Features of Streann OTT Streaming App:

• Payment processing is quick and simple.
• Capable of delivering effective design and development. 
• Any audio file format can be scheduled & published.
• Improved analytics for optimized content.
• High quality video management and delivery. 

OTT Application Pricing:

• Professional: $2,995 for the first month, which includes all of the basic services as well as branded mobile apps, enhanced customer support, 4 audio or video channels, VOD archive, and much more.
• Premium: Plans are priced separately and are designed for TV-quality streaming – Includes all basic services as well as branded mobile and TV applications, inside-chat, news, web, stories, messages, and much more.

Conclusion

When analyzing the current situation of the OTT market, which is expected to be worth $195 billion by 2025, the opportunities presented by OTT are numerous. As OTT grows in popularity, more firms will create their own platforms to communicate with viewers, making the industry even more competitive in the coming years. 

There are several factors to consider, but keeping certain things in mind can help you create a cutting-edge OTT platform that is poised to take the industry by storm, allowing you to compete head-on. If you’re trying to build your own OTT platform, you can expect to face many challenges before making a lot of money.

Do you have any questions about the best OTT app development platforms we featured here, or how to decide which one will fit your needs? Ask away in the comments section below!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To make this OTT app developers list even more impactful, I surfed the web for some FAQs related to top OTT video apps.