The 10 Best OTT Streaming Services (+10 OTT Platforms for Building Your Own)

The way we consume entertainment content, particularly video, has changed drastically over the last decade. The number of people turning to the internet for news, entertainment, education, and more has skyrocketed. The online streaming market is powered by Over-the-top (OTT) video technology. The OTT video services market is consistently rising, predicted to be worth $247 billion by 2027.

Businesses are hopping on this trend to build brand awareness and provide value to their audience. That, in turn, fuels the growing demand for OTT channels that can reliably and securely host OTT streams. 

Many companies seize this opportunity to monetize their video content and build OTT broadcasting services and platforms.

Picking the right OTT channel for your organization’s needs from all the choices available today is quite a task. Today, we’re going to discuss precisely what an OTT platform and OTT streaming are before we compare 10 of the best OTT streaming platform services that viewers use to access their favorite video content. 

Then, we will compare the 10 best OTT platforms broadcasters use to host, manage, and monetize their online video libraries. We’ll cover some of the best OTT video platforms, including Dacast, IBM Cloud Video, JW Player, Vimeo OTT, Wowza, and more.

What is an OTT Streaming Service?

OTT is short for “over-the-top,.” This method of media distribution serves as an alternative to traditional satellite or cable television.

OTT technology is distributing more and more media each day. In fact, it has redefined our media distribution channels to the extent that most media is not delivered to consumers via the internet. Some industry leaders even advocate that we stop differentiating between OTT and broadcast TV entirely.

OTT streaming services are apps or websites viewers use to access their favorite programs and movies. These services are accessible on all internet-enabled devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

Typically, OTT video streaming services limit access to paying viewers using one of these methods:

• TVOD: Viewers pay for access on a pay-per-view basis.
• SVOD: Viewers are granted unlimited on-demand access to the platform on a subscription basis. 
• AVOD: Broadcasters monetize their content with sponsored advertisements, making the content free.

The OTT Streaming Industry at a Glance

OTT streaming platforms are more popular than ever since it puts more control in the hands of both viewers and broadcasters. Thanks to OTT platform technology, both the creators and consumers are free from the regulations and restrictions of television networks.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the top trends in OTT streaming:

• Streaming on smart TVs and CTVs is on the rise as more viewers cut the cable cord
• The OTT marketing is forecasted to be worth $1.039 trillion by 2027
• As more OTT platforms enter the market, UX is more important than ever
• Over half of OTT revenue comes from advertisements
• Nearly a third of OTT subscriptions in the United States go to Netflix
• Live streaming only accounts for 24% of OTT streaming around the world

Check out our dedicated OTT trends post to learn more about this industry’s direction.

The 10 Best OTT Streaming Services of 2022

There are many OTT video streaming services on the market. Some of these are niche-specific services, and others have broader offerings and are geared toward a more general audience. Some focus on OTT live streaming, and others only offer on-demand content. Most offer free content, premium content, or a mix of both.

What all OTT streaming services have in common is that they all use the internet to deliver video content.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most popular OTT streaming services. 

1. Netflix

Netflix is one of the original OTT streaming services. It started as an online DVD rental shop. Its quick adaptation as live streaming technology began to surface is part of its success.

Today, Netflix is one of the largest on-demand streaming platforms on the internet, featuring over 15,000 titles. Netflix features titles from other production companies and original content that is only available on its platform.

Another attribute that makes the OTT video platform popular among people who enjoy “binge-watching” is that it uploads entire seasons of television shows at a time.

Netflix offers three different monthly pricing plans that include unlimited, ad-free streaming. Plans range from US$6.99 to US$19.99 a month. 

2. Disney+

Disney+ is an OTT streaming service that offers access to films and TV series that The Walt Disney Company owns. These include programs by Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star, National Geographic, and Star Wars. 

Disney+ costs $7.99/month or $79.99/year for unlimited, ad-free streaming access.

Disney+ can be bundled with other streaming services, including Hulu.

3. Hulu

Hulu is another popular OTT video service. Hulu is a bit different from Netflix, as new episodes are typically uploaded the day after they air.

Hulu offers four pricing plans, including

• Hulu: 7.99/month
• Hulu (No-Ads): $14.99/month
• Hulu + Live TV: $69.99/month
• Hulu (No-Ads) + Live TV: $75.99/month

In addition to these plans, Hulu offers add-ons and bundled packages that give viewers access to other collections of content, as well.

4. ESPN+

ESPN+ is an OTT streaming service dedicated to sports streaming. This service is a little bit different from the others we’ve covered because it focuses on live video OTT streaming.

ESPN+ offers the following plans:

• $10/month
• $100/year

It can be purchased as part of a bundle with Disney+ for $13.99/month.

5. Prime Video

Amazon’s own  OTT streaming service, Prime Video, offers unlimited access to a library of video content with a subscription, and it also has additional content available for rent or purchase.

One unique feature of this OTT video platform is that users can purchase access to films that are still in theaters. Prime Video also has access to live programming, like sporting events.

Prime Video is included in the Amazon Prime membership.

6. HBO Max

HBO Max is an OTT video streaming service that mainly offers content from HBO’s parent company, WarnerMedia.

An exciting aspect of HBO Max’s OTT service is that it offers access to movies that are still in theaters at no additional cost.

HBO Max comes in two pricing tiers:

• Streaming with ads costs $9.99/month
• Ad-free streaming is $14.99/month

7. YouTube TV

You’re likely familiar with YouTube as a free online streaming platform, but did you know that YouTube has a premium offering, too?

YouTube TV offers both subscriptions for unlimited streaming and pay-per-view for accessing individual pieces of content. YouTube TV offers live streaming access from over 85 television channels and is popular with video gamers, similar to the Twitch streaming platform.

This OTT service costs $64.99/month or $500/year.

8. Starz

Starz was originally a television network, but the content available from the network is now available on a dedicated OTT service.

Users can log into Starz with the credentials to their account with their television providers. Users without a television or cable subscription can get an online subscription for $8.99/month or save about $32 by paying $74.99 per year. 

9. Sling TV

Sling TV is another OTT streaming service that originated as a television network. It combines the traditional live television experience with the more modern internet-based on-demand streaming experience.

One unique aspect of SlingTV is that it provides access to local stations.

Sling TV has raised its prices and will start charging $40/month for its Sling Blue, or Orange plans individually or $55/month if you purchase both. The new prices will go into effect from 3rd Dec 2022.

10. Peacock

Peacock a rising star among newer OTT streaming services, is owned by NBCUniversal, which is a subsidiary of Comcast. Peacock features many different types of movies and television series, including titles owned by NBC and some Peacock originals.

Users can start streaming on Peacock for free. Upgrading to Peacock Premium for $4.99/month or $49.99/ year opens access to a larger content library. $7.99/month gives access to the same content library with ad-free streaming.

What is an OTT Platform?

An OTT platform is the software broadcasters use to host their online video content. Most professional OTT platforms are equipped with tools for storing, managing, and delivering content to viewers over the internet.

Professional OTT platforms range from $10/month to over $1000/month. To create an OTT streaming site like Netflix and the other sites we mentioned, you’ll need the support of a well-equipped OTT platform.

How to Choose an OTT Platform

There are dozens of OTT platforms on the market, so you’ll have to do some research to find the one that will help you reach your OTT streaming goals.

Features of the Best OTT Platforms: What to Look For

Wondering what are the best OTT platforms out there among all the OTT service options? Here are a few specific OTT features to look out for as you compare options, including content delivery, monetization, API access, and pricing.

1. Content delivery
2. Live streaming features
3. VOD hosting capabilities
4. Video monetization
5. Video API
6. Reliable security tools
7. White-label streaming
8. Global content delivery via a Video CDN
9. Data analytics
10. User-friendliness
11. User support 
12. Video library management 

Content delivery is important to consider as it impacts your video quality and the audience you can reach. You’ll want to choose the best OTT platform that works with a reliable, global content delivery network (CDN).

Ideally, OTT platforms for businesses should include features such as live streaming functions, video on demand, and professional video hosting. 

If your goal is to live stream, you’ll need to select an OTT video hosting platform that supports live streaming.

Next on our key features list is API access. Video API provides programmatic access to video platform functionality. Broadcasters use video APIs in many different ways. You should choose an OTT platform with the video API you need to customize your video content management system (CMS) to your liking.

Player API access is another valuable tool. It works similarly to video API, but involves customizing the video player instead of the video CMS.

Monetization is another major feature of broadcasters. There are three main ways to monetize content:

• Ads (AVOD),
• Pay-per-view (TVOD)
• Subscriptions (SVOD). 

One-time events like sports are perfect for pay-per-view monetization, and subscriptions are perfect for recurring content. Ads are a great option for content designed to build brand awareness.

Lastly, live streaming pricing should come into play. Your budget should be determined by your available resources and your expected return on investment. There are OTT platforms and services with a wide range of price points, but you want to look for one with consistent pricing and low bandwidth costs instead of a pay-as-you-go model.

Comparison of the 10 Best OTT Platforms for 2022

Before we look at some of the best OTT platforms and streaming services available to professional broadcasters, it is important to note that different features are required to reach different broadcasting goals.

For example, monetization tools are a must if you are building a live streaming software service to generate revenue. However, monetization tools aren’t a deal-breaker if you’re using your OTT platform to host and deliver internal content.

With that in mind, let’s look at the top 10 OTT Platforms in the world for video streaming.

1. IBM Cloud Video