Top 5 Best Video Hosting Platforms and Sites

The use of video hosting has become widespread, because we produce more and more video content.

Apart from YouTube, which we all know, Vimeo, Wistia, Videas and Google Drive can be useful when it comes to hosting, broadcasting and sharing online videos.

You are looking for a platform to host your videos, to free up the storage space on your computer, keep them in a safe place or even broadcast them on the internet thanks to a video player.

Thousands of online video platforms exist, so it can be difficult to find your way around.

In this article, you can find the comparison of 5 video hosting sites, which deserve a glance to help you in your choice.

Sum up of the article :

Which video platform to choose for your company ?

It depends on the audience that you want to reach and your needs.

1. Youtube : It is the best free platform to host and broadcast your online videos and reach a wide audience everywhere in the world. It is a social network.

2. Videas : The solution is specialized for companies. A completely private space and privacy options for your shares.

3. Vimeo : The hybrid platform is both for reaching the community of Vimeo (social network) and for private broadcasting. Ideal for video professionals.

You wish to have more details on our selections of 5 sites to host your online videos. Find them below !

What is the best solution for video hosting ?

1) YouTube

As soon as it was launched in 2005, we all turned to this public video platform. Either for watching our favorite video clips, or to create our own YouTube channel. Famous worldwide, YouTube is ideal if you wish to create and share online videos for a worldwide audience. It’s free and everybody uses it, even our favorite celebrities !

Technical specifications for videos

• Storage space : Unlimited

• Maximum length of a video : 12h

• Video formats accepted : MOV, AVI, MPEG4, MPG, AVI, MP4, WebM, 3GPP, FLV, HEVC etc…

• Uploading spherical videos online : (180° et 360°)

• Maximum resolution : 4K

• Ratio of a video : 16.9 and the automatic add of black bands for other formats

• Size of the maximum file to upload : 128 GO

Key features

• Storage and unlimited bandwidth.

• Live video with an unlimited number of hours of streaming and audience.

• A video player easy to integrate (with ads).

• Second biggest search engine in the world : very good SEO tool.

• Connection SSO via Google.

• Adding “like”, comments, shares, and video recommendations.

Cons

• Ads on the video player are automatic : not professional for a company.

• A video player not customizable.

• Public platform : videos are accessible for all types of users.

• Videos and sharing links are not protected through passwords.

• Collect of data.

• Subscriptions not suitable for companies.

Pricing

Free

2) VIMEO

If you are looking for a platform to collaborate with your clients/collaborators, Vimeo is made for you ! Cutting-edge features, a “semi-private” space with the presence of videos of the community in your private video library, public or private sharing options. A solution adapted for video professionals.

Technical specifications for videos

• Storage space : 500 Mo a week (free), 20 GB a week (Pro offer)

• Maximum length of a video : Limited by the size of the file

• Video formats accepted : MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, FLV, etc…

• Uploading spherical videos online : 360°

• Maximum resolution : 8K

• Ratio of a video : 16.9 and the automatic add of black bands for other formats

Key features

• A “semi-private” storage space.

• A customizable HTML5 video player in white label and without any ads.

• Video creation tools.

• Password-protected sharing links and videos.

• Update of videos without changing their URLs.

• Live streaming.

• VOD platform.

Cons

• The free Vimeo Basic subscription is only valid for 30 days.

• The storage and downloading of videos are limited.

• Bandwidth limited (2 To a month).

• Excessively expensive rates if you exceed the imposed bandwidth limit.

Pricing

• Basic : Free

• Plus : 6€ / month billed annually

• Pro : 16€/ month billed annually

• Business : 40€ / month billed annually

• Premium : 70€ / month billed annually

• Enterprise : On quotation

3) WISTIA

Wistia is convenient for marketing professionals. The extra stuff ? Advanced features such as A/B testing and collecting email addresses on a video !

Technical specifications for videos

• Storage space : 3 videos (free), 10 videos (Pro subscription) then 0.25 cts / month by additional video

• Maximum length of a video : 2h

• Video formats accepted : MOV, FLV, 3GPP, MP4 etc…

• Uploading spherical videos online : 360 °

• Maximum resolution : 4K

• Ratio of a video : All

• Size of the maximum file to upload : 8 Go

Key features

• A customizable HTML5 video player.

• Collecting email addresses on a video.

• Call-to-actions.

• Podcasts and videos are gathered together.

• A password on videos.

• A/B testing.

Cons

• Only for marketing professionals.

• Subscriptions are too expensive.

• Storage space and a limited bandwidth is not suitable at all for large amounts of videos.

Pricing :

• Free : Gratuit

• Pro : 94€ / month

• Advanced : On quotation

4) VIDEAS

Videas is a video hosting platform dedicated to professionals looking for security and privacy. Ideal if you do not want to use a platform that serves as a social network. Features enable companies to host, broadcast and share their video content in a private and collaborative space.

Technical specifications for videos

• Storage space : Unlimited

• Maximum length of a video : No limit

• Video formats accepted : MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, FLV, etc…

• Maximum resolution : HD

• Ratio of a video : 16.9 and the automatic add of black bands for other formats

Key features

• An HTML5 video player customizable and without any ads nor cookies.

• An ergonomic video player, ideal for large volumes.

• Unlimited storage space and bandwidth.

• A personalisable private platform with URL customizable.

• VOD platform (videos sale).

• Connection SSO.

• Password-protected sharing links.

• Hosting in Europe.

• Private and collaborative space with multi accounts.

• Detailed statistics.

Cons

• Live streaming only available on demand and for a maximum audience of 500 viewers.

• 4K/8k not supported.

• No embedding with external tools.

• No tools for creating videos.

Pricing

• Free : Free

• Standard : 12€ / month

• Pro : 50€/ month

• Enterprise : On quotation

5) GOOGLE DRIVE

Google Drive is a sharing and storage service that doesn’t have the community aspect of social network platforms. You can share a large number of files (documents, audio files, video content etc…).

Technical specifications for videos

• Storage : 15 Go of stockage on the free account but it is possible to have up to 5 To by buying supplement storage

• Video formats accepted : All types of files

• Size of the maximum files : 750 Go a day

Key features

• A collaboration tool available (Google Workspace).

• Feature “Priority” : the use of artificial intelligence to find files faster.

• Possibility to open a file from your computer without going through your browser.

• Easy to access.

• Embedding of videos.

Cons

• Files size, playback resolution and total storage space are limited.

• A tool that is not specialized in video hosting.

• No video analysis.

• No video editing.

Pricing

• 30 Go : Free

• 100 Go : 19,99€ / year

• 1 To : 99,99€/ year

Where to host your videos ?

There are several possibilities to host your videos on the internet.

YouTube is the ideal solution for the majority of video creators. For companies which are looking for security and professionalism, there are many drawbacks.

Moreover, the video player is not customizable and contains ads.

Videas is a low-cost option with a professional and customizable video player. Furthermore, it enables the management of large amounts of videos thanks to an ergonomic video library.

Other solutions such as Wistia or Vimeo can also be interesting depending on your needs.

To find the right option for your business, you need to identify your goals.

For instance, when it comes to internal communication (private), you could have a paid solution to host your videos, which allows you to have full control and adequate features.

And using free platforms (social networks) like YouTube and Facebook to increase your visibility and attract new customers.

To get to know more about the hosting of your videos on a private platform, click here

Sources :

• Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/intl/ALL_fr/howyoutubeworks/

• Vimeo : https://vimeo.com/

• Wisita : https://wistia.com/

• Videas : https://videas.fr/en

• Google Drive : https://www.google.com/drive/