Top 10 VoD Platforms and Why You May Need It Custom-Built

According to recent research, traditional TV viewing continues to decline, while on-demand viewing via video on demand platforms is steadily growing. Between Q3 2019 and Q3 2023, average daily time spent on conventional (broadcast/linear) TV fell by 14 minutes, from 1h58m to 1h44m (~12%)¹. People now prefer to choose the right video on the Internet, and VoD (“video on demand”) is gaining momentum as the dominant format of video consumption.

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• What is VOD?
• The ever-increasing value of the VoD market
• Custom-built or ready-to-go?
• Best VoD platforms
• Factors to consider when choosing a VoD service provider

What is VOD?

Video on demand (VoD) is a streaming service that allows subscribers to access movies, TV shows, news, or educational content anytime. Unlike traditional broadcasting, video on demand platforms give viewers complete control — they can start, pause, rewind, or fast-forward as they wish. This flexibility is why VoD has become the backbone of modern digital entertainment and a key driver behind the growth of VoD platforms worldwide.

Today, businesses and media providers rely on a video on demand software platform not only for content delivery but also for monetization, personalization, and secure distribution.

Commercialization of this service implies different monetization models, in particular:

• SVOD: regular (most often monthly) subscription and access to a limited database of video content. Today, subscription video on demand remains the leading model among video on demand platforms, with Netflix reporting over 300 million paid memberships worldwide in 2025².
• TVOD (sometimes known as PPV (Pay Per View)) presupposes two directions:
  • EST (Electronic Sell Through): a viewer pays a fee to access particular video assets for an unlimited period of time.
  • DTR (Download to Rent): renting a video for some time (24, 48 hours, etc.) when a video can be viewed for a fee within limited timeframes. This model has been in wide use for live events, such as sports matches.
• AVOD (Advertising VOD): a service provider doesn’t charge users a fee for watching a video but places the video advertisement before, during, and (or) at the end of watching the video content. According to PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025–2029, AVOD revenue worldwide is projected to reach more than USD 22 billion by 2027³.

These are all the basic business models that service providers use in the VoD industry. The above models are often combined and providers offer AVOD + TVOD, AVOD + SVOD, or other hybrid monetization options.

The ever-increasing value of the VoD market

To say that the global video-on-demand (VoD) market is booming would be an understatement. According to Statista, global revenue in the video on demand platforms segment is projected to reach USD 183.4 billion in 2025 and grow to more than USD 227 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 5.4% over the period 2025–2029⁴.

VoD services are the catch-all term for the next generation of entertainment. They allow audiences to access content (music, movies, sports, news, education, and even TV programs) at their own pace and on their device of choice. This flexibility is reflected in the ongoing shift to streaming: worldwide demand for on-demand video has grown sharply, with time spent on video-on-demand software platforms steadily replacing traditional TV consumption.

Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video are all stellar examples of top VoD (video on demand) software platforms. As of mid-2025, Netflix reports over 300 million paid memberships², while Disney+ has around 154 million subscribers worldwide⁵. Hulu and Prime Video also continue to expand, with Amazon Prime Video surpassing 260 million global subscribers⁶.

With that, many households have more than one streaming service subscription, which highlights the competition among the best video on demand platform providers and reinforces the growing role of VoD platforms in everyday entertainment.

Custom-built or ready-to-go?

​​A lot goes into building a successful VoD strategy. One of the first — and most important — decisions is to choose your VoD hosting solution as it is the foundation of any VoD business. Free platforms like YouTube and Twitch are great for vloggers but if you need security, scalability, and monetization features, these consumer-grade solutions won’t fit the bill.

For companies aiming to scale, a professional video on demand software platform is essential. It provides enterprise-level features such as DRM protection, multi-device support, advanced analytics, and integrated monetization options that consumer platforms cannot offer.

Custom-built VoD solutions, on the other hand, can give you all that and more. Built from the ground up, such VoD platforms are tailored to meet your unique business requirements, whether it is massive scalability, next-gen personalization, or advanced monetization opportunities. This is why many media providers and enterprises eventually shift from off-the-shelf tools to fully custom video on demand platforms.

How we can help

Online video is our forte. We leverage our experience with the market’s leading OVP vendors, such as Kaltura, Ooyala, and Brightcove to build highly scalable VoD solutions that deliver TV-like viewing experiences to global audiences. From transcoding and video management to protection and distribution, we take care of the entire VoD workflow so you can focus on growing your business.

Learn more

Another option is to choose a ready-made VoD platform. As there is no shortage of these platforms on the market today, here’s an overview of the most popular options with their pros and cons.

Best VoD platforms

There is no shortage of video on demand platforms on the market today. Below is an overview of the best VoD platforms. Each comes with its own advantages and limitations, so the final choice depends on your business case, budget, and customization needs.

1. Kaltura

​​Kaltura boasts its longstanding expertise powering video-related needs with products and solutions for media, telecom, and education domains. One of Kaltura’s varied offerings, the Video Platform as a Service (VPaaS) is built around a set of comprehensive APIs and mobile SDKs, allowing broadcasters to build any video workflow and integrate video experiences into existing applications and environments.

Kaltura is considered ton be one of the best VoD platforms for enterprises and educational institutions, thanks to its flexibility and strong cloud infrastructure.

The company has expanded AI-driven video analytics, advanced personalization, and virtual event capabilities, making it a powerful video on demand software platform for businesses worldwide.

2. Brightcove

One of the leading video service providers, Brightcove has been serving the broadcasters’ needs since 2004. Its a scalable and secure video platform fully equipped with tools for medium and large-size media companies to host, share, and stream video content.

Brightcove is widely recognized as one of the top VoD platforms for enterprises, offering strong integrations with marketing automation and CRM systems.

The platform continues to evolve with advanced ad monetization features, AI-driven content recommendations, and expanded live streaming support, making it a competitive video on demand software platform for businesses worldwide.

3. Wowza

Wowza is another widely appreciated video streaming provider. Its first-to-mention product is undoubtedly the Wowza Streaming Engine which has been successfully used by thousands of users for more than 10 years. Time-tested, it has almost become the standard for streaming software, and a reliable choice for building public OTT services, corporate live streaming systems, VOD portals, and more.

Wowza remains one of the top VoD platforms for organizations that need robust, reliable streaming infrastructure. With its cloud-native Wowza Video platform, it offers end-to-end capabilities for live and on-demand streaming, including real-time video analytics and low-latency delivery.

4. Uscreen

Uscreen is an all-in-one video platform for those who want to monetize their video streaming strategy. Thousands of users utilize this multi-purpose SaaS solution, taking advantage of its intuitive interface, cross-platform mobile support and easy access to online video.

Uscreen positions itself as one of the best VoD platforms for creators and businesses seeking fast time-to-market. It combines strong monetization tools, community features, and branded app options, making it a flexible video on demand software platform.

5. JW Player

JW Player is known as a comprehensive video platform rich in features and possibilities. It is widely used by both media companies and individual bloggers. Advanced technology embedded in the tool provides high security and allows for easy customization of video management at scale.

Today, JW Player is recognized as one of the top VoD platforms for publishers and broadcasters, offering strong ad monetization support and developer-friendly APIs. It has expanded into live streaming and connected TV, making it a versatile video on demand software platform.

6. Vplayed

Vplayed (by CONTUS) is a ready-made white-label VoD solution designed for broadcasters, TV channels, production houses, and more. Built on AWS, the highly scalable platform ensures reliable VoD hosting while supporting video databases, user management workflows, and analytical workloads.

Vplayed has become one of the best VoD platforms for enterprises that require full ownership of their infrastructure and branding. It offers extensive customization, multiple monetization models, and strong security, positioning itself as a powerful video on demand software platform.

7. Dacast

Dacast is a cloud-based video streaming platform popular among broadcasters and media companies. This highly flexible solution offers all essential features while full API access enables companies to create customized workflows or add unique features.

Dacast is regarded as one of the top VoD platforms for professional broadcasters, providing a balance of usability, scalability, and strong support options. It combines live streaming and video on demand in a single video on demand software platform, making it suitable for diverse industries including media, education, and enterprise.

8. Muvi

Muvi is an all-in-one OTT platform that allows content owners to launch multi-screen VoD solutions in a hassle-free way. It comes with visual editors and built-in templates (although limited) that enable organizations to customize their video services. The platform leverages AWS and Cloudflare CDN for global content delivery.

Muvi is often listed among the best VoD platforms for businesses that want a turnkey solution with minimal coding. As a video on demand software platform, it provides extensive monetization options and strong DRM features, making it suitable for media companies, eLearning providers, and niche streaming services.

9. Wistia

Wistia is a video-on-demand platform made for B2B marketers. The product makes it easy to both create videos and measure their performance online. It is extensively used for lead generation, secure hosting, ad-free user experience, and creating and maintaining a strong brand voice due to its effective video sharing format.

It stands out as one of the best VoD platforms for businesses focused on marketing, sales enablement, and customer engagement. Unlike many other video on demand software platforms, Wistia is designed with brand growth in mind — offering tools to integrate video directly into marketing automation workflows.

10. Vidyard

Vidyard is another popular video solution built to turn viewers into customers through in-depth insights and robust integrations with different CRM and marketing automation platforms. Millions of users and thousands of companies create and share personalized videos to boost their sales and engage customers.

Vidyard is considered one of the best VoD platforms for B2B use cases, particularly in sales and enterprise communications. As a video on demand software platform, it focuses on personalized video messaging, analytics, and seamless integration with business tools.

Factors to consider when choosing a VoD service provider

Depending on the VoD project at hand, your priorities can also vary from a highly customizable video player to industry-specific integrations to even the price tag. But as the rule of thumb, a VoD platform needs to provide the following functionality to ensure a competitive edge for a media business:

• Infrastructure
  The backbone of a video streaming platform, infrastructure is the most important factor to consider. A robust infrastructure with multi-CDN setup is needed to ensure reliable video delivery to global audiences. Modern video on demand software platforms also rely on cloud-native architectures that support autoscaling, low-latency streaming, and global content distribution. For companies choosing the best video on demand platform, evaluating redundancy, disaster recovery, and compliance with international standards (GDPR, SOC 2, etc.) has become critical.
• Supported devices
  With viewers scattered across web, mobile, and TV, you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to maximize your reach. Check if a VoD solution is compatible with all major platforms and devices, including connected TVs and set-top boxes. The best VoD platforms today also provide native apps for iOS, Android, smart TVs, and gaming consoles, along with responsive web players. Support for casting technologies (Chromecast, AirPlay) and seamless multi-screen experiences has become a key differentiator for leading video on demand platforms.
• Video content protection
  It goes without saying that a VoD platform needs to be equipped with robust security features to protect your content from piracy and infringement, and your users — from data breaches. Look for a solution with support for DRM and dynamic watermarks, as well as other safeguards like encryption, single sign-on, access management, and more. Leading video on demand software platforms also integrate forensic watermarking, zero-trust access policies, and real-time threat monitoring. For enterprises selecting the best video on demand platform, compliance with international data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2) is now an essential requirement.
• Full customization
  Customizable video player, pre-built themes and templates, features modification — the more customization your VoD platform allows, the better you can meet your niche VoD streaming needs and deliver branded viewing experiences. The ability to integrate with third-party systems is also very welcome. Top VoD platforms now provide white-label solutions, API-first architectures, and low-code tools for faster deployment. Enterprises increasingly expect video on demand software platforms to support deep integrations with CRM, CMS, and e-commerce systems, enabling unified customer experiences.
• Monetization options
  To maximize revenue potential, choose a VoD platform that supports multiple monetization opportunities like SVOD, AVOD, PPV, etc. And since your audiences may come from different countries, make sure your online video platform supports most common payment gateways. The best video on demand platforms also combine hybrid models — for example AVOD + SVOD — to reach wider audiences. Advanced monetization features now include dynamic ad insertion, tiered subscription plans, freemium access, and integration with global payment providers such as Stripe, PayPal, and regional gateways. Video on demand software platforms also provide built-in analytics to track revenue performance across different monetization strategies.
• Analytics
  Delivering media content to global audiences across a range of devices requires continuous monitoring and analytics to make sure your platform runs at its best. And in-depth insights into content performance and viewing behaviors go a long way towards improving personalization and boosting engagement. Modern video on demand software platforms include AI-powered analytics that track viewer engagement, churn prediction, and content ROI. The best VoD platforms also provide real-time dashboards, predictive insights, and integration with BI tools, helping businesses make data-driven decisions.
• Multiscreen
  Deploying multi-screen apps yields real benefits, allowing users to stream online content to connected devices. A multiscreen VoD solution allows media providers to boost quality of experience (QoE) by introducing choice for the best platform available, extending the life of deployed set-tops and the reach of their content. Today, the best video on demand platforms provide seamless viewing across web, mobile, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and connected devices. Support for features like cross-device resume, synchronized watchlists, and casting ensures a consistent user experience. Video on demand software platforms that invest in multiscreen optimization achieve higher engagement and retention rates.

When custom-built solutions are the way to go

There are cases when ready-made solutions just won’t cut it. Even the best VoD platforms can come with limited or half-baked features while others appear to be excessively complex or lack customization opportunities. Then, there can be unexpected costs once you start using the platform and growing your customer base.

A custom-built video on demand software platform gives businesses full ownership of infrastructure, branding, and monetization. This approach is ideal for enterprises that require advanced integrations, unique UX design, or industry-specific compliance.

The custom approach can be the right choice for those who need a fully tailored VoD solution — and have full control over it. Built from scratch, your VoD platform will have a unique brand look and feel while supporting all the features you and your viewers need.

The choice is yours

Overall, VOD is an excellent option for people who want to be able to watch their favorite shows and movies on their schedule. This explains why VOD content is all the rage these days while the popularity of traditional video content viewing and TV broadcasting are said to be withering away.

These 10 options work for different use cases, depending on the type of business you’re in and what monetization solutions you’re looking for. The best choice is the one that meets most of your specific business needs.

For companies that prioritize security, scalability, and branding, enterprise-grade video on demand software platforms are often the most reliable path.

If you haven’t found the right one for you, consider investing in the development of a custom VoD platform tailored to your goals. This way, you’ll have it all and cover everything you’re going to need for providing quality on-demand video content.

In practice, many enterprises use a hybrid approach, starting with an existing solution and gradually moving toward a custom-built platform as their audience and requirements grow.

Need a hand choosing the right VoD approach?

If you’re in two minds about which path to take: using a ready-made VoD platform, creating something custom, or going hybrid, Oxagile’s team is here to advise you on the best choice.

Let’s talk

Sources

1. Kemp, S. (in partnership with We Are Social & Meltwater) — Digital 2024: Global overview report

2. Netflix, Inc — Company profile.

3. PwC — Perspectives: Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025–2029.

4. Statista — Video-on-Demand (VoD) — Worldwide.

5. Statista — Disney+ number of subscribers worldwide from 1st quarter 2020 to 2nd quarter 2025.

6. Statista — Number of Amazon Prime members worldwide from 2013 to 2025.