Dacast has over ten years of experience in the video hosting sector, having worked with well-known brands such as Lenovo and Kellogg’s. Although Dacast has always supported the video business, more people are now aware of it as a result of the explosive growth of online video content. As people see the benefits of accessing interesting and educational content online, the industry is now increasing more rapidly than ever before.
Want to know more details about Dacast? If so, then this detailed Dacast review can help you get everything you need to know about Dacast alternative.
Without much delay, let’s delve in!
Dacast: An Overview
Dacast is an online video hosting service that offers live streaming and VOD content that can be accessed on a website or shared through different social media handles.
Dacast, a business founded in 2010, provides OTT and VOD services to over 300,000 broadcasters.
It works as a video content management system (video CMS), allowing you to save your videos and integrate them into other owned media, such as your own website. You can also make use of Dacast to monetize your content through SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD.
Besides this, you can embed Dacast’s HTML5 video player on your website. It also allows users to connect live streams and VODs to pre-existing tools and platforms using an OTT platform.
Dacast: Key Features
Dacast allows businesses and content creators to offer live and on-demand content to customers all over the world through a single web platform.
Uploading, recording, transcoding, and sharing can all be done with advanced functionality.
Furthermore, the cloud-based infrastructure is strong and reliable, with in-depth analytics and bulk uploading features built in.
The API-based online video platform enables organizations to experiment with their content production strategy in a variety of ways.
Any accessible feature can be used programmatically and integrated into your own digital workflows.
You can even build your own OTT platform and mobile apps from scratch using the ecosystem’s accessible SDKs.
Integrated paywalls can benefit both on-demand and live-streaming videos.
Notably, while Dacast provides a free encoding solution ideal for beginners, as your business grows, you may need to subscribe to a more complex, premium encoder.
On a positive note, Dacast does provide global content distribution for your videos using top-tier CDNs, ensuring that your fans can reach you from anywhere.
Furthermore, extensive analytics tools for both on-demand and live streaming are accessible, allowing you to obtain meaningful data regarding views, engagement, and conversions.
To begin streaming, you must first establish a “Live Channel” via the Dacast interface.
You can then add categories to your content, video descriptions, and splash screens.
You can add a password to your movies, change the theme of your player, limit your broadcast to specific areas, and connect to Google Analytics.
Dacast: Pros and Cons
Here are the benefits and drawbacks of using Dacast to achieve your video goals.
Benefits of using Dacast:
- A universally compatible HTML5 video player.
- Cloud-based video content management.
- Growing brands have multiple monetization options.
- Customization and white-labeling options are provided.
- API access is provided for bespoke processes.
- Options for live broadcasting and recording.
- Platform security using dynamic tokens.
- Video on demand (VOD) through OTT.
- 24-hour customer service.
Dacast Price
So, how much will all these features cost? Dacast offers a 14-day free trial for newbies so that you can become familiar with its features before diving in.
With this, let’s explore its drawbacks;
- The commission structure of certain brands is rather hefty.
- Large files take time to upload.
- Some components of the user interface may appear to be out of date.
Top 6 Dacast Alternatives for Video Streaming
We’ll go through some of the top Dacast alternatives in this section. Let’s explore each of the Dacast alternatives individually;
1. VPlayed
VPlayed, being one of the leading streaming platforms, lets you own, distribute, and make money from video and audio content.
You can stream video to many devices using VPlayed, including mobile phones and smart TVs. They even provide variable revenue sources like AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD that help you earn money in different ways.
Features
You will get access to the following features with VPlayed:
- Live streaming on multiple platforms.
- Marketing integrations.
- A video CMS for businesses.
- Cloud hosting.
- Top-notch security features.
2. Uscreen
Uscreen is a video platform that enables video creators to create and expand their online businesses. With live streaming, customized mobile, and TV apps, and the tools you need to earn revenue, its vast feature set can help you take your content to the next level.
Features
- Live video streaming.
- Customizable membership websites.
- Features for marketing.
- Multiple monetization methods.
- Detailed analytics.
3. Muvi
Muvi is a business-oriented unified streaming solution that provides live and on-demand video hosting. Muvi is significantly more expensive than Dacast, hence it is aimed at broadcasters with high demands and limited budgets.
Features
- Flexible payment options.
- Live video streaming.
- SEO tools.
- Cloud hosting.
4. Vimeo OTT
Some broadcasters prefer to start small due to budget constraints or other causes. For broadcasters with lesser needs, Vimeo is a feasible Dacast alternative.
Like YouTube, Vimeo began as a consumer-grade service and has now evolved into a more professional environment. Plans are relatively priced, but their feature set is restricted.
Features
- Editing tools & templates.
- Detailed content analytics.
- Live streaming & webinars.
5. Brightcove
Brightcove is yet another Dacast competitor that can broadcast both live and on-demand video. While Brightcove is renowned in the business for having a high price point, each package is priced separately.
Features
- Live VOD streaming.
- Video storage that is highly secure.
- VOD monetization.
6. IBM Cloud
IBM Cloud Video is a streaming service provided by the IBM technology company. This software can surely compete with Dacast. However, it has some monetization restrictions and comes with a significantly higher price tag.
Features
- HD live streaming.
- Mobile-friendly.
- Live chat.
- Highly-customizable channel page.
Summing Up
In this ever-growing video streaming industry, you can find several video streaming options.
As there are so many features, customization, and pricing options to pick from, broadcasters have a lot to consider when looking for the best platform.
Dacast and the other platforms we’ve looked at are all great options, but the key is to choose the one that matches your specific business requirements.
