Opencast vs SproutVideo

Opencast is a free, open-source video management system for academic institutions, designed to capture and distribute video at scale. Administrators can schedule recordings and live streams, with classroom recording also possible depending on hardware. Opencast Studio captures video in a browser without requiring an Opencast installation. Configurable workflows can generate captions, add branding and thumbnails, and deliver media at chosen resolutions and bitrates. The integrated editor handles multiple streams, subtitles, and cover thumbnails. Fine-grained permissions control viewing and editing; learning platform integrations can provide single sign-on and video delivery. Opencast uses the Paella Player by default, while the separate Tobira portal can keep videos online during Opencast maintenance. Integrations include Brightspace, Canvas, ILIAS, Moodle, Sakai, Stud.IP, BigBlueButton, Zoom recording, Matomo, WordPress, Whisper, and YouTube. It runs on one Linux server or can scale across distributed Linux servers. Demo instances are available to explore the administrative interface and portal.

SproutVideo is a business video-hosting platform for live and on-demand video, with privacy, marketing, and analytics tools. Its player uses adaptive bitrate streaming through a global CDN and supports playback up to 8K and 60 FPS. Marketing tools include lead capture, in-player calls to action, post-play screens, video SEO, and customizable landing pages. Access can be controlled with passwords, viewer logins, domain or IP allowlists, geographic restrictions, signed embeds, and SSO. The REST API handles video management, privacy settings, playlists, analytics, and engagement data. Integrations include HubSpot, Mailchimp, Drip, Keap, Zapier, and Make. Annual-billed plans begin with Seed at $12 a month, including 150 GB storage, 1,800 GB bandwidth, one concurrent encoding, and two team seats. Sprout costs 35.00 USD, Tree 72.00 USD, and Forest $195 a month, billed annually. Storage and bandwidth beyond allowances are billed per GB; a 30-day trial is available, with no free plan.