Cloud Video Platforms: How It Works & Top 7 List

In 2025, cloud video platforms have become essential tools for businesses delivering secure and scalable video content across the globe. From e-learning and media to enterprise communications and OTT platforms, these platforms provide powerful tools to host, stream, protect, and monetize video at scale. With growing demand for DRM protection, AI-driven analytics, and mobile-optimized playback, selecting the right cloud video solution is more important than ever.

Cloud video platform have reduced the infrastructure needs as compared to traditional broadcasting technologies. They are being potentially recognized for their features like unlimited storage, convenience, scalability, and security.

This guide explains how cloud video platforms work, what essential features to look for, and compares the top cloud video platforms in 2025 to help you make an informed decision.

What is Cloud?

Before we understand more about cloud video hosting platforms, it is important to understand what exactly is Cloud in terms of technology.

With the increase in online content and the boom of the internet, thousands and thousands of data sets need to be stored. And creating a single physical infrastructure at every point is a potentially unattainable and toilsome task. This is where the “ cloud” comes into play, helping save companies money and providing convenience to the end-user.

A cloud is nothing but a bundle of remote/globally distributed servers, and the applications and databases that are stored and run on those servers. This technology has made storing and accessing petabytes and petabytes of data without the hassle and overhead costs of maintaining a physical server every time.

What is a Cloud Video Platform?

Before understanding cloud video platforms, it’s necessary to understand what is video streaming, or even streaming for that matter.

In very basic terms, Streaming is when you deliver any type of media content to computers/mobile devices via the internet and play them in real-time.

So, video streaming simply becomes sending video content over the internet to a remote user.

With an increase in online content consumption, lots of videos are being streamed online. Hence, the need for highly scalable and reliable video streaming solutions increases.

This is where cloud video platforms come into play. They utilize cloud servers that are delivered through the internet and can be remotely accessed for work.

Businesses can simply upload videos and stream to audiences at a much larger scale. They can utilize the infrastructure of cloud video streaming services and streamline their entire processes, reducing spends and efforts on things like transcoding, video processing, custom video player, secure streaming, and CDN issues.

Why is Cloud Video Streaming beneficial?

As cloud video platforms are becoming more and popular, lots of small, medium businesses are also utilizing their potential. With this, it becomes imperative to find video streaming solutions that help in the seamless delivery of videos. Not every provider can build and maintain the infrastructure and complexities associated with such mediums. Hence, cloud video platforms work as a boon for them.

From seamless delivery to managing volumes of content. Here are a few reasons why cloud video platforms are there for you to speed up your streaming game!

Budget-Friendly:

You only pay for your storage and bandwidth requirements. As you go along utilizing the cloud video platform, you can manage the expenses, instead of investing a large amount upfront.

Accessibility

The target audience can view videos anyplace and anytime if they have a working internet connection. The videos on these cloud video platforms are easily accessible from work, commute, etc.

Zero-maintenance of individual infrastructure

No need to create an in-house server or hardware infrastructure for storage needs. Depending on your needs, you can start streaming within hours or days.

Scalability

One of the major advantages of using a cloud video platform is its scalability. With the growth of your business and customer base, you can easily upgrade your cloud storage, integrate additional features, and more such things in no time.

Potentially unlimited storage capacities

Cloud video platforms have the possibility to store unlimited data and even in a cost-effective way. They have features like backup, archives, etc. making your data storage potential limitless.

Security

There are various security compliances associated with cloud video platforms. Depending on the cloud video platform you utilize, you get features like video encryption, DRM protection, online video watermarking, authentication mechanisms for users, and access control for securing data. This is why video protection has been one of the major reasons for people adopting cloud platforms.

Key features a cloud streaming platform should offer

Feasibility

Any cloud video platform should not be too complex. It should help businesses simplify their tasks and help improve their efficiency. This means that the video platform should enable users with options like bulk upload, easy navigation through the platform, and tools for managing content. It should be defined and designed in such a way that even the newest/casual users are able to adapt to it.

High-level Security

Secure video hosting is one of the topmost concerns when you are putting out your content. Restrictions on videos playing on other websites, certain domains, and geo-restrictions, allowing shared videos to play for a limited time, and access control for multiple users internally are some of the security measures that should be taken into consideration while choosing a suitable cloud video platform.

Free Trial

Investing and choosing a platform for storing and relaying all your video content is a major decision and every factor should be taken into consideration before making a final choice. To ensure that you have chosen an accurate video cloud hosting platform, look for platforms that provide you with all-feature trials and a sufficient trial period before you purchase a final plan.

Easy Embed/Integration options

To increase the feasibility and scalability of your business, the cloud video platform should be easily integrated into your own websites and applications. It should offer you multiple embed options, necessary APIs, and documentation to ease your overall integration.

Transcoding of videos

Video Transcoding is a necessary feature to look for in any cloud video streaming platform. Original video needs to be converted to multiple qualities of videos of different bitrates to ensure that content is delivered to every person of the audience with varying bandwidth and internet connectivity. These transcoded videos should also align with different video streaming protocols to ensure smooth playback.

CDN for smooth playback

CDN is one of the criteria that create vast differences between the majority of streaming platforms. Cloud video platforms use CDN networks to ensure smooth playback with minimalistic buffering and loading. The platforms that use one of the best and top-level CDNs reduce playback issues across vast geographical areas as well.

Video Player Features

An HTML5 video player with features like speed change, Forward/rewind, etc. that is compatible across all devices and platforms can be of great help to businesses. Players with multiple quality adaptiveness and responsiveness ensure a smooth playback across any geographical region.

Interactive CTAs

A lot of e-learning businesses utilize features like buttons, chapters, segmentations, and forms within the video to enhance the learning experience. Quizzes, and seek buttons to help navigate through video easily are interactive features and increase user experience. With the increase in the online learning segment, these kinds of features are looked for in a cloud video platform.

Streaming Analytics

Streaming Analytics provide insight to businesses on how their content is faring amongst their viewers and helps them create strategies around it. Details like Total views, average watch time, browser watched on, country, and average watch percentage in security analytics help you improve your business outcomes.

Support Channel

There should be clear, communicative support channels available to address your business and technical needs, with people with sound knowledge in each department available to address your concerns. A detailed support faq part with all documentation, necessary tutorials, and screenshots helps you get your needs sorted in one place.

Top 7 Cloud Video Platforms in 2025 (With Comparison)

Platform	DRM & Security	Streaming Types	Best For	Monetization Options	Key Features
VdoCipher	✅ Widevine DRM, Dynamic Watermarking, Token-based access	Live + VOD	E-learning, Secure OTT, Corporate training	✅ Pay-per-view, Subscription, API-based paywall	Smart HTML5 player, Analytics, SDKs, LMS plugins
Kaltura	✅ DRM support, Role-based access, On-prem deployment	Live + VOD	Universities, Enterprises, Government	✅ Ad & subscription models	Open-source, LMS integrations, Virtual classrooms
Brightcove	✅ Hollywood DRM, Multi-CDN, Token security	Live + VOD	Enterprises, OTT, Broadcasters	✅ SSAI, Ad integrations, SVOD	Audience insights, Marketing tools, API-based workflows
Vimeo	❌ No DRM, Basic privacy settings only	Live + VOD	Creators, Startups, Small teams	✅ Ad-free embedding, Subscription	Custom branding, Embed player, Integrations
Wistia	❌ No DRM, Basic access controls	VOD only	Marketing teams, Lead generation	❌ No native monetization	Turnstile forms, CTAs, Video analytics
Dacast	❌ No DRM, Geo/IP restriction only	Live + VOD	Events, Religious streaming, Webinars	✅ Pay-per-view, Subscriptions	White-label, API access, Global CDN
YouTube	❌ No DRM, Public content only	Live + VOD	Public creators, Influencers	✅ AdSense revenue	Mass reach, Search engine visibility, Free hosting

VdoCipher

VdoCipher is a leading secure cloud video platform trusted by 3,000+ businesses in over 180 countries. It provides a complete solution for hosting, streaming, and protecting premium video content—making it especially popular among e-learning platforms, media companies, edtech startups, and training institutes.

What makes VdoCipher unique is its Hollywood-grade DRM encryption (Google Widevine + Apple FairPlay), which ensures that videos cannot be downloaded or pirated through common screen capture tools or browser extensions. Alongside this, VdoCipher also offers dynamic and forensic watermarking with user-specific identifiers to track piracy and unauthorized sharing.

Its cloud video platform includes:

• A responsive HTML5 video player with adaptive bitrate streaming

• Multi-layer video security: DRM, watermarking, token-based playback, IP restrictions

• Global CDN for fast and reliable delivery

• API, SDKs, and LMS plugins for seamless integration into websites, mobile apps, and learning systems

• Video analytics dashboard to monitor user engagement and detect suspicious access

• Customizable UI and branding options

✅ Pro Tip: VdoCipher offers a free trial with no credit card required—ideal for testing secure video workflows before scaling.

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Vimeo

Vimeo is a New York-based cloud video company that provides a versatile platform for both individual creators and businesses. While widely known for video sharing, Vimeo also offers a complete suite of video hosting and live streaming features. One of the key differentiators is its high-quality video playback and ad-free experience, which is particularly valued by professionals.

Vimeo’s enterprise plans come with advanced privacy controls, custom branding options, embeddable HTML5 players, and integrations with platforms like Zoom, Dropbox, and HubSpot. It supports live streaming with features like live chat, audience Q&A, and analytics. However, Vimeo does not offer DRM-level security or watermarking, making it less ideal for highly sensitive or premium content protection.

• Best for: Creators, educators, and small businesses

• Limitations: Lacks advanced DRM or anti-piracy tools

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Wistia

Wistia is a powerful cloud video platform built primarily for marketers. It offers video hosting with a heavy focus on analytics, lead generation, and brand customization. Unlike other platforms, Wistia allows users to create personalized video funnels and interactive content experiences.

It comes with tools like Turnstile email collectors, CTAs, A/B testing, and CRM integrations (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce). Wistia also supports podcast hosting and branded video players, helping businesses maintain design consistency across all touchpoints.

However, Wistia does not provide features like DRM encryption or secure delivery mechanisms, making it unsuitable for content security-driven use cases like OTT or e-learning.

• Best for: Video marketing, lead generation, brand awareness

• Limitations: No DRM, watermarking, or live streaming

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Brightcove

Brightcove is a Boston-based enterprise-grade cloud video platform focused on live and on-demand video streaming, monetization, and advanced marketing integrations. It offers scalable cloud video hosting for global audiences and is known for powering some of the largest OTT and media platforms globally.

Key features include:

• Server-side ad insertion (SSAI) for seamless monetization

• Hollywood DRM for premium content security

• Audience insights and viewer analytics for performance optimization

Brightcove integrates easily with CMSs, CDNs, CRMs, and marketing automation tools. Its multi-CDN support ensures reliable delivery across regions, making it suitable for mission-critical broadcasts.

• Best for: Large enterprises, broadcasters, OTT

• Limitations: Higher cost and complexity for small teams

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YouTube

YouTube is the most widely used video hosting platform globally, with over 2 billion monthly active users. It offers free video hosting, streaming, and monetization tools for creators, educators, and businesses. YouTube supports live streaming, captions, playlists, and audience engagement tools like comments and polls.

Its monetization model is ad-driven (via AdSense), with options for channel memberships and branded collaborations. While easy to use and great for visibility, YouTube falls short in terms of privacy, branding, and security for premium or exclusive content.

• Best for: Mass distribution, public content, influencer channels

• Limitations: Ads, no DRM, limited embed control

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Kaltura

Kaltura is an open-source cloud video platform designed for enterprises, universities, and large organizations that need a customizable and secure video infrastructure. It offers solutions for live streaming, VOD, webinars, virtual classrooms, and video portals.

Key features include:

• Support for multi-tenant use

• API-driven custom workflows

• DRM protection (via Widevine and PlayReady)

• Advanced LMS integrations (Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard)

Kaltura stands out for its ability to be self-hosted or deployed in a hybrid-cloud setup, providing more control over data and delivery. However, this flexibility comes at the cost of ease-of-use compared to plug-and-play SaaS models.

• Best for: Universities, enterprises, government

• Limitations: Steep learning curve, higher technical setup

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Dacast

Dacast is a robust video hosting and live streaming platform ideal for event organizers, educators, and churches. It offers white-label streaming, paywall monetization, and adaptive bitrate streaming using a global CDN. It also provides features like password protection, IP/geo-restriction, and live DVR capabilities.

Unlike YouTube or Vimeo, Dacast is built for private, secure video distribution and supports pay-as-you-go pricing, which is great for occasional or seasonal streaming needs.

While it lacks DRM-level protection, it offers strong enough access controls for medium-sensitivity content.

• Best for: Event streaming, webinars, pay-per-view

• Limitations: No DRM, UI can be dated for new users

Conclusion on Cloud Video Platforms

With so many cloud video platforms out there, it is pivotal for you to understand various features associated with them. We have tried to list some of the basic insights and features that can help you choose a suitable cloud video streaming platform as per your usage and requirement.

The utilization of online space for video streaming is only going to increase day by day. And with your content coming online, the need to have a secure, reliable video cloud hosting and streaming platform become a necessity. Your content should be streamed smoothly and in the most secure way possible.

This is where VdoCipher steps in. It provides cloud video streaming solutions with a ready-to-use player. Ensures that videos can’t be downloaded or shared illegally from your platform, using Hollywood standard DRM technology.

The purpose of these details was to provide you with the necessary information related to cloud video platforms and features to look forward to. We definitely recommend signing up for a free trial ( the best part is, you don’t need to enter any card details for signing up).

Do sign up and check out for yourself how VdoCipher can help your premium business scale by securing video content.

❓FAQs on Cloud Video Platforms

1. What is a cloud video platform?
A cloud video platform is a service that allows businesses to host, manage, and stream video content over the internet using cloud infrastructure. These platforms support scalability, security, and analytics.

2. What makes a cloud video platform secure?
Security features include DRM encryption, watermarking, token-based playback, geo-restrictions, screen capture protection, and multi-user access controls.

3. Which cloud video platform is best for e-learning?
VdoCipher is ideal for e-learning as it offers DRM protection, LMS integration, and deep analytics to track student engagement securely.

4. Do all platforms support live and on-demand streaming?
Not all. Some platforms like VdoCipher, Brightcove, and Dacast support both, while others like Wistia focus only on on-demand.

5. How does pricing work in cloud video platforms?
Pricing models include monthly subscriptions, pay-as-you-go (Dacast), or enterprise-level plans based on bandwidth, storage, and user seats.

6. Can I embed videos from cloud platforms into my own app?
Yes, most platforms like VdoCipher, Vimeo, and Kaltura provide APIs and SDKs for seamless embedding in websites and mobile apps.