The 10 Best Video Monetization Platforms – What You Need to Know [2022 Update]

Video monetization is skyrocketing growth for broadcasters and online brands. Streaming research shows that video ads grew by 46% last year, with live content doubling its market share. Not to mention that online viewership is up by 72%.

The future of video monetization is looking even more promising in the new year as we approach the end of 2022. Proving how audiences respond well to online video streaming and over-the-top video solutions.

For broadcasters and video content creators, that means there are now more options available for monetizing videos. Gone are the days when the only way to monetize video content was via YouTube. Regardless of your chosen niche, you can generate and maintain multiple revenue streams for the video content you work so hard to create. 

Whether it’s mastering the basics of creating and monetizing content or learning to broadcast, today’s content creators have a diverse toolbox of software and platforms at their disposal. You can magnetize views and earn a living through video monetization if you have a unique perspective to share with the world. 

That’s great news for broadcasters passionate about bringing their content to the world stage, and those who wish to make video creation their full-time careers. 

The upsurge in video monetization options presents an opportunity for organizations to monetize their video libraries and create stable streams of recurring income. From ad-supported content and viewer subscriptions all the way up to pay-per-view and on-demand services, monetization is the new standard of profitable media delivery and consumption. 

All these choices can make selecting the right video monetization platform an overwhelming task for broadcasters, both newbies and veterans. 

Wondering about the best way to monetize videos? That’s what we’ll cover in today’s article. Also, we will talk about what video monetization is and how it works. We will also discuss various video monetization models (AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD) that are proven to work for video creators just like you. We’ll see how these can be used with both live streaming and video on demand. Lastly, we will touch upon paywalls and review the best video monetization platforms of 2021.

Hopefully, this blog will help you make informed decisions about all the monetization options available to you, as well as some things you must keep in mind to maximize video monetization opportunities for your content. 

Video content monetization platform technology is changing all the time. This post has been updated to reflect the most accurate information on video monetization as of November 2022.

Let’s dive in and get started. 

Table of Contents

• What is Video Monetization?
• Common Video Monetization Models
• How to Monetize Video Content
• What Kind of Video Content Can I Monetize?
• Where Can You Monetize Videos?
• What is a Paywall?
• Comparison of the Best Video Monetization Platforms of 2022
• Conclusion

What is Video Monetization?

Simply put – video monetization is getting paid for the videos you publish online. Not so much for the creation but rather when audiences view or download your content. The more people that watch, the greater your earnings from any particular video. 

Broadcasters can generate revenue from their videos in many different ways. The most common include:

• Inserting ads
• Incorporating sponsors
• Offering subscriptions
• Creating product reviews
• Service reviews

Generating income from your videos is based on these distinct video streaming business models.

1. Access to individual content: when you serve the needs of your audience well, followers will pay to view the content you create. Educational curricula, training courses, and other digital downloads are prime examples. 
2. Access to your audience: advertisers with a product or service (that aligns with your brand) will sponsor ads or pay for placement within your video content. Think about promoting workout gear or supplements to a fitness audience or running team apparel ads during a live sports event. 
3. Access to your platform: as a broadcaster, creating a subscription model to access premium content – or your entire video-on-demand library – is a smart monetization play. This model works especially well for media agencies, online publishers, and others with vast content collections that are already established. 

Some organizations may hesitate to charge fees or subscriptions for accessing premium content. Believing that such actions will be perceived negatively or turn away loyal visitors. However, in the case of most brands, the opposite is true. Utilizing the best ways to monetize videos doesn’t necessarily have to spell doom for your vision as a brand or organization. 

Learning how to monetize videos and focusing on delivering value-added content is a surefire strategy to increase revenue for any brand. Keep in mind that if the information you provide is valuable and compelling, viewers will gladly pay to benefit from it. 

Especially if the content is entertaining, solves a problem, or helps viewers grow.

Video Monetization Stats and Facts 

Still unsure if video monetization is worth the hassle for your brand? The best way to understand the true potential that video monetization unlocks is by seeing the stats.

Here are a few interesting trends in video monetization:

• The online video industry is forecasted to be worth $124.6 billion by 2025
• Experts expect the total value of global video subscriptions to reach $338 million this year
• Over half of viewers report that they’d rather watch a live stream with ads rather than pay a subscription fee
• The median U.S. household now contains an average of five streaming devices, with 18% having ten or more
• 76% of US broadband homes now have OTT subscriptions
• Ad revenue from OTT video streaming is expected to reach $129 billion by 2023

Want to learn more about the general online streaming landscape? Check out our live-streaming statistics post to review 100+ stats and trends.

Common Video Monetization Models

Although there are dozens of ways broadcasters can monetize video content, most efforts fall within one of three main categories: AVOD, SVOD, or TVOD. While all can be profitable, there are pros and cons to each. Depending on where you are in your business life cycle, the best option may change over time.

Advertising-Based Video On Demand (AVOD)

Advertising-Based Video on Demand (AVOD) is a sponsorship model where ad placement costs are typically based on audience size. AVOD is a classic monetization format where brands pay you to run video advertisements in front of your audience. Once again, YouTube serves as a prime example.

As stated, the larger the audience, the more revenue AVOD video can generate. Advertising video on demand also provides a low entry barrier as it is easy to set up and operate. Additionally, most online viewers prefer ad-supported free content as this is what they are already accustomed to. 

Subscription-Based Video On Demand (SVOD)

Subscription-Based Video on Demand (SVOD) is a monetization option where users pay a recurring fee to access video content. Netflix is an obvious example of SVOD in action. As long as user accounts remain current, members can access Netflix’s vast library of video content whenever and wherever they choose.

Although the name includes video-on-demand, SVOD can also apply to live-streaming content. Like for subscriptions to live sports packages or access to webinars from mentors or thought leaders. Subscription video on demand is one of the most profitable types of monetization as organizations can develop recurring revenue for as long as they see fit.  

Transactional Video On Demand (TVOD)

Transactional Video On Demand (TVOD), which is also known as “pay-per-view streaming,” is another monetization method that requires viewers to pay upfront for each video watched or digital download requested.

Common examples include iTunes and the Google Play Store for individual downloads and pay-per-view events for live streaming. TVOD is the opposite of AVOD, as viewers pay for every content they access.

Although transactional video-on-demand seems more restrictive, it can be highly profitable. Especially for broadcasters covering a large array of topics or those with specialized experience in a specific niche.

Once again, selecting a video monetization model is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Many organizations have success mixing and matching based on existing resources and the needs of their audience. Frequently using AVOD for general information and subscription or transactional video on demand for premium content.

How to Monetize Videos

There are several ways to monetize your streaming videos with the monetization methods we mentioned above. Let’s break down some specific strategies and use cases. 

Affiliate Marketing and Sponsored Ads

One of the easiest ways to get started with video monetization is by inserting ads or using “suggested” content links in your published media. Anyone who has ever watched a YouTube video will recognize this concept. As viewers engage with these sponsored links you earn income for each click or a percentage of completed affiliate sales.

Broadcasters can also look for sponsors and include targeted product placement throughout their content. You need to have a decent following to charge premium rates with sponsors. However, if you cater to a specific audience or niche, brands will still pay good money for advertising (even with a smaller following).

The key is ensuring any sponsors align with your live-streaming site’s values and audience interest. Otherwise, sponsored ads may do more harm than good.

As previously mentioned, product review videos can also be a good source of income. Companies will pay you to share honest feedback about their products or services to get their name out. Site owners can also earn “freebies” as many brands let you keep the reviewed items or services afterward. 

Furthermore – as long as your review is helpful and honest – it can bolster trust between you and your audience.

Create Your Own VOD Platform

A great way to monetize your streaming video content is to build a branded VOD streaming platform.

A VOD delivery platform is a media distribution system that hosts and shares content online. In other words, this is reserved internet property where visitors can gain direct access to your content.

It requires a fast and easy website to navigate, where content can be delivered to almost any device. The strengths of having a platform are setting your own prices, maintaining content distribution control, and adjusting your video marketing strategy based on user feedback and market demand.

Trying to build a VOD platform yourself is a lot of work. Fortunately, partnering with an existing video streaming platform makes the process easy. These ready-made solutions have the infrastructure, tools, and support to get you up and running fast. Many also include built-in monetization options and security controls to manage user access. 

Add Monetization Options to Existing Content

If you have not already, consider adding a paywall to charge users for access to your existing VOD library. Subscription models are an ideal way to get started with video monetization. Once the content is created, you can keep adding to your library and building your brand.

As your following continues to grow, so do your earnings. Even a small (but dedicated) audience can generate substantial income. 

Get Your Content in Front of More Eyes 

When it comes to video monetization, the more people who see your content, the better. One of the best ways to increase your reach is by partnering with an OTT provider with a proven video distribution network.

Over-the-top (OTT) technology allows viewers to access content on a wide range of equipment, including computers, mobile devices, gaming consoles, and smart TVs (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, etc.).

Rather than being limited to proprietary broadcast networks (like cable or satellite), OTT utilizes the public internet for end-to-end transmission. So long as audiences have a connection and compatible device, they can stream OTT content, and the provider can monetize their over-the-top content.

What Kind of Video Content Can I Monetize?

After learning how to monetize videos, you might wonder which content monetization platforms can help you achieve your goals and what type of content is best for video monetization. 

The video content industry is growing exponentially right now, meaning viewers are willing to pay a fee to access videos of all genres. 

Here are some types of video content that are trending right now and are great for video monetization:

• Podcasts
• Daily vlogs
• Tutorial videos
• Gaming content
• Product reviews
• Short video clips
• Educational content
• Music-related video content
• Videos about current affairs
• Economy and money-saving hacks

Regardless of the video monetization platform, you chose to monetize your streaming videos, make sure you understand the basics of how copyright laws work. Most monetization platforms maintain strict rules regarding plagiarism, copyrights, and spam.

That’s especially important if you utilize any content, video, or audio that isn’t your original creation. Secondly, ensure your content is always mindful of your target audience’s various religious and cultural sensitivities.

Original, well-researched, and engaging content is always the best candidate for monetization. It’s also the best way to ensure you maximize views and revenue for the videos you work so hard to create.

Where Can You Monetize Videos?

When people talk about monetizing videos, YouTube typically comes to mind. With their tremendous size, reach, and industry history, it’s no wonder. Yet, for organizations serious about the growth and scale of service, YouTube (and other common social media sites) are not the best option for video monetization platforms.

While it is true that sharing on these sites is one way to get exposure, you lose control of how your content is distributed. Your videos are drowned in ads you have no control over and buried deep on a site that decides whose content is and isn’t featured.

Members are also subjected to strict advertising guidelines and ever-changing revenue models. The fact is, you can end up losing viewers (and income) if your videos are tied to the wrong kind of advertising. 

Even if everything falls into place – the right audience size, messaging, and exposure you can still come up short. Research shows that over 95% of YouTubers can’t make ends meet. Whatever money you do make, the platform keeps a whopping 45% of it. 

Patronage crowdfunding sites like Patreon and Indiegogo also allow broadcasters to offer exclusive content to subscribers (for a fee). However, nothing beats using your website for video hosting. Especially when it comes to security, maximizing profits, and scalability. Working with an established online video provider makes the process easy.

What is a Video Paywall?

If you want to charge subscribers for content, there has to be a method in place to restrict access. This is where a video paywall comes into play, acting as a digital payment barrier to control the flow of videos. 

You need a video paywall for SVOD and TVOD monetization. It restricts free access to digital content by requiring a viewer to purchase the video or pay for a subscription to gain access to the content.

Video paywalls fit nicely with subscription models as viewers can have their accounts for library access while broadcasters earn steady recurring income. Most brands using paywalls offer free access to some content but block others with popups or login prompts. This type of streaming setup is known as a soft paywall. 

Soft paywalls are a good way to monetize your content and align well with most streaming solutions. You can test how viewers will react to ads – without completely alienating your audience in the process. 

Setups where no free content is offered are called hard paywalls. Although hard paywalls can generate more revenue in the long run, you need a strong user base to make it work. Otherwise, casual visitors will look for free content elsewhere. 

Hard paywalls may also limit the number of advertisers you can attract since you have a smaller audience to market to. The optimal paywall strategy is to use a combination of both. Offer free content for some users and paid subscriptions to others. Everyday videos can be shared with general audiences, while premium content is reserved for members or those that opt to pay. 

Video paywalls are the heart of robust content monetization strategies and offer solid ROI when implemented correctly.

Comparison of the Best Video Monetization Platforms of 2022

Now that you know about the benefits of video monetization, the next step is choosing the best way to monetize videos. To do this, you must select a video hosting site that meets your needs. Keep in mind that some online video platforms offer native tools for monetization while others include partial or no options at all. In this case, you’ll need third-party plugins or tools to complete transactions.

Broadcasters should also review pricing and feature sets for comparable packages. Several platforms include built-in monetization options but only for enterprise-grade bundles or the most expensive plans. Keeping these ideas in mind, here is our comparison of the ten best video content monetization platforms to consider in 2022.

1. Cleeng

The first video monetization platform on our list is Cleeng – a subscription management platform with several flexible features. Their paywall options are available for pay-per-view live streaming and video-on-demand subscriptions.

Cleeng’s solution includes multi-language support and authentication tools for content integrity and fraud prevention.

When it comes to subscription management, Cleeng offers two plans: Launchers and Scale-Ups. Launcher plans use a revenue-sharing model of 2.9% + $0.29 per transaction (plus processing fees), and Scale-Up plans start at 2.6% + $0.26 per transaction.

It is important to note that Cleeng works alongside video hosting software as a plugin or integration.

2. Muvi

Up next in our video monetization platform comparison is Muvi, an OTT-focused online video platform. Muvi’s service supports both live streaming and VOD and includes a native video player and select video monetization tools.

Muvi’s paywall implementation works with all major advertising, PPV, and subscription models but is less secure than some other platforms. For example, there are no geographic and referrer restrictions and limited password protection.

Muvi’s pricing plans start at $399/month. Enterprise packages range up to $8900. Custom-built streaming plans are also available.

3. Lightcast

Providing a variety of OTT and video hosting services, Lightcast also helps broadcasters develop mobile and custom SmartTV applications.

Lightcast supports all major monetization options, including SVOD, TVOD, and AVOD. It also offers fundraising tools. However, these monetization tools are not included in all plans.

Pricing plans from Lightcast range from $199 to $1799 per month, depending on the package and options selected. 

4. InPlayer

Similar to Cleeng, InPlayer is a top video content monetization platform and paywall solution for both pay-per-view and subscription-based revenue models.

The InPlayer solution includes coupons, geoblocking, multiple currency options, and custom features like paying with social media outreach (a “tweet”, “like”, etc.). InPlayer uses Stripe to process payments.

The InPlayer platform also includes API access and a native CRM system for capturing user data.

InPlayer no longer has pricing information published on its website, but in the past, they’ve used a revenue-sharing model.

5. Dacast

mong all the content monetization platforms out there, Dacst stands out for several reasons. Dacast is a live streaming and video-on-demand platform that supports pay-per-view, subscriptions, and advertising monetization, models. Streams are delivered via the top-tier CDN service with user paywalls integrated directly into Dacast’s white-label video player.

Our subscription management system offers weekly, monthly, quarterly, and biannual renewal options, while our paywall solution accepts 135 different currencies (and counting) and is translated into ten different languages. 

With our video monetizer model, Technical assistance is available 24/7, and we offer professional support services for live events, hosted pages, and software development projects.

Streaming media audiences voted Dacast as the best SMB online video platform of 2019 and runner-up for educational video delivery. Broadcasters have nominated (and placed Dacast in the top three) for multiple award categories six years in a row! 

Prices start at just $39/month for the Starter plan and include:

• Starter Plan: $39/month (includes 1,000 GB of bandwidth & 50 GB of storage)
• Event Plan: $63/month (includes 6 TB of bandwidth upfront and 50 GB of storage)
• Scale Plan: $188/month (includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year and 1 TB of storage)
• Custom plan: Contact us for custom pricing plans

The most notable of Dacast’s online video platform features are:

• Live streaming and Video on Demand are included in all plans
• Wide range of video monetization tools
• Top-notch dynamic token security
• Low-latency video streaming
• Ad network Integration with Ad Insertion
• Video Paywalls
• Unlimited Viewers and Live Channels
• Multi-user access on Scale and Custom plans
• Zoom live streaming integration for meetings and live events in real-time
• Expo 2.0 galleries video portal for immersive video experiences
• Mobile streaming support
• Real-time Analytics
• Ad-free Streaming

6. Kaltura

Kaltura is an open-source online video platform that provides a highly customizable streaming experience. Within these customizations, broadcasters can integrate various video monetizer tools and systems. 

Kaltura supports integrations for AVOD, TVOD, and SVOD monetization models.

The pricing structure of Kaltura is a bit complex. Broadcasters can purchase credits to spend on usage and access to different features through integrations. Credit packages start at $5400.

7. Brightcove

Brightcove is a high-end streaming solution with a built-in video monetization platform. This platform supports ad-based video monetization.

The advertising features from Brightcove are quite innovative. This platform offers server-side ad insertion, allowing it to serve ads even when viewers are using ad blockers. It also offers ad cue points for pre-, mid-, and post-roll advertisements.

Another cool aspect of video monetization on Brightcove is that it uses metadata to serve targeted ads.

Brightcove does not publish pricing information on its website. 

8. Cincopa

Cincopa is a multimedia hosting software with a built-in video monetization platform for generating revenue on live and on-demand content. The two video monetization methods that this platform supports include subscriptions and advertising.

Like Brightcove, Cincopa supports pre-, mid-, and post-roll ad insertion.

Cincopa also offers Paygate API, which helps users customize their monetization methods to best fit their specific needs.

9. Livestream

Livestream is an online video platform that is owned by Vimeo. Livestream has several powerful streaming solutions, but Vimeo OTT is the one that is best suited for video monetization.

Vimeo OTT supports TVOD, AVOD, and SVOD monetization models.

Vimeo OTT plans cost $1/subscriber for Starter plans or $500/month + $1/subscriber for Growth plans. Custom-priced Enterprise plans are also available to accommodate advanced streaming needs.

10. Uscreen

Uscreen is a TV-grade hosting software with a built-in video monetization platform. This platform is equipped with support for subscription and pay-per-view video monetizer models. It is designed for generating revenue on OTT streaming services that are similar to Netflix or Hulu.

Pricing plans from Uscreen range from $70 to $399/month. There is also a $0.50 fee for each subscriber.

Conclusion

Video monetization is a catalyst for growth, profit, and sustainability. If you’re a video content creator, make sure you claim your share of this growing trend. One of the best ways to jump on the bandwagon is to utilize a platform that supports your growth. 

Dacast makes it easy to profit from live-streaming content or existing video-on-demand libraries. The platform supports its users in multiple ways, from its easy-to-understand video analytics tool that seamlessly transforms data into actionable steps.  Or its sturdy 24/7 user support, which ensures your viewers enjoy uninterrupted streaming around the clock. 

Our powerful online video solution offers enterprise-grade performance, security, and monetization features, all for a single low price.

Each package includes secure video streaming reliable performance via top-tier CDNs, and customizable video content and player management APIs. No other solution offers so much value at such an affordable price.

Providing quality content to audiences is more important than ever, and organizations that do it well can generate substantial revenue from ads, subscriptions, and pay-per-view transactions.

Learning how to monetize your videos better can open up new revenue streams for your business or organization. As a video content creator or broadcaster, content monetization platforms are an essential tool that lets you make the most out of your video creations. Dacast lets you monetize videos without any extra steps or hassle, so you can focus on creating quality content for your viewers. 

Contact us today if you are ready to add video monetization to your content strategy. We offer a free 14-day trial and don’t require long-term contracts or charge hefty setup fees. No credit card is required.

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