Uncovering the Best Opencast Alternatives for Video Capture & Distribution
Opencast stands out as a powerful open-source solution for automating video capture and distribution at scale. Its flexibility allows organizations to build custom solutions for processing, scheduling, and delivering video content. However, for various reasons – be it a need for different feature sets, specific platform support, or commercial offerings – many seek effective Opencast alternative solutions. This article delves into some of the top contenders that can meet diverse video management needs.
Top Opencast Alternatives
Whether you're looking for open-source flexibility, robust commercial platforms, or specialized features like live streaming and advanced analytics, these Opencast alternatives offer compelling solutions for your video infrastructure.

Kaltura
Kaltura is a leading Opencast alternative, offering a community of open-source online video projects. It aims to provide powerful, cost-effective FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) solutions. Available on Linux, Kaltura focuses on robust video management and processing capabilities.

MediaDrop
MediaDrop is an excellent Opencast alternative known for its unparalleled organization, statistics, accessibility, and scalability. It's a well-designed and engineered open-source solution available across multiple platforms including Mac, Linux, Web, iPhone, and can be self-hosted, offering strong publishing features.

Brightcove
Brightcove is a prominent commercial Opencast alternative, offering powerful cloud solutions for delivering and monetizing video across connected devices. Available on iPhone, it focuses on features like video streaming and the ability to share videos.

Plumi
Plumi is a free and open-source video sharing application, making it a viable Opencast alternative for those looking to create their own sophisticated video-sharing sites. It's available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and specializes in video sharing features.

Zencoder
Zencoder is a commercial, web-based Opencast alternative that provides audio and video encoding/transcoding as a service. It allows users to convert videos online into web and mobile formats using its cloud encoding API.

Tegrity
Tegrity Campus is a fully automated lecture capture solution, serving as a strong commercial Opencast alternative for educational settings. It's web-based and used in traditional, hybrid, 'flipped classes', and online courses to record lessons and lectures, offering video streaming and sharing capabilities.

SHIFT72
SHIFT72 provides an end-to-end online video platform (OVP), making it a comprehensive commercial Opencast alternative. It has everything needed to deliver stunning viewing experiences across multiple devices, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, iPhone, and various TV platforms, with strong video streaming features.

Ensemble Video
Ensemble Video is a flexible online video platform and a robust commercial Opencast alternative. It simplifies video management and delivers content any time, over a variety of networks. Available on Windows, Web, Android, iPhone, iPad, and can be self-hosted, it features video sharing, streaming, and VOD capabilities.

Cisco Show and Share
Cisco Show and Share is a free Opencast alternative, specifically a webcasting and video sharing application. Available on iPhone, it helps users watch, record, and share videos, making it suitable for organizations leveraging Cisco's ecosystem.

Ooyala
Ooyala is a commercial leader in online video management, analytics, and monetization, making it a strong Opencast alternative. Its integrated suite of technologies and services gives content owners the power to expand. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Android, it excels in video sharing.
When considering an Opencast alternative, it's crucial to evaluate your specific needs, budget, and desired features. Whether you prioritize open-source flexibility, extensive platform support, or advanced commercial capabilities, the options above provide a solid starting point for your video capture and distribution strategy.