7 Best Video CMS For You to Choose From

Looking for the best Video CMS that fulfills all your organizational video management requirements? No wonder!

Video use has penetrated the whole world and practically taken over every form of communication. 59.5% of the world's population (4.66 billion people) are active internet users, with over 3 billion global digital video viewers in 2020. Businesses are no exception; employees are humans, after all. 

There is good reason for this rapid rise in video usage (over 50% of higher management executives prefer video over text).

Video usage has brought a lot of benefits to every type of business, from allowing faster-paced organizational learning initiatives and efficient internal communication to more targeted and engaging online marketing campaigns. Above all, research has shown that video usage assists in better content retention while ensuring viewer engagement through interactive content.

Hence, most businesses now are on the lookout for a Video CMS that best fits their criteria.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let us first explore what exactly is Video CMS and the criteria to make a good selection. You will then be presented with a list of the best Video CMS for you to choose from based on your unique needs!

Table of Contents

What is a Video CMS?

Why is a Video CMS a must-have for all organizations?

List of the 7 Best Video CMS

What is a Video CMS?

Video CMS (Video Content Management System) is defined as a centralized platform for end-to-end video management needs from storing to streaming to sharing and much more. Both public streaming and internal, private streaming needs are catered to.

Most platforms allow you to create a centralized, searchable video library for storage, organization, and optimized playback of your videos.

There are various types of Video CMS out there with varying levels of video management capabilities, from simple platforms for basic video usage to efficient enterprise-grade platforms.

We will provide you with a list of Video CMS options covering a wide range of use cases.

Why is a Video CMS a Must-Have For All Organizations?

It can be overwhelming to compare all the different types of Video CMS out there without having accurate criteria to compare these platforms and deciding on the best one for you. Let’s explore the key features of Video CMS that brings the most value to businesses:

• Security

First and foremost, securing your videos, especially your company’s internal confidential content, should be your top priority. Hence, choose a platform that meets all your security needs!

Source: Cybersecurity Ventures

• Compliances

Businesses communicate through videos with audiences residing worldwide, be it employees or customers. Hence, your organization must fulfill certain regional compliances for purposes ranging from video security to accessibility. Choose a Video Sharing CMS platform that help you meet the compliance requirements that pertain to your organization.

• Access Controls, Content Segregation and Limited Sharing

It is crucial to choose a Video CMS platform that allows you to automate the process of assigning video access to the relevant groups and specific users. This can be done through features like role-based access management, group-based permission management and video sharing, and other methods of secure sharing.

• Video Search and Discovery

A core purpose of a Video CMS is the creation of a centralized video repository that can automate the process of indexing all your video content and tagging them appropriately for swift searchability.

• Artificial Intelligence

Efficient Video CMS platforms have various artificial intelligence capabilities to automate video management that allows for time-saving and increased productivity.

• Integrations

Choose a Video CMS that is easily able to integrate with your existing IT and business applications like video conferencing systems such as Zoom and learning management systems like Canvas. These integrations allow for high interoperability and remove digital silos. Go for a platform that supports integrations with your existing IT systems or will enable you to have a custom integration.

• Video Hosting Options

It is recommended for you to opt for a Video CMS platform that allows you to store your videos in the data center of your choice with the option for data migration if the need arises in the future. This is crucial for compliances like GDPR applied to the data of the European residents.

Let us now explore an analysis of the top 7 Video Sharing CMS based on the above criteria.

List of the 7 Best Video CMS:

1. VIDIZMO
2. Microsoft Stream
3. Panopto
4. Brightcove
5. IBM Cloud Video
6. Wistia
7. Vimeo

VIDIZMO

VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube is an enterprise video content management system (Video CMS) built for end-to-end management of live and on-demand videos catering to either internal or external audiences, all centrally searchable in a secure video library.

On top of it all, what makes it one of the best Video CMS is its offerings of artificial intelligence, customizations and approachable customer support.

Plus, VIDIZMO is a highly interoperable platform with many out-of-the-box integrations with various existing IT systems (like video conferencing systems like Zoom, LMS, CMS, CRM) alongside custom integrations with applications required for your particular business use case.

VIDIZMO is designed to keep security in mind and fulfills all major compliances needed by public and private organizations operating in different regions and industries.

The US Department of State trusts our security for internal hosting of on-demand videos - Read More of This Story

Let’s analyze the main benefits and drawbacks of VIDIZMO:

Benefits:

• FIPS 140-2 Compliant end-to-end content encryption
• Comprehensive security features like DRM support, IP and Geo-restrictions, and custom retention and security policies
• Flexible single sign-on integration options with more than 25 SSO providers that cover a range of directory services (like Azure AD), IAM services (like Okta) and 3^rd party login services (like Google)
• Automatically synchronize and manage users and groups from your existing ID directory through SCIM or create new groups to segregate videos and bulk control user permissions
• Role-based access controls to bulk control user’s access and permissions to content and actions
• Easily viewable Audit trials for the whole platform and individual videos to track user activities and meet compliances like GDPR and HIPAA
• An accessible multilingual platform with Section 508 compliant video playback through automatic transcriptions, translation of these transcriptions, audio descriptions and keyboard shortcuts
• Data storage is available through Azure which covers about 90 compliances, and AWS that covers tons of compliances as well

• Rich sharing options that allow you to share videos with limited views and time or share through email with external viewers using temporary authentication

   

• Platform-wide search to help you find videos based on categories, automatic and manual tags, and user-defined custom attributes that you can use to filter your search
• AI-powered in-video search through spoken words, on-screen text, faces, and objects
• Allows you to flexibly deploy in a cloud of your choice, on-premise, hybrid infrastructure, or as SaaS (in US, EU and Japan).
• Can also host on Azure Cloud (Commercial or Government) or AWS Cloud (Commercial or Government) in the region of your choice
• Supports 255+ video formats playable on any device or browser in different bandwidth conditions globally
• Can make videos interactive through in-video quizzes, handouts, and surveys
• Provides your actionable insights to improve your video content through detailed video analytics and reporting
• White-label VOD platform with comprehensive custom branding options for video portal and player

Drawbacks:

• No default functionality to monetize your videos, but you can opt for a 3^rd party integration to achieve this
• Not possible to create videos on VIDIZMO, but can integrate with content creation tools

Learn More About VIDIZMO Video Content Management System (CMS)

Microsoft Stream

Microsoft Stream is a Video CMS that caters specifically to businesses utilizing videos for internal use cases. It is termed as a corporate video sharing service as it best works for use cases focused on secure video sharing and management. It lacks more so in terms of its video playback, encoding and AI capabilities.

Here is an analysis of MS Stream’s benefits and drawbacks:

Benefits:

• Can be used in tandem with other Microsoft documents on SharePoint and OneDrive
• Videos are highly secure as they are FIPS 140-2 end-to-end encrypted
• SSO integration is available
• Securely stores your data in Microsoft Azure’s data centers in the region of your choice
• Microsoft Azure covers about 90 regulatory compliances
• Audit logs are maintained on MS Stream
• Can bulk control access through creating various user teams
• Videos can be made accessible to the entire organization or limited to certain groups or specific users
• Can share videos externally via links or email
• Integrates with other Office365 applications, including MS Teams
• Extensive video organization capabilities through different folders and channels
• Automatically transcribes videos in English

Drawbacks:

• No custom security features like custom privacy policy for your unique requirements
• No limited sharing options (cannot limit view or time availability)
• Not possible to embed videos on external websites
• Cannot add custom metadata for improved search
• No in-video search through transcripts, faces or objects
• No artificial intelligence capabilities
• Transcripts are not editable, cannot be translated into other languages
• Lack of translations, closed captions, and keyboard shortcuts make the video player not accessible to a diverse audience
• No custom integrations are available
• Cannot natively integrate with important applications like Zoom and Google Analytics
• Difficult to integrate with applications outside of Office365 as you will need to utilize the Microsoft Stream API to custom build these
• No data hosting options outside of Microsoft Azure with no on-premise deployment option
• No pre-encoding and caching for video files above 50 Mbps
• Not possible to create an external YouTube-like video portal for purposes like marketing
• Not possible to add interactivity elements like quizzes or forms in your videos

Learn more about Microsoft Stream and its alternatives

Panopto

Panopto is a video CMS that caters best to internal education-related use cases through its tools of content creation, video sharing and management. However, it lacks in terms of external video streaming capabilities due to basic branding features and no customization options. It also is limited in terms of its security and compliance features.

Let us now analyze the benefits and drawbacks of Panopto:

Benefits:

• SSO integration is present
• Allows role-based access control for assigning user roles set permissions and access levels
• Bulk control permissions and segregate content through creating user groups
• Embed videos on external websites
• Can share videos organization-wide, with specific groups or particular users
• Search inside videos available through speech and objects
• Automatic transcription and translation is available
• Several integrations with video conferencing, LMS and CRM tools for startups are available
• Create videos through screen recording
• Data hosting available on-premise, in the cloud or in a hybrid model

Drawbacks:

• No SCIM support to automatically map users and groups based on your company’s ID directory
• Cannot restrict permissions for end-users, like sharing, downloading, etc.
• Not possible to set a custom number of days media stays in recycle bin
• Audit trails can only be obtained by contacting Panopto’s support team
• Cannot request custom support for specific compliances unique to your organization
• Not possible to create a custom privacy policy like a GDPR consent form
• Cannot limit sharing through restricting the number of views or time availability
• No SSO and Authenticated Embedding
• Cannot assign custom metadata to videos for improved searchability
• No facial recognition for improved search
• Not available in Microsoft Azure Government Cloud and AWS Government Cloud
• Limited branding and customizations for the video player
• Lack of important security features like DRM support, password protection on videos, custom security policy, etc.

Learn more about Panopto and its alternatives

Brightcove

Brightcove is an external audience-focused Video CMS that best caters to clients from the entertainment, broadcasting and sports industries. It has top-notch branding capabilities with monetization support and other customer engagement features. However, this platform has no AI capabilities and relies highly on integrations with 3^rd party applications to fill many feature gaps.

Let us now analyze in depth the benefits and drawbacks of Brightcove for your organization:

Benefits:

• Live streaming available
• Support available for closed captions and audio description
• Can share videos through links
• Can monetize videos for revenue generation
• Can advertise on your videos
• Offers a range of OTT-focused services
• Can embed videos on external websites

Drawbacks:

• Lack of features to support internal streaming
• Cannot internally live stream for a limited audience
• Cannot internally segregate content through user groups
• No AI-powered smart search capabilities for searching inside videos
• Lack of custom metadata support for improving video search
• No artificial intelligence capabilities
• Lack of critical integrations like SSO, Zoom, MS Teams, etc.
• Cannot make videos interactive for organizational learning
• No option of video hosting in the region of your choice

Learn more about Brightcove and its alternatives

IBM Cloud Video

This Video CMS is more on the simpler side for organizations wanting to stream and live or on-demand videos to only external audiences.

Hence, IBM Cloud Video supports OTT streaming with features like monetization and ad insertion. It is geared more towards live streaming. This platform lacks in terms of internal secure streaming as well as many crucial integrations to support it. This platform is also not found to be easy-to-use and requires IT support for assistance.

Here are the benefits and drawbacks of IBM Cloud Video:

Benefits:

• Provides OTT services
• You can integrate it with OTT billing providers
• Can easily embed videos on external sites for public viewing
• Possible to monetize your videos
• Allows you to add custom metadata to your videos for improved search and discovery
• Automatic transcription
• Choose an IBM data center in the region of your choice for video hosting

Drawbacks:

• The platform does not support internal video streaming
• Not possible to create user groups to internally segregate content and limit access to videos
• Cannot make your videos interactive for organizational or educational learning use cases
• Cannot brand your video portal and player
• Lack of crucial integrations like SSO, Zoom, etc.
• API support is only included in the high-end package

• Can only customize your video player through the high-end package of IBM Watson Media

  Learn more about IBM and its alternatives

Wistia

Wistia is another Video CMS on the simpler side that is more so designed for marketing-focused external on-demand video content. It is a YouTube-like ad-free platform that has out-of-the-box integrations with many marketing and sales applications like CRM tools or analytics tracker etc.

Here is an analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of Wistia:

Benefits:

• Domain restriction available and can host videos with password protection
• Role-based access controls are available for restricting permissions
• Integrates with 3^rd party marketing and sales tools like CRM, email marketing, analytics tracker, etc.
• Ad-free platform
• Can place clickable CTAs on your videos
• SEO-optimized embedding is offered with fast load time

Drawbacks:

• No end-to-end encryption and limited security option
• Live streaming is not available
• Highly focused on external marketing linked video streaming
• Cannot add custom metadata to videos to aid in searchability
• No smart search capabilities
• Cannot create user groups to segregate content and bulk manage permissions
• No artificial intelligence capabilities
• Not possible to choose where to host your videos
• Lacks crucial integrations like LMS, SSO, video conferencing solutions
• Minimal branding options

Vimeo

Vimeo is a well-known OTT-focused simple YouTube alternative designed for enterprise use. The platform allows ad-free live and on-demand video streaming for an external audience with the intention of monetization, marketing and entertainment mainly. However, the platform’s customer service is a weak point and customers have reported consistent lags and glitches.

Let us explore all the benefits and drawbacks of Vimeo:

Benefits:

• Supports mainly OTT-focused services
• Can monetize your videos
• Option to insert clickable CTA at the end of the video
• Possible to brand the Vimeo video player
• You can retain 100% ownership of your videos
• Freemium model as a free version is available for basic video streaming

Drawbacks:

• Live stream only possible in the high-end package
• Not possible to customize the security policy
• Cannot create user groups or have role-based access control in place
• Is not designed to support internal video streaming
• App glitches, lags and buffering
• Unresponsive customer support
• Cannot make videos interactive through quizzes, handouts, etc.
• Banned in certain countries

Learn more about Vimeo and its alternatives

Conclusion

The above 7 options cover a wide range of features, capabilities and use cases based on different customer requirements with some focused on education like Panopto, some externally focused like Vimeo, some made entirely for marketing like Wistia and some made for your enterprise-grade internal or external secure video streaming and management requirements like VIDIZMO.

Your organization must figure out its video needs and choose a Video CMS that best fits them using the analysis shown above!

A "video cms" is just one type of video platform. Read more on the different types in our blog on video platforms.