Price
Premium Plan
- 3000 Viewer Hours
- 27 cents per additional Hour
- $350/month
Network Plan
- 15,000 Viewer Hours
- .17 cents per additional Hour
- $1250/month
Starter Package
- 100 Ad-Free Viewer Hours
- 50¢ per additional Hour
- $99 a month
Standard Package
- 4000 Ad-Free Viewer Hours
- 25¢ per additional Hour
- $499 a month*
A viewing hour is one user watching a one hour video, or two users watching a 30 minute video. Ten users watching a one hour video would constitute ten viewing hours.
LiveStream paid plan is in my opinion the best, and its pricing beats Ustream's paid plan.
Streaming Quality
LiveStream free version will play a pre-roll ad when you first access the site, and if you embed the player on your site, it plays a pre-roll ad again, when a user plays your video. This can be a problem for some users, especially if they are paying to see your stream.
With the free version, every thing you stream will be recorded by LiveStream. If you choose the Premiuim Procaster app, you can select no auto record, under preferences.
While Ustream had no limit to the size of your video, LiveStream has a 10 GB cap on their free service. If you need more, you will have to purchase one of the premium services.
Also, LiveStream’s free service player leaves much to be desired.
LiveStream’s free service limits the number of concurrent viewers to 50, and has limited functionality (i.e. no monetization of the free version). I found the player screen on the free version less than adequate.
However, LiveStream Premium service is far better than the free version, but cost begins at $350 a month
The biggest complaint about Ustream is that it has a slower speed rate, and sometimes lags.
Some users of Ustream complain of drops, or video freezes.
When audio is used the video almost never syncs with the audio.
Ustream has had some maintenance issues, but most of these have been corrected.
I like the way the embedded play for Ustream shows previously recorded videos underneath. Hovering over them shows show title and date recorded. This is not included in LiveStream.
The free versions of both products are limited. Most of the issues and limitations are done away in the paid versions.
Design & Customization
LiveStream Premium has a nicer player than Ustream, and more features than Ustream.
LiveStream Premium allows several monetizing functions, Ustream has none.
LiveStream Premium, allows producers to stream at rates of up to 1700Kbps.
LiveStream Premium allows higher quality video. Producers can choose between the following Premium quality settings:
- Basic Quality (500kbps VP6)
- High Quality (700kbps VP6)
- HD Quality (1700kbps VP6)
- Basic Quality H.264 Beta (500kbps H.264)
- High Quality H.264 Beta (700kbps H.264)
LiveStream Premium Studio allows Advanced Video Settings, so producers can customize the aspect ratio from defaults of 4:3, 16:9, or enter a custom setting. Producers can also select to either "Crop" or "Letterbox" imported content.
LiveStream’s Privacy Settings allowed me to limit the number of users, to limit audience by location, or limit by selected URL’s. After the broadcast, a .csv file can be downloaded containing an email address list of all my viewers.
Monetization settings cannot be set in Ustream, but LiveStream has a great monetization platform. By default the Premium version of LiveStream is ad free, but supporting partners advertisement could be added to monetize my site. Monetization can also be configured for direct pay, where my customer enter’s payment instructions to view the stream.
LiveStream also keeps historical views, so that I can revert to a previous stream, or pull a previous stream up for editing, using an external application.
LiveStream allows me to mix a live feed with pre-recorded video. So I could play a lead-in video before my show.
LiveStream allows me to mix multiple cameras so that I could have a camera in several offices, or in several countries and play them together.
Ustream has fewer functions than LiveStream, but what it does, it does very well.
Ustream is a stable service, with a good quality embedded player. I prefer their embedded player to Livestream’s free version.
Ustream shows fewer video ads. While I know both will use pre-roll video ads, Ustream doesn’t run them all of the time, but LiveStream plays a pre-roll with every stream.
Ustream has a decent player and allows the viewer several choices.
Ustream allows unlimited viewers.
Ustream has fewer and less intrusive ads.
UStream’s chat function is pretty decent, and easy to control.
LiveStream Premium has more features than Ustream, but Ustream's free version far outdoes LiveStream's free version.
Both paid versions are superior to their free version, but if I were only going to use the free version, I would definitely go with Ustream. Fewer ads, better player, unlimited viewers (with the free version) make Ustream the better choice.
However, if I were to choose a Paid version, LiveStream Premium has many more and much better features.
Summary
The driving factor in choosing between these two services is going to be based on the features you need and the quality and limitations you are willing to settle upon.
UStream’s ad free premium version is a great product, but it has limited features.
LiveStream Premium has a much better screen graphic display, and allows multiple cameras.
A great features of LiveStream is the ability to mix a live feed with pre-recorded video. So I could play a lead-in video before my show. And, LiveStream allows me to mix multiple cameras so that I could have a camera in several offices, or in several countries and play them together.
If your okay with a simple platform that will give you a low cost ad-free option, then UStream may be all you need.
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Consumer Tech > Web Applications > Video Streaming Platforms
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can this be updated to include livestreams new version for 45$ a month?