SproutVideo is a video hosting platform for business, covering both on-demand video and live streaming. It is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and was founded in August 2010. The company describes itself as bootstrapped and says it hosts tens of millions of videos and live streams for audiences around the world.
The product combines a customizable player, privacy controls, viewer analytics, and marketing tools in one account. Videos are ad-free and can be kept private, embedded on other sites, or published on hosted video websites and landing pages. A 30-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
How does SproutVideo work?
Users upload videos in a wide range of formats, or import them from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Box. SproutVideo encodes the files for playback, supports resolutions up to 8K, and delivers them through a global CDN with adaptive bitrate streaming so quality adjusts to each viewer's connection.
Videos are shared through embed codes, direct links, or hosted video sites. Live streams are broadcast from encoding software and measured in live input minutes and live delivery minutes. A RESTful API and a JavaScript player API let developers upload videos, pull reports, and build custom player skins.
Key features of SproutVideo
The player supports custom colors, playlists, animated thumbnails, subtitles, autoplay, loop, playback speeds, and reusable presets. Security options include password protection, viewer login, domain whitelists, two-factor authentication, AES 128 encryption, and dynamic watermarks that show a viewer's email, IP address, and session ID.
Analytics cover plays, impressions, device type, location, and per-viewer watch behavior, plus real-time live stream counts. Marketing tools include in-player calls to action, lead capture that gates videos, post-play screens, video SEO, and more than 30 marketing integrations.
Key Features
Customizable player and embeds — Custom colors, playlists, still or animated thumbnails, subtitles, autoplay, loop, playback speeds, presets, and responsive, lightbox, and email embed codes.
Up to 8K playback with CDN delivery — Supports HD and Ultra-HD up to 8K and 60 FPS, HTML5 playback, adaptive bitrate streaming, and a global content delivery network.
Live streaming — Broadcast live video with real-time metrics such as current viewers, peak views, unique visitors, and average time watched. Usage is measured in live input and live delivery minutes.
Dynamic watermarks and playback restrictions — Watermark videos with the viewer's email, IP address, and session ID, and restrict playback by domain, IP address, or geographic location on higher plans.
Viewer-level analytics — Plays, impressions, engagement rate, device type, location, and per-viewer watch, rewatch, and skip behavior, with analytics graphs and CSV report exports.
In-player calls to action and lead capture — Display clickable links or messages at set times, gate videos behind contact forms, and use post-play screens to direct traffic.
Video SEO and marketing integrations — Video SEO tools and sitemaps plus more than 30 marketing integrations including HubSpot, Zapier, and Mailchimp.
Video websites and landing pages — Mobile-optimized, customizable video websites and landing pages for on-demand videos, live streams, and playlists, with no coding required.
API access — A RESTful API to upload and manage videos, access data reports, build custom player skins, and create OAuth apps, plus a JavaScript player API.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Pricing is public, with four clearly tiered plans and a 30-day free trial that needs no credit card.
Ad-free, white label player with custom colors, playlists, animated thumbnails, and presets.
Broad privacy toolkit including password protection, whitelists, two-factor authentication, and dynamic watermarks.
Per-viewer analytics and real-time live stream metrics, with CSV report exports.
Built-in lead capture, in-player calls to action, and 30+ marketing integrations.
Storage and bandwidth are never hard-capped, so videos keep playing past included amounts.
Cons
No permanent free plan; evaluation is limited to a 30-day trial.
Seed lists no included live streaming minutes, so live use requires Sprout or higher.
Dynamic watermarks, SSO, and geo or IP playback restrictions require the Tree or Forest plans.
Usage beyond included storage and bandwidth is billed per GB, which can raise costs for high-volume libraries.
Pricing
Seed $12/month billed annually ($15/month billed monthly) Annual or monthly
Sprout $35/month billed annually ($45/month billed monthly) Annual or monthly
Tree $72/month billed annually ($95/month billed monthly) Annual or monthly
Forest $195/month billed annually ($295/month billed monthly) Annual or monthly
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SproutVideo?
SproutVideo is a video hosting and live streaming platform for businesses. It provides private, ad-free hosting, a customizable player, viewer analytics, and video marketing tools. The company is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and was founded in 2010.
How much does SproutVideo cost?
Plans start at $12 per month billed annually ($15 billed monthly) for Seed. Sprout is $35 annually or $45 monthly, Tree is $72 or $95, and Forest is $195 or $295. Extra storage, bandwidth, and live minutes beyond included amounts are billed by usage.
Does SproutVideo have a free trial?
Yes. SproutVideo offers a free 30-day trial of all features. No credit card or commitment is required to start.
Does SproutVideo support live streaming?
Yes. SproutVideo supports live streaming with real-time viewer metrics. Included live input and delivery minutes start on the Sprout plan, and extra minutes are billed per minute. The Seed plan lists no included live minutes.
What does SproutVideo integrate with?
The site names HubSpot, Zapier, Mailchimp, Make, Act-On, and AWeber, and says it offers 30+ marketing integrations. Embed codes work with Shopify, WordPress, and Squarespace. A RESTful API is also available.
Can SproutVideo keep videos private?
Yes. Options include private videos, password protection, viewer login, domain whitelists, two-factor authentication, and AES 128 encrypted delivery. Dynamic watermarks begin on the Tree plan, while SSO and geo or IP restrictions are on Forest.
Is SproutVideo good for small businesses?
The company says it serves thousands of small and medium-sized organizations. Seed starts at $12 per month billed annually and includes analytics, marketing tools, and white label hosting for 2 team members. Small teams with larger libraries should check per-GB overage rates.
Can I move videos from another host to SproutVideo?
The help center includes a guide for migrating from Vimeo, Wistia, or another video host. Videos can also be imported from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Box.