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Top 10 Online Live Streaming Class Platforms for Remote Learning [2024 Update]

By Max Wilbert | Posted on by Max Wilbert | 35 min Read
Online Live Streaming Class Platforms Image

Online education use has surged in recent years and is increasingly prominent. Online video education is expected to continue its upward trend with a 9.1% compound annual growth rate by 2026. Now part of the new normal, the best schools, institutions and professional organizations utilize the power of remote learning. Consequently, the demand for professional live-streaming video platforms for online learning has exploded.

To meet this demand, high-quality online video education platforms are necessary. Teachers need reliable, high-quality video streaming to best replicate the classroom. They need a feature-rich e-platform and the ability to upload pre-recorded educational videos, too.

In this article, we cover the e-learning industry and live-streaming platforms for online learning. We compare the 10 best live streaming and online course platforms for online class creation and presentation. Furthermore, we provide live-streaming tips to help educators give their best online lessons yet.

Please note that live streaming platform technology and pricing change regularly. By updating the post with e-learning-specific information and guidelines, this post reflects the most accurate information as of March 2024.

Table of Contents

Online Learning at a Glance

Before we dive into education, live streaming, and online learning platforms, let’s take a look at some stats and trends that exemplify the state of remote learning:

Due to the pandemic, remote learning has snowballed, forcing educational video-on-demand services to get more competitive to capture that increased demand.  

Increased competition among such platforms is good news for streamers and broadcasters. Features have advanced, and there will continue to be many more exciting innovations in the space.

The Ever-changing Demand for Digital Learning

study stream live

Technology has found its way into classrooms worldwide over the past five to ten years. For example, interactive smartboards have replaced old-school projectors and bulky televisions.

Even in traditional classroom settings, homework involves using online learning tools. As a result, many schools require children to have iPads or other tablets as young as elementary school. 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, online learning platforms for schools have become very important for students around the globe. At the pandemic’s start, many educators exclusively relied on Zoom live streaming as their online virtual classroom software. 

Nearly three years in, educators have now had time to prepare for remote learning. However, many have found that the solution for online learning for grade schools and universities requires more than Zoom.

Many schools have created online learning platforms on their websites with the help of professional video platforms with both live broadcasting and VOD streaming capabilities. That allows them to live stream classes and upload lessons to their remote online learning platforms for students to access video on demand whenever it’s most convenient for them.

A live streaming platform is a cloud-based solution that allows you to live stream, upload videos securely, manage content, and share streams worldwide.

Some online learning platforms that enable live streaming classes, including Dacast, now support Zoom meeting integrations. That means they can rely on their servers and professional streaming tools while accessing Zoom’s video conference function with real-time latency.

Though varied in specific features and cost, these live classroom video hosting platforms typically provide a similar range of tools for video broadcasting. In addition, professional online learning platforms often give you more control over your content than a free online learning platform for education, like YouTube.

Features to Look for in a Live Teaching Platform

live teaching platform

Choosing the best online learning platform impacts your student’s digital classroom experience.

When it comes to hosting and broadcasting videos, educators have several specific factors and live-streaming pricing needs that differ from other industries.

Here are a few features that are particularly helpful for creating a platform for live-streaming lectures and other educational materials. Please look for these specific features when choosing the best online learning platform.

1. Security and Privacy Settings

Educational videos are typically restricted to authorized viewers, making privacy and security tools essential.

Look for a live-streaming online video platform fully loaded with privacy and security features, including private hosting, password protection, end-to-end encryption, secure video upload, domain restrictions, and more. Security and privacy settings are essential for schools that want to retain control over the content produced in their live online classes.

2. White-Label Video Player

White-label video streaming refers to content that doesn’t include branding except your own. Most paid video hosting software platforms allow you to stream without mentioning their name to your viewers.

Free video hosting providers, such as YouTube Live and Facebook Live, keep their own branding on the video player and landing page that houses it, which is both unprofessional and distracting to students.

On the other hand, white-label video players also typically only contain third-party ads if you set them up for video monetization. That allows you to set up a more controlled online learning platform. 

3. API Access

Application Programming Interface (API) is a tool that allows broadcasters to integrate external apps and programs. For example, video API will enable you to customize your video content management system, whereas player API allows you to customize the actual video player.

API can also help you integrate video tools into web applications, such as online learning platforms like Canvas, Blackboard, and more.

API access is now more critical than ever since many schools try to keep things simple for their students but want to curate a virtual streaming classroom experience consistent with in-person learning.

4. Video Monetization

If you operate an online learning platform that is not publicly funded or tuition-based, you may consider monetizing your educational video content to generate revenue.

Many independent online educators create courses and packages of video content sold as-is. With monetized content, viewers simply enter their payment information directly in the video player window. After payment, viewers can access the video. 

Monetization tools are fundamental for quickly and easily generating revenue from your educational videos. But, again, monetization is used more by independent educators as opposed to grade schools, universities, or even technical schools.

If you operate an accredited institution, video monetization should be okay with you since you are funded by taxpayers or tuition.

The 10 Best Online Learning Platforms to Live Stream Classes

Many online learning platforms are suitable for hosting and streaming online lectures. However, you should choose the best online learning platform based on its ability to meet your institution’s specific needs. For example, the best online learning platforms for elementary students may differ from the best online learning experience for college students.

List non-negotiable features in your head as you evaluate each online learning platform below.

Here are a few of the best online learning platforms for live-streaming virtual classes and other educational content.

1. Dacast

online video training platform

Platform Overview:

Dacast’s online video education platform is one of the best online learning platforms for all educational institutions that supports live streaming and on-demand video hosting.

Its unified streaming solution provides Zoom live streaming. This makes real-time streaming possible for ultra-smooth video, well-suited for conference-style virtual classes.

Key Features:

Monetization features such as pay-per-view, subscriptions, and ad-based on-demand video are supported on all plans. It is also important to note that every plan on Dacast is fully white-label.

Dacast also supports powerful video uploading, optimized CMS, advanced security, and China video hosting. The Dacast learning platform is ideal for institutions and schools with a more comprehensive video-on-demand library compared to other online learning platforms. In addition, it’s perfect if you have large numbers of instructors creating content for different subjects and courses.

Detailed Features:

New!

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: none (but 240p is the recommended minimum)

  • Maximum dimension: 1080p or 4K (depends on the user’s hardware and internet)

  • Video aspect ratio: no restrictions (but 16:9 is the default)

  • Max file size: none

  • Max video length: none

  • Total file storage: 10-1000GB (depends on plan)

  • Compatible video formats: MP4 (preferred), MOV, M4V, M2V, AVI, MPG, FLV, WMV, MKV, WEBM, OGV, MXF, ASF, VOB, MT

Pricing:

Pricing for Dacast’s live streaming for education solutions starts at $39/month. Pricing plans include:

  • Starter Plan: $39/month (billed annually); ideal for small schools; comes with 2.4 TB of bandwidth and 500 GB of storage per month

  • Event Plan: $63/month (or $750/year); for educational organizations that would rather not sign a contract and want to purchase bandwidth separately to livestream an event. It offers 6 TB of bandwidth upfront and 250 GB of storage; additional data and storage can be added as needed.

  • Scale Plan: $165/month (billed annually); includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year, with 2 TB of storage; adds phone support, monetization paywall, an M3U8 online player for live channels, ad insertion, white-label video player, and video API access.

  • Custom Plan: if your school has high-volume streaming needs, you can contact Dacast for a custom plan tailored to your needs

Dacast also offers custom pricing for higher-volume streaming. Dacast supports you in creating an online learning platform that offers live streaming and on-demand content while allowing you complete control over privacy, monetization, and presentation.

2. Panopto

panopto video platform for education

Panopto has the tools to manage online courses, recorded lectures, classroom videos, and media assets in a secure, searchable video learning platform.

Platform Overview:

Panopto is known as a leading video platform for the education industry. It was originally designed as an online learning platform. Both universities and large companies with extensive internal training programs also use this learning platform. 

Panopto includes easy-to-use software for capturing live lectures. They also have an advanced video search engine.

Key Features:

Panopto is one of the best live-streaming solutions, specifically focusing on creating an online learning environment. It integrates easily into Learning Management Systems. In addition, many of the tools in Panopto are similar to YouTube, making it easy for people to switch from YouTube to Panopto. 

You can’t monetize your videos directly on Panopto; you need to add InPlayer for monetization. They offer a white-label experience and API access for a true custom solution. 

Plus, they offer the option to make content private, which is essential when protecting your educational content’s value.

Its editing tools are pretty easy to use, which is an attractive feature for teachers who aren’t tech-savvy. Plus, it offers in-video notes, quizzes, and discussions, making the distance learning video courses highly interactive.  

A notable feature of the platform is its accessibility tools, such as automated transcript generation.

This online live class platform is also student-friendly. Your students can add bookmarks to the video and make time-stamped notes. The cataloguing system is also accurate, allowing them to find the exact lectures they want by typing in some keywords.

Detailed Features:

  • Lecture-capture and video-search software

  • Access control & security features

  • White-label streaming

  • Integration with LMS systems

  • APIs for further integrations.

  • Audio Content

  • Video engagement analytics

  • Document Indexing

  • Customizable Branding

  • Full-Text Search

  • Video Content

  • Asset Categorization

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Compatible video formats: AVI, MP4, MPG, WMV, MOV, QT, ASF, 3GP, WMA, MP3, M4V

  • All other upload guidelines and specs are only available to paying customers. 

Pricing:

Contact Ponopto directly for custom pricing on its enterprise package.

Panopto focuses on the education market and has developed tools that allow it to integrate into your learning management system. However, it doesn’t offer the ability to monetize your content for your online video education platform directly; that requires some extra steps. 

3. Muvi

muvi elearning video portal

With Muvi, it’s easy for professional educators, teachers, and coaches to launch online course platforms.

Platform Overview:

If you want to monetize your educational content and get it on as many devices as possible, the next online class platform you should consider is Muvi. 

They support all three primary video monetization methods:

  • Subscriptions

  • Pay-per-view

  • Advertising 

Muvi offers the ability to create courses and learning apps for various platforms, including: 

  • iOS App

  • Windows app

  • Android App

  • LG TV app

  • Chromecast streaming support

  • Roku app

If you want to get your learning content on apps, Muvi can quickly achieve that goal. Everything you need to do happens within a single content management system (CMS). 

Muvi also has a dedicated e-learning video portal to assist with live-streaming classes. 

Key Features:

Muvi makes it easy to create a multi-screen live stream platform. In addition to supporting live streaming, they also offer audio streaming and support VOD. They are a robust video streaming solution with a single CMS to simplify organizing your online learning video content.

Its live chat features allow you to interact with your students throughout the lecture. In addition, you can choose to put subtitles in multiple languages and thus drastically increase your reach globally. 

Another key feature of Muvi’s online class platform is the time-stamped linking. You can add notes, PDF files, and PPTs to specific sections of the online video class. 

We believe it’s one of the best online learning platforms because you can record multiple lectures simultaneously. So if you’re linked to an academic institution and buy a membership with Muvi, then rest assured that various tutors and users can live stream and record their lectures simultaneously. And store them in the library for specific students to watch on demand.

Detailed Features:

  • White-label with branding customization

  • HTML5 video player

  • Video analytics

  • Monetization tools 

  • DRM and security features

  • Live and on-demand hosting

  • Powerful CDN

  • Video CMS

  • Transcoding

  • Secure streaming

  • Website and Apps for Mobile and TV

  • Live stream capability 

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 144p (256 x 144)

  • Maximum dimension: 4K (3840  x2160)

  • Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3

  • Max file size: not available

  • Max video length: not available

  • Total file storage: 1TB, 2TB, 5TB (depending on plan)

  • Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, VOB, M4V, AVI, 3GP, MPG

Pricing:

Muvi prices its plans at the following five levels:

  • Standard plan: $399/month (+ $299/month per app + infra fees), allows 2000 concurrent viewers, 1TB each of bandwidth and storage, and API support.

  • Professional plan: at $1,499 per month (+ $499/month per app + infra fees), increases limits further and adds premium support.

  • Enterprise plan: $3,900 per month (+ $499/month per app + infra fees) adds a dedicated server with auto-scaling.

  • Ultimate plan: Includes Enterprise plan + unlimited concurrent users, monthly security and performance, reports, proactive monitoring and setup. Contact sales directly for pricing.

If you are looking to launch your education platform and you want an easy-to-use solution, Muvi is an excellent choice for your online courses if you have the budget for their plans. 

4. Hippo Video

Hippo video platform for education

Hippo Video is a streaming platform with software for hosting virtual classrooms online.

Platform Overview:

Hippo Video is a professional live-stream hosting provider focusing on marketing and sales. However, they also have virtual classroom software specifically for educational live streaming. Lyceum Technologies founded it in 2016. 

Hippo Video offers plans for broadcasters at all price points, making it great for small and large learning needs.

Key Features:

Hippo Video has unique virtual classroom software you can download as a Chrome extension. You can use the extension to record videos and then edit them. With their video editing tools, you can: 

  • Merge

  • Cut

  • Crop

  • Trim

  • Add emojis

What makes Hippo Video’s online learning platform one of the best online learning experiences is its integration with Google Docs, Google Slides, and Gmail. These tools are widely used for sharing documents, so these integrations are quite helpful. 

It’s designed with different levels of expertise in mind. They offer simple editing tools for regular users and have complicated pro editing ones for tech-savvy instructors. 

You also have markup tools for highlighting text or images while recording, focusing on certain screen areas, and erasing information. 

Thanks to its guest recording feature, your students can record presentations or assignments and send them to you without signing up with the platform.

Detailed Features:

  • Editing and video creation tools

  • Customization options

  • Marketing tools (CTAs, analytics, etc.)

  • Screen recording

  • Hosting tools (transcoding, closed captioning, organization)

  • Collaboration tools

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 480p

  • Maximum dimension: 1080p

  • Aspect ratio: not available

  • Max file size: 3 GB

  • Max video length: 5 minutes on Free plans, 2 hours on Premium plans

  • Total file storage: n/a

  • Compatible video formats: not available

Pricing:

Hippo Video has a complex pricing structure since it offers a variety of solutions for different use cases. Here’s a breakdown of pricing for the most popular categories:

Sales

  • Free: 500 MB file size limit; 15-minute video length limit; streaming with a watermark and end card; 100GB of bandwidth

  • Pro: $20/month/user/annually; 2 GB file size limit; 60-minute video length limit; white-label streaming; 200GB Bandwidth (7-day free trial available)

  • Teams: $60/month/user/annually; 3 GB file size limit; 120-minute video length limit; white-label streaming; 200GB of bandwidth (7-day free trial available)

  • Enterprise: $80/month/annually; contact Hippo Video to learn more

*Users can contact Hippo Video directly for recorder API pricing.

All of the prices above reflect the rate when billed annually. Please check the Hippo pricing page for more quarterly and monthly pricing information.

Hippo is an excellent live-streaming service if you need flexibility with pricing and budget. They offer a wide range of live stream plans that can work for educational organizations of all sizes. 

5. Kaltura

kaltura video platform for education

Live teaching platforms like Kaltura are cloud-based and do not require servers, making them fantastic investments for educational institutions.

Platform Overview:

Kaltura offers a cloud-based video service for large educational institutions. With their cloud-based solution, you can host live and on-demand learning experiences. Kaltura’s platform is designed for educational purposes, making it a robust educational video platform.

Kaltura is open-source, which means there are almost endless plug-ins and integration possibilities. Allowing you to create a custom eLearning experience.

Key Features:

If you are looking to keep your educational content secure, Kaltura offers a wide range of security features, such as:

  • DRM

  • Access control 

  • Encryption

Educational content holds much value, and Kaltura also offers many monetization tools. The service is white-label, with APIs for custom programming, allowing you to create the educational learning experience that fits your goals.

The online class platform is built for institutions that cater to millions of students daily. It has excellent collaboration tools, so you can invite other professors or students to engage with you on the virtual whiteboard. 

You can also go to breakout rooms and have quality discussions in small groups. 

With Kaltura’s advanced analytics, you can easily keep track of attendance and engagement throughout your lectures. 

This educational streaming service is optimized for mobile screens, tablets, and PCs so your students and staff can log in for their online courses from anywhere.

Detailed Features:

  • Security features (password protection, encryption, and watermarking)

  • Cloud TV service

  • Closed captioning available for accessibility

  • Monetization options include advertising, subscriptions, and one-time transactions

  • Video looping available

  • Allows bulk video uploading

  • Chat tools 

  • Screen sharing

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Recommended dimensions: 180p (320×180) to 1080p (1920×1080)

  • Supported aspect ratios: 16:9, 4:3

  • Maximum file size: 2 GB

  • Maximum video length: Unknown (No limits are published)

  • Total file storage: 10 GB to unlimited, depending on the plan

  • Accepted video formats: MOV, MP4

Pricing:

Pricing for Kaltura is not available on their website. Users negotiate contracts on a case-by-case basis. In general, these range from $500 to $1000 and up per month.

There is also a free trial account and pay as you go options available.

If you are looking for a platform that is all about customization, Kaltura is open-source and focused on education, which means the platform offers many unique tools and features.

6. Zype

zype platform for live online classes

Zype is another excellent option for education live streaming.

Platform Overview:

Zype is a live-streaming solution for educational institutions and freelance educators with large budgets and vast video hosting needs. They offer a simple content management system that allows you to manage, live stream, organize, and monetize your content in one place. 

One of their top features is the ability to create and launch mobile and TV apps for your learning video content.

Key Features:

Zype is one of the best online learning platform options for live online courses, focusing on managing, hosting, and delivering high-quality educational live streams.

Zype offers many monetization methods, such as: 

  • Class passes.

  • Subscriptions.

  • Pay-per-view events/

  • Rental abilities.

  • Single transactions.

The best part of their monetization system is that you accept payments directly and keep 100% of your revenue.

The live video streaming education platform provides bulk importing tools to import files, media, and text to your video presentation. That helps you avoid doing repetitive tasks over and over again for every class. 

This feature is excellent because teachers are generally busy, and we’re sure you would love to optimize your time.  

You can also fit a lot of metadata in the description of each live stream on Zype’s platform. So you can add notes, links, and explanations without worrying about running out of space. 

It also allows you to customize your cataloguing system. So each educator can make their files and workflows.

Detailed Features:

  • High-ticket streaming packages

  • Scalable platform

  • CRM tools for streamlined teamwork

  • Monetization tools

  • App building support

  • Self-publish to Amazon TV and mobile apps

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Dimensions: 1920x1080p (suggested)

  • Aspect ratio: 16:9

  • Max file size: 100 GB

  • Max video length: unavailable

  • Total file storage: unavailable

  • Compatible video formats:  3GP, AVI, FLV, MP4, MPEG-2, ProRes, M4V, WMV

Pricing:

Zype offers four pricing plans, including

  • Zype X: $500/month

  • Network: $2500/month

  • Premium: $3500/month

  • Enterprise: $5000/month

Zype X offers a free trial. For more information on what sets these plans apart, please refer to the Zype pricing page.

Zype offers the ability to manage your videos across multiple platforms and offers the support to help you build your own educational learning app. 

7. Cincopa

cincopa video hosting provider

Cincopa’s education video platform allows students to create engaging video presentations with a single, easy-to-use streaming video tool.

Platform Overview:

Cincopa is an online course platform that offers unique multimedia hosting services for storing and managing video, photo, and audio content. The platform enables teachers to capture lectures and create engaging video presentations with a single, easy-to-use tool.

Among Cicopa’s streaming offerings, video and media solutions for education are integral to the video platform. Many businesses prefer a dedicated video hosting service, but Cincopa is an excellent option for educational organizations of all sizes.

Key Features:

Cincopa is a multimedia hosting platform capable of hosting video, audio (podcasts and music), photos, and more. Cincopa’s online live class platform provides educators with instant insights into how specific videos perform. 

A key feature of the online video education platform is the AI-backed auto-tagging and closed captioning options. It improves the quality of search results and storage of many classes. 

Its HTML5 player works perfectly on all devices. You can add chapters, quizzes, and annotations to the video for a better learning experience for your audience. 

Cincopa’s online class platform is great for courses requiring many high-quality pictures because you can create an extensive digital gallery canvas for all your images. 

Detailed Features:

  • Live Video Learning & Recording

  • Video & Media CMS

  • Leading LMS & CMS Integrations

  • Mobile-Ready Interactive Video

  • Video Capturing Solutions

  • Captions, Accessibility, and In-Video Search

  • Adaptive Streaming (HLS) & CDN

  • Flexible Deployment Options

  • Extensive analytics

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: 144p

  • Maximum dimension: 4K

  • Aspect ratio: 4:3, 16:9

  • Max file size: 1, 2, 20GB (depending on the plan)

  • Max video length: not available

  • Total file storage: 5 videos, 40 videos, unlimited videos (depending on the plan)

  • Compatible video formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, M4A, F4A,  F4B, F4V, F4P, M2TS, MTS, VOB, MKV, RMVB, M1V, QT, DIV, DIVX, DV, 3GP, 3GPP, 3G2, MPG, MPEG, MPE, FLV

Pricing:

Cincopa offers three distinct pricing plans:

  • Plus: $25/month; includes marketing tools (CTAs, email integrations, etc.)

  • Corporate: $99/month; advanced broadcasting tools

  • Agency/Enterprise: $350/month; advanced broadcasting tools with more flexibility

Please check out Cincopa’s pricing page for a further breakdown of storage and capabilities that come with each plan.

Cincopa is a platform for hosting all types of content; if you need an educational hosting video service to host video, audio, and pictures, this is it. 

8. VPlayed

Vplayed education video platform

VPlayed is another live-streaming platform with a robust education solution.

Platform Overview:

VPlayed is a streaming solution powered by CONTUS that supports live streaming and VOD hosting. The video platform for education offers a dedicated educational streaming service that supports online learning.

Its software is equipped with many advanced streaming features, which make it well-suited for broadcasters with great streaming needs.

Key Features:

VPlayed is a unified streaming solution for educators and professionals in other industries. The platform supports the hosting and management of live and on-demand content.

The video education platform has adaptive bitrate streaming and cloud transcoding, allowing you to stream your live classes without lag. 

If some viewers have a bad internet connection, the platform will automatically adjust their video quality instead of buffering.  

Another critical feature of VPlayed is scheduling and automated reminders. You can use it to alert students to log into the platform before the class starts. 

It offers various tools for increasing your interaction with your students. These include a collaborative whiteboard, polls, and micro lectures that you can also share ahead of the class.

Detailed Features:

  • HTML5 all-device video player

  • VOD

  • Video monetization

  • Video security

  • Live stream capability 

  • Tools for security

  • 100% customizable experience

  • CMS to segregate your videos and organize your classes

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Minimum dimension: unavailable

  • Maximum dimension: no larger than the source dimension

  • Aspect ratio: 4:3, 16:9 (suggested)

  • Max file size: No limits

  • Max video length: unavailable

  • Total file storage: unavailable

  • Compatible video formats: not specified

Pricing:

VPlayed does not publish pricing on its site. Contact their sales team for more information.

VPlayed has over 100 integrations, six monetization tools, free migrations, and 150+ powerful streaming features making it a customizable solution for large educational enterprises. 

9. Livestream

vimeo education streaming solution

Livestream includes easy-to-use live engagement tools, including live Q&A, live polls, audience chat, and custom calls-to-action.

Platform Overview:

Vimeo started as a consumer-grade streaming platform but acquired Livestream in 2017. The service now provides a live streaming solution under the Livestream name.

Their online video education platform includes powerful content management features for live stream classes hosting video lectures for on-demand playback. However, most of these are only available with the most inclusive plans.

Key Features:

Livestream offers some interesting educational live-streaming tools.  These include security tools, white-label branding, video monetization, and API access.

The live stream video education platform allows you to password-protect your videos and live streams or embed them into your website for a select audience. You can also replace the video on your website with another one without changing the URL link to your page. 

It has various accessibility features, such as closed captions and audio-to-text automated features.

Detailed Features:

  • Multiple security features

  • Additional marketing capabilities

  • Audience interaction tools

  • Detailed video analytics

  • Works with YouTube

  • Excellent security features

  • Easy to use for both users and viewers

  • Add call-to-action buttons in your video 

  • Add chapters to your livestream

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Recommended dimensions: 720p (1280×720)

  • Supported aspect ratios: 16:9, 4:3

  • Maximum file size: 3 GB

  • Maximum video length: Unknown

  • Total file storage: Unknown

  • Accepted video formats: MP4 (recommended)

Pricing:

Vimeo Livestream offers three main pricing plans, including

1) Vimeo Premium:

  • Premium pricing: $75/month

  • Their Premium plan includes both live stream and VOD support. This plan is the best online learning option for professional broadcasting on the platform.

2) Vimeo Enterprise:

  • Enterprise Pricing: Please contact Vimeo for custom pricing information

  • The Enterprise plan includes white-label service, monetization, and video API access. It also includes branding control and added security features.

3) Vimeo OTT:

  • Starter Pricing: $1/subscriber per month

  • Growth Pricing: starting at $500/month

  • This OTT-specific pricing package comes with the Vimeo.com relationship. These plans include all the basics for starting your web-based OTT channel and growing your OTT business online.

If you are focusing on live video streaming educational content, Livestream is a solid solution with affordable pricing. 

10. IBM Video Streaming

ibm cloud video live streaming video platform for online learning

IBM Video Streaming (formally Cloud Video) is a cloud-based platform for delivering live and on-demand content, including virtual classrooms.

Platform Overview:

IBM Cloud Video is an online video education platform that uses the technology behind the service formerly known as UStream. Due to its years of experience in online streaming, the platform features many powerful options and supports academic solutions included in its live streaming and broadcast tools.

Key Features:

IBM Video Streaming’s native features include webcasting, content management, password protection, worldwide delivery, cloud transcoding, and HD streaming. Advanced e-learning features include AI-based speech-to-text, automated closed captioning, live polling, real-time monitoring, and video analytics and insights.

Video monetization is included through ad integration. Complete white-label branding control starts with the $999/month Platinum plan, and the IBM Video Streaming API is included on custom Media and Enterprise video plans.

A great feature of IBM Video Streaming’s platform is that it offers much more storage for course materials than other educational streaming services, allowing better self-paced learning. You can even request them to design a customized package that works for your business.

Detailed Features:

  • Highly reliable
  • Superior customer support
  • Video is delivered using an internal VOD server
  • Suited for larger businesses
  • Powerful features for education live streaming
  • Works on the web, Android, and iPhone
  • Exceptional security features

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

  • Recommended dimensions: 4K (3840×2160)

  • Supported aspect ratios: Unknown (Not published)

  • Maximum file size: 4 GB

  • Maximum video length: Unknown (No limits are published)

  • Total file storage: 1 TB – 5 TB, depending on the plan

  • Accepted video formats: MKV, MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MPEG2, H264, H263, MPEG4, VP6, VP8, THEORA, WMV, MP3, AAC-LC, NELLYMOSER, PCM, SPEEX, VORBIS, WMA

Pricing:

IBM Cloud Video pricing plans range from $99 to $999 per month and include the following:

  • Silver: Starts at $99/month

  • Gold: Starts at $499/month

  • Platinum: Starts at $999/month

  • Custom: Please contact IBM Cloud video for custom plan pricing.

IBM Cloud offers solid tools to support your educational streaming service goals and needs. 

How to Create an Online Education Platform (With Examples)

Finalized your platform choice? Now it’s time to bring it all together. 

Now that you know the top video platforms for education, let’s discuss how to create a platform to stream your videos using the leading online learning course platforms we’ve discussed.  

1. Choose an Approach 

There are various ways to create an online education platform. Let’s examine four popular approaches.

  • eLearning 

    With an eLearning platform, all your students are remote learners. Using a free online learning platform, you can offer free courses, require payment, or both using a free online learning platform. An example of an eLearning website that provides a mix of free and paid classes is Udacity. Not everyone who takes free online courses will upgrade to paid classes, but many do. Free courses allow those on the fence to get a feel of an instructor’s teaching style before investing. 

  • Hybrid of in-person and online

    Under that model, you’ll commonly host in-person educational events instead of exclusively selling courses online. However, you also add an online component to reach a larger audience or anyone who couldn’t make it. In university, for example, allowing remote students to enrol in classes while still appealing to local students. 

    An example of an institution that uses a hybrid approach is Gresham College They allow you to register to watch various online courses and allow locals to attend these lectures in person. 

  • Flipped classroom

    Educators in K-12 or universities may choose this approach to maximize their students’ time in person. Under this approach, it’s common to stream lectures or post pre-recorded lectures for on-demand access. That way, in-person time is better spent answering questions, working in group projects or activities, and getting hands-on experience. 

  • Training

    Businesses commonly use the training approach for internal purposes, partners, or customer product training. More specifically, a company might use a live stream platform to teach salespeople how to sell a new product or service. In the same way, the business might set up a platform for current users to learn how to use the product or service better. Doing so helps your customers use your product and increases their chances of renewing or upgrading.

2. Create a Website

To have more control over your online live class platform, creating a website is a good idea. You can create a website name (domain name), register it with a web-hosting platform like GoDaddy or Bluehost, and then use WordPress to build and customize the website.

If you’re taking the eLearning route, remember that it’s a very competitive space, so you must choose a niche and figure out what makes you unique from all the other educators in the same category. 

Once you’ve done this, display it clearly and repeatedly on your website. You can communicate it through your design, pictures, and text. 

Make sure to add a detailed About Page. A good About Page can help people quickly figure out what your online video education platform is about. Besides the home page, it’s among the most popular for businesses or entrepreneurs. A great example of a detailed About Page is MorningCME, which provides live lectures and recorded training for those interested in Continuing Medical Education(CME). 

Next, let’s cover how to create an online course setup.

3. Set Up Your Online Class

Organization is vital for an online course or class. 

Here are some best practices: 

  • Organize by topics or channels: For example, if your business has four main products, create different channels for each. A website that has done that well is Outschool. Generally, the fewer hurdles you can give your learners, the more engaged they’ll be. 

  • Add a search function: Make it easy for students to find past, current, and future videos. 

  • Make registration pages for your students to RSVP: That can be either a monetary commitment or as simple as replying to an email. For example, Outschool limits its classes to a certain number of students. That’s why their registration page takes payments. On the other hand, Gresham College allows people to register and join live lectures with simply an email address. 

  • Put a detailed description of lectures under the video: Build up curiosity and interest by writing detailed descriptions about what the audience can expect from each live stream or on-demand video. Also, state the length of time so that students know what to expect beforehand. 

4. Gather Equipment and Digital Tools

Having the proper setup will improve the whole live experience.

For a basic setup, you’ll need the following:

  • Basic encoding software

  • (optional) Simulcasting tool

  • (optional) Mixing and production software

  • Camera

  • Laptop, computer, or smartphone

  • Video learning platform 

OBS Studio is a popular encoder for a basic setup. It’s also free. If you’re streaming with a phone or webcam, you can skip the encoding software and camera, but the stream quality will not be as high. 

5. Choose an Online Video Teaching Platform

Choose from the top video-sharing platforms for education we’ve evaluated. Ensure the equipment and digital tools you choose are compatible with your online instruction platform. 

Generally, online live class platforms make embedding videos on your website easy. It’s generally a matter of just copying a piece of code from your online learning platform and pasting it onto the HTML of your website. Check out our comprehensive guide if you need more help with this step.

6. Begin Streaming

Now that you know how to make an online class, you can create online teaching videos and live-stream lectures.

Live Streaming Tips for Online Educators

Online education is very valuable, but it requires a bit of a learning curve for educators. Even teachers who have been in the classroom for decades may find their brand-new role to be quite overwhelming.

We’ve compiled a few broadcasting tips to help educators navigate these new waters.

1. Plan with Technology in Mind

That may sound like a no-brainer, but preparing presentations for a live stream differs from presenting them on a large projector in front of a class. You’ll need to ensure your presentations are easily read on a small window.

If you’re going to be screen sharing, make sure that any tabs with private information are closed out so that you don’t accidentally expose something that you shouldn’t.

For example, if you know that you’ll be switching screens to show different presentations and documents during your live class, make sure that your online grade book is closed out so that it doesn’t accidentally show on the screen.

For a more detailed tutorial, check out our step-by-step guide on how to set up live streaming on any website.

2. Have a Backup Plan

The internet has proven to be a phenomenal tool for online learning. However, the internet and related technology are far from perfect.

Always have a backup plan in case something goes awry. For example, have your presentations available for download later so that students have access if their internet connection fails in the middle of class.

Let students know in advance what to do if the stream stops working on your end. Perhaps have extra reading assignments or a supporting worksheet available so they are not confused if they cannot connect with you.

3. Incorporate Pre-Recorded Media

Showing a movie or other pre-recorded media in your live class is possible if your streaming platform or encoder supports multi-source streaming.

The ability to show a movie in an online class is valuable since sometimes a documentary or film adds context to a topic that would be difficult to do with the resources you can access.

Setting up a movie should be as simple as adding a second source and switching to that source when it is time to present it. That’ll look a little differently on each online learning platform. We recommend contacting the tech support team of each online learning platform for specific instructions.

4. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure On Yourself.

Online teaching may not be your preference, and it may be way out of your comfort zone. The same likely applies to your students.

Don’t stress about doing everything “right” because teaching over the internet comes with a learning curve. Keep in mind that your students are learning with you.

Guide them gracefully, and try to redirect your frustration if your students are not grasping things as well as you’d expect them to in a traditional classroom setting.

The Future of Education

While the current state of the world has created instability for many industries, online learning has proven valuable for helping students make it through these changing times.

Live streaming classes allow students to digest the materials, specifically if they are used to watching their teachers’ lectures in person. This teaching style provides significant advantages compared to simply uploading notes for students to read through on their own.

Even if online education is not the preferred option for all students, keeping students on track when schools are closed down is necessary, especially when it’s safer for them to learn from home. Consider implementing live streams, lectures available for playback, and other tools to provide greater access to education. 

Conclusion

The online education platform industry is expected to continue to grow. Increasingly, professional educators are utilizing remote learning through online video education. Whether it’s a master’s degree from a top university or online courses for businesses, a professional online video education platform is crucial.

Dacast is a professional-grade platform used by educators worldwide. With Dacast you can host virtual classrooms provided through its comprehensive video management platform. Its streamlined, reliable, high-quality platform includes Zoom live-streaming integration for seamless, real-time classroom replications. Furthermore, Dacast supports superfast video uploading and has advanced security and video-on-demand storage.

You can try Dacast’s feature-rich platform with our 14-day free trial.

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Max Wilbert

Max Wilbert is a passionate writer, live streaming practitioner, and has strong expertise in the video streaming industry.