Uscreen Review: Is This the Best Video-on-Demand Platform?

Last Updated on 2 years by Christopher Jan Benitez

Did you know? According to Wordstream, 51% of marketers claim that video marketing has the best ROI among other digital marketing channels in 2021.

The statistics say it all. It’s a potent marketing tool.

While there are many notable video streaming services in the market, there’s an underrated video hosting website that not many people know about: Uscreen.

Uscreen is a video platform that lets you host, market, distribute, and sell your videos.

But it also offers much more than that.

Let’s find out if it’s the Uscreen platform is right for you.

Uscreen

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Pros

• Easily access all you need in one dashboard
• Access to live streaming and live chatting increases the likelihood of a more committed fanbase.
• Allows companies to broadcast their videos
• Grant viewers the opportunity to watch for free, via subscription, or through a PPV model.

Cons

• Not as much freedom to track data through other means with fewer integrations.
• Lots of the best features are locked behind more expensive plans.
• Beyond the features in the dashboard, there’s still room to grow with new tools to improve video hosting.

Uscreen is a streaming video service that allows you to organize your videos and offer them as an on-demand subscription service just like Netflix. You can also do live streaming if you want to engage with your subscribers in real-time. You can then create apps where users can access your content from different devices. Finally, the analytics feature lets you see how your videos performed over time and help you know how to improve engagement with your content.

What Is Uscreen?

Uscreen was launched in 2014 as an all-in-one video hosting platform. It supports content video creators, companies, and solo entrepreneurs to distribute their videos online.

It provides an easy-to-use interface, high-quality streams (for Enterprise and Amplify plans), opportunities to monetize videos, and world-leading OTT features.

While Uscreen isn’t as popular compared to Vimeo and Wistia, it’s still a feature-packed video platform. For instance, you can earn through a subscription model and have your own white-label and branded website and TV apps.

Let’s look at what Uscreen has to offer and how it stacks up against other leading platforms.

How much is Uscreen?

The price list above is how much you’ll pay per month on the annual plan.

For $49/month, you can get the basic features—including the full-feature video player, 100% protected security measures, monetization, analytics, and marketing options.

Upgrading to Amplify level, you get what’s in the Basic plan and the ability to live stream, a live chat, and free migration from previous hosting platforms.

In the Enterprise plan, you have API access for better customizability as well as mobile and TV apps for your brand.

The price list above is how much you pay on a monthly plan. It’s a good option if you want to test out the features without committing to a year-long subscription.

The great thing about the Uscreen pricing system is its full disclosure policy. They employ transparent pricing and no hidden fees.

What are Uscreen’s Features?

Uscreen has nine main features that grant you the ability to host videos seamlessly. Here’s what you can do with Uscreen:

1. Video Player

Using the blazingly quick HTML5 Online Video Player, you can upload videos that users can enjoy in 480p, 720p, or 1080p.

The video player comes with video speed adjustment tools, captions, subtitles, auto playback, an optional offline viewing option, and more.

CDN delivery and versatile device-casting features also ensure that you reach your audience, all while keeping them protected and secured.

When it comes to video hosting, all plans have the complete set of features to guarantee a smooth viewing experience for your audience.

2. Live Streaming

If you want to host a video conference, webinar, or instructional videos, Uscreen grants you the ability to stream live, fully-rendered, HD videos and grow your community.

In the Amplify plan and above, you can host live streams for free or monetize them through a subscription-based revenue scheme.

Chatting live with your audience is also possible – allowing you to engage with the audience, answer questions, and build a stronger brand.

You can also blast notifications and create a countdown overlay to get your community buzzing before you tune in.

A pre-registration page and a VOD recording are also available before and after you stream your video as ways to engage without being live.

3. Video Monetization

If you want to earn money from videos, Uscreen lets you monetize them through hassle-free payment options, including PayPal and Stripe.

You can choose between subscription-based video pricing or a pay-per-view pricing system to sell your content.

You can also offer free trials, lifetime opportunities, and video rentals as a way to distribute your videos.

With an optimized and built-in conversion checkout page, turning leads into customers is a seamless and easy experience.

4. Security

Uscreen has a full suite of video protection features to make sure your videos are secure from piracy and content theft.

It grants you full data ownership over your videos including preferences and billing information.

Uscreen also has SSL certification and conversion pages with an enhanced layer of payment protection with PA-DSS PCI payment processing.

24/7 monitoring and consistent uptime also ensure a stable service for you to host videos on demand.

5. Community

Uscreen makes it easy to nurture and engage with your audience and foster brand loyalty.

You can create and display your own avatar to show your best self. But the main feature is the dedicated live chat system where you can engage and interact with your customers through the chatbox.

People love a human brand, so making the most out of these features is a great way to keep them interested in your content. 

6. Video CMS

Uscreen has a built-in video manager, using which you can upload and manage videos in the player with ease.

A customizable dashboard allows you to get straight to whatever section of Uscreen you want to access – be it your latest uploads or the pre-registration page for your next live event.

You can also add SEO metadata and upload custom thumbnails for a more curated video that’ll gain more eyeballs.

All updates and changes are automatically saved and only the most recent version is visible to you and your team. This helps you collaborate and be on the same page when scheduling posts.

7. Marketing and Analytics

With Uscreen, you can track important metrics on how your content performs with detailed analytics in real-time.

You don’t need any coding experience as there are dozens of templates and designs made to convert audiences.

The automation tools are built-in specifically for Uscreen; plus, there’s a handful of analytical reports to help you collect valuable data.

That’s not all. Marketing funnels are also available in Uscreen. Integration with leading email-marketing platforms and wide-scale analytics software like Google Analytics also provides an extra kick.

8. Customization

There are many ways you can customize your Uscreen to make it look and feel unique – both in appearance and function.

Your VOD website can be glamorized with the range of themes available in the Uscreen catalog. These are fully customizable and re-brandable using an in-house visual editor.

Custom language options, URL domain hosting, and SEO-friendly themes are also present in the Amplify and Business plans to fit the context of your online business.

9.  OTT Apps

OTT apps, or over-the-top applications, allow you to manage your video streaming apps for iOs and Android apps and TV devices via the Internet.

Uscreen is compatible with most popular iOS and Android devices like tablets and smartphones – no matter where you are.

This feature enables you to create your own OTT apps that your customers can stream on their devices using devices such as Roku Box, Android TV, AppleTV, and Amazon Fire TV.

They take around one to two months to launch. Uscreen also does most of the tweaks and management, all for providing you a well-rounded OTT platform solution.

Is Uscreen safe?

If you’re wondering whether Uscreen is a reputable platform or not, here’s the short answer.

It’s absolutely safe. You won’t have any problems at all using this VOD platform.

Uscreen is fully PCI-compliant by VISA. You don’t have to worry about data and customer information being compromised.

You also get access to a dedicated support team that will be at your beck and call if anything goes wrong.

With the Uscreen Secure Checkout, purchasing is transparent, safe, and protected. I’d trust the platform.

Who is Uscreen for?

Uscreen is a tool for big and small creators. The platform supports businesses, enterprises, and individuals who want to market their products or service online through a video.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur who wants to monetize your course, a small team promoting vegan makeup, or a yoga instructor looking to build an on-demand yoga streaming service, Uscreen has tools to get you on the radar.

The different pricing plan reflects this—offering something for both enterprise-level clients to solo creators alike. 

How does Uscreen work?

Now that you know all the features and enhancements, you may be wondering.

What’s a day-to-day like with this software?

Let’s look over the steps you have to go over before getting into action.

Sign up

Just like any other software on the internet nowadays, you must sign up.

Neat tip: You can get a 14-day free trial with limited functions to test out Uscreen.

Upload your videos

Upload videos you’ve created beforehand into the website.

Find it by glossing over the left dashboard -> Click ‘Content’ -> click ‘Videos’. There, you’ll see the option to upload via Dropbox or attach a video file to the dashboard.

Once the videos are uploaded, rename files and organize them as needed.

Set your price

With the two main pricing models—subscription and PPV—designate your price for the video content that you’ve just published.

Tip: You won’t get your price on target all the time. Keep testing your price until you hit the sweet spot that gains you the most revenue.

Customize theme

For thumbnails, funnel pages, and apps—you have the freedom to design from a library of Uscreen templates optimized for conversion.

Get your brand’s colors on a website without having to code a single line under ‘Customization’.

Market yourself

With Uscreen’s marketing tools and conversion features, you don’t have to exit the site to get the word out. Interact with live chat to build a community or continuously improve your opt-in and sales pages to best maximize conversions.

Find the relevant tools under the ‘Marketing’ and ‘Analytics’ menu.

Collect your cash

As payment from viewers rolls in, you can see how much sales you’ve accumulated in the form of periodic reports. 

You can find relevant sales and video performance under the ‘Sales’ tab in the navigation menu.

Uscreen vs Vimeo — What’s the difference?

Vimeo OTT is a video hosting service. It allows users to upload their video content and share them with a few people or let the whole world see it.

Uscreen is more than just a video hoster. Uscreen gives you an OTT platform that enables you to store, share, manage, and monetize your videos with ease. It also helps you market your brand more readily through apps, pages, and websites.

Here’s a tighter breakdown that fleshes out the differences between the two.

Uscreen offers turnkey video solutions

Uscreen’s customizable design features allow you to create your theme or choose from several templates. This isn’t the case with Vimeo, where users are limited to video hosting and have considerably fewer customizability options.

Uscreen allows you to customize your funnel pages, opt-ins, apps, and websites. This helps foster a comprehensive brand image that you’re ready to present to your customer on the go.

Uscreen has a powerful live stream and chatting options

Vimeo users can’t do live streaming, unlike Uscreen. So, if you want to have a little chat or demo of your products and services in real-time, Uscreen is a more well-suited platform for that.

Uscreen offers OTT apps for TV and smartphones

Uscreen’s Enterprise plan allows companies to create their website and OTT apps in places like Apple TV and Roku Box. 

This allows them to reach an audience that they may not have otherwise reached with Vimeo or Internet-based video hosting platforms.

Vimeo is cheaper

The basic plan for Uscreen is $49/month.

Vimeo’s Pro Plan costs $20/month for a 20/GB weekly limit.

While Uscreen is more expensive, it’s also more packed with features that Vimeo doesn’t have.

Uscreen Pros and Cons

Uscreen Reviews from Capterra

Uscreen users have solely positive experiences with the app, thanks to its customer success experience and helpful tech support aside from its already robust OTT features.

Uscreen: Final Verdict