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Bitmovin Encoding
What Bitmovin Encoding is
Bitmovin Encoding converts video-on-demand content into streaming outputs, with batch conversion, hardware acceleration and output resolution up to 8K. Its VOD Encoder supports codecs including H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, VP8, VP9, AV1 and VVC, along with multiple HDR formats. Per-Title Encoding analyzes each video to create an adaptive bitrate ladder whose bitrate limits and rungs can be configured; Per-Shot optimization is also supported. Output choices include MPEG-DASH, Apple HLS, Progressive MP4 and Smooth Streaming, while listed protections include Widevine, PlayReady, Marlin and FairPlay. The encoder can run on AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Akamai Connected Cloud and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Cloud Connect uses a customer’s cloud resources, but requires a commercial agreement and account activation. VOD encoding is billed per output minute, with rates varying by codec, resolution and features. The pay-as-you-go VOD plan includes 2,000 free minutes per month and charges $0.02 per additional minute; outputs shorter than 10 seconds are billed as 10 seconds.
Who it suits
It suits teams preparing video-on-demand libraries for streaming across multiple formats, codecs or cloud environments. The free monthly minutes may also help teams assess usage before committing to paid encoding.
What it does well
- Supports output resolutions up to 8K.
- Includes batch conversion and hardware acceleration.
- Per-Title bitrate ladders have configurable bounds and rungs.
- Runs on five listed cloud providers.
- Includes 2,000 free VOD minutes monthly.
What to know first
- Outputs under 10 seconds are billed as 10 seconds.
- Rates vary by codec, resolution and encoding features.
- Cloud Connect requires a commercial agreement and account activation.
- Pay-as-you-go support tickets receive best-effort handling.
Limits
The Pay as you go VOD Encoder plan includes 2,000 free minutes per month, then lists $0.02 per additional minute; rates vary by codec, resolution, and encoding features. Outputs shorter than 10 seconds are billed for 10 seconds.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go (VOD Encoder) | 2,000 free minutes per month; $0.02 per additional minute; rates vary by codec, resolution, and encoding features | Free |
| Pay as you go | 2,000 free encoding minutes monthly; then $0.02 per additional minute · VOD and Live Encoder · storage $0.0245/GB · CDN $0.015/GB | Free |
| Managed Cloud VOD Encoding | per output minute; H.264/AVC SD 2-pass · HD 2-pass $0.050/min · 4K 2-pass $0.100/min · 3-pass and codec multipliers apply | $0.03 a month |
| Custom | Contact sales for volume discounts and custom features · Enterprise usage · support SLAs · integration · professional services · training | On request |
As bitmovin.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Bitmovin Encoding website to review the service and its plans.
- Start with the Pay as you go plan, which lists 2,000 free minutes per month.
- Use the web or API platform, or choose the self-hosted option.
- Select a supported cloud deployment, such as AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Akamai Connected Cloud, or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
- For Cloud Connect, arrange a commercial agreement and specific account activation.
Verdict
Bitmovin Encoding offers a broad set of streaming outputs, codec support and deployment choices for VOD workflows. Check minute-based billing and Cloud Connect requirements against your intended setup.
Questions
Is Bitmovin Encoding free?
It has a free plan and a free trial. The Pay as you go VOD Encoder plan lists 2,000 free minutes per month and $0.02 per additional minute, with rates varying by codec, resolution, and features.
Which platforms does it support?
The listed platforms are API, self-hosted, and web, and supported platforms are described as cross-platform.
What output formats and codecs are supported?
Listed formats include MPEG-2 TS, MP4, fMP4, MOV, WebM, CMAF, and MXF. Video codecs include H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, MPEG-2, MV-HEVC, VP8, VP9, and AV1; the VOD Encoder also lists VVC and other codecs.
Which cloud providers can run the encoder?
Listed options are AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Akamai Connected Cloud, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Cloud Connect runs encoding on a customer's cloud resources and requires a commercial agreement and account activation.
What support comes with Pay as you go?
Pay-as-you-go customers can submit dashboard support tickets on a best-effort basis. Support SLAs and dedicated support are available through other plans.
Who makes Bitmovin Encoding?
The maker is Bitmovin Encoding. The company says it was founded in 2012 and lists headquarters in San Francisco, USA, and Klagenfurt, Austria.
Facts from Bitmovin Encoding's own pages
- Ad integrations
- For VOD monetization, Bitmovin lists integrations with Google DAI, AWS MediaTailor, and Yospace. · bitmovin.com, 11 Oct 2026
- API authentication
- REST requests support POST, GET and DELETE and require an X-Api-Key in the header or URL. · developer.bitmovin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Batch conversion
- Yes · bitmovin.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Cloud Connect
- Cloud Connect places dynamically scaled encoder workers in a customer's AWS, Azure or GCP account. · bitmovin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Cloud Connect limit
- Cloud Connect requires a commercial agreement and explicit account activation. · developer.bitmovin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Cloud deployment
- Bitmovin Encoding can run on AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Akamai Connected Cloud, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. · bitmovin.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Cloud platforms
- Managed encoding runs on AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Akamai Connected Cloud and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. · bitmovin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Codecs
- The VOD Encoder supports H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, VP8, VP9, AV1, VVC, and other video codecs. · bitmovin.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Company facts
- LinkedIn lists Bitmovin as privately held, founded in 2013, headquartered in Denver, with 51–200 employees and a Klagenfurt office. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company history
- Bitmovin says it was founded in 2012. · bitmovin.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- Bitmovin offers a dashboard wizard, watch folders, a Simple API, SDKs, tutorials, API reference and GitHub examples. · bitmovin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- DRM
- Supported protection includes Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay, Marlin, ClearKey, AES encryption, multi-DRM and forensic watermarking. · bitmovin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Encoding speed
- Bitmovin says its VOD Encoder processes long-form content at up to 100 times real time. · bitmovin.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Formats and DRM
- Supported output streaming formats include MPEG-DASH, Apple HLS, Progressive MP4, and Smooth Streaming; listed content protection includes Widevine, PlayReady, Marlin, and FairPlay. · bitmovin.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2012 · bitmovin.com, 19 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · bitmovin.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Funding
- A 2021 press release reported a $25 million Series C led by Swisscom Ventures and $68 million total funding. · prnewswire.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Hardware acceleration
- Yes · bitmovin.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, USA and Klagenfurt, Austria · bitmovin.com, 19 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The commercial encoder is proprietary; public API SDK repositories are open-source projects separate from the encoder. · faun.dev, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: documentation
- G2 reviewers say documentation needs more practical examples and use cases. · g2.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: error messages
- A G2 reviewer says failed-encode error messages lack enough detail for troubleshooting. · g2.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: outage
- Bitmovin reported a July 7, 2026 encoding-start outage caused by a non-backwards-compatible database migration; failed jobs had to be recreated. · status.bitmovin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: Smart TV integration
- A G2 reviewer requested more Smart TV integration options. · g2.com, 15 Oct 2026
Where Bitmovin Encoding stands on Freedom251
- Video Converter Software#3 of 75
- Video converters#1 of 9