Side by side

Cinema8 vs Opencast

Both stand on video hosting platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Cinema8

Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+2

Cinema8 combines video creation and hosting with interactive features, analytics, and integrations. Check the plan limits and required export options before choosing a tier.

Visit Cinema8

Opencast brings recording, processing, access controls, and LMS delivery into an academic video workflow. Institutions should account for deployment and support arrangements, which depend on their own setup and community partners.

Visit Opencast

The facts

	Cinema8	Opencast
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	No	Yes
Runs on	Android, API, Extension, iPhone, Web	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web
Lowest paid plan	Starter: $12 a month	Free or on request
Plans published	7	2
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	cinema8.com	opencast.org
On video hosting platforms	#4 of 114	#1 of 114

Cinema8: what it does well

Interactive video supports forms, calls to action, and hotspots.
AI workflows generate subtitles, chapters, tags, and summaries.
Analytics include A/B testing, heatmaps, and interaction reports.
Free plan includes one seat and 10 videos.
Access controls include SSO and role-based permissions.

What to know first

Free plan is limited to 10 videos.
Free plan includes only one seat.
Paid access is listed from $12/mo (annual).

Opencast: what it does well

Free and open-source software.
Supports scheduled recordings and live streams.
Browser-based recording is available through Opencast Studio.
Workflows can generate captions and apply branding.
Can run on one or multiple Linux servers.

What to know first

Classroom recording triggers depend on hardware.
Deployment and support depend on adopters and community partners.
Tobira runs separately from Opencast.

Alternatives to Cinema8 Alternatives to Opencast The whole list