The meteoric rise of video marketing has seen a somewhat delayed yet equally rapid rise in the popularity of video hosting platforms. Where once Youtube was the go-to option for uploading videos, various alternatives have sprouted that offer their own take on video hosting.
One of these alternatives is Wistia. A veritable market leader in this industry, boasting a wealth of tools and features at various price points. Though this choice allows you to better customise your user experience, it can be challenging to decide exactly which will deliver the best bang for your buck. Hence the purpose of this article. To tell you the key information and help you make the best decision for you and your business.
What is Wistia and how does it work?
If you are reading this article about Wistia pricing, you will probably have a good idea about what Wistia has to offer. For those that have stumbled across Wistia, here’s a summary of its core parts.
Essentially, Wistia works as an alternative to platforms like Youtube, allowing you to host your video content without having to link to external sites. Using Wistia, you avoid competing with your video host for traffic, as potential customers are directed straight to your website. This can mean the difference between getting conversions and not.
In addition to an effective video hosting service, Wistia arms you with a range of analytical tools. Showing you how your content performs overall, along with which parts really captivate your audience. With this selection of data, you will have a much easier time aligning your content with your audience’s interests.
Wistia offers plenty more features, options, and tools for you to customise your experience. If you would like to know more, check out our rundown on how you could use Wistia here.
Wistia pricing overview
Wistia has a variety of packages to purchase. They use a subscription model, which you can choose to pay monthly or annually, and you have the option to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription whenever you like.
Regardless of your budget or the features you need, Wistia has the plan for you. From a free plan that includes foundational features and analytical tools to a top-draw premium plan with all the bells and whistles, you could want from a video hosting platform.
With that said, let’s get into some specifics.
The free plan
Wistia offers a free option, perfect for anyone wanting to test the waters before committing to the platform. Although you won’t have access to its full suite of features, Wistia does not enforce a time limit on its free trial, unlike some alternatives. This allows you to spend as much time as you like testing the standard features on offer while still getting your content out to your audience. Bear in mind that there are limitations; it is a trial after all. You are limited to three videos and 250 channel subscribers, but that should be plenty to get the ball rolling. If you like what Wistia offers, you can upgrade to higher-tier plans whenever you want.
Wistia’s free plan offers users access to video analytics too. You will be able to see the usual data; views, watch time, and so on. However, Wistia allows all its users, regardless of subscription plan, access to their A/B testing. Put simply, this feature will enable you to compare the performance data of two videos of your choice, with an overall winner being declared at the end of the test. This can be great for finding out how your audience receives different approaches or simply what works best. Even better, the A/B testing process isn’t limited to general analytics – it can test your calls to action, annotation links, and more. As you can see, Wistia’s free trial isn’t something to be dismissed outright.
The pro option
Priced at $99, this plan is a perfect gateway into what Wistia offers while not having an expensive cost of entry. This makes it ideal for smaller businesses or those just getting started in the world of video marketing.
With Pro, you will have access to all of Wistia’s standard features and analytics tools, like SEO tools or the heatmap, in addition to email notifications for your subscribers and the removal of all Wistia branding on the player. You have ten free videos in this package, allowing you to get off the ground without worrying about any costs. After that, extra videos only cost 25 cents, which is the same as the more advanced plans. Not bad for an entry-level option.
The advanced plan
This is where things start getting a little more expensive and a lot more exciting. For $399, you have access to everything that came before, plus 100 free videos and the removal of the subscriber cap, but more importantly, access to a few cool features.
For starters, you can integrate your site with Facebook and Google, allowing you to post laser-focused ads by sharing your viewer data. This is incredibly important in any kind of marketing and can help spread your content organically across both platforms, exposing your brand to new audiences and encouraging interaction from your existing one.
You have access to a premium integration with one of three marketing services – Hubspot, Pardot, or Marketo. Including any of the three into your marketing strategy can be great for your performance and for lessening the load on your shoulders.
Lastly, you can create multiple channels for your site. This can be great if you want to specialise certain channels for podcasts or certain types of videos, and all can be embedded into your site as normal. Alongside this, you are top of the list should you need any help. For a premium price point, you can expect premium support.
Which should you choose?
This is the all-important question. All three Wistia pricing options have their uses, with some matching the needs of certain users better than others. If you are a smaller business, it could be a great idea to start with Pro. You have access to a range of tools and features without having to worry about any financial strain. As your business grows, you can always upgrade to the Advanced plan, which caters more toward larger businesses wanting to cement their brand and online presence. Whichever you choose, there is no doubt that Wistia can help you realise your business’ potential!
