The Top 6 Wistia Alternatives for Online Shops in 2024

As video content becomes increasingly important for e-commerce, finding the right video hosting platform is crucial.

Wistia is a popular choice, but it might not suit everyone.

This guide explores seven top alternatives, including DemoUp Cliplister, comparing features, pricing, and more to help you choose the best fit for your business.

What is Wistia?

Wistia is an online video platform with a built-in video hosting system designed to help marketing, support and sales better control the user experience.

Wistia allows you to create, host, market and analyse video performance to help you prove ROI and achieve your goals.

It can also be used as a content syndication platform, helping you share video content with important partners.

Wistia Core Features

Like most Software as a Service (SaaS) video hosting platforms, Wistia is great in some areas but lacks specificity for e-commerce shops. Here are some examples of Wistia’s capabilities:

Wistia Capabilities

Customisable Player: Wistia allows users to customise the video player to match their brand’s colours and style, providing a cohesive visual experience.

In-Depth Analytics: The platform offers advanced analytics that give insights into viewer behaviour, such as heatmaps, engagement graphs, and individual viewing data.

Video SEO: Wistia comes with built-in SEO tools to ensure videos are easily discoverable in search engines, enhancing visibility and reach.

Lead Generation Tools: Businesses can add CTA (Call to Action) and email capture forms directly into videos, making it easier to convert viewers into leads.

Integration Capabilities: Wistia integrates seamlessly with other marketing tools like HubSpot, Marketo, and Pardot, enabling better tracking and lead management.

Wistia Pros & Cons

Pros:

• High-Quality Customization: Wistia’s ability to customize the player and embed features makes it a great choice for businesses focused on branding.
  
• Advanced Analytics: The platform’s detailed analytics tools provide actionable insights into how videos are performing and how viewers are engaging with content.
  
• Marketing Integrations: Wistia’s integrations with major marketing platforms streamline workflows and enhance lead nurturing processes.

Cons:

• Less Suitable for Large Enterprises: While Wistia is excellent for small to medium-sized businesses, larger enterprises might find its features less scalable compared to platforms like DemoUp Cliplister.
  
• Pricing: Wistia is more expensive than some alternatives, especially for businesses needing features like advanced video editing and detailed analytics.
  
• Limited Storage: The platform’s storage limits can be restrictive, particularly for businesses with large video libraries like e-commerce retailers.

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Implementation is also a strain on resources, as companies that use the platform must rely on internal IT teams and infrastructure to get the system up and running.

Plus, you must pay for integrations that may or may not work well with your shop’s system.

Wistia also lacks a robust way to organise and sort video content, so there are other systems out there that are better in this area.

Wistia limits file size, so many companies compress and convert footage before they upload it to Wistia. To top it all off, the SEO setup can be quite confusing.

So there are several reasons why people might search for an alternative to Wistia. If that’s the case for you, here’s our breakdown.

1. DemoUp Cliplister – Best for Video Commerce & Syndication

Wistia’s top competitor in the e-commerce video hosting space is DemoUp Cliplister’s product content syndication solution for online shops.

While Wistia focuses more on hosting, video editing and creating videos, DemoUp Cliplister focuses on enabling e-commerce shops to accelerate their growth quickly and easily with multiple types of syndicated product content.

This makes it ideal for businesses looking to scale their video marketing efforts and improve product visibility on their PDPs.

Here are other key features that distinguish DemoUp Cliplister as one of the best alternatives to Wistia:

DemoUp Cliplister Features

Brand-Created Content Hub: DemoUp Cliplister’s software gives you access to e-commerce-specific content directly from the brands you carry.

Copy & paste code integration: DemoUp Cliplister takes the burden off your IT team. All you need to do is copy and paste a few lines of code into your shop’s template.

Centralised Video Management: Manage all your brand-created product video content from a single platform.

Automated Content Updates: Wistia requires you to host videos yourself. DemoUp Cliplister automates PDP content updates every time a piece goes live.

3D & AR Content: DemoUp Cliplister also offers additional content types like 3D and augmented reality for online shops to take advantage of.

If you’re a large e-commerce retailer with loads of product videos, Wistia requires you to host and manage these yourself.

This is a time consuming, tedious, and expensive task. Not to mention, Wistia also requires you to source the content yourself.

On the other hand, DemoUp Cliplister features brand-specific videos straight from the source.

No other video marketing software can provide you the same access to high-quality videos direct from the manufacturers you carry.

If you struggle to create and host product videos, you can use DemoUp Cliplister to syndicate product content and take the burden off your teams. Contact us to learn how.

Wistia vs DemoUp Cliplister – How They Compare

DemoUp Cliplister is one of the best Wistia alternatives for e-commerce retailers.

But we don’t make this claim lightly. Here are just a few of the reasons we think we’re in the top level of Wistia competitors:

• Faster content availability: DemoUp Cliplister uses AI-powered machine learning (ML) techniques to instantly add relevant content to appropriate PDPs.
  
• Improved video content management: All the content in the database is uploaded directly from brands, meaning your teams no longer need to chase down, upload, host and implement the latest assets.
  
• Better e-commerce analytics: While Wistia’s premium solution provides data like view rates and attention spans, DemoUp Cliplister’s analytics also includes valuable insights for video marketing like add-to-cart rates and view-to-conversion rates.
  
• Huge database of content: Our content database grows by the day, and includes not only product videos, but also 3D/AR models.
  
• More audience engagement: With DemoUp Cliplister, you can easily reach your target audience right where it matters – directly on the PDP.
  
• Dedicated Customer Support: Our support team is ready to help you. From handling the integration to designing the thumbnails, you get unmatched service anywhere else.

2. Flixmedia – Best for Rich PDP Content

Flixmedia excels in distributing branded content across a network of retailers, ensuring you get high-quality content on your PDPs.

However, it lacks mobile optimisation capabilities for several of its core features, which is a huge sticking point for many online shops.

The biggest complaint among Flixmedia users, however, is that the video coverage is poor, which you can read more about in our article on Flixmedia alternatives.

Features:

• INpages: Syndicated in-line product experiences that can include various content formats, such as images, 3D, and Augmented Reality (AR).
  
• Hotspots: Interactive elements that highlight key product features directly on the product page, enhancing engagement by placing crucial information above the fold.
  
• MiniSites: Pop-up windows on product detail pages that offer a deep dive into product features, videos, and brand messages, driving higher conversion rates through enhanced shopper interaction.

Applications for Retailers:

• Enhance Product Pages: Integrate branded content seamlessly into your product pages to improve the shopping experience and increase conversion rates.
  
• Boost Engagement: Use interactive elements like Hotspots and AR to capture shopper attention and convey key product features effectively.
  
• Reduce Returns: Provide detailed, accurate product information that helps shoppers make informed decisions, thereby reducing the likelihood of returns.

Pricing:

• Free for retailers, but add-ons cost extra.

3. loadbee – Best for A+ Video Content Integration

loadbee is very similar to Flixmedia in that it syndicates product videos from brands to retailers free of charge.

However, like Flixmedia, it does not have an active sourcing service, offers few analytics, and has very slow loading times.

The biggest complaint we hear from former Loadbee users, though, is that the integration loads very slowly. This impacts performance and the user experience, which can negatively impact rankings in search engines.

Check out our article on loadbee alternatives for more information.

Features:

• A+ Video Content: Integration of high-quality, brand-produced videos that showcase product features, benefits, and usage.
  
• Rich Media Delivery: In addition to videos, loadbee supports the integration of other rich media formats such as detailed product descriptions, images, and specifications.
  
• Customisable Layouts: Retailers can customise how video content is presented on their product pages, ensuring it aligns with their brand and enhances the overall shopping experience.

Applications for Retailers:

• Enhance Product Listings: Elevate the quality of your product pages with A+ video content that effectively communicates product value.
  
• Boost Engagement: Use rich video content to capture shopper attention and reduce bounce rates.
  
• Improve Conversion Rates: Provide detailed product insights through videos, increasing shopper confidence and driving sales.

Pricing:

• Free for retailers

4. Skeepers – Best for Shoppable Content

Skeepers integrates shoppable videos into product pages, which is useful for building trust through social proof.

However, it does not offer the comprehensive content and placement features of DemoUp Cliplister. Nor does it offer the professionalism of a product review video creation service.

The platform also features limited availability outside of the French market.

Features:

1. Shoppable video integration.
   
2. Testimonial collection tools.
   
3. Analytics for tracking engagement.

Applications for Online Shops:

• Shoppable video hosting.
  
• Encourage collection of social media content.
  
• Track the impact of social proof on sales.

Pricing: Custom pricing available upon inquiry.

5. Videoly – Best for YouTube Video Curation

Videoly is a product content syndication service that matches and displays YouTube videos on product pages at leading online retailers.

While Videoly also features copy-and-paste code integration, it lacks much of the functionalities of a true product video syndication network.

One of the biggest drawbacks of Videoly is that it only displays videos from YouTube.

This often results in customers clicking on another video or watching an unrelated suggested video that appears after the initial content concludes.

This leads to users leaving your shop’s ecosystem and becoming distracted, which limits its utility for retailers looking for Wistia alternatives.

Furthermore, loading external media from YouTube is not GDPR compliant. This can be a big issue for Euro-centric retailers who need to ensure full GDPR compliance.

For more information on Videoly, read our post on Videoly alternatives.

Features:

1. Automated video embedding.
   
2. Extensive video library.
   
3. Compatibility with various e-commerce platforms.

Applications for Online Shops:

• Automate product video updates.
  
• Enhance product pages with relevant video content.
  
• Simplify video content management.

Pricing: Videoly offers tailored pricing plans.

6. YouTube – Best for Hosting and Sharing Videos

YouTube hosts more videos than any other company in the world with billions of videos viewed each day. As far as Wistia alternatives go, it excels in several areas.

However, as a medium for displaying product content on product detail pages, it misses the mark significantly.

While it’s free to embed YouTube videos, sourcing videos places a huge burden on your internal resources.

After you source the videos, someone needs to manually embed each into every PDP you want the content to display on.

Plus, team members also need to continually update product pages with the latest videos, which makes YouTube almost untenable as a product content provider.

Lastly, as we previously outlined in the Videoly section above, YouTube frequently results in distracted customers and is a non-starter for retailers concerned about GDPR compliance.

If you’re in need of a better solution, read through our in-depth article on YouTube alternatives.

Features:

1. Global video hosting.
   
2. Easy sharing and embedding.
   
3. Detailed analytics for video performance.

Applications for Online Shops:

• Host product videos for wide audience reach.
  
• Manually integrate videos into product pages and social media.
  
• Utilise YouTube’s extensive reach to boost visibility.

Getting Started With the Best Video Hosting Solution for Online Shops

While Wistia is great as a video platform provider and video marketing platform, it lacks several features that make it unviable for most e-commerce retailers.

The biggest issue most retailers have with Wistia is that it requires you to create, upload and host your videos yourself.

This places a huge burden on your internal IT teams and makes it hard to use for many online retailers that don’t have a large amount of tech and web development resources available.

That’s why, in the e-commerce space, you’ll find most product content syndication solutions feature the following functionalities:

• A large database of video content
  
• Syndication of brand-created content to product pages
  
• A review video content creation service
  
• A content matching mechanism
  
• Mobile-optimised content
  
• Content analytics

Of these features, Wistia only includes video analytics. As such, we recommend searching for other, more e-commerce-specific video hosting platform options if you want to put video, 3D and AR content in your online shop.

We designed DemoUp Cliplister to fit in the price range of most medium-sized online retailers while remaining scalable enough for global enterprises.

We are committed to your success, so we will tell you if we don’t think we can help.

Wrapping Up

Wistia is a great tool for people who need video editing, hosting, and video creation tools all in one place.

It can also help you connect with your target audience with key features like trackable videos, comprehensive analytics, and in-depth insights.

However, it requires a lot of maintenance for companies with a lot of video content – like e-commerce retailers.

So unless you’re going to do a lot of video creation or video editing, you’re probably better off with a solution like ours or Videoly’s.

If you want to turn your boring product pages into digital sales rooms, be sure to fill out the form below for a no obligation demo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most frequently asked questions we receive about Wistia’s video hosting, video creation, and video editing tools.

For more e-commerce tips and tricks, check out the blog.