This is an example use case to illustrate the pricing comparison between video hosting + CDN delivery + encoding/encryption services. If you’re unsure whether you need this protection, consult our Video Protection Methods section of documentation.
We wrote a larger piece on this, including all the details and differences between the mentioned services. Read it here.
Slightly higher volumes have been chosen for this example in order to allow for true differences in prices to be visible. Let’s say you will be using 250GB of storage, out of which 200GB will be encoded video. Let’s assume that it will be streamed up to the traffic of 500GB.
Remember that encoding is paid in $/min of output video, so a 1 000 of minutes of original video will translate to 4 000 minutes of encoded video in 4 different qualities.
Also, please keep in mind that encoding is a one-time expense. Hosting and CDNs are paid monthly.
| Size | FV Player Coconut | Amazon Web Services | Cloudflare Stream | Bunny Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250GB stored | $5 | $5.75 | $50* | $2.5 |
| 200GB / 42h and 20min encoded | $114,17* | $255,73* | included | free |
| 500GB traffic | $2.50 | $42,46 | $19* | $2.50 |
| Initial price with encoding | $121,67 | $303,94 | $69 | $5 |
| Recurring monthly price | $7.50 | $48,21 | $69 | $5 |
*Converted from $/min pricing assuming various encoded qualities
Conclusion
Coming in at $60 a year Bunny Stream price is definitely unmatched and will remain to be so at any size, but there are video protection limitations, making it not fit for everyone.
Cloudflare includes encoding in the price, making it initially quite sound. However, in the long-term, it proves to be needlessly expensive with $828/year. Given the price difference in recurring monthly payments, at the sizes in the chart, it already evens out and surpasses the price of FV Player Coconut by third month. In most cases, Cloudflare becomes more expensive by half a year. However, for it to cover the initial price of AWS MediaConvert, you’d have to use it for at least a little over a year.
Amazon Web Services is immensely reputable and reliable – that much goes without saying. Once the overpriced monthly payment for Cloudflare surpasses the initial MediaConvert encoding price, coming in at $578,52/year AWS also gets cheaper than Cloudflare. Then again, is it really worth all the complications and hassle with their services, when there’s cheaper options with the same level of security?
Yes, we’re talking about FV Player Coconut which costs $90/year. Same level of security as AWS, but cheaper and easier to use. Similar to Cloudflare, but vastly cheaper in the long run. Noticeably more expensive than Bunny Stream, but offering much better protection.
Note: Please, keep in mind that this comparison and adjacent chart are purely informative. It’s best to calculate based on your usage and needs, and pick a suitable service accordingly.
