SproutVideo: what it is, how it works & who it's for

Secure, ad-free video hosting and live streaming for businesses

Updated · Pricing checked October 2026

What is SproutVideo?

SproutVideo is a video hosting platform for businesses that want to share on-demand and live video securely, without ads or distracting suggestions. It provides a customizable player, privacy controls, viewer analytics, lead capture tools and hosted video websites. Companies use it for marketing videos, online courses, corporate training, product demos and member-only content that should not appear on public video sites.

SproutVideo sells four plans named Seed, Sprout, Tree and Forest, each with set storage and bandwidth allowances and overage rates. Every plan includes white-label hosting, automatic captions and analytics, while higher tiers add live streaming minutes, viewer logins, dynamic watermarks, custom domains and single sign-on. A 30-day free trial with all features is available without a credit card.

SproutVideo at a glance

SproutVideo infographic: how it works in 5 steps, key features, pricing model and who it is best for
SproutVideo at a glance. Share or embed this infographic with a link to this page.

How does SproutVideo work?

  1. Start a free trial

    Sign up for the 30-day trial, which includes every feature and needs no credit card.

  2. Upload or go live

    Upload videos up to 8K or stream live; SproutVideo encodes them and delivers through a global CDN with adaptive bitrate streaming.

  3. Set privacy and branding

    Choose password, login, domain or IP restrictions, and customize the player with your colors and logo.

  4. Embed or publish a video site

    Embed videos on your website or LMS, or publish them on a hosted, mobile-friendly video website.

  5. Analyze and capture leads

    Review engagement reports, collect email addresses with lead capture forms and add calls to action.

SproutVideo key features

White-label hosting

Ad-free, unbranded playback with adaptive streaming up to 8K through a global CDN.

Privacy and security

Password protection, viewer login accounts, signed embeds, dynamic watermarks and geo or IP restrictions on higher plans.

Live streaming

Stream live events with included live input and delivery minutes on Sprout plans and above.

Video websites

Build a customizable, mobile-friendly video site, with custom domains and CSS on the Tree plan.

Marketing tools

Lead capture forms, calls to action, animated thumbnails, playlists and SEO-friendly settings.

Analytics

Engagement reports show who watched, how long and from where, with exportable reports on Forest.

Automatic captions and API

Captions are generated automatically, and a public API supports custom workflows.

Why use SproutVideo?

  • Strong privacy controls make it a good fit for paid courses, internal training and member content.
  • Ad-free, unbranded playback keeps viewers focused on your brand.
  • Automatic captions and analytics come with every plan rather than as paid extras.
  • A full-featured 30-day trial lets you test everything before paying.
  • Clear storage and bandwidth allowances make costs predictable for growing libraries.

Who is SproutVideo best for?

A good fit for

  • Course creators and e-learning businesses
  • Companies hosting private training or internal video
  • Small and mid-size marketing teams that want ad-free embeds
  • Video production agencies sharing work with clients

Less suited to

  • Creators who want audience discovery from a public video network
  • Sales reps who mainly need quick personal video messages
  • Very high-traffic publishers who may face bandwidth overage charges

SproutVideo pricing

Pricing modelSubscription
Free planNo
Free trial30 days
Starting price$12/month billed annually (Seed), or $15 billed monthly

Sprout costs $35, Tree $72 and Forest $195 per month billed annually. Higher tiers add storage, bandwidth, seats and security features, and extra usage is billed per GB.

Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official SproutVideo pricing page before you buy.

SproutVideo pros and cons

Pros

  • Robust privacy and access controls for a self-serve tool
  • Live streaming and captions included without separate add-ons
  • Long, full-featured free trial

Cons

  • No free plan after the trial ends
  • Bandwidth overages can add cost for popular videos
  • Viewer SSO and geo restrictions are limited to the top tier

SproutVideo integrations and platforms

Available on

  • Web
  • API

SproutVideo alternatives

SproutVideo FAQ

Is SproutVideo free?

No. SproutVideo does not have a free plan, but it offers a 30-day free trial with every feature and no credit card required. When the trial ends, playback pauses and you have 21 days to choose a plan before the account closes. Paid plans start at $12 per month billed annually.

What is SproutVideo used for?

SproutVideo is used to host and stream business video securely. Companies use it to embed marketing videos on their websites, deliver online courses, share private training, run live events and publish hosted video websites. Its privacy controls, ad-free player and analytics make it popular for content that should stay off public platforms. It also supports embedding videos in learning management systems and email campaigns.

How much does SproutVideo cost?

SproutVideo has four plans. Billed annually, Seed costs $12 per month, Sprout $35, Tree $72 and Forest $195. Monthly billing costs more, starting at $15. Each plan includes set storage and bandwidth, and extra usage is billed per gigabyte at rates that drop on higher tiers.

Does SproutVideo support live streaming?

Yes. SproutVideo supports live streaming alongside on-demand hosting. Live input and live delivery minutes are included from the Sprout plan upward, with larger allowances on Tree and Forest. Extra live minutes are billed per minute. Streams use the same privacy and player customization settings as on-demand videos. Seed plans do not include live minutes, so live events need Sprout or higher.

SproutVideo vs Vimeo: what's the difference?

Both offer ad-free business video hosting with privacy settings and live streaming. SproutVideo emphasizes security and includes automatic captions on every plan and live streaming from the Sprout tier, with storage and bandwidth limits that scale by tier. Vimeo adds a free plan, review and collaboration tools, a video editor and a large creator community. SproutVideo has no free plan after its trial.

Sources

This overview is based on SproutVideo's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.