Head-to-head · Live Streaming Hosting
Cloudflare Stream vs Castr
Cloudflare Stream leads on 0 checks, Castr on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCloudflare Stream · 8.9/10
- Free trialonly Castr
Cloudflare Stream scores higher on our rubric for live streaming hosting: 8.9 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #12.
Cloudflare Stream is the better fit for developers building video delivery into apps. Castr is the better fit for teams needing browser production and 4K multistreaming.
- Cloudflare Stream fits best
Developers building video delivery into apps
- Castr fits best
Teams needing browser production and 4K multistreaming
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Side by side
| Feature | Cloudflare Stream 8.9/10 Visit ↗ | Castr 8.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Ranking | #4 in Live Streaming Hosting | #12 in Live Streaming Hosting |
| Best for | Developers building video delivery into apps | Teams needing browser production and 4K multistreaming |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $5/unit/mo | $199.99/yr |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs | Live chat, Docs · 24/7 |
| Compliance | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS | GDPR |
| Integrations | 9 integrations | 30+ integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Cloudflare Stream 0/3 · Castr 0/3 | ||
| Simulcast | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| DVR and replay | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| White-label player | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Max concurrent viewers | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Stream latency | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Ingest protocols | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Live monetization | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Cloudflare Stream is a managed platform for uploading, encoding, storing, delivering, and playing live or on-demand video. It is aimed at developers building video into websites, iOS and Android applications, educational platforms,… Read the review → |
Castr is a cloud video platform for production agencies, media operators, organizations, and event teams. It accepts RTMP, RTMPS, SRT, WHIP, and pull-based ingest, then distributes broadcasts to websites and social platforms. Browser-based… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Cloudflare Stream — where it wins
- RTMP and SRT live ingest with HLS and DASH playback
- Signed URLs support expiration, geolocation, and download restrictions
- Usage-based delivery pricing includes bandwidth with video delivery
Where it doesn't
- No free plan for testing or small deployments
- Fewer live-production features than specialized broadcast platforms
- Storage and delivery costs vary with minutes used
Castr — where it wins
- Browser production with source switching and overlays
- Multistreaming to social platforms and custom RTMP/SRT endpoints
- Recording, Live-to-VOD, paywalls, ads, and 4K delivery
Where it doesn't
- No free plan; the trial lasts 7 days
- Platform coverage is limited to web and API
- Maximum destination count is six
- Cloudflare Stream8.9/10 · Paid
A developer-focused video backend with usage-based storage and delivery pricing.
Visit siteFull verdict → - Castr8.0/10 · 7-day trial
Castr combines browser production, 4K delivery, multistreaming, and video monetization.
Visit CastrFull verdict →
More comparisons
All live streaming hosting comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update