Lightcast
Lightcast: A broad OTT platform for 24/7 channels, live events, simulcasting, and branded apps. Ranked #5 of 28 in Live Stream Scheduling Software by our editors (9.0/10); pricing: Pricing on request; best for OTT and connected-TV publishers.
At a glance
- Editor score9.0 / 10
- PricingPricing on request
- Best forOTT and connected-TV publishers
- Playlist supportYes
- Founded2010 · Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, and Vienna, Austria
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- 24/7 scheduling with VOD-to-live looping and cloud playout
- Distributes to social, web, mobile, and connected-TV platforms
- Combines recording, trimming, analytics, media management, and APIs
Where it doesn't
- Quote-based pricing makes direct budget comparison less immediate
- Broad feature coverage may exceed the needs of simple stream schedulers
- Custom apps and multi-platform distribution can require more planning
Our verdict on Lightcast
Lightcast is a cloud-based OTT and live-streaming platform for broadcasters, churches, nonprofits, creators, educators, businesses, and government organizations. It brings media management, live-event scheduling, 24/7 VOD-to-live playout, simulcasting, branded apps, analytics, monetization, and API access into one service. The strongest fit is for publishers operating linear channels or distributing content across websites, social networks, mobile apps, and connected-TV services.
Its scheduling and distribution breadth is the main differentiator. A drag-and-drop scheduler supports continuous programming, while playlist management and VOD-to-live looping support linear streams. Live events can include metadata and countdowns, and streams can be simulcast to YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch, and other destinations. Server-side recording and cloud trimming extend live broadcasts into on-demand content. The platform also supports media upload, metadata management, transcoding, CDN delivery, and analytics covering views, watch time, devices, geography, and bandwidth.
Lightcast also has a wide ecosystem reach, with integrations and app support spanning Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG TV, Vizio, iOS, Android, and Spotify. Custom-branded web, mobile, and connected-TV apps suit organizations that want a branded distribution layer, while the Lightcast API covers content, playlists, live events, and schedules. Pricing is contact-sales and quote-based, so organizations seeking straightforward self-serve purchasing may prefer a simpler alternative. Choose Lightcast for multi-platform OTT operations and scheduled channels; avoid it if you only need basic event scheduling.
Your product? Our editors can test Lightcast in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Lightcast pricing
Lightcast fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Playlist support | Yes |
| Simulcasting | Yes |
| Max destinations | Not verified |
| Maximum resolution | Not verified |
| Video storage | Not verified |
| Recurring schedules | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 30+ integrations: YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch, Roku, Fire TV … See all → |
| Pricing | Pricing on request (source) |
| Website | lightcast.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Lightcast integrations
Lightcast lists 30+ integrations on its own site — the 20 named here are the ones its pages call out.
- YouTube
- X
- Twitch
- Roku
- Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Android TV
- Google TV
- Samsung Smart TV
- LG TV
- Vizio
- iOS
- Android
- Spotify
- TuneIn
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- iHeartRadio
- Alexa
See all Lightcast integrations →
Alternatives to Lightcast
- Amagi CLOUDPORTA broadcast-focused cloud platform for scheduling, playout, live control, and channel operations.9.4
- Frequency StudioA broad cloud playout and scheduling platform for automated linear channel operations.9.3
- Veset NimbusA full cloud playout suite for teams managing scheduled, live, and multi-channel broadcasts.9.1
See all Lightcast alternatives →
Lightcast vs the competition
- Lightcast vs Amagi CLOUDPORT
- Lightcast vs Frequency Studio
- Lightcast vs Veset Nimbus
- Lightcast vs Livepush
- Lightcast vs playout.video
- Lightcast vs Restream
Compare Lightcast with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Lightcast is ranked in 2 of our directories.
Used Lightcast? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Lightcast for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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