Simple video hosting without the enterprise complexity.
| Feature | host.video | Kaltura |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $20/mo | ~$500+/mo (SMBs), contact sales |
| Self-serve signup | Yes, 14-day free trial | $1 trial for 14 days (limited products) |
| Setup complexity | Upload and embed in minutes | Implementation costs $1k-20k+ |
| AI search inside videos | Included on all plans | Not available as standalone feature |
| Auto transcription | Included, no per-minute fee | Available (specific products) |
| Product scope | Focused video hosting platform | 7+ separate products (webinars, classrooms, portals, media services) |
| UX | Clean, modern dashboard | "Probably the most clunky software I have ever used" |
| LMS integrations | Not currently offered | Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, Teams, Zoom |
Kaltura implementation costs range from $1,000 to $20,000+ before you host a single video. Users describe the platform as "probably the most clunky software I have ever used" with a steep learning curve, crashes during recording, and video processing "delayed by hours or days." host.video requires no implementation — sign up and start uploading.
Kaltura SMBs reportedly pay $500+/mo, mid-size organizations $1k-2k/mo, and enterprise $5k+/mo. VPaaS credits do not roll over and are non-refundable. host.video starts at $20/mo with no sales process, no credits, and no lock-in.
host.video automatically transcribes every upload and makes your entire library searchable. Kaltura offers various AI features across its product suite but video hosting is bundled inside larger, more complex products — not available standalone.
Kaltura integrates with Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, Teams, Zoom, and WebEx. Virtual classrooms, webinars, and media portals are available as dedicated products. For large universities running Kaltura across campus, the ecosystem integration is deep and switching costs are high.
Kaltura is publicly traded (KLTR) and serves large enterprises and universities with extensive customization options rooted in its open-source heritage. For organizations needing highly customized video workflows at enterprise scale, Kaltura offers flexibility that a simpler platform cannot match.
host.video Starter is $20/mo ($200/yr). Kaltura Virtual Classroom Basic is $19/mo per organizer for up to 25 participants. Kaltura Webinars Business is $299/mo. Video Portal and Media Services require custom quotes, reportedly starting at $1,000+/mo for enterprise. Implementation costs add $1k-20k+. host.video Business is $100/mo ($1,000/yr) for 500 GB storage, 5 TB bandwidth, AI search, transcription, chapters, and custom domains. Kaltura even concedes complexity in its own Vimeo comparison: "Unlike Kaltura, which can be complex, Vimeo offers streamlined video solutions."
Kaltura is the right choice for large universities or enterprises that need deep LMS integration, virtual classrooms, and webinars across thousands of users with extensive customization. If your organization already runs Kaltura and the switching cost is prohibitive, or if you need the breadth of their product suite (classrooms, events, portals), Kaltura remains the incumbent in education technology.
Choose host.video if you want simple, focused video hosting without a $20,000 implementation project or "the most clunky software" your team has ever used. If you are a smaller team priced out of Kaltura, or an enterprise team tired of complexity, host.video delivers AI search, automatic transcription, and a modern dashboard at a fraction of the cost and effort.