Which video player suits your project: Videojs or JWPlayer?

Videojs and JWplayer are the popular choices among the various video players available to stream video content on a webpage. As compared to the default HTML5 player, these players offer various features such as extensibility, adapting quality, previews, etc. In our group, Icecat is using JWplayer and Autheos includes videojs. A good reason to reconsider our video player choices.

Cost

A key difference between these is that videojs is open source and therefore free. However, JWPlayer requires a paid subscription.

Framework or Platform

If you are in the market looking for just a video player and you have the necessary skills and capabilities required to integrate it and manage your own content, then videojs should be your choice. Videojs offers a great video playing framework.

If you are in need of a video service provider, JWPlayer might be a good choice. JWPlayer is more a video platform than a framework. JWPlayer offers a CDN, content management, ads and analytics.

Both of them offer a hosted solution which makes it possible to deal with security fixes, patches to work on new browsers, devices, etc.

Customization and CrossPlatform

Both the players offer sufficient customization like design and css support. And, further a lot of plugins to integrate in the player. Videojs and JWPlayer are available on popular platforms such as android, ios and web. They also support a variety of content and can adapt to the content that is streaming.

Other things to consider

Ultimately, the size and structure of the website, support, licensing, additional features like VR and specific encoding, can determine what should be the final choice of video player for your project.

Icecat conclusion

Because of the open source framework, it is compelling for Icecat to investigate further if we can make the switch to videojs. The benefit of an open source solution is that we could advice our users and clients, to make use of the player as well, as commercial for the player is not applicable.