# Ant Media Server vs Castr

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Castr

| Attribute | Ant Media Server | Castr |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 51.2 (77% (high)) | 70.6 (44% (low)) |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true,"on_prem":true,"air_gapped":true,"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true}` |
| description.long | A media server platform supporting multiple streaming protocols (WebRTC, HLS, RTMP, SRT, etc.) that can be deployed on cloud marketplaces, on-premises, or in air-gapped networks with auto-scaling capabilities and adaptive bitrate streaming. | Consolidates live video streaming, hosting, multistreaming to multiple destinations, recording, and monetization into a single platform with 24/7 human support included. |
| features.capabilities | `{"pricing_model":"flat_monthly_subscription","ndi_network_device_interface_feed_ingestion":true,"srt_secure_reliable_transport_protocol_support":true,"custom_lower_thirds_graphics_and_brand_overlays":true}` | `{"pricing_model":"flat_monthly_subscription","architecture_model":"browser_cloud_studio","simulcast_multi_destination_rtmp_output_hub":true,"srt_secure_reliable_transport_protocol_support":true}` |
| integrations.count | 15 | 5 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Scribe","native":true},{"name":"Scotty","native":true,"category":"advertising"},{"name":"Moderator","native":true},{"name":"Mobiotics OTT","native":false},{"name":"Visionar","native":false},{"name":"DRM Plugin","native":true,"category":"security"},{"name":"Circle","native":true},{"name":"CamOS","native":false,"category":"surveillance","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"LL-HLS","native":true},{"name":"Stamp","native":true},{"name":"TunaDesk","native":false},{"name":"Ant Assist","native":true,"category":"support"},{"name":"Zixi","native":false,"category":"streaming","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Media Push Plugin","native":true},{"name":"IP Cameras","native":false,"category":"monitoring","direction":"inbound"}]` | `[{"name":"Wirecast","native":true,"category":"broadcasting","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"YouTube","native":true,"category":"video","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"Facebook","native":true,"category":"social","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"LinkedIn","native":true,"category":"social","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"Twitch","native":true,"category":"streaming","direction":"outbound"}]` |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Community Edition (Cloud Hourly)","summary":"Starting from $0.33/hr","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.33,"period":"hour","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Cloud solution with hourly billing","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise Edition (Cloud Hourly)","summary":"Starting from $0.44/hr","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.44,"period":"hour","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Cloud solution with hourly billing","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise Edition with Google Cloud Credits","summary":"Starting from $0.56/hr","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.56,"period":"hour","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Cloud solution with Google Cloud trial credits included","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Hourly License (Self-Hosted)","summary":"$0.24 per instance per hour","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0.24,"period":"hour","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Pay-per-uptime billing, best for event-based workloads","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"billing":"uptime only"}},{"free":false,"name":"Monthly License (Self-Hosted)","summary":"$109 per instance per month","commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":109,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Monthly subscription with flex scalability, best for always-on streaming","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Annual License (Self-Hosted)","summary":"$89 per instance per month (billed annually)","commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":89,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Annual subscription with advanced scalability","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Perpetual License (Self-Hosted)","summary":"$2799 one-time, then $449/year for support","components":[{"kind":"one_time","amount":2799,"currency":"USD"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":449,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Lifetime usage with standard support included; optional paid support upgrades available","contactSales":false}],"summary":"From $0.24/hr (self-hosted) or $0.33/hr (cloud). Free 7-day trial. Perpetual licensing available.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://antmedia.io/pricing/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T14:53:09.887Z","freeTrialDays":7,"startingPrice":{"amount":89,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Starter","summary":"$19.99/month or $199.99/year (2 months free)","features":["Multiple ingest protocols and SRT","Embedded player and video analytics","Cloud recording and Live-to-VOD"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":19.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Standard","summary":"$499.99/year","features":["SRT/RTMP pull links"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Premium","summary":"$199.99/month or $1,999.99/year (2 months free)","features":["Adaptive bitrate and custom transcoding","API access and three team members"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":199.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"$3,499.99/year","features":["Low-latency playback and HLS for VOD","Dedicated support on annual billing"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":3499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Events","summary":"$7,499.99/year","features":["Branded web app included","Native mobile and TV apps available as add-ons"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":7499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false}],"addOns":[{"name":"DRM"},{"name":"Native mobile and TV apps"}],"summary":"From $19.99/month ($199.99/year with 2 months free). Free 7-day trial on Starter plan.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://castr.com/pricing/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T14:45:16.675Z","freeTrialDays":7,"startingPrice":{"amount":19.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | freemium |
| pricing.price_level | high | mid |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":89,"currency":"USD"}` | `{"amount":19.99,"currency":"USD"}` |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| reliability.sla_pct | 99.99 | 99.9 |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | yes | yes |
| security.pci | yes | - |

## Capabilities (Live Streaming)

| Capability | Ant Media Server | Castr |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Architecture model | - | Browser cloud studio |
| Simulcast multi destination rtmp output hub | - | ✓ |
| Remote guest browser invites for interviews webrtc | - | - |
| Custom lower thirds graphics and brand overlays | ✓ | - |
| ISO track recording for isolated guest audio video | - | - |
| Hardware encoding acceleration nvenc quicksync | - | - |
| Srt secure reliable transport protocol support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi network unified aggregated chat feed | - | - |
| Chroma key green screen and virtual backgrounds | - | - |
| Ndi network device interface feed ingestion | ✓ | - |
| SOC2 type ii | - | - |
| Gpl or permissive oss license | - | - |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly subscription | Flat monthly subscription |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:14:24.708Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*