Before diving into the blog, let’s break down the reality of OTT in the current days. Don’t just jump into a business for the sake of it, but dig deep into the scope of the business in terms of a 360-degree growth. Here, we have developed such content to ease out your efforts. Hire OTT developers and make informed decisions!
A report says the global OTT market was valued at $121.61 billion in 2024. It’s expected to grow by an impressive 29.4% every year until 2030. Amazing!
While it’s important to recognize the importance of this opportunity, it is even more crucial to heed the potential of OTT apps, since the penetration of faster internet connectivity and smartphones is accelerating across the globe.
Read. Analyse. Decide. Strategize. Execute. Follow-up. AND it’s a loop!
Let’s start with the most basic one to ensure we are on the same page.
What is OTT App?
Over-The-Top, as the name implies, is simply bypassing the traditional content delivery methods and streaming using the internet.
OTT apps are specifically designed and optimized for performance only in mobiles.
OTT App Development is the process of developing the mobile application to deliver content (Video or Audio) to the target audience. The content can cover a wide range of genres that caters to varying demographic groups.
2024’s Impressive OTT Growth
The OTT streaming industry is growing fast in 2024, with numbers that show its incredible rise:
- The global OTT market is expected to reach $165.9 billion in 2024, a big 32% jump from 2023 (Source: Mordor Intelligence).
- By the end of 2023, there will be over 2 billion OTT video subscriptions worldwide (Source: Digital TV Research).
- In the U.S., 82% of households will have at least one OTT video subscription by the end of the year (Source: eMarketer).
- The average U.S. consumer is expected to spend $109.67 per month on OTT services in 2023 (Source: Deloitte).
These numbers show how quickly OTT platforms are being adopted. People love the freedom and convenience of streaming content whenever they want.
This is the perfect time to work with a top OTT platform development company to make the most of this growing trend.
Key Features of a Successful OTT App
We will unpack the features level-wise, i.e, in the order of a user’s journey in interacting with the OTT app. Imagine having an app to navigate through to understand the simple yet the most significant features that are crucial for driving success.
User experience and interface:
Although experience is associated with feelings, it starts with a visual appeal. Key appeal elements include colours, typography, interactive elements, and layout of the platform. Only after the eyes skim through, you will start navigating through the app, which calls for intuitive flow of exploring the app. Both of these account for ease of use and must be considered by the OTT app developers. Before even discovering the content library, users may exit if this fails to be delivered.
Content library
Here again, we have two aspects namely, licensed and original content. One that strikes a balance between both will sell in the market. We can attribute this to the expectation of a user, with a ton of OTT platforms available across the globe, users are overwhelmed with choices and find it difficult to identify the right platform for their entertainment preferences. In this case, offering a content library that sources and produces original content has more possibilities to sell. As this means, most of their wants are sufficed by a single platform. It also is a budget friendly approach that the platforms can take to encourage their target audience.
On the other hand, for the OTT platforms this becomes a tool to a step toward growth in terms of market share despite fierce competition and dominance from established top-grossing platforms like Netflix and Amazon. Moreover, it can be utilized as a differentiation strategy when the industry is saturated with similar content. This revives the platforms and fuels their growth.
Performance
Among all the five features that determine the success of an OTT App, performance is the ultimate factor to gain and retain a larger user base in the long run. It can be measured across three major facets. They are:
Device agility:
Performance optimization must be done for all devices covering aspects of video resolution with development focusing on dynamic adaptation for smooth playback, UI & UX designed for compatibility with hardware and interaction method, and offering device-specific features. Various companies hire OTT developers to provide a well performing platform.
Response efficiency:
Performance translates to speedier loading, streaming, running crash-free servers, deploying Adaptive Bitrate to ensure uninterrupted streaming to withstand unstable network conditions. Additionally, the OTT app developers should focus on designing a platform that is capable of handling spiked traffic.
Media fidelity:
Performance concerning high quality video and audio by focusing on codec efficiency, audio normalization to ensure consistency in audio levels, Variable Frame Rate (VFR) to adjust frames based on network conditions, and HDR support for immersive experience. Performance-loaded OTT apps can be delivered with these features
Monetization
While there are four types of monetization models, each has its own merits and demerits. When a balance between the content and pricing is not made, it increases churn rates, especially with OTT giants like Netflix and Amazon dominating the market.
Multiple platforms offering similar content with few differentiation strategies have overwhelmed users with their budgets, and ads are seen as frustrating. Users feel overcharged for additional content in the TVOD model, paying for features and content that are not required. All of these are the common challenges by OTT platforms.
While all of these cannot be completely eliminated as these are the ways in which each model operates,moderation can be made to ensure users are comfortable with the platform’s offerings.
Security
Even though robust encryption standards are implemented, such as AES-128, by giant OTTs, development efforts must ensure vulnerabilities are addressed rightly on platforms, as there have been incidents of phishing and hacking that threatened the confidential information of their users.
To cite a crisis, the Netflix suspended account scam tricked the users into believing that their subscription payments failed in an attempt to steal their credentials and credit card information. Even Amazon Prime Video fell prey to such security breaches when fraudulent emails were sent pretending to be from Amazon. The mail contained a link to login or update payment information to steal credit card numbers or login credentials, making this a concern for the OTT apps.
The question of whether they had used advanced security standards is unnecessary, as it is implied. This shows that even industry leading players are prone to attacks. Even more concerning is that these attacks are not one-time incidents but have spanned months and years.
Consequently, Companies hire OTT developers to build robust platforms that can efficiently handle security vulnerabilities.
Awareness and action must be coupled to safeguard sensitive information. Users must be educated through FAQs and newsletters from the OTT platform to ensure their users are familiarized with the threats to such attacks. Additionally, integrate the OTT platform with AI based threat detection to automatically identify and respond to security threats in real-time.
Value-Added Services Available from the OTT App Development Company
The process of OTT app development is part and parcel of the mainstream operation. You need to be aware of the additional add-on services that will benefit and further boost your OTT app. These are operations that must be done to ensure the seamless operation of the OTT platform. The difference lies in the OTT app development company offering such services, as not all companies cater to them. Here’s a list of the services:
- Post-launch support: Any customer-centric OTT app development company would offer 6-12 months of post-launch support to assist with using the platform, fixing bugs, making performance enhancements, and updates.
- Content migration: It is necessary only in cases where an existing platform is being utilized and a shift is required. Assistance is given by the OTT app developers to migrate the content including metadata and asset management without downtime.
- App Store Optimization (ASO): The app needs to be optimized for visibility in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to ensure ease of finding the app and downloading. With ASO techniques, experts can save you time, money and yield effective results.
- Content licensing: The OTT app development company, through negotiations, contacts the content owners to acquire legal rights to stream the content in regions while complying with the laws. This is done through a coordinated effort with the legal team.
- Dedicated Account Manager: Certain OTT app developers provide a manager exclusively for an enhanced personalized journey to service delivery. This is done to ensure a single point of contact is established for faster communication and issue resolution.
- Monetization strategy consultation: It starts with analyzing the nature of the OTT platform to devise the best approach for maximizing profitability. A holistic perspective on financial aspects is considered to arrive at the best solution by OTT app developers.
- User training: The client and the end-users are equipped with the knowledge of using the platform to derive the benefits completely. While the content of the training differs for the client and the end-users, comprehensive awareness-packed sessions are delivered. This enables them to utilize the features of the OTT apps to their completeness.
- Marketing support: Efforts to promote the OTT app are taken to gain visibility and wider reach. From digital marketing campaigns, branding and positioning, strategizing content, and user retention techniques, all aspects are covered to gain an edge over the competitors.
- Methodology : There are many methods of developing an OTT app, each caters to different OTT development scenarios. The most suitable one is a combination of two, namely, Agile & DevOps, as this ensures flexibility while maintaining reliability and scalability.
Factors to Consider When Hiring OTT App Developers
- Experience in OTT app development
Why consider experience as a factor? This is a valid question especially in the current days where start-ups are on the rise who are able to be technologically advanced in service delivery.
While technical knowledge is immensely crucial, only experience can create deep understanding on the realistic challenges and uncertain circumstances that the process can potentially cause. This translates to more value, which converts to an OTT app that is developed for greater performance across all facets.
Experienced developers are aware of the complexities and challenges unique to designing an OTT app. Track record of successfully delivered OTT apps in the past also demonstrate a well constructed development company with capabilities to handle crises in the process by allocating resources efficiently.
- Technical proficiency
The OTT platform development process involves several stages to ensure a seamless and efficient platform. A robust and feature-rich app can be designed with higher-level technical skills. Specifically, the developers should be proficient in frontend tools and frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Swift to build responsive and intuitive interfaces that can also seamlessly work across various devices. With the backend tech stack, Node.js, Python or Java skills are critical to support content management, user authentication, and real-time analytics by creating a scalable backend architecture.
Additionally, streaming technologies such as Adaptive Bitrate (HLS, DASH), video encoding, and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) will enable developing a high-performing and quality app. To make the app future-proof you should deploy APIs. A feature-complete app must be aimed and the tech stack that matches must be the right choice for the OTT app developers.
- Pricing model
You determine your budget and scope of spending your resources before choosing the company that aligns with your financial objectives for the OTT platform development. The wrong choice will cost you in terms of budget overruns, inflexibility to scope changes and resource insufficiency. There are three different models each catering to unique needs:
- Fixed price model:
The fixed nature of the cost associated with clearly defined requirements and scope makes it suitable for smaller and less complex OTT apps. The entire process is spelled out in terms of cost and efforts are taken to match the budget with the expenditure. It ensures that no unexpected costs arise because the features and timelines are clearly defined from the outset.
- Hourly or time-and-material model:
This falls under the semi-variable category, which translates to striking a balance between budgeting beforehand and allocating resources and time for evolving requirements as development takes place. Charges are based on time and resources spent, as a result, it requires closely tracking expenditure and getting the requirements fulfilled. Companies hire OTT developers and balance budgets while meeting growing development needs.
- Dedicated team model:
A dedicated team is hired to work exclusively for platforms which require long-term commitment by OTT app developers. This nature allows a greater degree of control over the development process and allows flexibility for the client to initiate and request changes, although higher costs are incurred. For apps that require feature additions, continuous maintenance, and updates, this model would be ideal.
- Prototyping
It is the cornerstone to the entire process of OTT platform development. This prototype of the final version will help test the usability of the platforms, incorporate client requirements, prevent costly mistakes and unnecessary delays in bringing the final app to existence. Alterations can be easily implemented during the prototyping stage. Moreover, it facilitates version tracking and opting for a previous model effortlessly.
- Scalability and flexibility
An API deployed tech stack must be chosen to handle fluctuating demand, without which, during peak traffic, it poses issues like performance degradation and server congestion. A microservice architecture can support the app with millions of concurrent users to access the platform without interruptions and experience a smooth playback. Companies hire OTT developers to implement such technology to deliver a seamless user experience even under heavy loads.
Additionally, load balancers can be installed either in software or hardware configuration, but in most cases, software is preferred for cost-effectiveness, cloud integration, and containerized applications.This prevents a single server from overloading, potentially causing bottlenecks and jamming the entire system.To further enhance seamless operation, auto-scaling can be enabled to automatically adjust traffic to ensure optimal performance on OTT apps.
- Post-launch support
Although the OTT app development company equips the client to navigate through the complete usage and maintenance of the app, assistance is inevitable. Bugs, performance issues, user feedback, additional requirements in features, scalability needs, software updates, and other issues and requirements may arise. These have to be rectified and implemented to complete the process of developing a successful app. They are crucial as leaving them unresolved can lead to financial loss, increased churn rates and damaged reputation in the market.
- Client reviews and testimonials
The most important element while going through the reviews is an authenticity check, as the current digital marketing landscape provides lots of tools and opportunities to display a facade to gain visibility in the market. This is as valuable as the company’s experience, considering that the clients themselves share their experience and this should be regarded as a credible source to make informed decisions. Hire OTT app developers with proven credibility.
Although each client would touch upon varying aspects of their experience, the company’s timeliness, quality and a responsive communication structure can be evidenced from the feedback of each client. These are the primary factors to consider before investing time and resources in a company. You can reap the benefits by hiring a qualified team of developers to make your OTT app vision into a reality.
Top 7 Custom OTT App Developers 2025
1. Webnexs
Specialization: End-to-End OTT Development Solutions
Webnexs is an IT consulting business that has an array of services that include building cutting-edge OTT platforms that accurately reflect the requirements of the clients across diverse industries.
They deploy modern technologies such as microservices architecture, adaptive streaming and API integrated software. Its robust post-launch support ensures that your OTT platform adapts to the evolving needs of the market.
Development Methodology: Agile development with iterative approach
Webnexs values flexibility and collaboration throughout the development cycle. As a result of having adopted this method they are able to implement client’s feedback at each stage of the OTT app development to ensure the final platform aligns with the business requirements. Companies hire OTT developers following this methodology mostly due to the flexibility it provides to accommodate the dynamic requirements demanded by the clients.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive OTT solution
- Multi-monetization models
- Scalability
- Advanced analytics
- Global accessibility
2. Flicknexs
Specialization: Comprehensive OTT App Development
It specializes in providing end-to-end OTT platforms tailored to businesses requiring seamless delivery of video streaming experiences. They focus on developing innovative and feature-rich applications that render diverse content distribution, engagement, and monetization needs.
Additionally, their expertise extends to deploying advanced technologies to provide robust scalability, high performance, and a user-centric design in the OTT platform to increase customer base and revenue.
Development Methodology: Agile-Scrum Framework
The entire iterative approach is divided into sprints to allow for frequent collaboration with clients to effectively implement their evolving requirements. Regular feedback ensures that goals are aligned to deliver a high performance OTT platform.
Benefits:
- Custom-built applications
- Accelerated time-to-market
- Expertise in live streaming
- Enhanced scalability
- Offline viewing support
3. Daffodil
Specialization: Agile OTT App Development
Daffodil excels at providing technology consulting services, software testing, and quality assurance to businesses. It offers tailor-made OTT app development services by focusing on rapid delivery and high performance.
Through a collaborative approach, they design the platform and integrate client specifications to create highly scalable OTT applications to boost engagement, content delivery efficiency and enhance monetization strategies.
Development Methodology: Agile-Scrum Framework
It is a subset of agile methodology to efficiently manage complex development projects. This is done to ensure regular client involvement and follow iterative development. As a result, the projects progress based on real-time dynamic inputs to achieve client’s goals. This is crucial to the success of the OTT platforms.
Benefits:
- Custom-tailored apps
- Faster time-to-market
- Live streaming expertise
- Cost-effective development
- Offline viewing support
4. Oxagile
Specialization: Video-On-Demand and Live Streaming Platforms
An excellent solutions provider in the field of technology with expert dominance in building custom software development, including OTT platforms. Key drivers for delivering robust platforms include high-performance and scalable solutions.
One standout feature is that they cater to corporates, years of experience bring them the top tier clients. Since they are performance oriented, their OTT platform development process entails higher quality standards that enable them to withstand large-scale streaming demands seamlessly.
Development Methodology: Hybrid Agile-Waterfall Model
They adopt a hybrid of not just two methods but it is a combination of traditional and a modern method. This successful methodology has enabled them to deliver large-scale projects with flexibility and predictability by maintaining structure to assess and track progress. OTT developers implement this approach for the timely delivery of projects.
Benefits:
- High performance under load
- Interactive features
- Comprehensive vod solutions
- Detailed analytics
- Global reach
5. Tothenew
Specialization: Cloud-Based OTT Platforms
A technology services company that expertly undertakes digital transformation for clients, offers cloud services and specializes in product engineering. Their processes are designed to enable both startups and enterprise level businesses alike.
In the OTT platform development process, their expertise lies in building and scaling cloud-native applications by leveraging innovative technologies to deliver high-quality and customized platforms. Overall, by offering end-to-end solutions they accelerate their client’s digital journey.
Development Methodology: Microservices and DevOps-Driven Approach
A well supported methodology for cloud-native applications that works by fragmenting the application into independent services for efficient developing processes. Additionally, it enables faster development cycles and seamless updates and maintenance. This is a common approach for building scalable platforms when you hire OTT app developers.
Benefits:
- Cloud-native architecture
- Future-ready solutions
- Efficient operations
- Real-time insights
- High availability
6. Matellio
Specialization: Custom Software Solutions & Emerging Technologies
A leading software development company that excels in custom-built comprehensive solutions for mobile, web and enterprise applications. By targeting emerging and robust technologies such as AI, blockchain and IoT they enable businesses to scale and innovate.
An end-to-end digital transformation service is provided with a greater level of flexibility to adapt the processes to suit multiple industries. Years of delivering successful projects have enabled them to become a key player.
Development Methodology: Scrum framework
This is a combination of agile and scrum methodology. Most of the projects are run by agile while scrum is implemented for narrowing down the process called sprints to ensure timely deliveries. On the whole, the method delivers a client-focused solution. Hire OTT app developers adopting this methodology to ensure efficient and client-centric solutions.
Benefits:
- Custom software solutions
- Emerging technologies expertise
- Scalable solutions
- End-to-end development
- Agile development approach
7. Dacast
Specialization: Reliable OTT App Development
They provide professional-grade OTT solutions by focusing on building a secure, scalable and customizable OTT platform that can cater to various industries by capitalizing on content delivery, user engagement and monetization capabilities.
A reliable platform with strong security and performance under heavy loads can be delivered. This customer-centric approach enables them to empower their clients to be competitive in the streaming industry.
Development Methodology: Iterative Agile Approach
This incremental development approach narrows down to providing a flexible and collaborative approach. Client requirements are well integrated from time-to-time for continuous improvement and alignment with the overall objective.
Benefits:
- Customizable applications
- Accelerated deployment
- Advanced live streaming capabilities
- Secure content delivery
- Multi-device compatibility
Stepping into what’s next
If you are through to the conclusion part of this blog, then you might have considered building your own streaming platform. You are in the right place to initiate your next step i.e, hiring. But before you commit to a company, you should look for a demo to assess the viability of your project with the developers for building your OTT platforms.
With over 7+ years of experience in the industry with 200+ digital engineers, Webnexs will prove to be the right option for materializing your OTT app proposal. Having worked with many clients on platforms, we strive to deliver the best by focusing on moving up the ladder of success.
The iconic founder of the streaming industry, Reed Hastings (Co-founder of Netflix), quoted: “The great thing about Netflix is that we’re not trying to build a new thing every day. We’re trying to figure out how to make what we have better.”
This simply highlights the significance of technological innovation to thrive in the market. At Webnexs, THE BARS ARE HIGH!. We believe in setting challenging standards and pushing our limits to achieve them and this mindset has fueled our growth. When you hire OTT app developers at Webnexs, you are choosing a team committed to delivering excellent robust solutions.
