OTT Platforms
Zype (Backlight): features, pricing and who it fits
Zype, a Backlight business unit, offers streaming, linear playout and an Apps Creator, with published prices from $500 per month on annual terms. Apps are priced separately, so a full launch needs at least two plans. Data residency cannot be chosen by the customer.
Who Zype (Backlight) is for
Best for
- Mid-market media companies wanting CMS, CDN and apps from one vendor
- Publishers launching FAST channels with the playout product
- Buyers who want published prices before a sales call
Look elsewhere if
- Creators with budgets under $500 per month
- Teams needing customer-selectable data residency
Zype (Backlight) features
- Monetization models
- Advertising tools in Playout (SSAI), FAST distribution add-on, CRM in the streaming platform
- Apps and device coverage
- Apps Creator: iOS, Android, mobile web and connected TV; Xbox as paid add-on
- White-label branding and customization
- Templated Apps Creator for branded TV, mobile and web apps
- Live streaming support
- Live and VOD encoding; Playout for linear channels with scheduling and live events
- Analytics and audience tools
- Analytics product for video performance and audience engagement; CRM
- DRM and content security
- Widevine, PlayReady and FairPlay supported; SOC 2 Type II report on request under NDA; GDPR and CCPA compliant
- Pricing model
- Monthly flat plans on annual terms, add-ons extra
- Target company size
- Mid-market media
Zype (Backlight) pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zype X | $500 | per month, annual terms | CMS, CRM, API, CDN, live and VOD encoding, standard support |
| Zype Premium | $3,500 | per month, annual terms | Premium support and higher service levels |
| Playout Standard | $1,999 | per month, annual terms | 1080p, 30 fps, one HLS destination |
| Playout Advanced | $3,499 | per month, annual terms | 60 fps, 20 Mbps |
| Apps Creator Mobile | $2,000 | per month, annual terms | iOS, Android, mobile web |
| Apps Creator CTV | $2,500 | per month, annual terms | Connected TV devices |
| Apps Creator Universal | $3,500 | per month, annual terms | Mobile plus CTV; Xbox is an add-on |
Contact sales on every plan; no free trial mentioned. Destination connectors and Live Input Connector are paid add-ons without listed prices.
Prices as published by Zype (Backlight) on the date above. Quotes for larger teams often differ, which is what a request on SaaSBid surfaces.
Integrations, security and hosting
- Security and compliance
- SOC 2 Type II (report on request under NDA), GDPR, CCPA
- Data residency
- Not customer-selectable per the security page
Worth knowing before you buy
- Zype is a business unit of Backlight, which also owns ftrack, iconik, Celtx and Wildmoka
- Apps Creator is priced separately from the streaming platform, so a full OTT launch needs at least two plans
- SOC 2 Type II report is shared only under NDA
- Data residency is not customer-selectable; the sub-processor list is mostly US and global
- Sub-processor list on the security page is dated 2023-10-27
- Support Premium offers 24x5 plus weekend coverage, with 30-minute critical response
Zype (Backlight) alternatives
Vendor dossier
Fit by company size
| Category | 1-10 people | 11-50 people | 51-500 people | 500+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTT Platforms | Poor fit | Workable | Strong fit | No data |
Strong fitWorkablePoor fitNo data from the vendor
How buying Zype (Backlight) works
- How you buy
- Through sales
- Demo or quote needed for
- All plans (contact sales)
- Contract
- Listed prices on annual terms; month-to-month offered, prices not shown
Security and data protection
- SOC 2
- Type II
From Zype (Backlight)'s trust center, security and legal pages. Anything not listed is not published.
About the company
- Ownership
- part of Backlight (PSG-backed, 2022)
- 2022
- Acquired by Backlight at its launch with ftrack, iconik, Celtx and Wildmoka, deal reported at $200M+
Support and integrations
- Support
- Standard support in business hours with Zype X; Premium 24x5 plus weekends with Zype Premium
- API
- Public API with docs
- Notable integrations
- Roku, YouTube, Samsung, Vizio, Stripe, Recurly
What vendors in this category ask before quoting
Answer these once in a SaaSBid request and Zype (Backlight) and its alternatives quote against the same facts.
- How many subscribers and monthly viewing hours do you expect in year one?Bandwidth and per-subscriber fees drive the quote, and overage rates differ.
- Which devices must your apps cover at launch?Connected TV apps are often priced per app or locked to an enterprise plan.
- Do you sell subscriptions, single purchases, ads or a mix?The monetization model decides which plan tier and billing layer you need.
- Is your content licensed, and does the licensor require DRM?DRM requirements can move you to a higher plan or a different vendor.
- Do you stream live events, and how many hours per month?Live is metered or sold separately by many providers.
- How many hours of video must be migrated, and by what date should you launch?Library size and deadline determine onboarding scope and any project fees.