Building films, videos, and assets with remote teams is now easier than ever, but it can come with some considerable challenges. With something as nuanced as video production, you need proper, specialized tools to navigate moving from one workflow to the next.
Here, we've compiled our list of the top video collaboration tools - highlighting the good, the bad, and the pricing to help you decide on the right tool for your project.
Live video collaboration
For true real-time collaboration, consider utilizing these tools.
Evercast
Evercast is a remote editing collaboration platform specifically designed with the needs of professional video and audio professionals in mind. The suite provides video conferencing with ultra-low latency, 4K/60fps streaming, letting you collaborate from afar without compromising quality.
Created by creative professionals for creative professionals, Evercast supports full 10-bit 4:4:4 color, surround sound, and frame-accurate annotations so you can work through any stage of the creative process.
Each Evercast session comes with 24/7 technical support. Plus, you can create password-protecting streaming links to securely allow crew members, collaborators, and stakeholders into your sessions.
Key features and capabilities:
- Ultra-low latency 4K/60fps video streaming (less than 150ms) from any source, such as live cameras on set, media files, or any creative software
- Up to 10-bit 4:4:4 color depth
- 4K screen sharing, supporting multiple screen shares at once
- Record and review function for reviewing key session moments
- On-screen drawing for visual notations
- Time-stamped comments
- Apps for web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro
- Requires no additional hardware for most use cases
- 24/7 white-glove technical support
What’s missing:
- Asynchronous collaboration. Evercast is really built for face-to-face work sessions in real time.
- Free or low cost plans. Evercast is priced for professional projects, though they do offer flexible pricing on a project-to-project basis upon request.
Pricing:
Plans start at $549 per month. See plans and pricing.
Best for:
Creative professionals seeking an all-in-one suite for real-time production collaboration.
Create together remotely, in real time
cineSync
A video review platform, cineSync offers you and your collaborators synchronized, high-resolution video in real time. All cineSync session participants see the same frame of your synchronized video asset and can access text and annotation features for immersive feedback. Use the adjustment panel to modify color, aspect ratio, and masking and easily pump out assets and dallies.
Key features and capabilities:
- High-quality, high-resolution synchronized media review
- Convenient color and aspect ratio adjustment controls
- Securely record sessions
- On-screen annotations and chat
- Companion mobile app
What's missing:
- With no native video conferencing features, you’ll likely have to pair cineSync with other software, depending on your communication needs.
Pricing:
Pricing is only available via consultation, and most of cineSync’s client base appears concentrated in medium to large-scale businesses.
Best for:
Production professionals who need real-time synchronized media, cineSync is a good solution.
ClearView Flex
Studios and larger-scale organizations seeking solutions for sharing high-resolution video in real-time with low latency may find an appropriate solution in ClearView Flex. While this live suite requires proprietary hardware and has a potentially limiting high price point, it offers undeniable performance with less than 100ms of latency.
Users can share high resolution video in real-time using the in-channel voice chat and drawing annotation tools to communicate over a remote session. However, ClearView Flex lacks in-session video conferencing and chat tools, so there’s a chance it might be a standalone solution for your particular workflow.
Key features and capabilities:
- Share hi-res video and audio with less than 100ms of latency
- In-channel voice chat
- Supports up to 10-bit 4:2:2 color
- Flexible support across PC, MacOs, iOS and Apple TV
- Offers stereo and 5.1 surround sound support
- 24/7 support
What’s missing:
- ClearView Flex does not have built-in video conferencing capabilities, so it may have to be paired with additional software
- Requires proprietary hardware and installation, plus time-consuming file uploads, which may be a deterrent for some users looking to get up and running quickly
Pricing:
ClearView Flex plans start at $750 a month with an additional $350 set up fee.
Best for:
Large scale, professional projects that require real-time streaming of hi-res footage.
Async video collaboration tools
The following tools are ideal for collecting feedback and collaborating individually rather than working remotely in real time. You can track each video project, collect and receive feedback, and assign tasks to streamline your workflow.
Wipster
Wipster is an aesthetically pleasing visual collaboration platform that allows team members to review, comment, and organize creative projects throughout every step of the feedback process.
Key features:
- Links threaded comments to individual frames
- Version control to track edits through different revisions
- “Stages” feature to see each project’s stage of approval (e.g., “needs changes” or “approved”)
- Links activity notifications to browser, email, or Slack to keep everyone updated
What’s missing:
- No ability to livestream edit sessions and get real-time feedback
- No creative software integrations, requiring all projects to be manually uploaded to the platform
Pricing:
Wipster is free for teams of up to two people with limited storage and playback resolution. Paid plans start at $19.95/user per month and offer HD video playback and 250GB of storage. Custom pricing is available for enterprise users.
Best for:
Creatives seeking a simple project-management platform at an affordable price.
Frame.io
Frame.io is a cloud-based media collaboration program that lets you receive feedback and approvals on everything from on-set dailies to final edits faster than ever before. Note that Frame.io was recently acquired by Adobe, so understandably, the Adobe suite plays well with the feedback platform.
Key features:
- Lightning-fast media upload speeds (less than 3 minutes for 5GB of data)
- Custom-branded presentations to exhibit work
- Supports most common video editing software integrations, with an API allowing it to custom-fit the workflow to your needs
- Time-stamped notes and on-screen annotations
- Integrates directly with apps for Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer users
What’s missing:
- No live editing feature for real-time feedback
- No capability for video meetings
Pricing:
Frame.io is free for up to 2 users, and paid packages start at $15/user per month. Custom pricing is available for enterprise customers. Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers get a free Frame.io plan, which includes 2 users, 5 projects, and 100GB of active storage.
Best for:
Adobe Creative Cloud users seeking a simple feedback collection tool.
Filestage
Filestage is a content review platform prioritizing fast and easy client approvals and allowing teams to provide feedback on all sorts of projects, from videos to wireframes.
Key features:
- Unlimited file storage
- Unlimited users per project
- One-click client approvals
- Collaboration tools like @ mentions to keep everyone in the loop
- Downloadable assets with download permission controls, so only users needing the file have access
- Requires no software install, works directly from the browser
What’s missing:
- No real-time collaboration features
- No native integration with pro editing tools like Adobe Premiere
Pricing:
Filestage is free with limited features, and paid plans start at $49/month.
See our full comparison of Filestage vs. Frame.io vs. Wipster vs. Evercast here.
Best for:
Creatives who need a way to collect both written and drawn annotations appreciate Filestage. The free plan may suit smaller-scale projects and independent creators who want to stay organized.
Flow Production Tracking (formerly ShotGrid/Shotgun)
Flow Production Tracking from Autodesk is a creative collaboration platform designed with the needs of VFX and game creation studios in mind.
Key features:
- Team scheduling feature to assign tasks and due dates
- Visual timeline to track project schedule
- Shot comparison features native to the desktop app
- Mobile platform to review projects on the go
- File transfer through the platform
What’s missing:
- No live collaboration features for in-edit feedback
- Heavily focused on video review, potentially lacking features audio or other creative teams require
Pricing:
Flow Production Tracking plans start at $365/user per year.
Best for:
Autodesk users seeking project management features that integrate easily with their workflows.
QuickReviewer
QuickReviewer is a cloud-based creative team collaboration app focused on serving creative advertising and marketing teams that manage several clients and projects at once.
Key features:
- Timestamped, color-coded, and searchable comments
- On-screen annotation tools
- Simple approve/reject buttons for clients
- File download options
- Controlled file access
- Professional software integrations
What’s missing:
- No face-to-face video call feature
- Limited storage in the lower pricing tiers
Pricing:
The basic version is free, and the paid plans start at $35/month.
Best for:
Small-scale creators seeking simple feedback collection and mobile app flexibility without breaking the bank.
ReviewStudio
ReviewStudio is an online proofing platform that helps make task assignments and content reviews quick and painless.
Key features:
- Threaded comments
- On-screen drawing for visual annotations
- Supports a wide variety of file types
- Assign tasks directly to commenters right from the review thread
What’s missing:
- No video chat feature
- Low storage capacities
Pricing:
ReviewStudio does offer a limited free plan. Paid plans start at $15/user per month.
Best for:
Version tracking and project management on small projects, but the low storage capacities may be limiting for larger projects.
Ziflow
Another marketing team-focused tool, Ziflow bills itself as an intuitive platform that makes online proofing quick and easy.
Key features:
- Allows the review of a variety of content, including videos, images, websites, and documents
- Easily tracks those who receive, open, comment on, and approve content
- Automated workflows, no need to manually add collaborators to each project
- Integrates well with workspaces like Slack and Google Drive
What’s missing:
- Unclear how fast media upload speeds are as a web-based platform
- No video chat feature
Pricing:
The platform has a limited free plan. Paid plans start at $249/month.
Best for:
Ziflow is best suited to project management that directly integrates with common corporate tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Dropbox.
Lytho
Lytho is an end-to-end creative collaboration solution that handles everything from intake paperwork to final edit approvals. Consolidate feedback, organize assets, and track your overall campaign process from a birds-eye view.
Key features:
- Pre-built, customizable request form templates to fit your workflow
- Visual product scheduling tools
- Custom proof-routing workflows to help ensure a consistent workflow no matter the project
- Real-time commenting sessions on projects
- Analytics to monitor how your projects align with your objectives
What’s missing:
- Not necessarily suitable for a TV or film production workflow
- No video chat option for live review sessions
- Lacking transparent pricing on the website
Pricing:
Lytho plans start at $79/user per month.
Best for:
Marketing firms looking to organize and approve shorter-form projects and creative professionals seeking high-level project management software to track their progress find Lytho a helpful tool.
Vimeo
Vimeo is well regarded as a high-quality video distribution platform, but it also serves as an excellent collaboration hub for creative professionals. The platform hosts 4K video uploads and playback alongside commenting features so teams can add timestamped notes to assets.
With efficient version tracking and optional password-protected access, Vimeo is an effective, easy way to communicate from afar with your collaborators.
Key features:
- Upload and playback 4K video
- Timestamped feedback
- Manages user permissions for password-protected streams
- Version tracking and file management
What’s missing:
- Vimeo only provides written feedback capabilities. Without other annotation tools and video conferencing, the platform can be rather limited early on in the video production process.
Pricing:
Vimeo has a basic and limited free plan, while paid plans begin at $20/user per month.
Best for:
Existing Vimeo users who want a simple way to collect and receive high-level feedback.
Kollaborate
Kollaborate is a cloud workflow platform specifically geared toward small pro video businesses.
Key features:
- Real-time feedback sessions
- Built-in automatic transcription feature for captioning and dialogue review
- Editing software integrations
- Allows for self-hosting on your own internal servers
What’s missing:
- Chat features more basic than other programs
- Less intuitive user interface than other platforms
Pricing:
Team plans start at $25/month.
Best for:
Kollaborate’s built-in automatic transcription features are beneficial for video asset review for socials, which can translate well into future captioning or other uses.
Workfront
Adobe Workfront aims to be an all-in-one platform that serves creative teams from concept to delivery.
Key features:
- Workflows to handle strategy, planning, execution, review, and delivery of a project
- Designed for enterprise companies managing large teams and many projects simultaneously
- Analytics to manage your team’s progress
What’s missing:
- Feature-packed platform geared more toward project managers than creatives
- Potentially large learning curve and too many features for leaner creative teams
Pricing:
Pricing is only available via consultation.
Best for:
Adobe Creative Cloud users seeking a project management tool to help keep track of their project progress.
