The Complete Guide to Video Hosting (Updated for 2025)

Video has become the most powerful way for businesses to communicate and build relationships. But before your videos can do their job, you need the right place to store, share, and deliver them. That’s where video hosting comes in.

In this guide, we’ll break down what video hosting is, why it’s essential, the differences between public and private hosting platforms, and why Covideo stands out as one of the best private video hosting services for businesses.

What is video hosting?

Video hosting is the process of uploading, storing, and sharing videos on a third-party platform. Instead of clogging up your website’s server with large video files, you can rely on a hosting service that makes your videos easy to stream, share, and embed across websites, emails, and social platforms.

At its core, video hosting provides:

• Secure storage for your video files

• A player that allows viewers to watch your videos on any device

• Easy sharing through links, embed codes, or email

• Features like captions, branding, analytics, and calls to action (depending on the platform)

Whether you’re a marketer creating promotional videos, a salesperson sending personalized messages, or an educator delivering lessons, video hosting ensures your content is professional, reliable, and accessible.

Why do I need a video host?

If you want to distribute a video widely or for it to be discoverable by anyone online, it’s impossible to share without that video without a host, which gives that video somewhere to “live” online.

What about private videos you share with one person or a small group? You can send videos as an attachment in your texts and emails, but a video host is still a more reliable way to go. Here’s why:

• Video attachments are more likely to go to spam.

• Videos may be difficult to open if someone doesn’t have a reliable video player on their device.

• Video files are often too large to attach to an email.

• Even if videos can attach, they may still be a large file that takes up a lot of space on your hard drive or phone.

Pro tip: Check out our guide on turning a video into a link if you want to learn more about sharing videos online!

Benefits of using a video hosting service

Here’s why every business should use a video hosting platform:

1. Save storage space

Video files are massive. Hosting them on your website slows it down and eats up bandwidth. A dedicated video hosting platform keeps your site fast while storing your videos in the cloud.

2. Better viewing experience

Most video hosting services automatically optimize your videos for streaming on any device. That means smooth playback in high definition with customizable player controls.

3. Easy sharing

No more worrying about email attachment limits. With video hosting, you can send a simple link or embed your video into an email, text message, or website.

4. Mass reach

Video hosting platforms make your content available to viewers worldwide. Public platforms like YouTube are great for reach, while private platforms like Covideo are perfect for controlled, targeted communication.

5. Analytics and tracking

Some video hosting services provide detailed viewer insights—so you can see who watched your video, when, and for how long.

Public vs. private video hosting

Not all video hosting platforms are the same. Choosing the right one depends on your goals.

Public Video Hosting Platforms

Examples: YouTube, Facebook

These sites are free and built for mass audiences. They’re great if your goal is brand awareness or content distribution, but they come with limitations:

• Ads and suggested videos distract viewers

• Minimal control over branding

• Limited or no analytics

• Little to no customer support

Private Video Hosting Platforms

Examples: Covideo, Vimeo

Private hosting platforms are designed for professionals and businesses. They usually require a subscription but include benefits like:

• Branded video landing pages

• Viewer analytics and tracking

• Privacy controls (decide who can watch your videos)

• Hands-on customer support

• Tools for engagement (calls to action, annotations, custom branding)

If your goal is to build relationships, track performance, and send videos directly to clients or prospects, private video hosting is the way to go.

Why Covideo is the best private video hosting platform

When it comes to private video hosting, Covideo is a standout choice. Built with businesses in mind, Covideo does more than just store your videos—it helps you use them strategically.

Features of Covideo’s video hosting

• Unlimited video hosting: Upload and store as many videos as you need without worrying about space.

• Custom branding: Add your company logo, colors, and contact info to every video landing page.

• Calls to action (CTAs): Drive engagement by adding clickable buttons directly to your videos.

• Video tracking: See who watched your videos, when, and how many times. You can even receive a notification when someone watches your video.

• Screen recording and webcam capture: Record videos, demos, or tutorials directly from your browser.

• Email and text integration: Send videos seamlessly through email or SMS.

• Support and onboarding: Unlike free platforms, Covideo offers hands-on support to help your team succeed with video hosting.

Why businesses choose Covideo

Covideo isn’t just a storage platform—it’s a complete video hosting and communication solution. That’s why it’s the go-to for:

• Sales teams sending personalized follow-ups

• Marketing teams creating branded video campaigns

• Customer service teams providing fast, friendly support

• Recruiters and HR teams sharing welcome messages or onboarding videos

• Dealerships creating vehicle walkarounds, follow-ups, and introductions

Covideo gives you the privacy, personalization, and engagement tools needed for business communication.

Pro Tip: Covideo offers sales solutions created specifically for dealerships, like CRM and inventory integrations. Let us know if you want to see it in action.

Other video hosting platforms to consider

While Covideo is the best choice for businesses that need personalized, trackable video hosting, here are a few other popular platforms worth mentioning:

• YouTube: Free, massive reach, but lacks privacy and branding

• Vimeo: Professional-grade features, good for filmmakers and creatives

• Dailymotion: A smaller alternative to YouTube, free and public

• SproutVideo: Private hosting with customizable features, though pricing varies by storage needs

Each has strengths, but for businesses that want to send, track, and host private video content, Covideo remains the top choice.

Try Covideo’s video hosting solution

If you’re ready to experience the difference a private video hosting platform can make, give Covideo a try. With unlimited video hosting, branded landing pages, calls to action, and in-depth analytics, Covideo helps your team record, share, and track videos effortlessly.

Make your video content work harder for you with a video hosting platform built for business. Try out a free trial and see how it works!