Build a Video Streaming App
On-Demand Platform
Learn how to build video-on-demand platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+. This guide covers video delivery, transcoding, recommendation engines, multiple profiles, offline viewing, and parental controls.
VOD vs Live Streaming
| Feature | Video On-Demand (VOD) | Live Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Content Type | Pre-recorded videos, movies, shows | Real-time broadcasts |
| Latency Requirement | Not critical (instant playback) | Very critical (2-30 seconds) |
| Transcoding | One-time, can be slow/thorough | Real-time, must be fast |
| CDN Usage | Heavy caching, edge storage | Pass-through distribution |
| Storage Needs | Very high (entire library) | Minimal (optional DVR) |
| Typical Use | Netflix, YouTube videos | Twitch, YouTube Live |
Essential VOD Features
Adaptive Streaming
- Multiple quality levels (240p-4K)
- Automatic quality switching
- Bandwidth detection
- Smooth quality transitions
Offline Downloads
- Download for offline viewing
- DRM-protected downloads
- Expiring offline content
- Storage management
Multiple Profiles
- Individual watch history
- Personalized recommendations
- Kids profile with restrictions
- Profile PIN protection
Recommendations
- Collaborative filtering
- Content-based filtering
- “Because you watched” rows
- Trending and popular content
Parental Controls
- Content rating filters (G, PG, R)
- PIN-protected mature content
- Viewing time limits
- Content blocking by title
Resume Playback
- Save playback position
- Sync across devices
- “Continue watching” row
- Auto-play next episode
Video Transcoding & Delivery
VOD platforms must transcode videos into multiple quality levels to support adaptive bitrate streaming. This happens once during upload, unlike live streaming which requires real-time transcoding.
Standard Quality Ladder
Transcoding Services
AWS MediaConvert
File-based video transcoding service. Pay per minute of output. Supports all major formats and codecs.
Cloudflare Stream
All-in-one: transcoding, storage, delivery. Simple pricing per minute stored and delivered.
Recommendation Engine
Netflix reports that 80% of content watched comes from recommendations. A good recommendation engine is crucial for user engagement and retention.
Collaborative Filtering
Recommends based on what similar users watched. “Users who watched X also watched Y”. Requires significant user data to be effective.
- User-based: similar users' preferences
- Item-based: similar content patterns
- Matrix factorization techniques
Content-Based
Recommends based on content attributes: genre, actors, director, keywords. Works well for new users with limited history.
- Genre and category matching
- Metadata similarity
- Keyword and tag analysis
Infrastructure Costs
Monthly Costs for 10,000 Users
Build Your Video Platform with Natively
Natively's AI generates a complete video streaming app with Netflix-style interface, recommendation engine, and all the features above. You just need to add your video content.
What Natively Generates
- React Native video player with adaptive streaming
- Content catalog with search and categories
- Multiple profiles with individual watchlists
- Resume playback synced across devices
- Parental controls and content rating filters
You Still Need
- →Video content library
- →Video hosting/CDN (Cloudflare Stream recommended ~$60/month)
- →Content transcoding (one-time per video)
💡 Natively generates the entire VOD platform. You just upload your videos and configure your CDN API keys via our AI interface.
🎯 Result: Netflix-style video streaming app ready to deploy - built in hours
Ready to Build?
Start with Natively
Build your video streaming platform with AI. Plans start at $5/month with full functionality.