Enterprise vs Managed Comparison
ShoutcastNet vs Wowza: Why Complicate Things?
Wowza offers powerful enterprise features—but requires server management, complex configuration, and deep pockets. ShoutcastNet delivers the same HLS/RTMP capabilities with setup in 30 seconds and 70% lower costs.
The Bottom Line
Lower Cost
$24-32/mo vs Wowza's $120-1000+/mo
Setup Time
vs Wowza's 2-4 hour configuration
Server Management
Fully managed vs DIY infrastructure
Support Included
vs Wowza's enterprise-only support
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Apples-to-apples: What you get with each solution.
| Feature | ShoutcastNet | Wowza Streaming Engine |
|---|---|---|
| PRICING | ||
| Entry Pricing (1080p) |
$24/mo
All-inclusive, managed
|
$120/mo
+ server costs ($50-200/mo)
|
| 4K Support |
$32/mo
4K60 ready, no extras
|
$500+/mo
Enterprise tier + beefy server
|
| Hidden Costs |
$0
Bandwidth, storage, support included
|
High
Server, bandwidth, updates, backups
|
| SETUP & MANAGEMENT | ||
| Initial Setup Time |
30 SECONDS
Click, paste stream key, go live
|
2-4 hours
Server provisioning, Java install, config files
|
| Technical Expertise Required |
None
Web interface, no CLI needed
|
High
Linux/Windows admin, Java tuning, firewall rules
|
| Server Management |
FULLY MANAGED
We handle updates, security, scaling
|
DIY
You manage servers, updates, backups
|
| Configuration Complexity |
Zero
Pre-configured for OBS/vMix
|
High
XML config files, tuning parameters
|
| TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES | ||
| Streaming Protocols |
RTMP, RTMPS, HLS
All industry standards
|
RTMP, HLS, DASH, WebRTC
More protocols, more complexity
|
| Latency |
<2 seconds
HLS low-latency optimized
|
<2 seconds
When properly tuned
|
| Video Quality Support |
4K60
Up to 4K60 HDR
|
4K60+
If server can handle it
|
| Encoder Compatibility |
OBS, vMix, Wirecast, XSplit
Pre-configured profiles
|
OBS, vMix, Wirecast, XSplit
Manual configuration needed
|
| Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) |
Included
Automatic quality ladder
|
Supported
Manual configuration
|
| SUPPORT & RELIABILITY | ||
| Customer Support |
24/7 Ticket + Email
All plans, no extra cost
|
Enterprise only
Community forums on lower tiers
|
| Uptime SLA |
99.9%
Guaranteed uptime
|
Depends on your server
Your responsibility
|
| Automatic Backups |
Included
Daily automated backups
|
DIY
You configure and maintain
|
| Security Updates |
Automatic
We handle patching
|
Manual
You install updates
|
| IDEAL FOR | ||
| Best For |
Content Creators, Churches, Schools
Need reliable streaming without IT team
|
Enterprises with DevOps Teams
Custom workflows, massive scale
|
| Total Monthly Cost (1080p) |
$24/mo
All-inclusive
|
$170-320/mo (license + server) |
| Annual Savings (1080p) |
$1,752-3,552/yr
70-85% cheaper
|
Reference pricing |
Switching from Wowza?
Migration takes 10-20 minutes with minimal downtime
Sign Up
Create your ShoutcastNet account (60 seconds)
Get RTMP Endpoint
Copy your new ingest URL (looks like rtmp://stream.shoutcastnet.com/live/KEY)
Update Encoder
Point OBS/vMix to new endpoint, test, go live
Common Questions
Is ShoutcastNet enterprise-grade like Wowza?
Yes. We use enterprise CDN infrastructure with 99.9% uptime SLA. The difference is we manage the servers so you don't have to hire a DevOps team. Same quality, zero headaches.
What about advanced features like transcoding?
Adaptive bitrate (ABR) transcoding is included on all plans. If you need custom workflows or exotic protocols beyond RTMP/HLS, Wowza might be better—but 95% of users don't need that complexity.
Can I really set this up in 30 seconds?
Yes. Sign up, click "Create Stream", copy the RTMP URL + Stream Key, paste into OBS/vMix, go live. No XML files, no firewall rules, no Java tuning. It just works.
Why is Wowza so expensive?
Wowza licenses enterprise software—you pay for flexibility and control. But if you don't need custom C++ modules or exotic protocols, you're paying for features you'll never use. ShoutcastNet gives you 90% of Wowza's capabilities at 30% of the cost.
Save $1,752-3,552 Per Year. Zero Complexity.
Why pay Wowza $170-320/mo (license + server costs) when you can get fully-managed HLS/RTMP streaming for $24-32/mo? Same protocols, 1/10th the hassle.