BoxCast vs vMix (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, vMix grades higher than BoxCast: 2.2 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
BoxCast grades higher on platforms. vMix grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
BoxCast
Live streaming platform with encoders, captions and OTT apps
vMix
Windows live video production and streaming software
Which one is for you
Pick BoxCast if
- Fits if you broadcast services or events to a large audience and need unlimited viewers
- Works for groups that want captions and TV apps from one vendor
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you stream occasionally: Standard is $109 a month with one broadcast and 90 days of storage
- Not for you if you want webinars with sign-up pages and polls, since it is a broadcast platform
- Watch out: TV apps cost $25 to $200 a month more, and ticketing and the Spark encoder are extra
- Tight if you need more than one live stream at once, because that starts at the $249 Advanced plan
- Skip it if you want a trial you can judge in advance: its length is not stated
Pick vMix if
- Fits if you produce live video on a Windows PC
- Makes sense if you want a one-time license over a subscription
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, as there is no Mac version
- Not for you if you want a webinar tool with registration and polls
- Tight if you buy Basic HD: 4 inputs and 1080p
- Pricey if you want updates after 12 months: another year costs $60
- Watch out: 4K, replay with more cameras and scripting need $700 to $1,200
How we grade them
| 1.8GPABoxCastWeak | 2.2GPAvMixFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D$109 a month billed yearly for Standard, more than double the category's middle of $49, and it allows one broadcast at 1080p30. White-labelled embeds start at $169. | ABasic HD is $60 once and HD is $350 once, under a year of the category's $49 middle subscription, though Pro is $1,200. |
| Free plan and trial | DA free trial is offered but its length is not stated; there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, which does not count as free use. | CA 60-day fully working trial with no watermark is offered; there is no free plan. |
| Features | CStreaming, storage and viewer-hour allowances are clear, but the TV apps, ticketing and the Spark encoder are separate purchases, and it has no registration or polls. | CInputs, overlays, replay and calling in a production app, but no registration, polls or attendee chat, and features differ by edition. |
| Ease of use | CWeb only, with no rating on record, and getting the best from it means setting up an encoder. | CNo rating on record, and it is production software with editions and a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, but it lists Facebook, YouTube, X, RTMP and SRT plus a public API. | DWindows only; the download page says there is no Mac version. |
| Best for | church and school live broadcasts with encoders | Windows live video production |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: BoxCast and vMix. How we grade
Price against what you get
BoxCast starts at $109 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. vMix starts at $50 a month and scores 1.7.
BoxCast scores higher, and starts $59 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other webinar and live streaming tools on the chart, 6 score higher than BoxCast for less, and 13 score higher than vMix for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- vMix can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- BoxCast also covers ticketing and web analytics.
- vMix also covers screen recording and video calls.
At a glance
| BoxCast | vMix | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $109 per month, billed annually ($119 billed monthly) | $60 one-time for Basic HD, or $50 per month for vMix MAX |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free trial offered; the page does not state its length. 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans. | Free, fully functional 60-day trial with no watermark |
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | BoxCast | StudioCoast Pty Ltd |
| Price read from | boxcast.com | vmix.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
BoxCast
- Each plan includes at least 10,000 viewer hours a month, though viewer numbers are not capped.
- BoxCast OTT apps are priced separately: $25, $75 or $200 a month billed annually ($35, $100 or $250 billed monthly).
- Ticketing is an add-on, and the BoxCast Spark encoder is bought separately.
- A Premium plan exists but is quoted through sales. It is a broadcast platform, not a webinar tool with registration and polls.
vMix
- It runs on Windows only; the download page says there is no Mac version.
- Lifetime licenses include 12 months of updates; further updates cost $60 for another 12 months.
- It is a production tool, not a webinar platform: registration, polls and attendee chat are not part of it.
- Features differ a lot by edition, so check the comparison table before buying the cheapest one.
Key features
BoxCast
- Cloud transcoding
- Creates up to 4 adaptive bitrate streams so playback adapts to each viewer's connection.
- Scheduling and simulated live
- Broadcasts can be scheduled in advance, and recordings or uploads can be re-broadcast as simulated live.
- Captions
- Automated captioning is listed for recorded broadcasts, and automated live captioning is listed among the plan features.
- Streaming to social media
- Streams at the same time to Facebook, YouTube and X.
- Viewer chat, overlays and documents
- Viewer chat, graphic overlays and PDF document display sit beside the live player.
- OTT apps
- Branded web, mobile and TV apps can be bought as a separate product, from $25 a month billed annually.
vMix
- Multi-source switching
- Mix cameras, NDI sources, video files, images, PowerPoint, web streams and desktop capture in one production.
- Remote guests with vMix Call
- Bring video callers into a production: 1 on Basic HD, 4 on HD and 8 on 4K and above.
- Streaming to several services
- Stream to services such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Vimeo while recording the same production.
- Titles and graphics
- GT Designer provides animated titles, scoreboards and tickers, and higher editions import custom designs.
- Recording and replay
- The 4K and Pro editions add MultiCorder ISO recording of each camera, and instant replay for sports and events.
- Zoom integration
- The comparison table lists Zoom integration, with one input on Basic HD and multiple inputs on higher editions.
Plans
BoxCast
Standard$109
per month, billed annually ($119 billed monthly)
Up to 1080p30, 1 concurrent broadcast, 90 days of storage, 10,000 viewer hours a month and unlimited viewers.
Deluxe$169
per month, billed annually ($189 billed monthly)
Up to 1080p30, 1 concurrent broadcast, 1 year of storage and white-labeled embeds.
Advanced$249
per month, billed annually ($279 billed monthly)
Up to 1080p60, 3 concurrent broadcasts, 1 year of storage.
4K$449
per month, billed annually ($499 billed monthly)
Up to 4K60, 3 concurrent broadcasts, 1 year of 1080p storage and 30 days of 4K storage.
vMix
Basic HD$60
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
4 inputs (3 camera or NDI), 1920 x 1080 maximum, 1 overlay channel, 1 vMix Call caller.
HD$350
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
Up to 1000 inputs, 1920 x 1080 maximum, 8 overlay channels, 4 vMix Call callers.
4K$700
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
Adds 4096 x 2160 output, 8 callers, MultiCorder recording and instant replay with 1 camera.
Pro$1200
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
Adds instant replay with 8 cameras, extra external and virtual outputs, scripting and PTZ control.
MAX$50
per month, with updates while subscribed
Subscription with all the features of vMix Pro.
Ways to pay less
BoxCast
- Annual discount
Annual billing saves $10 to $50 a month
Standard drops from $119 to $109 a month and 4K from $499 to $449 when billed annually.
vMix
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, BoxCast or vMix?
As of Nov 12, 2026, vMix is cheaper to start with: $50 a month, against $109 a month for BoxCast. BoxCast starts at $109 per month, billed annually ($119 billed monthly), and vMix starts at $60 one-time for Basic HD, or $50 per month for vMix MAX.
Which has a free plan, BoxCast or vMix?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither BoxCast nor vMix has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do BoxCast and vMix run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only BoxCast lists a web app and only vMix lists a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.