Panopto vs Vidyard (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Vidyard grades higher than Panopto: 2.4 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Panopto grades higher on value for money. Vidyard grades higher on the free plan and platforms. 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.
Vidyard
Video messaging, AI avatars and video hosting for sales teams
Which one is for you
Pick Panopto if
- Fits if you run lectures or training and want everything searchable
- Works for schools that already use Canvas, Moodle or D2L
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a price, as quotes are only given per organization
- Not for you if you're one creator, since it's sold to institutions
- Watch out: AI Video Studio, Access AI, Connect and Knowledge Insights are separate add-ons
- Watch out: the page doesn't say which operating systems the desktop recorder supports
Pick Vidyard if
- Fits if you're a sales rep sending personalized video messages to prospects
- Works for revenue teams that want video viewing data in the CRM, on the custom-priced Teams plan
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you're one person who wants a screen recorder, at $59 per seat a month billed annually or $89 monthly
- Tight if you're staying free, because you get 5 recorded videos a month with no hosting or analytics
- Skip it if you need CRM integrations on a small budget, as those start on Teams, which is custom-priced for 5 or more
- Watch out: unlimited Video Agent is an add-on at $24 per seat a month on Starter
- Watch out: the phone apps record with the camera only, and the extension runs only in Chrome and Edge
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAPanoptoFair | 2.4GPAVidyardFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published; each quote is scoped to the organization. Graded in the middle until a number is on record. | DStarter is $59 per seat a month billed annually, $89 by the month, against a $10 middle for this category and a dearest tenth starting at $38. CRM integrations and video hubs then need Teams, which is custom-priced, and unlimited Video Agent is $24 more a seat. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial are on record in the listing, so there is nothing to try before paying. | CFree gives 5 recorded videos a month of up to 30 minutes, 15 AI videos and some avatars. But its own plan table lists hosting and analytics as not included, which is most of what Vidyard is for. |
| Features | BLibrary, recording, search, captions and security. Nothing in the core job is missing, though AI video, Access AI and Connect are separate add-ons. | BScreen and camera recording up to 4K on the desktop app, messages with view notifications, calls to action, AI avatars trained on your own video, ad-free hosting, team analytics and a Video Agent that sends personalized videos. No gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and an institutional rollout takes setup. | CNo store rating on record, and this is a platform you set up rather than just open: CRM and marketing automation connections, branded sharing pages, CTA templates. The recording extension itself is the simple bit. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, with a desktop and browser recorder, and Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L, Zoom, Teams and Webex. | AWeb, a Chrome and Edge extension, Mac and Windows apps and both phones, with Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Salesloft, Gong, Gmail, Outlook and Slack. The phone apps record with the camera only. |
| Best for | lecture capture and training video | video messages for sales teams |
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: Panopto and Vidyard. How we grade
Where they differ
- Panopto also covers transcription.
- Vidyard also covers video editing, AI agents and reports.
At a glance
| Panopto | Vidyard | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $59 per seat / month, billed annually ($89 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | 5 recorded videos a month of up to 30 minutes each, 15 AI videos, stock avatars and 3 custom AI avatars, with editing and sharing tools. The plan table lists hosting and analytics as not included. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day trial of the Starter plan |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Panopto | Buildscale, Inc. d/b/a Vidyard |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | vidyard.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Panopto
- No price is published. The pricing page says every quote is scoped to the organization, so cost cannot be compared before talking to sales.
- AI Video Studio, Access AI, Connect and Knowledge Insights are optional add-ons priced separately.
- The pricing page does not state which operating systems the desktop recorder supports.
Vidyard
- The Free plan allows 5 recorded videos a month and 15 AI videos, and its plan table lists video hosting and analytics as not included.
- CRM and marketing automation integrations, video hubs and custom CTAs start on Teams, which is custom-priced.
- Unlimited Video Agent use is an add-on: $24 per seat a month billed annually on Starter, custom-priced on Teams and Enterprise.
- The mobile apps record with the camera only, and the browser extension runs only in Chrome and Edge.
Key features
Panopto
- Video CMS
- A central library with role-based permissions, adaptive streaming and support for 12 or more formats.
- Recording and editing
- A desktop and browser recorder, remote and multi-camera recording, and a smart editor with trimming.
- AI search and captions
- Search across spoken words and on-screen text, auto-captions in 20 or more languages, smart chapters and auto-generated summaries.
- LMS and meeting integrations
- Lists Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle and D2L, plus Zoom, Teams and Webex.
- Security and accessibility
- Says it meets SOC 2, GDPR and FERPA requirements, and supports SAML and OAuth sign-on, audit logging and caption editing. The page says it is evaluated against WCAG 2.1 AA.
- Optional add-ons
- AI Video Studio (Elai), Access AI, Connect and Knowledge Insights are priced separately.
Vidyard
- Screen and camera recording
- The Chrome and Edge extension records the screen, the camera or both at up to 1080p. The Mac and Windows desktop app records in any application at up to 4K.
- Video messages with view tracking
- Share a recording by link or from inside Gmail, Outlook and sales tools, add a call to action, and get a notification when someone watches.
- Video Agent
- Creates and delivers personalized video messages automatically when a buyer takes an action such as downloading content or booking a demo. Unlimited use is a paid add-on.
- AI avatars
- Stock avatars are available on every plan, and custom avatars are trained on a video the user supplies. The AI script generator is included from Starter.
- Hosting and video hubs
- Vidyard Hosting, included from Starter, keeps business videos in one central library. Playback is ad-free with no bandwidth limits, and Video Hubs on a branded page start on Teams.
- Analytics
- Starter adds video analytics, an insights dashboard, reporting and team performance views. Teams and Enterprise can send viewing data to a CRM or marketing automation platform.
Plans
Panopto
Pricing could not be confirmed. See panopto.com.
Vidyard
Free$0
5 recorded videos a month up to 30 minutes each, 15 AI videos, stock and custom AI avatars, and limited integrations.
Starter$59
per seat / month, billed annually ($89 billed monthly)
Unlimited recording, video hosting, video and team analytics, a branded sharing page, CTA templates and password protection. Tagged 'now 10% off' with no end date.
TeamsCustom
For teams of 5 or more: CRM and marketing automation integrations, customizable CTAs, video hubs and custom team permissions.
EnterpriseCustom
Unlimited integrations, single sign-on, API access and custom permissions and security options, billed by invoice.
Ways to pay less
Panopto
No public discounts listed.
Vidyard
- Annual discount
Save 30% with annual billing
Vidyard's pricing page labels annual billing as saving 30%. Starter is $59 per seat a month billed annually against $89 billed monthly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Panopto or Vidyard?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Panopto has no price we could confirm, and Vidyard starts at $59 per seat / month, billed annually ($89 billed monthly).
Which has a free plan, Panopto or Vidyard?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Vidyard has a free plan. Panopto does not.
Which platforms do Panopto and Vidyard run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Vidyard lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps and a browser extension. Both list a web 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.