In short
- Both can loop pre-recorded video around the clock. Castr is a wider video platform; StreamOps is built only for always-on streams.
- On Castr's $19.99 and $49.99 plans a pre-recorded stream holds 2 files, with 4 GB of storage. A 15-file playlist needs Ultra at $349.99.
- StreamOps Cloud gives 25 GB per stream, with no file count, from $15 a month. On your own PC there is no storage cap and one stream is free.
- Castr's plans cap monthly bandwidth; check how a 24/7 stream counts against it.
Introduction
Castr and StreamOps can both keep a channel live around the clock by looping videos you recorded earlier. Castr does it as one feature of a broad video platform. StreamOps does nothing else.
We make StreamOps, so this is not a neutral review. What follows about Castr comes from its pricing page and help centre as they read on 9 October 2026. Check them before you decide — plans change.
The Real Difference
- Castr is a cloud video platform: live streaming to many destinations, cloud recording and video on demand, a TV playout channel and pre-recorded streaming, each with its own limits per plan.
- StreamOps plays a video library as a never-ending live stream, with playlists, scheduling, crash recovery and YouTube broadcast recovery.
- Castr runs in its cloud. StreamOps runs on your own Windows or Linux machine, or on StreamOps Cloud, where we run it for you.
Side by Side
| Castr | StreamOps on your PC | StreamOps Cloud | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Castr's cloud | Your Windows or Linux machine | Our cloud |
| 24/7 looping | Every plan (Infinite Loop) | Every plan, including Free | Every plan |
| Lowest price for one 24/7 stream | $19.99 / month (2 files, 4 GB) | Free | ₹1,499, $15 / month |
| Files in one looped stream | 2 on Starter and Standard; 15 on Ultra | No limit | No limit, within storage |
| Storage for pre-recorded video | 4 GB to 20 GB by plan | Your own disk, no cap | 25 GB per stream |
| Formats | .mp4 only | Most formats, converted before they play | .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .avi, .webm, .m4v |
| Monthly bandwidth cap | 200 GB to 10 TB by plan | Your own connection | None listed |
| A computer left on | No | Yes | No |
Pre-Recorded Limits by Plan
Castr sets separate limits for pre-recorded streaming on each plan:
| Castr plan | Monthly | Pre-recorded streams at once | Pre-recorded storage | Files / longest file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19.99 | 1 | 4 GB | 2 files, 60 min each |
| Standard | $49.99 | 1 | 4 GB | 2 files, 120 min each |
| Premium | $199.99 | 2 | 10 GB | Up to 240 min each |
| Ultra | $349.99 | 3 | 20 GB | 15 files |
| Events | $749.99 | 3 | 20 GB | Up to 240 min each |
Two files of an hour each is enough to loop a single ambient video or a short block. A rotating playlist of dozens of videos, the usual shape of a 24/7 music, devotional or lecture channel, does not fit until the higher plans.
StreamOps puts no limit on the number of files in a playlist. On StreamOps Cloud the limit is storage, 25 GB per stream; on your own PC it is your disk. See playlist-based streaming.
Bandwidth
Each Castr plan lists a monthly bandwidth allowance: 200 GB on Starter, 500 GB on Standard, 3 TB on Premium, 5 TB on Ultra and 10 TB on Events, with the yearly plans given the year's allowance up front.
Do the arithmetic for a 24/7 stream
A stream at 4.5 Mbps, a common 1080p bitrate, sends about 1.5 TB in a 30-day month. Castr's pricing page does not say how pre-recorded streams count against the allowance, so ask Castr before you put an always-on channel on Starter or Standard.
StreamOps Cloud plans are priced by streams and list no bandwidth cap. On your own PC, StreamOps uses your own upload connection.
Pricing
| Streams | Castr, monthly | StreamOps on your PC | StreamOps Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19.99 (Starter, 2 files) | Free | ₹1,499, $15 (Cloud 1) |
| 2 | $199.99 (Premium) | ₹999, about $12 (Creator, up to 5) | ₹3,999, about $48 (Cloud 3) |
| 3 | $349.99 (Ultra) | ₹999, about $12 (Creator, up to 5) | ₹3,999, about $48 (Cloud 3) |
The rows count pre-recorded streams running at once, which is what an always-on channel needs. Castr bills yearly at about 17% less. A year of StreamOps Cloud costs ten months. StreamOps is billed in rupees, and the dollar figures are approximate; see StreamOps pricing.
When to Choose Castr
- You want one platform for live events, recordings and video on demand, and a looped stream.
- You want a scheduled TV-style playout channel alongside your live streams.
- Your always-on stream is one or two videos and fits in 4 GB.
When to Choose StreamOps
- Your 24/7 channel rotates through a real playlist, not one or two files.
- You run several always-on channels and want the bill to grow by stream, not by platform tier.
- Your videos are not all .mp4, or the library is larger than a few gigabytes.
- You have a machine that can stay on: run it there, free for one stream. If not, StreamOps Cloud runs it from $15 a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Castr and StreamOps?
Castr is a cloud video platform: live streaming to many destinations, cloud recording and video on demand, a TV playout channel and pre-recorded streaming. StreamOps does one thing, always-on streams from pre-recorded video, and runs on your own PC or on StreamOps Cloud, our servers.
Can Castr stream a video 24/7?
Yes. Castr's Infinite Loop mode streams a pre-recorded video or playlist around the clock, on every plan. On its cheaper plans the playlist is small, though: on 9 October 2026 Starter and Standard allowed 2 files per pre-recorded stream and 4 GB of pre-recorded storage.
How much does Castr cost?
On 9 October 2026 Castr listed Starter at $19.99 a month, Standard at $49.99, Premium at $199.99, Ultra at $349.99 and Events at $749.99, with about 17% off when billed yearly and a 7-day trial on Starter without a card.
Which is better for a large video library?
StreamOps. Castr's pre-recorded storage is 4 GB on Starter and Standard and 20 GB on its top plans. StreamOps Cloud gives 25 GB per stream, uploads of up to 20 GB per file and imports from Google Drive or Dropbox; on your own PC StreamOps plays from your disk with no cap.
What video formats does each accept?
Castr's pre-recorded streaming takes .mp4 files only. StreamOps Cloud accepts .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .avi, .webm and .m4v and converts each video once for streaming; on your own PC StreamOps converts videos in other formats before they play.
Conclusion
Castr is a capable all-round video platform, and a good pick if a looped stream is one small part of what you need. For an always-on channel built from a real library, its pre-recorded limits arrive quickly. StreamOps gives you that channel with no file limit: $15 a month on StreamOps Cloud, or free on your own PC.
For the wider field, see the best 24/7 live streaming software.
