Six FAST channel platforms compared with Frequency Studio: who each one fits, published prices and when staying on Frequency is the right call.
By Sampath Mallidi, CEO of Revidd | Vendor details checked October 17, 2026
The best Frequency alternative depends on which part of Frequency you want to replace. For FAST channel creation and delivery to third-party streaming services, the closest alternatives are Amagi and Wurl, though Wurl is also a Frequency partner. If you want your own branded TV apps with on-demand, live and 24/7 channels inside them, look at Revidd, OTTera or Zype.
TL;DR: Frequency Studio builds and delivers 24/7 FAST channels for a flat monthly fee per channel ($3,000.00 per month on its 1-month AWS Marketplace listing, checked October 17, 2026). Pick an alternative by job. Playout, distribution and ad products in one suite: Amagi. Distribution and ad demand: Wurl. Your own apps with VOD, live and FAST channels in one platform: Revidd. Apps, FAST delivery and ad sales from one vendor: OTTera. Published playout prices: Zype Playout and Muvi Playout.
What does Frequency do, and why do teams look for alternatives?
Frequency is a FAST channel platform. It calls Studio 5 "the leading cloud-based software for the creation and distribution of 24/7 linear channels," and says it is "integrated with more than 200 destinations, including FAST platforms, vMVPDs and O&O applications." Its Managed Channel Services team can run programming and operations for you.
Teams usually compare Frequency alternatives for one of these reasons:
They want their own branded apps and an on-demand library next to the channel. We found no viewer app, VOD library or subscription product on Frequency's pages.
They want to charge viewers with subscriptions or pay-per-view, not only sell ads.
They are checking per-channel cost as the channel count grows.
They want one vendor for on-demand, live and FAST.
We found no independent user reviews of Frequency Studio on G2, Capterra or similar sites, so this guide uses what each vendor says on its own pages.
Frequency alternatives compared
Platform | Best for | Third-party FAST delivery | Branded viewer apps | Ads | Public pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency (baseline) | Channel creation and delivery, managed channel services | "More than 200 destinations" | None found | Cue point detection and ad pod creation | $3,000.00/month per channel, 1-month AWS Marketplace contract |
Amagi | Cloud playout, distribution and ad products in one suite | Yes, through its FAST distribution product | None found for content owners | Its own ad products, including an ad marketplace | None published |
Wurl | Distribution plus ad demand | "50+ global streamers" (the page also says 65+) | None found | Ad monetization | Flat monthly fee per channel plus usage fees, no amounts |
Revidd | Your own apps with VOD, live and FAST channels | Not offered. HLS with SCTE-35 output for partners you choose | Roku, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, web and mobile | SCTE-35 markers for your ad partners | Not published |
OTTera | Apps, FAST delivery and ad sales from one vendor | "Certified delivery service" | Yes, "in 30 days" (OTTera's claim) | AdNet+ | None published |
Zype Playout | Playout at a published price | Connectors to FAST and vMVPD partners | Zype Apps Creator (separate product) | Connects your ad server | Standard $1999/mo, Advanced $3499/mo, annual terms, plus connectors per destination |
Muvi Playout | Lowest published entry price | "220+ FAST Networks" | Muvi One (separate product) | Ad support | $199, $499 or $1,999 per month billed annually, plus variable fees |
Every row uses the vendor's own website or listing as of October 17, 2026. Each vendor section below links to the pages we read.
Want your FAST channels inside your own apps, next to your on-demand library and live events? Book a Revidd demo.
The 6 best Frequency alternatives
1. Amagi: best for playout, distribution and ad products in one suite
Amagi calls CLOUDPORT "a cloud-based broadcast operations platform" that lets media companies "operate their FAST linear channels across OTT applications and FAST platforms." It sells FAST distribution and ad products alongside playout. Amagi publishes no prices. Limitations: we found no branded viewer app product for content owners. See our full Amagi alternatives guide.
2. Wurl: best for distribution plus ad demand
Wurl says "Global FAST Pass is the industry's trusted platform for launching, distributing, and monetizing FAST channels." It prices each channel at a flat monthly fee that "covers distribution to 50+ global streamers," plus usage fees by delivery type. Limitations: "Wurl does not negotiate distribution agreements," so you sign platform deals yourself, and no dollar amounts are published. Compare it in our Wurl alternatives guide.
3. Revidd: best for your own apps with VOD, live and FAST channels
Revidd runs on-demand video, live events and 24/7 FAST channels from one CMS. You build schedules in the FAST Program Manager, show a program guide for every channel in your apps, and keep a Rescue Playlist and Ad Filler Playlist as backup. Channels output HLS with SCTE-35 markers for your ad partners and any distribution partners you choose. Viewers watch in native apps on Roku, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV, plus web and mobile, with SVOD, AVOD, TVOD, pay-per-view and hybrid models. Branded apps can be ready in as little as 1 to 2 weeks, plus app store review that Revidd doesn't control. Revidd powers streaming that reaches more than 38 million viewers and 5.2 million monthly active viewers across 15 countries. See how FAST channels work on Revidd.
Limitations: Revidd does not place channels on Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel or Tubi, does not run an ad marketplace or bring ad demand, and has no managed programming service like Frequency's. If third-party delivery is the whole goal, Frequency, Amagi or Wurl fit better.
4. OTTera: best for apps, FAST delivery and ad sales from one vendor
OTTera says you can "launch your OTT app on any platform in 30 days with our white-label end-to-end solution" and "launch your FAST channel on top platforms with our certified delivery service." Its ad sales arm is AdNet+. Limitations: no prices are published.
5. Zype Playout: best for playout at a published price
Zype says you can "easily program, deliver, and monetize digital linear channels with Zype Playout," with connectors to FAST and vMVPD partners. Its pricing page lists Playout Standard at "$1999/mo based on annual terms" and Playout Advanced at "$3499/mo based on annual terms." Limitations: destination connectors cost extra, priced "per single destination, per month per channel," and branded apps are a separate Zype Apps Creator plan.
6. Muvi Playout: best for the lowest published entry price
Muvi sells "Cloud Playout Software for Linear TV & FAST Channels" with an auto-generated EPG, and says you can "Syndicate Your TV Channel Across 220+ FAST Networks." Its pricing page lists $199, $499 and $1,999 per month, billed annually. Limitations: every plan adds variable fees, and branded apps are a separate product, Muvi One.
How much does Frequency cost compared with the alternatives?
Frequency says "you pay a flat monthly fee per channel" with "no connector fees." Its AWS Marketplace listing, sold by Frequency Networks, Inc., showed a 1-month contract at $3,000.00 per month for channel scheduling and playout on October 17, 2026. The listing says "delivering a channel to one or multiple distributors costs the same, since the fee is set per channel rather than per distribution destination." Direct contracts and the 12-month AWS option may be priced differently, so ask Frequency for a quote.
Zype Playout and Muvi Playout also publish prices (see the table). Amagi, Wurl and OTTera publish none. For the rest of the budget, read our guide to the cost to launch a FAST channel or run the numbers in the FAST channel launch cost calculator.
Is Wurl a Frequency competitor or a partner?
Both. In June 2023 the two companies announced a partnership: "Wurl will be Frequency's preferred advertising monetization partner," and Frequency would be Wurl's preferred partner for FAST channel creation. Frequency's focus is building and playing out channels, and Wurl's is distribution and advertising, so some publishers use both.
When is staying on Frequency the right call?
Frequency is often the better fit. Stay if:
Your channels already reach many third-party FAST services through Frequency and that delivery is the main goal.
You rely on Managed Channel Services staff to program and run your channels.
You run local news channels at scale. Frequency says it "supports more than 160 local news channels across major DMAs" (April 14, 2026). If you are a station that wants its own app with news on demand, live and a 24/7 channel, see our guides to the local TV FAST channel and OTT for news broadcasters.
You use Brightcove and its Frequency Studio Connector, which feeds Brightcove video into Frequency through an MRSS ingest feed.
Your contract has time left.
How do you switch from Frequency without going dark?
Export your video library, metadata and artwork.
Rebuild each channel schedule on the new platform.
Run the old and new channels in parallel.
Move distribution feeds one destination at a time.
Keep the old feed live until each platform confirms the new one.
Our OTT platform migration guide covers the full checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Frequency for FAST channels?
It depends on the job. For channel creation and delivery to third-party FAST services, compare Amagi and Wurl. For your own branded apps with on-demand, live and FAST channels in one platform, look at Revidd, OTTera or Zype.
How much does Frequency Studio cost?
Frequency says you pay a flat monthly fee per channel, with no connector fees. Its AWS Marketplace listing showed a 1-month contract at $3,000.00 per month for one channel's scheduling and playout on October 17, 2026. Direct and 12-month contracts may differ, so ask Frequency for a quote.
How do I choose an alternative to Frequency for building FAST channels?
Decide whether you need delivery to third-party services, your own apps, or both. Then ask each vendor which destinations it already delivers to, whether it charges per channel or per destination, and who owns the viewer relationship.
Is Wurl the same as Frequency?
No. Frequency focuses on building and playing out channels, and Wurl on distribution and advertising. In June 2023 the two announced a partnership naming Wurl as Frequency's preferred advertising monetization partner.
Can I use Frequency and Revidd together?
They do different jobs. A broadcaster can use a delivery vendor such as Frequency for third-party FAST services and Revidd for its own apps, on-demand library and branded channels. Revidd outputs HLS with SCTE-35 markers for the partners you choose.
Does Revidd put channels on Samsung TV Plus or Pluto TV?
No. Revidd runs FAST channels inside your own branded apps and outputs HLS with SCTE-35 for partners you choose. Each streaming service decides which channels it carries, and vendors like Frequency, Amagi and Wurl specialize in that delivery.
The bottom line on Frequency alternatives
If third-party FAST delivery is the whole job, Frequency, Amagi and Wurl are the right shortlist, and our FAST channel distribution guide explains how carriage works. If you want 24/7 FAST channels in your own apps on every major screen, next to on-demand and live, Revidd is built for that job. For a wider list, see the best FAST channel platforms.
Book a demo to see FAST channels, on-demand and live running in your own branded apps.
