Swarmify Review – A CDN for Video [AppSumo 2020]

Introduction

In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive deep into Swarmify, a new video CDN (Content Delivery Network) that has recently hit AppSumo. As video content becomes increasingly crucial for websites and online businesses, finding efficient ways to deliver high-quality video experiences to users is more important than ever. Swarmify aims to address this need by offering a unique solution that combines the benefits of a CDN with video optimization features.

Throughout this article, we’ll explore Swarmify’s key features, pricing structure, and how it compares to other video hosting solutions. We’ll also discuss its strengths and potential drawbacks, helping you determine if it’s the right fit for your video hosting needs. Whether you’re a content creator, marketer, or business owner looking to improve your website’s video performance, this review will provide you with valuable insights to make an informed decision.

What is Swarmify?

Swarmify is a video CDN service that has recently become available on AppSumo. Unlike traditional video hosting platforms, Swarmify doesn’t actually host your videos. Instead, it acts as a middleware between your existing video storage and your website, optimizing the delivery of your video content to viewers.

Key Features of Swarmify:

• Content Delivery Network (CDN) for videos
• Compatibility with various video hosting platforms
• Clean, fast-loading video player interface
• Automatic conversion of existing YouTube and Vimeo embeds
• WordPress plugin for easy integration
• Support for self-hosted video files

How Swarmify Differs from Other Video Solutions:

• Not a video host: Swarmify doesn’t store your videos but optimizes their delivery
• Not just a video player: Unlike solutions like Video Cipher, Swarmify includes CDN functionality
• Focuses on performance: Aims to improve video loading times and playback quality

Potential Benefits:

• Faster video loading times
• Improved user experience with a clean player interface
• Reduced bandwidth costs for website owners
• Simplified video management across multiple platforms

Pricing and AppSumo Deal

Swarmify is currently available on AppSumo with a special lifetime deal offer. Let’s break down the pricing structure and what you get with the AppSumo deal.

AppSumo Offer Details:

• Starting price: $69 for one code
• Stackable up to 5 codes
• Lifetime access

What’s Included in the Deal:

• Unlimited bandwidth and storage (with some caveats)
• 100,000 views per month per code (stackable)
• 3 domains per code (stackable)
• Additional features unlocked at 5 codes

Stacking Benefits:

• Maximum of 500,000 views per month (with 5 codes)
• Up to 15 domains (with 5 codes)
• Unlocks logo watermark feature
• Access to VAST video ads feature

Considerations:

• Storage is technically unlimited, but there are some limitations (explained later)
• VAST video ads feature is only relevant for high-traffic websites

How to Use Swarmify

Implementing Swarmify on your website is a straightforward process, especially if you’re using WordPress. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started with Swarmify.

Setting Up Swarmify:

• Sign up for an account and obtain your API key
• Install the Swarmify WordPress plugin (if using WordPress)
• Enter your API key in the plugin settings

Automatic Video Conversion:

• Swarmify automatically detects and converts existing YouTube and Vimeo embeds
• No need to manually change existing video embeds on your site

Adding New Videos:

• Use the Swarmify block in the WordPress Gutenberg editor
• Compatible with popular page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi

Video Source Options:

• Upload directly to your WordPress media library
• Use external sources like Amazon S3, Wasabi, Google Drive, or Dropbox
• Embed YouTube or Vimeo videos

Customization Options:

• Change player color to match your website’s design
• Adjust video size and proportions
• Enable/disable autoplay, mute, and loop features
• Configure advanced options like hiding controls

Swarmify vs. Other Video Solutions

To help you make an informed decision, let’s compare Swarmify to other video hosting and optimization solutions available in the market.

Swarmify vs. YouTube:

• Pros of Swarmify:
• No post-roll suggestions or external branding
• Faster loading times (in some cases)
• More control over the player appearance
• Cons of Swarmify:
• Requires additional setup and management
• Lacks YouTube’s extensive features and discoverability

Swarmify vs. Self-Hosting:

• Pros of Swarmify:
• Reduces bandwidth costs with CDN functionality
• Improves loading times and performance
• Provides a cleaner player interface
• Cons of Swarmify:
• Additional cost compared to basic self-hosting
• Requires external storage solutions for video files

Swarmify vs. Dedicated Video Hosts (e.g., Vimeo):

• Pros of Swarmify:
• More flexible storage options
• Can be more cost-effective for high-volume users
• Integrates with existing storage solutions
• Cons of Swarmify:
• Lacks some advanced features of dedicated video hosts
• Requires more technical setup

Swarmify vs. Other Video Players (e.g., Video Cipher):

• Pros of Swarmify:
• Includes CDN functionality
• Automatic conversion of existing embeds
• WordPress integration
• Cons of Swarmify:
• Limited customization options for the player appearance
• Potential issues with view counting (as noted in the review)

Potential Drawbacks and Concerns

While Swarmify offers many benefits, there are some potential drawbacks and concerns to consider before making a purchase decision.

Storage Limitations:

• Swarmify doesn’t provide actual video storage
• Users need to host videos on their own servers or third-party storage solutions
• This may result in additional costs for storage services

Player Customization:

• Limited options for changing the appearance of the play button
• Default honeycomb-shaped play button may not fit all website designs
• Lack of ability to remove Swarmify branding from the player

View Counting Accuracy:

• Potential issues with how views are counted
• The reviewer noticed inflated view counts during testing
• This could impact the actual number of views available in the AppSumo deal

Website Limitations:

• Restriction on the number of websites where Swarmify can be used
• May not be ideal for users managing multiple websites or clients

Processing Time:

• Videos need to be processed by Swarmify’s CDN before optimization takes effect
• Processing time can take up to 1.5 times the length of the video

Unexpected Benefits

Despite some drawbacks, Swarmify offers a few unexpected benefits that may be valuable to certain users.

Video Protection:

• Swarmify appears to offer some level of copy protection for videos
• Standard video download tools were unable to capture the video content
• This can be beneficial for content creators concerned about unauthorized downloads

Fast Support Response:

• The reviewer noted quick responses from Swarmify’s support team
• This indicates good customer service and potential for addressing user concerns

Integration with Popular Website Builders:

• Works well with WordPress, Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi
• Simplifies the process of adding optimized videos to various website platforms

Potential for Future Improvements:

• The Swarmify team seems open to user feedback
• Plans to add more customization options for the play button in the future

Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

After a thorough review of Swarmify, here are the key takeaways and final thoughts to consider:

Pros:

1. Efficient video CDN solution that can improve loading times and user experience
2. Easy integration with WordPress and popular page builders
3. Automatic conversion of existing YouTube and Vimeo embeds
4. Flexible storage options, allowing use of various third-party storage solutions
5. Unexpected video protection features to prevent unauthorized downloads
6. Responsive customer support team

Cons:

1. Limited customization options for the video player appearance
2. Potential issues with view counting accuracy
3. Restrictions on the number of websites and views included in the AppSumo deal
4. No built-in video storage, requiring additional services or self-hosting

Final Verdict:

The reviewer gives Swarmify a rating of 7.1 out of 10, with a caveat regarding the potential view counting issue. Overall, Swarmify presents an interesting solution for website owners looking to optimize their video delivery without changing their existing video hosting setup.

Swarmify may be particularly valuable for:

• Website owners experiencing slow video loading times
• Content creators who want more control over their video player appearance
• Users looking to reduce bandwidth costs associated with self-hosted videos
• WordPress users seeking an easy-to-implement video optimization solution

However, potential buyers should carefully consider their specific needs, especially regarding the number of websites and monthly views required. The AppSumo deal’s limitations may not be suitable for all users, particularly those managing multiple high-traffic websites.

As with any software purchase, it’s recommended to thoroughly test Swarmify on your specific setup before committing to ensure it meets your requirements and provides the expected performance improvements.

For more information and discussions about Swarmify and other lifetime deals, visit the reviewer’s Facebook group at http://facebook.com/groups/daveswift or follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/davidswift. You can also check out more software reviews and resources at https://clientamp.com.