Uscreen vs MediaZilla: The Best Alternative to Uscreen for Filmmakers Who Sell Films and Events
By MediaZillaUpdated
Switch from Uscreen
Sell films and events with zero commission and TV apps included.
Uscreen is built for memberships, with 10% fees on one-time sales on Starter, $1.99 per subscriber on Growth, and apps only from $449 a month. MediaZilla is built for films and events: zero platform commission, no subscriber meter, TV and mobile apps included, and lifetime buyer access. On $12,000 in sales, you keep $1,350 more.
Membership Business or Film Business?
Uscreen is one of the best-known platforms for turning video into recurring revenue. Fitness instructors, yoga studios, and faith communities use it to run memberships with new content every week.
Filmmakers often sell differently. A recital, a documentary, or a wedding film is usually a one-time purchase. Buyers want to watch it on their TV for years, not join a community.
Uscreen's pricing is built around the first model. That matters when you run the numbers on the second.
Uscreen: What It Does Well and Where It Stops
Where Uscreen Genuinely Works
Uscreen gives membership businesses a lot: a branded storefront, subscriptions and bundles, community and chat, live streaming, email and marketing tools, and branded mobile and TV apps on higher tiers. For a subscription channel with an engaged community, it is a mature product.
Where Uscreen Stops
Fees on every sale.Reviews of Uscreen's 2026 pricing report a 10% fee on one-time sales on Starter and 5% on Growth, with payment processing on top.
Fees on every subscriber. Growth costs $149 per month plus $1.99 per subscriber. At 300 subscribers, that meter adds $597 a month on top of the base price.
Caps on the entry plan. Starter is $49 per month, billed monthly only, and capped at 100 subscribers.
Apps cost extra. Mobile apps start with App Essentials at $449 per month plus $0.99 per subscriber. TV apps are only part of the Custom plan.
| Capability | Uscreen | MediaZilla |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Memberships, communities, and subscription channels | Films, events, and client deliveries |
| Fee on one-time sales | 10% on Starter, 5% on Growth | Zero platform commission |
| Per-subscriber fees | $1.99/mo on Growth, $0.99/mo on App Essentials | None |
| Mobile apps | From $449/mo (App Essentials) | Included (iOS, Android) |
| TV apps | Custom plan only | Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Android TV included |
| Viewer experience | Catalog storefront and community | Branded interactive menus and scene selection |
| Buyer access after you cancel | Ends with your account | Lifetime access, even after you cancel |
MediaZilla: What Changes When You Switch
No Commission, No Subscriber Meter
MediaZilla charges a flat subscription. Purchases, rentals, and subscriptions carry zero platform commission and no per-subscriber fee. Growth does not raise your platform bill.
TV and Mobile Apps Included
Buyers watch on the web, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Android TV without a $449-a-month upgrade.
Made for Films and Events
Interactive menus, scene selection, and multi-film presentations suit recitals, documentaries, and client deliveries, where buyers want to jump to the moment that matters to them.
Protection and Lifetime Access
DRM, download blocking, and device limits protect paid films. Buyers keep access even if you cancel, and MediaZilla supports viewers directly.
The Cost Comparison
Same scenario as the rest of this blog: 300 one-time sales at $40, for $12,000 a year, on Uscreen Starter.
| $12,000 in sales (300 × $40) | Uscreen Starter | MediaZilla |
|---|---|---|
| Platform subscription | $588 (Starter, $49/mo) | $438 |
| Transaction fee | $1,200 (10%) | $0 platform commission |
| Card processing | $438 (Stripe) | $438 (Stripe) |
| Total annual cost | $2,226 | $876 |
| Net take-home | $9,774 (81.45%) | $11,124 (92.70%) |
On Uscreen Starter: $588 in subscription, $1,200 in transaction fees, and about $438 in processing. Total: $2,226. You keep $9,774, or 81.45%.
On Uscreen Growth: the fee drops to 5%, but the plan costs $1,788 a year. With $600 in fees and processing, the total is $2,826 and you keep $9,174, before any per-subscriber charges.
On MediaZilla: $438 a year plus about $438 in Stripe processing. Total: $876. You keep $11,124, or 92.70%, with TV apps included.
Who Should Stay on Uscreen
- You run a membership with weekly content and an active community.
- Live classes, chat, and community posts are core to what members pay for.
- You already use Uscreen's marketing automations and would lose them.
If you mostly sell films and events, or deliver to clients, you are paying membership-platform fees for a film business.
How to Switch from Uscreen to MediaZilla
Step 1. Export Customers and Subscriptions
Export customers, purchases, and active subscriptions with renewal dates from Uscreen.
Step 2. Back Up Your Masters
Keep original files on a drive and in a cloud account you control.
Step 3. Rebuild Your Catalog
Upload films, recreate bundles as menus or collections, set pricing, connect Stripe, and test checkout and TV playback yourself.
Step 4. Cut Over Billing Cleanly
Import past buyers. Pick a cutover date for subscribers, stop renewals on Uscreen, and start them on MediaZilla so nobody is billed twice.
Step 5. Announce the Move
Tell customers their library moved, access is permanent, and they can now watch on their TV. Then update your links and domain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uscreen vs MediaZilla
What is the main difference between Uscreen and MediaZilla?
How much does Uscreen cost in 2026?
Does Uscreen charge transaction fees?
Does Uscreen include TV apps?
Is Uscreen better for memberships than MediaZilla?
Can I move my Uscreen customers to MediaZilla?
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