--- title: "What Is an OTT App? Definition and Examples | RentAnOTT" description: "An OTT app is the mobile, TV or web application viewers use to watch a streaming service. See which platforms matter and what an app has to do." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ott-app" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ott-app.md" category: "Platform" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is an OTT app? An OTT app is the application through which viewers watch a streaming service on a phone, tablet, television or browser. It handles browsing, sign-in, payment and playback, and is published under the service's own brand. ## Where OTT apps run Each platform has its own technology, store and review process, so an app for one does not run on another. Services usually begin with the web and mobile and add television as the audience grows. - Mobile: Android and iOS phones and tablets - Television: Android TV and Google TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs - Web: a responsive site that works in any browser ## What an OTT app has to do - Present the catalog: home rows, search, title pages - Sign viewers in and keep profiles, watchlists and progress in sync across devices - Sell: subscriptions, rentals and in-app purchases where the store requires them - Play video reliably with adaptive quality, subtitles and audio choices - Enforce protection: DRM, device limits and regional rules - On television, work entirely with a remote control ## Building vs using a platform's apps Writing native apps for five or six platforms, and keeping them current as each one changes every year, is the most expensive part of running a streaming service. A white-label platform supplies apps that are already built, applies your branding and publishes them under your name. ## OTT app on RentAnOTT RentAnOTT apps are priced per platform per month: Android $149, iOS $169, both for $299, Android TV with Fire TV $149, and Apple TV, Samsung and LG $149 each. Store submission is included. [Design your app](https://www.rentanott.com/tools/ott-app-builder). ## Related terms - [OTT app builder](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ott-app-builder) — An OTT app builder is a tool for designing and configuring a branded streaming app without writing code. You choose the logo, colors, navigation and home page layout, and the platform applies them to ready-made apps for mobile, television and the web. - [Native app](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/native-app) — A native app is an application built specifically for one operating system, such as iOS, Android or tvOS, using that platform's own programming languages and tools, and installed from its app store. It has direct access to the device's video player, DRM, storage and notifications. - [Smart TV app](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/smart-tv-app) — A smart TV app is an application built to run on a television's operating system or on a streaming device attached to it, and installed from that platform's app store. For a streaming service it is the way viewers watch on the big screen. - [App store submission](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/app-store-submission) — App store submission is the process of preparing a streaming app, sending it to a store such as Apple's App Store, Google Play, the Amazon Appstore or a smart TV store for review, and publishing it once approved. - [White-label OTT](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/white-label-ott) — A white-label OTT platform is ready-made streaming technology that a business launches under its own name, logo and domain. The vendor builds and operates the software; viewers see only the business's brand. - [CTV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ctv) — CTV (connected TV) is a television that can stream video over the internet, either because it is a smart TV or because a streaming stick, set-top box or games console is attached to it. - [In-app purchase](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/in-app-purchase) — An in-app purchase (IAP) is a payment made inside a mobile or TV app using the app store's own billing system, such as Apple's App Store or Google Play. The store collects the money, keeps a commission and pays the rest to the app's publisher. - [Android TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/android-tv) — Android TV is Google's version of Android for televisions, streaming sticks and set-top boxes. It runs on sets from many manufacturers and on operator boxes, and apps for it are distributed through Google Play. - [Apple TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/apple-tv) — Apple TV is Apple's streaming set-top box, which runs the tvOS operating system. Streaming services reach it by publishing a tvOS app on the App Store. The name is also used for Apple's own TV app and subscription service, which are separate things. ## Further reading - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing) - [White-label streaming platform buyer's guide](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/white-label-streaming-platform) - [How to start a streaming service](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/how-to-start-a-streaming-service) ## Frequently asked questions ### Which OTT app should a new service launch first? Start where your audience already watches. For most services that is the web plus Android and iOS; services built around long-form viewing add television apps early. ### How long does app store approval take? Review times vary by store and can run from a day or two to a few weeks for television platforms. A first submission usually takes longer than later updates. ### Is an OTT app published under my name? On a white-label platform, yes. The app carries your brand and is listed under your developer account in each store. All 163 terms: [Streaming and OTT glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary). ## Book a demo Tell RentAnOTT what you are launching. The team walks through the platform and maps the path to go-live around your catalog, markets and revenue model. Book a demo: https://www.rentanott.com/contact ## More from RentAnOTT - [Home](https://www.rentanott.com/index.md) — What RentAnOTT is, what every plan includes, and how launch works - [Features](https://www.rentanott.com/features.md) — Every core feature and optional add-on - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing.md) — Platform tiers, apps, add-ons, usage rates and example bills in INR and USD - [Free tools](https://www.rentanott.com/tools.md) — OTT app builder and calculators for streaming revenue, bandwidth, bitrate and pricing - [Insights](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs.md) — All streaming business articles - [Glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary.md) — Definitions of streaming and OTT terms - [Book a demo](https://www.rentanott.com/contact.md) — Talk to RentAnOTT about your launch Full site in one file: https://www.rentanott.com/llms-full.txt