The simplest way to host and embed video on WordPress in 2026
WordPress is the largest CMS, but its native video handling is poor. WordPress.com limits video to Premium plans and above, shares storage across all media (13-350 GB depending on plan), and caps files at 6 GB with only basic play counts. Self-hosted WordPress has no native video solution at all — you either install Jetpack VideoPress ($5-10/mo, 5 GB file cap, minimal analytics) or embed YouTube. YouTube embeds add 1.3-2.6 MB page weight, inject ads, show your competitors' content in suggested videos, and get blocked by corporate firewalls. None of these options give you a branded, analytics-ready video experience.
Upload via drag-and-drop or pull from Google Drive, Dropbox, or S3. Videos are transcoded to HLS adaptive bitrate at multiple resolutions automatically.
Grab the iframe embed code from your dashboard. Optionally set a custom domain so URLs show your brand, not a third party.
In the block editor, add a Custom HTML block and paste the iframe. Works on any WordPress.com plan and any self-hosted WordPress install — no plugin needed.
See views, watch time, completion rates, geographic breakdowns, and device stats. All captured server-side with zero impact on page load.
Video increases time on page and engagement, but only if it loads fast and keeps visitors on your site. YouTube embeds do the opposite — they slow your page, show ads, and send viewers to YouTube. A clean embed that loads instantly and tracks engagement lets you use video as a real content strategy tool, not a compromise.
Jetpack VideoPress is the native WordPress option at $5-10/mo with limited analytics and a 5 GB cap. YouTube is free but adds ads, branding, and significant page weight. Vimeo embeds are ad-free but come with bandwidth caps. Wistia is marketing-focused at $79+/mo.