Last verified: August 17, 2026
Vimeo is shutting down Vimeo On Demand on November 20, 2026. This is not the shutdown of Vimeo itself or the automatic deletion of every seller’s Vimeo library. It is the end of the Vimeo On Demand storefront, checkout system, subscriptions, and viewer access attached to that product.
That distinction matters because moving away from Vimeo On Demand is not a single “export and import” job. Sellers have to separate the migration into three parts:
- Media: video masters, trailers, bonus content, captions, posters, and thumbnails.
- Catalog: titles, descriptions, categories, pricing, URLs, and other storefront metadata.
- Commerce: customers, subscriptions, purchases, entitlements, payouts, and watch history.
The media may be relatively easy to preserve. The commerce layer is the difficult part. Vimeo says viewer purchases, entitlements, and watch history cannot be transferred to another platform, and subscriber data will not automatically move to Vimeo OTT.
This guide explains the deadlines, what sellers can and cannot take with them, and how to choose between Vimeo OTT, a WordPress-controlled system such as MediaBlaster, or a custom migration.
Short answer: Export your data now, choose a replacement based on your monetization model, and have the new destination operating before September 21. Do not wait until the final November shutdown date to begin.
The Vimeo On Demand shutdown dates
Vimeo’s official shutdown notice lists four milestones:
| Date | What changes | What sellers should do before then |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2026 | Vimeo On Demand stops accepting new uploads. Existing pages and content remain online. | Finish any necessary VOD uploads, but put most of your effort into exporting and rebuilding elsewhere. |
| September 21, 2026 | New purchases and subscriptions stop. Active subscriptions will not renew after this date. | Launch the replacement, update links and campaigns, and begin directing the audience to the new destination. |
| October 21, 2026 | Vimeo expects to complete final seller payouts. | Download payment records and verify that the final payout matches your account history. |
| November 20, 2026 | Vimeo On Demand closes completely. Storefronts go offline and viewer access ends. | Complete the migration, customer communications, redirects, and final data exports well before this date. |
One line in the main shutdown notice says existing sales continue through November 20, but Vimeo’s more detailed seller FAQ and selling documentation clarify that new purchases and subscriptions stop on September 21. Existing viewers can continue using the access they already have until November 20, subject to rental and billing-period limits.
What is actually disappearing?
The shutdown removes the Vimeo On Demand business layer:
- Vimeo On Demand pages and storefronts
- new purchases and rentals
- new subscriptions and renewals
- viewer access to prior purchases after November 20
- the purchase entitlements and watch history associated with Vimeo On Demand
According to Vimeo’s seller FAQ, the underlying videos in a seller’s regular Vimeo account will not be deleted solely because Vimeo On Demand is closing. They remain subject to the storage and availability terms of the seller’s Vimeo plan.
This means a seller may not have to re-upload every video immediately. For example, both Vimeo OTT and MediaBlaster can work with eligible videos from a compatible Vimeo account. But keeping the files on Vimeo does not preserve the old storefront, customers, purchases, or subscriptions.
The three-inventory migration method
The most common migration mistake is treating the video files as the whole business. Before choosing a replacement, create three separate inventories.
1. Media inventory
Record and preserve:
- original master video files
- Vimeo-hosted versions you intend to keep using
- trailers and bonus material
- captions and subtitle files
- poster art, thumbnails, backgrounds, and logos
- audio descriptions or alternate language tracks
- licensing, geographic, and download restrictions
Do not assume a playable Vimeo URL is a permanent backup. Keep independent copies of any media you own and have the right to retain.
2. Catalog inventory
Record:
- title and episode names
- descriptions and credits
- genres, tags, and category structure
- series, season, and episode relationships
- pricing and rental periods
- publication dates and territories
- trailers and bonus-content relationships
- current Vimeo On Demand URLs
- pages on your website that embed or link to those URLs
Take screenshots of the storefront and product pages if you may need to recreate their organization later. A CSV rarely captures the complete customer-facing layout.
3. Commerce inventory
Export and reconcile:
- sales and payout reports
- subscription products and renewal dates
- refund or support issues still in progress
- viewer email addresses that were lawfully collected with marketing consent
- promo codes and complimentary access arrangements
- the terms under which customers purchased access
Vimeo says sellers can export opted-in viewer email addresses from the Audience tab of a VOD page. It also says the export contains only viewers who explicitly agreed to receive updates; Vimeo does not provide sellers with a complete buyer-email list for privacy reasons.
That makes customer communication a bigger risk than file transfer. Export the permitted audience data now and use it only in accordance with the consent the viewer provided.
What will not transfer automatically
Vimeo’s documentation is explicit about several limitations:
- Purchased-content entitlements cannot be transferred to another platform.
- Viewer watch history does not migrate.
- Content and subscriber data do not automatically migrate from Vimeo On Demand to Vimeo OTT; Vimeo describes OTT as a fresh start.
- A seller cannot export a full list of buyer email addresses unless those viewers separately opted in to updates.
Vimeo will notify viewers about the shutdown. If a seller moves specifically to Vimeo OTT, the seller FAQ says Vimeo Support can also send buyers a notice directing them to the new OTT account. That assistance should not be assumed for a move to an unrelated platform.
If your replacement needs to honour prior purchases, plan an entitlement-reconstruction process. Depending on the number of customers and the records available, this may involve complimentary access codes, a claims process using receipts, or a custom import. Review the legal, privacy, refund, and tax implications with the appropriate professionals before recreating customer access.
What happens to videos viewers already purchased?
Viewers can continue watching Vimeo On Demand purchases until November 20, 2026. After that date, streaming access ends.
Some purchased titles can be downloaded, but only when the seller enabled downloads. Vimeo’s viewer download instructions say a download button appears below eligible purchased titles. If the title is not download-enabled, the viewer cannot create an offline copy through that process.
Sellers should review their download settings and content rights now. If your licensing agreements permit permanent downloads, enabling or communicating that option may reduce the impact on existing customers. Do not enable downloads when your distribution rights prohibit them.
Which Vimeo On Demand replacement should you choose?
There is no universal replacement because Vimeo On Demand combined hosting, a storefront, checkout, and access control. The right path depends on which of those pieces your business still needs.
| Your primary requirement | Best path to investigate | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Continue web subscriptions, rentals, or individual purchases with the least architectural work | Vimeo OTT Starter | Starter is web-only; branded apps and broader platform support are Enterprise features. |
| Launch a public Roku VOD library while controlling the WordPress catalog and Roku source code | WordPress + MediaBlaster + Roku Launch Kit | The current Roku Launch Kit is not a turnkey replacement for Vimeo On Demand payments, subscriptions, or purchase entitlements. |
| Keep Vimeo as the video host but manage the catalog in WordPress | MediaBlaster’s Vimeo integration | Import eligibility depends on the Vimeo account and available videos; Vimeo still controls the hosted media. |
| Offer paid access on Roku and preserve or reconstruct old customer entitlements | Custom implementation or an appropriate enterprise platform | Requires payment, identity, entitlement, privacy, support, and app-policy planning. |
| Launch branded apps across Roku, Fire TV, mobile, and multiple smart-TV platforms | Vimeo OTT Enterprise, another multi-platform provider, or custom development | Pricing and scope may require a sales conversation and vary by project. |
| Own the web storefront, customer system, and app stack | WordPress/custom commerce + independent hosting + custom apps | More control also means more responsibility for development, security, taxes, support, and maintenance. |
The key question is not simply, “Where can I upload my videos?” It is, “Who should control my catalog, customer relationship, payment system, hosting, and apps after the move?”
How Vimeo OTT pricing changes the economics
Vimeo recommends Vimeo OTT as its direct replacement. Its Starter plan supports web-based subscriptions and transactions, while branded apps are listed under Enterprise.
Vimeo’s OTT pricing breakdown currently lists:
- SVOD: $1 per subscriber per month, plus merchant fees of 2.5% + $0.30.
- TVOD purchases and rentals: 10% + $0.50 per transaction.
- upload fees beyond the included allowance, with separate arrangements for branded apps and live features.
Here is the fee math for a hypothetical $10 monthly subscription, assuming one web payment per subscriber per month:
| Paying subscribers | Gross monthly revenue | $1-per-subscriber fee | 2.5% + $0.30 merchant fees | Listed Vimeo OTT fees | Effective share of gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $1,000 | $100 | $55 | $155 | 15.5% |
| 500 | $5,000 | $500 | $275 | $775 | 15.5% |
| 1,000 | $10,000 | $1,000 | $550 | $1,550 | 15.5% |
This example excludes taxes, refunds, chargebacks, app-store fees, upload fees, branded-app costs, and any Enterprise contract differences. It is planning math, not a quote.
For a $10 TVOD sale, the listed 10% fee plus $0.50 equals $1.50, or 15% of the selling price, before taxes and other applicable costs.
Vimeo OTT may still be the best choice when an integrated paid web storefront is the priority. The calculation simply makes the ongoing economics visible before a seller commits.
A WordPress and Roku migration path with MediaBlaster
MediaBlaster takes a different approach. It uses WordPress as the content backend and can connect that catalog to a branded Roku app foundation.
The MediaBlaster Vimeo integration can connect a compatible Vimeo account through OAuth and import eligible videos into WordPress as movies, short videos, or episodes. This can help sellers preserve and reorganize the catalog without immediately abandoning Vimeo as the video host.
MediaBlaster itself is not a video host. You can continue using a compatible Vimeo account or bring an independent host or CDN that provides suitable HLS or MP4 delivery. WordPress and MediaBlaster organize the catalog, metadata, feeds, and app configuration.
A typical migration looks like this:
- Back up the media and export Vimeo On Demand data. Complete the three inventories above.
- Choose the future hosting model. Keep eligible videos in Vimeo temporarily or move masters to another HLS/MP4-capable host.
- Install MediaBlaster in WordPress. Configure movies, series, episodes, and short-form content types.
- Connect Vimeo if appropriate. Use OAuth to review and import eligible library videos into structured WordPress content.
- Rebuild the public catalog. Verify titles, descriptions, artwork, captions, categories, and series relationships.
- Connect the Roku app. The MediaBlaster Roku Launch Kit includes the Roku VOD app source code, training, documentation, and launch resources.
- Design the commerce layer separately. If you require purchases or subscriptions, confirm the exact checkout, account, entitlement, and Roku requirements before promising continuity to customers.
The current MediaBlaster Roku Launch Kit is a one-time source-code product with no monthly platform fee for the kit itself. You still pay for WordPress hosting, video hosting or delivery, developer accounts, payment tools, maintenance, and any custom functionality you choose.
Most importantly, the current kit should not be presented as a one-for-one replacement for the Vimeo On Demand storefront. It is best suited to creators and media organizations that want an owned WordPress catalog and Roku presence, particularly for public VOD libraries or projects with a separately planned business model.
A practical migration schedule
This week
- Export sales, payout, and opted-in audience data.
- Back up masters, captions, artwork, trailers, and bonus content.
- Record every active storefront URL and website embed.
- Identify titles with territory, licensing, or download restrictions.
- Decide whether the future offer is free, subscription, rental, purchase, advertising-supported, or mixed.
Before September 21
- Make the replacement destination usable.
- Update website navigation, email campaigns, paid ads, social bios, and link-in-bio pages.
- Stop sending traffic to checkout flows that will no longer accept purchases.
- Notify opted-in viewers about the change and explain what they must do.
- Publish a customer FAQ covering access, downloads, refunds, and the new platform.
Before October 21
- Reconcile expected Vimeo payouts against downloaded reports.
- Record unresolved refunds, disputes, or support cases.
- Confirm who will support customers during the transition.
Well before November 20
- Perform a final data export.
- Test redirects and replacement pages.
- Confirm that all public links and embeds have been changed.
- Send the final permitted customer notice.
- Test the new library on every supported device.
- Preserve the shutdown records your accountant or legal advisor recommends keeping.
Vimeo On Demand migration checklist
- [ ] Export seller analytics and sales records.
- [ ] Export opted-in audience email addresses.
- [ ] Reconcile outstanding and final payouts.
- [ ] Back up all original video files.
- [ ] Download captions, subtitles, artwork, trailers, and bonus content.
- [ ] Copy catalog metadata and pricing.
- [ ] Record series and episode relationships.
- [ ] Audit licensing, geographic, and download rights.
- [ ] List every VOD link, embed, campaign, and QR code.
- [ ] Choose the new hosting provider.
- [ ] Choose the new storefront or catalog system.
- [ ] Choose the new payment and entitlement system, if required.
- [ ] Decide how prior customers will be handled.
- [ ] Publish the replacement destination before September 21.
- [ ] Notify viewers using only permitted contact data.
- [ ] Replace or redirect old links before November 20.
- [ ] Test web, mobile, and TV playback.
- [ ] Download a final copy of records before the shutdown.
Choose the migration path that fits your business
A filmmaker selling individual downloads, a church publishing a free Roku library, and a subscription video network do not need the same replacement.
Tell us how much content you have, how it is hosted, whether viewers pay for access, and which platforms you need. The MediaBlaster estimator will recommend the most realistic next step: a do-it-yourself WordPress and Roku build, a done-for-you setup, or custom development through Rovidx.
Get your Vimeo On Demand migration recommendation
Why this guide is practical
MediaBlaster is developed by Rovidx, a company that has worked on Roku channels since 2013. The current MediaBlaster Roku application went through Roku’s public-channel certification process in July 2026. This migration framework reflects hands-on work with WordPress catalogs, streaming playback, metadata, deep linking, device testing, and Roku submission requirements.
