Every Wistia user has a specified set of permissions that determines what they can access and interact with in an account. Users can be granted permissions to create folders and Channels, upload and download media, share media, record and edit media, create webinars, and more.
There are five different kinds of users in Wistia:
Account Owners
Managers
Standard Users
Limited Users
Viewers
Each paid account can have up to 3 Account Owners, but the number of Managers, Standard Users, and Limited Users varies by plan level and needs. Let’s take a look at how each type of user can interact with your Wistia account.
Note
Check out the "Overview" page in your account settings or our plans page to confirm your user limit, or purchase additional users.
Account Owner
Account Owners have the highest permission level among users. Each account may have up to three Account Owners.
Owners have access to anything a Manager or user does, but in addition, they can:
Monitor the usage of the account (bandwidth & videos)
Change the account logo, name, or URL
Create API keys
Purchase, upgrade, or downgrade a subscription
Change billing information
Cancel the Wistia account
Additionally, the Account Owner has the final say over who can access the videos hosted on Wistia. In the context of the Wistia application, the “Owner” maintains rights over all hosted content.
Note
If you are leaving your organization or transferring your Wistia account to someone else, we strongly recommend adding another owner to your account.
Manager
Managers are the second-most-powerful user type in a Wistia account and can perform almost any account action. They can add folders and Channels, upload and archive media, and share content with new viewers. They can also manage users and create new user groups.
When it comes to account settings and billing, their permissions are more limited. They can't see statements, change plans, or view billing information. They also don't have the ability to cancel an account. Within an account's Settings menu, they can access the following pages:
Brand
Personal
Private User Sessions
Account Usage
Email Settings
Integrations
Tags
Standard User
A standard user can create and upload any new content within a Wistia account. This includes:
Media
Folders
Channels
Recordings
Live Events
For any content that a Standard User has created, they can edit, customize, or delete it.
In addition to creating content, a Standard User can also be added to existing folders or Channels with varying permissions levels.
In a folder that a Standard User hasn't created, they may be permitted to fully manage the content or be limited to viewing and commenting. Depending on your plan type, you may be able to give them more custom permissions.
For more information on folder permissions and adding users to a folder, head to our Folder Permissions page.
In a Channel that a Standard User has not created, they may be given view-only or manage permissions.
For a full breakdown on Channel permissions, head to our Channel Permissions page here.
Limited User
A Limited User has the least level of access in an account. Limited Users can access only the folders and Channels to which they've been added.
Within a folder, a Limited User can have Can view or Can manage permissions. If a Limited User has Can manage permissions in a folder, this includes uploading, editing, customizing, and deleting content.
Depending on your plan type, you may be able to give them more custom permissions. For a full breakdown of folder permissions and managing users, head here.
In a Channel, a Limited User can have just viewer access, or full permissions to edit content, add new content, add users, and more.
For a full breakdown of Channel permissions and adding users, see our Channel Permissions page.
Viewer
Note
Viewer seats are free and do not count towards account seat limits.
The Viewer role allows you to invite users to specified folders and Channels. Viewers may only view and comment on content that has been shared with them.
Viewers can:
View and watch any media they have been granted access to.
Browse the Content Library within their access scope.
View media details and metadata (title, description, tags, etc.)
Comment on media.
View captions and transcripts.
Access shared/internal links.
Search the account for content they have access to.
Viewers cannot:
Upload, record, or create any content
Use creation tools: Record, Webinars
Edit media metadata (title, description, tags, etc)
Move, delete, or organize media or folders
Manage channels, playlists, or embeds
Access account settings, billing, or user management
Invite other users
Access analytics dashboards
Use integrations
User role comparison
If you'd like to see a full comparison of the permission levels for Standard and Limited Users, we've created a chart to break things down.
| Limited User | Standard User |
Create new folders | No 🚫 | Yes ✅ |
Create new Channels | No 🚫 | Yes ✅ |
Create webinars | No 🚫 | Yes ✅ |
Can add other users | Yes ✅ only in the folders and Channels for which they’ve been given "Can manage" access.
No access to the Manage Team page. | Yes ✅ same as Limited User, plus on folders and Channels they've created. |
Can see a list of other users in the account | No 🚫 | Yes ✅ only in the folder and Channel permission modals, to search for users to add. |
Can access folders set to “Anyone in my Wistia account” | Yes ✅ with varying permission levels. See Folder Permissions for more details. | Yes ✅ same as Limited User. |
Can have folders shared with them | Yes ✅ with varying permission levels. See Folder Permissions for more details. | Yes ✅ same as Limited User. |
Can have Channels shared with them | Yes ✅ permission options include "Can view" or "Can manage". See Channel Permissions for more details. | Yes ✅ same as Limited User. |
Can record | Yes ✅ with "Can manage" or "Upload" permission on a folder. | Yes ✅ same as Limited User, and in folders they've created. |
Can edit | Yes ✅ with "Can manage" or "Upload" permission on a folder.
With upload permissions, users can only edit content they've uploaded. | Yes ✅ same as Limited Users, and in folders they've created. |