YouTube is the biggest video streaming service in the world, with the platform boasting more than 2.5 billion monthly active users. However, many users are miffed because of multiple non-skippable ads on YouTube videos, the platform cracking down on ad blockers, and increasing Premium prices. Creators too face challenges regarding monetization, discoverability, and more. So, we’ve compiled a list of the best YouTube alternatives where you can watch videos or publish your content.
1. Vimeo
After YouTube, Vimeo is probably the most famous video sharing website out there. Vimeo was launched back in 2004 and has slowly but strongly become a major player in the video streaming services. The company has more than 90 million monthly active users with over 35 million registered creators.
While these numbers might seem low when compared to YouTube, the basic concept of quality vs quantity applies here. On the whole, Vimeo is a more matured video sharing platform which attracts artistic creators in films, animation, music, and more.
While YouTube has become a place where anyone with a camera can publish a video, Vimeo has still remained a place where most of the content has been created by people who know what they are doing.
Vimeo has been able to do this by cultivating a community which is not as harsh and immature as the one on YouTube. The community is much more appreciative of the content that is being published and the comments are far more constructive.
Also, Vimeo has paid plans which allows creators to pay to gain extra features which makes them a little bit more serious on the type of content that they are producing. Plus, Vimeo is available on almost all the platforms out there, just like YouTube.
If you are someone who wants to leave all the noise that is present on YouTube and want to enjoy hand-picked content inside a positive community, you should definitely check out Vimeo.
Pros Cons Flourishing and constructive community No ad-based revenue sharing Over 90 million monthly active users Not totally free for creators Quality of content is better Revenue through donations
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Nvidia Shield, Xbox One, PS4, Chromecast, Fire TV
Visit Vimeo
2. Dailymotion
Just like YouTube, Dailymotion is a video sharing platform where you can create an account and publish your videos. Similarly, viewers can visit the website and watch the published content for free. Dailymotion differs itself from YouTube by bringing far relaxed policies both for creators and viewers.
That is both a good and a bad thing. The good thing is that you don’t necessarily need to create an account to watch videos (no-age restriction) on Dailymotion. However, the relaxed policies of Dailymotion also mean that it is very easy for someone to republish your videos and there’s not much you will be able to do about it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No age restriction | Analytics does not match up to YouTube |
| Not required to create an account | |
| Ad-based revenue sharing like YouTube | |
| Nice interface |
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, Windows
Visit Dailymotion
3. Instagram
Meta has merged IGTV with Instagram’s feed so you can watch Reels and videos on Instagram itself. Instagram has also crossed over 2 billion monthly active users and is in the right position to tackle YouTube’s monopoly over video content. One of the good things about Instagram is that it’s not just copying YouTube but doing something different which makes it stand out from the service it is competing against.
For starters, Instagram Reels is mainly focusing on vertical content which has always been the weakest point of YouTube. YouTube has now also launched Shorts to compete against Instagram Reels. Since most of us consume content on our smartphones, having a platform for vertical video content makes good sense.
Also, Instagram already has a large number of influencers using the service and they get better reach than on YouTube. While Instagram has no monetization program for creators, creators can earn through affiliate marketing and donation. Whether you are a creator or a consumer, you should definitely check out Instagram.
Pros Cons Over 2 billion active users waiting for your content No direct monetization for creators Vertical videos look great Nice and easy to navigate UI
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
Visit Instagram
4. TikTok
In an era where lip-syncing videos have become a huge rage, TikTok is kind of a go-to platform for those who love to watch bite-sized funky videos. Yeah, whether you hate this video-sharing service or admire it for making short videos incredibly popular, you just can’t ignore it.
Probably the biggest highlight of this video-sharing app is a huge community of creators who keep unleashing fun-loving viral videos, which you may like to watch tirelessly. Though it doesn’t offer the same lucrative monetization that YouTube provides, it allows creators to reach a massive young audience. That makes it a great platform for creators and viewers alike.
Pros Cons A huge community of creators Not available in many regions Go-to platform for watching bite-sized videos
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, and Amazon Appstore
Visit TikTok
5. Twitch
Twitch is a platform which is made entirely for gamers. If you are someone who wants to earn money by using your gaming talents or just want to enjoy someone’s gameplay, Twitch is the place to do it.
Since its launch, the service has evolved and now include dedicated streams focusing on artwork, music, talk shows, and more, it still is mostly dominated by the gaming community. Unlike YouTube, where you can find content on any and all topics, Twitch still remains fairly niche and that is its biggest strength.
One thing that differentiates Twitch from any other video website is that it hosts a ton of live streaming content something which is not normal for other video platforms. In fact, live streams of gaming sessions are the crucial ingredient which has made Twitch such a successful company.
Twitch also has a very different monetization method. Instead of using ads to monetize content for its creators, Twitch allows creators to accept donations from viewers. This not only ensures that the platform is totally free of ads, it also means that viewers who donate to their favorite creators feel like a part of a tight-knit family.
Hence, the community at Twitch is more friendly and genuinely cares about its creators. If you are into games and want to see some breathtaking gameplays while supporting the creators who play the games, there is no better place to do that than Twitch. Still, if there’s a reason you don’t like this platform, you can check out our favorite Twitch alternatives for streaming games.
Pros Cons Tight-knit community Not great for non-gaming content Heaven for gamers Revenue through donations Great alternative to YouTube Gaming
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows
Visit Twitch
6. Nebula
Next, we come to Nebula where you can find videos, podcasts, and classes from thoughtful creators. You can think of Nebula as the curated version of YouTube. For creators, Nebula is one of the best YouTube alternatives out there. Videos are owned by creators and they earn revenue through user subscription.
Apart from that, users can find exclusive content here that may not be available on YouTube. Many YouTube creators publish their content on Nebula exclusively. Besides watching videos, you can also join classes and learn about new topics. It has over 5 million monthly active users.
Pros Cons Thoughtful videos and podcasts from creators Video library is small Learn about new topics Attend classes
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Appstore
Visit Nebula
7. Facebook Watch
Facebook has also launched its own video focused service called Facebook Watch. While your Facebook feeds have been harboring videos since forever, the company started focusing on videos to get more traction.
Launched in August 2017, Facebook Watch enables creators to create and publish videos on its platforms while giving them access to all the necessary data and analytics which can help them grow their viewer base, just like on YouTube.
Facebook has partnered with many creators to launch original series so that the service has its own exclusive content. That said, just like on YouTube, anyone can create their own channel and start publishing videos on the platform.
Another good thing about Facebook Watch is that it has a similar revenue sharing program to YouTube, which means that the company pays a part of its ad revenues to creators. Also, since most of the online world is still on Facebook, having the same website to watch videos where you already spend most of your time means that you have one less website and app to worry about.
Pros Cons One of the largest potential viewer bases Not available everywhere Ad-revenue sharing program similar like YouTube Lots of videos to watch
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
Visit Facebook Watch
8. TED
While we know TED as a media organization that holds conferences on many seminal topics, it also maintains a video platform which hosts all its talks and conferences from all around the world. You can find videos on several topics, including technology, science, nature, global warming, education, social change, and more.
The best part about TED is that you get to hear experts from particular fields which adds to your understanding of the world. As of now, it has more than 4700 videos and talks which are quite inspiring and riveting.
I would say, if you want to spend time learning something new in an enjoyable way then TED fits the bill quite well. Also, if you are short on time and want to understand social phenomena around the globe, TED videos make for a compelling watch.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hosts more than 4700 videos | The content catalog is nowhere near as vast as YouTube |
| A vast library of inspiring videos on technology, social change, health, etc | |
| Talks from experts hence reliable information | |
| User interface and video playback is right up there with YouTube |
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
Visit TED
9. Internet Archive
While Internet Archive may not be as popular as YouTube, it’s got a massive catalog of videos to give a strong competition to the latter. As it’s a non-profit public domain online organization, movies, and TV shows stay on the site for long.
Besides, it’s got one of the largest assortment of famous documentaries and classy movies which may appeal to your interest, if you love to catch up with legendary films.
However, unlike YouTube, the site lacks the latest content and it also takes comparatively more time to show the viral videos. For those who like to keep a tab on the videos that are breaking the Internet may find it a little outdated.
As for the user interface, the Internet Archive looks quite simple. With the categorized genres and titles, it also makes a bit easier to discover specific content. Moreover, you can also download your favorite videos to watch offline.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A huge library of movies and videos | Doesn’t offer latest and viral content |
| Offers a straightforward way to download videos | Lacks high-budget content |
| Simple interface with categorized genres and titles | Not a great platform for creators |
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
Visit Internet Archive
10. Odysee
Odysee is a new video-sharing platform where creators can upload their videos and viewers can watch videos for free. It has been developed by LBRY which is a blockchain-based decentralized platform. Launched in 2020, Odysee has a much smaller 7 million monthly active users.
Odysee is popular for providing an open-source alternative to YouTube. It’s against anti-censorship so videos are not highly censored. However, content moderation is still applied based on community guidelines. It hosts millions of videos ranging from pop culture, lifestyle, tech, comedy, and more.
Pros Cons Open-source alternative to YouTube Small community Over 7 million monthly active users Hosts millions of videos
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
Visit Odysee
That ends our list of the best websites like YouTube that you can use to watch your favorite videos. As far as I am concerned, Vimeo and Twitch are the two best alternatives to YouTube for me. I am also keeping an eye on new platforms like Nebula to see how the platform develops.
