When it comes to free video platforms, there is no denying that YouTube easily takes the number one spot. But if you are after something a bit more different, you’ll be happy to know that there are some great alternatives out there!
A lot of these alternatives offer up some great features and unique content that YouTube simply doesn’t have. So after doing a lot of digging, I have rounded up 10 of the best YouTube alternatives that you can start watching right now.
Lets get stuck in!
[adinserter block=”3″]Top 10 Best YouTube Alternatives
1. Dailymotion
A website that needs little introduction. Dailymotion tops our list of best YouTube alternatives, as it is hands-down the best replacement for YouTube. Having almost identical layout, categories, popular pages, etc. the website is extremely easy to get accustomed to. In some areas Dailymotion does outclass YouTube, while in others it still lags behind.
Dailymotion has less stringent censorship rules. Chances are the same video that gets removed by YouTube administrators, won’t be removed when posted on Dailymotion.
The interface of the website, account settings and video player are almost the same and very easy to get accustomed to. It is also less likely for Dailymotion to get banned from your country, while on the contrary YouTube has been the target of several political campaigns.
You’ll have to pay up to become a pro users if you want to upload HD videos. While YouTube has left the 1080p mark behind, Dailymotion has failed to do so. This means no 4K or above, for now.
2. Vimeo
While Dailymotion does offer YouTube a little competition, Vimeo is not a direct competitor. The platform is more well suited to novice or indie film makers who want their content appreciated. The interface has less distractions, something that’s appreciated by content creators.
[adinserter block=”3″]The website has a number of classy categories such as music, dance, photography, etc. where you can expect original content. The website follows an ad-free model, meaning less annoyance and distractions. The platform runs through donations. Unlike Dailymotion, Vimeo does support 4K content with HDR.
There’s a 500MB weekly limit for content creators, which can be upgraded to 5GB for a pricy subscription. But still, the 5GB is too little when compared to competitors such as Dailymotion and YouTube.
3. Metacafe
Metacafe is one of the oldest streaming site, which is one of the main reasons it is one of the best YouTube alternatives. It went up in 2003, before YouTube, and has been a source of streaming content for its users ever since. The website is more suited for short videos, i.e. 90-second clip. This makes it a video sharing website in its own class and thus makes it a great platform to follow, in the presence or absence of YouTube.
The website is great for community-based content. It attracts around 40 million unique viewers which is impressive for a website with a strict 90-second guideline. The interface is neat, clean and well-organized. It doesn’t take a lot of time for someone to get used to the platform.
The 90-second guideline makes it a wonderful entertainment source as people don’t waste their time on irrelevant fluff.
The viewership is very weak compared to YouTube.
4. Veoh
The website defines itself as an internet TV company, hosting millions of videos with most of them being of a more professional nature. The platform hosts a range of content from episodes of Two and a Half Men to classic series such as Melrose Place.
Veoh does provide access to content which isn’t available on other video sharing websites. This does earn it a spot on the best YouTube alternatives list. You may be worried about Veoh’s library and its limit. To counter this, the website has devised a nifty little strategy which allows it to stream from other sources such as Hulu. Veoh also allows its users to upload content, so it isn’t entirely an TV-show platform.
The website does need a design overhaul as the plethora of content is not finely organized.
5. DTube
Blockchain has given birth to a number of innovations. While Bitcoin may be the most popular one, there’s a video-sharing website that is based on the technology. DTube is a decentralized video sharing website that offers decent competition in the face of YouTube.
[adinserter block=”3″]Familiar categories such as Hot, Trending, Watched, etc. make adjusting to DTube a lot easier. The platform is entirely ad-free as it is based on blockchain technology. In fact, when you upload a video to DTube, you get rewarded with Steem crypto-currency for seven days! So, in a nutshell, not only is this one of the best YouTube alternatives; it’s also a millennial’s adventure. Lastly, the UI design is also intuitive and doesn’t need a lot of attention to get used to.
The website is fairly new and would need a lot of time and effort from content creators to get up to YouTube’s mark.
6. Vevo
This is a video sharing platform that specializes in music videos. It even makes its presence felt on YouTube with “VEVO” coming in at the end of artists’ channels’ names. By using the website, you get an endless supply of music videos to watch. The experience is very slick, and never will you feel the website making you sluggish.
Endless supply of music at your fingertips mean you can rely on sites other than YouTube. The content isn’t bottlenecked by its video quality, and you can easily find 4K videos on the platform. The web interface is easy to use and will get you hooked as soon as you stream a few songs. Lyrics, vocals, sounds, you name it; Vevo has it all as long as its related to music.
You won’t find content other than that related to music on the website. This makes the website an accessory to YouTube, rather than an alternative.
7. The Internet Archive
The Internet Archive isn’t something that’s limited by a specific content type. Instead, it hosts videos, music, books, software, and so much more. Just as you would think of a physical library providing you access to content, old and new, The Internet Archive serves as a time capsule on the world wide web.
You can find obscure video documentaries on the platform, something that several researchers would value. The content is arranged very proactively into categories that can be filtered by language, topic, subjects, and so on. Users can also upload their own content to the website for zero cost. Many people who surfed the website out of curiosity have today become ardent followers.
New content arrives later on the website compared to YouTube, Dailymotion, etc.
8. IGTV
Smartphones have given way to platforms that were previously never bothered in the computer arena. One such platform is IGTV, a rival to YouTube that has been made specifically to be streamed on smartphones. This doesn’t mean you can’t browse it through the web, however the primary attempt is to grasp the attention of smartphone using populace. Just so you know, IGTV stands for Instagram TV!
The interface is optimized for smartphones. The platform tries to fit as much information on your screen as possible without cluttering it. The long-form videos arranged in vertical manner are best for long rides on the bus or train. The maximum limit on the content is 1-hour, so you are more likely to find to-the-point content.
If you are new to Instagram, it would help to read an online guide to IGTV to get a hang to it.
9. 9Gag TV
9Gag needs little introduction. What started out as a comedy content platform has now made it to the list of best YouTube alternatives. Thanks to streamlined strategies, 9GAG is one of the first place someone who wants pure entertainment goes to. One of the main reasons for this repute is the platform’s presence on social media, which existed long before it added the “TV” at the end.
From funny videos to movie trailers, 9GAG TV holds a vast array of content. The way the videos have been arranged is also quite original, e.g. WTF and WOW sections. Getting hooked on the website doesn’t take long since you’ll be engaged as soon as you hit enter. Memes, images, videos; the website has it all.
Its hard to find serious content on the website, such as those belonging to the Politics or Science genre. There’s NSFW content on the website so it would be a bad idea giving your child access to it.
10. Flickr
This may come of as a surprise to some, but Flickr does allow its users to upload video content. The capacity Flickr has for holding such content is limited but nonetheless it exists. The type of content you’ll find on Flick would be limited to 90 seconds. This may be a turn off to some, but if you’re more of a short-form video person, this would serve as an excellent alternative to YouTube.
Renowned, clean and simple UI. Flickr needs little introduction when it comes to neat UI. Searching for a video is extremely easy, while the streaming is slick on its own. Videos can be uploaded without having to go through checks such as censorships, etc.
When uploading videos in a row, you can only upload two with time limit of 90 seconds.
It looks like YouTube may be sticking around for the foreseeable future! Check out some of our other posts about YouTube.
- How Much Does YouTube Pay Per Subscriber?
- Best YouTube Channel Names
- How Much Does YouTube Pay Per View?
william01989 says
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