If you’re looking for an alternative to YouTube, there are many options out there. Whether you’re a gamer, a creator, or just want to try something different, here’s a rundown of the top alternatives to YouTube and their features and benefits.
Best YouTube alternative for gamers and creators
Our top alternative to YouTube for gamers and creators is Twitch, If you’re an online gamer, chances are you’ll want a video streaming service with as many interactive features as possible. With Twitch, you can stream your own content and subscribe to all your favorite gaming channels. The chat rooms allow you to communicate easily during gaming sessions.
Beyond the gaming community, Twitch has a wide variety of other content, from cooking shows to sports to how-to videos, as well as live music and DJ performances. To access all the content Twitch has to offer, consider using a VPN for Twitch so you can watch videos that might be blocked in other countries.
If you’re a creator who wants to get started with streaming, Twitch Creator Camp is a valuable resource. If you’re a budding developer, their Developers page lets you create your own Twitch extensions once you sign up for a Twitch account.
Here are some of Twitch’s best features for gamers and creators:
- Video Producer and Creator Camp
- Subscription options for followers
- Chat and messaging
Best YouTube alternative for music lovers and musicians
If you long for the glory days of MTV and you love music videos, Vevo is the way to go. You can watch Vevo on YouTube, Apple TV, Roku, and more. If you’re an independent musician, with Vevo For Artists you can stream and share your music videos and live performances.
In addition to streaming music videos from artists and bands, Vevo also films original content showcasing both big-name performers and independent acts.
Here are some of Vevo’s best features for music lovers and musicians:
- Official artist channels
- Live performances from popular artists
- Multi-platform and mobile compatibility
Best YouTube alternative for filmmakers
Vimeo is a powerhouse for media producers, whether you’re an independent filmmaker or a small content creation studio that needs a place to host and share your footage. Vimeo has a free Vimeo Basic plan as well as several monthly subscription plans ranging in price from $7 to $75 a month and providing storage space in monthly or yearly amounts. Storage options range from 5GB a week to 20GB a week for Vimeo Plus or Vimeo Pro, with no weekly limits for the Business or Premium plans.
With the Vimeo Plus plan and beyond, you can set privacy controls, and you get unlimited screen and webcam recording. The Vimeo Premium plan, which is the top-tier option, has unlimited live events and webinar hosting as well as webinar registration, production tools, live audience chat with Q&A, and in-depth analytics to monitor viewing and streaming trends.
Here are some of Vimeo’s best features for filmmakers:
- Live streaming, virtual event hosting, and video recording
- Stock footage
- Video library and templates
- No in-video ads
Best YouTube alternative for a private and ad-free experience
DTube allows users to vote on their favorite videos and earn $DTUBE coins as rewards. All the videos are stored on blockchain, making it much less susceptible to data leaks or hacking since the data is stored in secured blocks and not in a centralized space. There are no ads or algorithms, and if you’re a content creator, you can earn cryptocurrency with your videos.
Here are some of DTube’s best features for a private and ad-free experience:
- Partnership for content creators
- They have a blog and a Discord to keep up on new videos and tips for creators
- They support free speech (content is still monitored by the community, similar to Reddit)
Best YouTube alternative for an old-school internet experience
You won’t find any new content on this site, but the Moving Image Archive section of Internet Archive is a goldmine for older movies, TV shows, music videos, and news broadcasts. They also have a Community Archive page of local TV and radio programs sorted by country.
The Internet Archive is a non-profit organization that first started archiving TV programs in 2000 and has grown substantially since then. They have about six million videos and are always adding to their library of content.
Here are some of the Moving Image Archive’s best features:
- Download videos and upload your own to add to the archive
- Talk with other contributors and viewers in the Forum
- Filter content by year, topic, and more
(image: moving image archive home screen.jpg)
Ad blocking software
If you’ve signed up for some new video sites, but you’re planning to stick with YouTube while exploring all these other options, consider ad-blocking software to help streamline your viewing experience, cut down on ads and pop-ups, and stay safe from possible malware or spyware.
While YouTube paved the way for online video content, there are always exciting new streaming services and apps on the horizon, and this list only scratches the surface. Always keep your online security in mind while viewing, and remember to take a screen break once in a while.
