YouTube is the most popular video platform across the world. However, being a leading search engine and streaming platform doesn’t mean there can’t be a better alternative.
The ever-increasing ads and changing algorithms push many YouTube creators to scout for alternatives. There are plenty of options out there too.
Irrespective of the medium you choose, your video needs to have a few basic attributes. You have to create a stylish video with captions, frame it as per the optimum size of the platform, and add subtitles
Manually doing all that often becomes a cumbersome task. You can seek help from online tools, like bigvu.tv. Such a tool will help you create videos and even use the teleprompter to add your choice of audio.
This article highlights the best paid and free YouTube alternatives and helps understand when you should opt for one.
Can You Replace YouTube?
YouTube currently has more than 2 billion active users on its platform every month, watching billions of hours of video every day. So, the other options on our list are unlikely to compete with such a number soon.
If you have an established YouTube channel, it is still worth considering different options for your video strategy. You can have various goals like:
- Reaching a new audience
- Incorporating a video on your website
- Converting visitors to leads
There are great options to cater to these objectives and help have better results.
YouTube’s Competition
The content giant has various competitors across different categories. In the social content sharing space, platforms, like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, have become popular over time.
These platforms have focused on a video strategy for the past couple of years. In 2018, Facebook launched Facebook Watch, a customized video-centric feed for users.
Other platforms aren’t far behind. Twitter allows its users to upload native videos on its portal. Instagram launched Reels and IGTV to capture the video content consuming audience onto their platform.
In the video hosting space, there are premium solutions, like Vimeo, Wistia, and Spotlightr, as well as free options, like Dailymotion.
Best Alternatives to YouTube
We have covered an extensive list below, highlighting the YouTube alternatives for businesses and content creators.
Dailymotion
Dailymotion is a hosting and sharing platform that helps users upload and share their videos with an existing audience. You can create a channel, build a following, and make money from the shared ad revenue. Dailymotion has 300 million active users on the platform.
Dailymotion works best for content creators with an established identity. Businesses that want free video hosting for embedding can also use this platform.
Vimeo
Vimeo offers tools to host, collaborate, share, compress videos, and generate leads. It has a niche-specific audience making it ideal for some creators and businesses to build their audience.
Vimeo works best for animators, visual artists, creative professionals, or videographers. Business owners can use the platform if they are looking to host videos with appealing embeds.
Facebook Watch
Facebook Watch allows users to browse trending content based on their viewing history and interest.
Facebook Watch works best for YouTube chefs, travel bloggers, and other content creators. Smaller businesses or marketers who want to capture a new audience should use Facebook marketing campaigns.
Twitter Video
The launch of Twitter Live to cover sporting events regularly over the last few years has increased the platform’s engagement with videos.
Twitter Video works best for professionals who provide solutions, creators with short-form videos, or anyone facing a challenge with long-form videos.
IGTV
IGTV by design has a mobile-first approach. Instagram released the video-sharing platform in 2018.
IGTV works best for content creators targeting a young audience, or businesses that don’t have a full-fledged production crew.
DTube
DTube uses blockchain technology to help share videos between peers. A decentralized approach ensures a reduced risk of server outages that can interrupt your video.
DTube works best for free speech and blockchain enthusiasts.
Wistia
Wistia is a paid professional video hosting platform that helps integrate videos with your marketing campaigns. You get marketing automation tools for integration, in-video lead capture forms, video analytics, and a lot more.
Wistia works best for businesses focused on leads, and marketers looking to efficiently use on-site videos.
While the above options are free, except for Wistia, you can also check premium options like Spotlightr, Brightcove, SproutVideo, Jetpack, and Odysee.
So, there are several services that you can use based on your objective. However, keep in mind that YouTube is the biggest service provider to date.
