Why bother with YouTube? Don’t they get enough views as it is? Well, while they do get more than 1 billion unique visitors per month, there are still plenty of us who use other video-sharing sites.
If you’re one of those people looking for an alternative to YouTube, here are the top 5 video sharing sites that might be just what you’re looking for.
1) Vimeo.
Before you hit publish on your next video, think about sharing it on Vimeo instead. The service allows users to upload longer videos (up to 10 hours) than YouTube does and is an ideal platform for creators looking to educate their viewers entertainingly.
Videos on Vimeo can be watched from desktop computers and iPhones/iPads. With plans starting at $60 a year, it’s easy for businesses and individuals to get started with Vimeo.
Not only does Vimeo offer a more generous time limit for videos, but they also give you more flexibility regarding privacy settings than their rival platforms do.
You can share videos in public or set them as private so that only specific people who have access through sharing permissions can view them.
Vimeo also allows users to upload videos in other formats (like MP4, MOV, and WMV) but for free accounts, you have fewer sharing options.
If you want to sell your videos or make them publicly available, you’ll need a Vimeo Plus or Pro account.
These plans start at $500 a year and come with a few other perks like unlimited HD storage space and 1080p video quality for Plus members or larger file sizes for Pro members.
The higher cost also gives you access to marketing tools like direct download links and custom URL shorteners so that viewers can easily share your content online.
2) DTube.
DTube is a blockchain-based video platform that has been compared to YouTube due to its similar format.
The big difference between these platforms, however, is that videos are published on DTube using IPFS (Interplanetary File System), which allows them to be stored on hundreds of thousands of computers instead of centralized servers.
This, in turn, makes it harder for a single company—like Google—to control what users see and do.
IPFS also makes it possible for content creators who have been banned from other sites like YouTube or Vimeo due to violation of terms or agreements to post their videos without restriction on DTube.
As with most sites, DTube also has a public rating system. Unlike other sites, however, users on DTube are not given a score based only on their number of views but also on their activity.
A user’s quality score is computed using factors such as how often they post, how many votes they get, and if they are active in comments.
This helps ensure that users who frequently post high-quality content receive more visibility than those who just pump out videos as quickly as possible.
3) Daily Motion.
If you want an alternative to YouTube that’s free of cost, then Dailymotion is a great place for you. It is one of those video-sharing sites that allow its users to create an account on it and upload their content as well.
The best part about Dailymotion is that it does not contain any advertisements or marketing videos, and users get paid for creating popular videos on it. They even offer compensation if your video goes viral and gets many views in less time.
The only thing that you need to do for registering your account on Dailymotion is to enter your email ID, which can be fake but should be valid. Once you register an account on it, there are no other formalities or terms and conditions that you need to agree upon.
You can start uploading content as soon as you get registered on it. All in all, Dailymotion is one of those sites that give full freedom for creating any kind of content and sharing it with others online.
It doesn’t matter if a person creates videos of any type: from funny characters dancing and singing or people performing stunts – anything goes on
4) Internet Archives Video Section.
A great alternative to YouTube, Internet Archives contains a huge library of videos uploaded by users.
The collections are vast and varied, including everything from educational material, sports highlights, and live performances of music from bands like The Grateful Dead.
You can search for a particular title or subject or simply browse through some recommended lists. Videos can be downloaded if you don’t want to stream them online—or watch them on your phone for later viewing (Internet Archive apps are available for both iOS and Android).
It’s an easy way to save videos you’d like to watch again in case something happens to your computer. And best of all, it’s completely free!
Like YouTube, Internet Archives has a great interface that’s easy to use. But unlike many other video sites, it only features high-quality videos. Even if you’re viewing a video on a phone or tablet, it’ll stream without interruption—and without counting against your data cap!
You can also download videos from within its mobile apps so you don’t have to worry about using up your monthly data allotment when watching offline.
And if you enjoy what you see or just want to help support Internet Archives and its efforts, consider making a donation using PayPal! It’s another way of supporting independent content creators who are sharing something unique with others online.
5) Metacafe.
Metacafe features an array of original web series from independent filmmakers, established production companies, and more.
While Metacafe’s audience is not as big as YouTube’s, it provides a good opportunity for indie filmmakers and online content creators.
Uploading videos to Metacafe is free and there are no limits on duration or number of views per video. It also boasts great SEO; films get easy access to watch counts by keyword, traffic analytics, and detailed demographic information.
Although a little bit old-fashioned with its UI, it gives users new updates on videos such as comments, likes, and other relevant data regarding how your content has been received.
If you are new to creating films and don’t have a website of your own, Metacafe is a great place for self-promotion.
It has strict content guidelines which make sure that films submitted aren’t offensive or offensive in any way.
With no traffic restrictions on videos, your films can easily reach out to more audiences. Just like other video streaming sites, Metacafe pays its filmmakers on a revenue-sharing basis using an AdShare model.
The paid amount varies from one filmmaker to another; but it ranges between $0.10 and $2 per 1000 views for non-premium users and up to $3 for premium memberships.