I love YouTube. It’s one of my favorite video streaming websites. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the best. And, it’s free. Other users love it because they upload their content and share it with the world.
But, due to many rules and regulations, many look to YouTube alternatives. In this article, I tell you what the best websites like YouTube from which you can choose to use.
Best YouTube Alternative Websites
Believe it or not, Facebook is one of the most popular video streaming websites. There are a variety of videos from which you can choose to view or you can upload your own.
Facebook has a broad audience that spans the globe and your videos have a chance of going viral just like on YouTube. From music videos, funny videos, and breaking news, it’s on Facebook.
And, like YouTube, Facebook also has a live stream feature that allows you to stream your videos in real-time.
Another YouTube alternative is Twitter. The social media platform is known for its curation of short messages.
However, just like Facebook, Twitter has a large video stash waiting to be explored. You can also upload your own videos on Twitter. Although, most videos I see on Twitter are short.
Like Facebook, Twitter also allows you to share live streaming videos via iOS and Android.
Dailymotion
Dailymotion is a popular video sharing site like YouTube. It’s the best YouTube alternative at the moment.
The interface takes some getting used to. And, unlike YouTube (which is red), it’s blue.
One of the few things that I do not like about Dailymotion is the many limitations with regard to uploads.
| Pros | Cons |
| Videos don’t get taken down as easily as YouTube | Limited to 96 video uploads per day |
| Similar video categories as YouTube | Can only be a total of 2 hours of video per day |
| Video resolution limit capped at 1080p/HD uploads only for pro users | Videos must be 60 minutes or less (not longer) |
Vimeo
Vimeo is a close second after Dailymotion. Though, they don’t really have much of a reach as the latter.
If all you want to do is stream content, then Vimeo is the best video streaming alternative.
Unlike YouTube, which focuses on using ads to generate money, Vimeo offers an ad-free viewing experience. Plans start at $7 per month.
And, Vimeo does allow you to host your videos on their platform as well. Hence, you still get the benefits of YouTube but not much of the viral factor.
| Pros | Cons |
| No annoying ads. | There is a limit of 500MB per week (uploads). |
| High-quality videos. | Weekly limit upgradable but capped at 5GB. |
VEVO
VEVO is the best YouTube substitute for streaming music videos. Many of the biggest artists are already on the platform. And, the platform streams high-quality music videos.
| Pros | Cons |
| Best source for music videos. | Cannot upload own videos. |
| HD content (always). | No funny cat videos. |
Twitch
For streaming video games like League of Legends, Final Fantasy, Skyrim or just about any other game, Twitch is the go-to YouTube substitute website.
Twitch only allows uploads/streams of gaming videos. Nothing else. But, unlike YouTube, monetization is a bit more difficult.
| Pros | Cons |
| Unlimited Game Streams. | Monetization not as good as YouTube. |
| Best source for watching live game broadcasts. | Requires stable internet connection to stream content. |
Metacafe
Metacafe does not have the best looking interface. However, if you want short video clips that cover a range of topics (mostly gags), then it’s a great resource.
| Pros | Cons |
| Good for comedy videos. | Not as large a video database as YouTube. |
9Gag TV
When it comes to comedy and entertainment, then 9Gag TV is the best. I’m sure you’ve seen at least one of their videos on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
There are no pros and cons here. However, 9Gag TV does feature NSFW (not safe for work) content, so be careful which videos you click on while at work.
Flickr
While Flickr may best be known for the image content, it does have an extensive library of videos.
All you have to do is sign up for a free account and start uploading videos in the same way you upload images to Flickr. You can upload videos in HD quality too.
With a free Flickr account, you get 1 TB of storage for your media files. And, with a pro account, you get unlimited storage.
Other Recommendations
There are more video sites like YouTube but for now, these are the best alternatives. Of course, if there’s one that pops up, we’d be sure to add it to the list.