5 Alternatives to YouTube With Better Features & More Privacy

Are these the streaming platforms you’re looking for?

Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash

YouTube is the most popular video-sharing platform in the world, but it’s not without its flaws. The ads get annoying if you don’t pay for YouTube premium, and the algorithm is not always the best for recommending content that you actually want to watch.

So, if you’re looking for some alternatives to YouTube, here are five options you might want to consider.

1. Vimeo

Vimeo is one of the oldest and most respected YouTube alternatives. It offers high-quality videos, a sleek interface, and a supportive community of creators.

Vimeo is especially popular among filmmakers, artists, and professionals who want to showcase their work. However, it’s not just for creators. Viewers like you and me can also find a lot of content to watch.

Unlike YouTube, Vimeo does not have ads, but it does have a limit on how much you can upload for free (500 MB per week). If you want more storage, features, and analytics, you can upgrade to a paid plan.

➡️ Learn more at vimeo.com

Image courtesy of Vimeo

2. Nebula

I’ve long considered Nebula to be like Medium for video. It’s a relatively new YouTube alternative, but it focuses on educational and informative content.

Like Medium, Nebula is a subscription-based service that gives you access to original videos from some of the best creators on YouTube, such as Thomas Frank, Rene Ritchie, and Georgia Dow.

Nebula has exclusive content that you won’t find on YouTube, such as documentaries, podcasts, and original series. Videos can also be watched offline in the mobile apps.

Nebula is ad-free and supports its creators directly with a $50 annual membership fee.

➡️ Learn more at nebula.tv

Screenshot from Nebula.tv

3. Skillshare

Skillshare is another popular YouTube alternative. It specializes in educational and creative content. It’s a platform where you can learn new skills from thousands of online classes taught by experts in various fields.

You can learn to create your own YouTube channel with MKBHD, or become more organized with Ali Adbaals productivity system for creators. Photographers, designers, marketers, and even home cooks will find a lot to explore on Skillshare.

It’s a great way to learn something new, improve your existing skills, or discover new hobbies. You can also share your knowledge and skills by creating your own classes.

Skillshare is not free, but it offers a 7-day trial for new users.

➡️ Learn more at skillshare.com

Screenshot of Skillshare.com

4. Odysee by LBRY

Odysee is a YouTube alternative that is decentralized and censorship-resistant. It’s a peer-to-peer network that allows anyone to upload and watch videos without intermediaries or gatekeepers.

It uses blockchain technology to store and distribute content, and cryptocurrency to reward its users and creators. Odysee is built on LBRY which is open-source and community-driven, meaning anyone can contribute to its development and governance.

Odysee has a wide variety of content that is bound to appeal to YouTube users who are looking for something a little different. Some of the content may be the same as YouTube, due to the creator sync feature, but there is original content here too.

Odysee is free to use, but a premium tier is available if you want to get early access to upcoming features or remove ads.

➡️ Learn more at odysee.com

5. Twitch

Twitch is a YouTube alternative that is mainly focused on live-streaming and gaming. You can watch or broadcast live video games, esports, music, chat shows, and more.

Twitch is owned and operated by Amazon. Millions of people visit this website daily to catch up with their favorite creators.

Twitch has a large and active community of streamers and viewers who interact through chat, emotes, and donations. Twitch also has some features that YouTube doesn’t have, such as clips, raids, drops, and subscriptions.

It’s not a direct replacement for YouTube, but it’s one of these places where you can find, follow and support your favorite creators and get a level of interaction that pre-recorded YouTube videos just don’t give you.

➡️ Learn more at twitch.tv

Image created by Jonathan Wylie

Conclusion

Despite the audience that these platforms get, it’s hard to overlook YouTube completely. Nobody does what YouTube does at the scale it operates at.

But, that doesn’t mean you can’t look elsewhere if you feel like you need a change of pace or are looking for a more focussed platform. And that’s what these YouTube alternatives are perfect for.

https://jonathanwylie.com/list/f37a793be57c


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