10 Best YouTube alternatives handpicked for video creators

Looking for YouTube alternatives doesn’t make you less of a creator.

It simply means you want complete control over your content and who watches it.

There is no denying that YouTube is the largest player in the online video industry, with more than 2.68 billion active users.

But does it mean you too need to get lost in the mix?

An unending battle with algorithms, copyright battles and weaker content around your awesome videos are just three of the challenges you’ll face.

You end up fighting for the place you deserve. How badly it will impact your creativity isn’t hard to guess.

But worry not!

This guide contains all you need to know about the best YouTube alternatives in town!

12 reasons to find YouTube alternatives

Here are some of the more common reasons why video creators look for alternatives to YouTube.

• Creative burnout: There is always a pressure to create content at a rapid pace. Else the algorithm doesn’t like you
• Unpredictable income: While some YouTubers find success and earn big, most can struggle to make an income
• Lots of thin content: The platform is full of badly created videos that offer little or no value
• Lack of respect for smaller channels: Starters and some niche channels are less of a priority for YouTube. It’s entirely up to you to make a success of it
• Harsh comments: Most fresh creators fear to step in due to a stream of harsh comments they may have to face on their videos
• Copyright strikes: Your fully edited and well thought out video can easily earn copyright strikes even when there’s no grounds for them
• Too many ads: YouTube ads are good for creators but too many unwanted ads can spoil the user experience
• No more original content: Video creators who pour their hearts and souls into their craft frequently come across videos that copy their content and ideas
• Spamming: There are more spammers than ever on YouTube. The platform has spectacularly failed to control them, which is another pain point for creators
• Useless recommendations: YouTube bombard you with videos that don’t even remotely match what you want to watch
• Tons of rules: You have to comply with a lot of rules before uploading a video. You’re always in a fear of getting banned
• Personal reasons: Life changes and you always have new challenges ahead. Pause, even for a second and you’ll quickly disappear from YouTube listings

All these reasons and others can hamper your growth as a video creator.

If you have experienced any of those, it’s high time you move on and find an alternative platform to suit your needs!

Best YouTube alternatives for creators

Here is the list of best YouTube alternatives that are loaded with features you need for your project.

• Set up your own website
• Vimeo
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• Twitch
• Patreon
• TikTok
• DailyMotion
• Wistia

Let’s learn about each of them!

1. Set up your own website

Creating your very own website is the most customizable option and the best YouTube alternative.

The best part about going this route is that you have full control. You can keep your audience entertained and over time, turn it into a seriously strong brand.

Take Time.com as an example. They’ve got multiple services all in one place on their website.

They use WordPress as their base, and their videos are streamed from their own video network.

It’s seamless – users don’t need to worry about where their videos are hosted. They hit play and are immediately informed or entertained.

The good thing is that people can watch those videos and share them, just like any other regular posts.

Another example worth sharing is NASA.

They have their own YouTube channel with more than 11 million followers. But they’re also embedding videos on their own website too.

That gives visitors more reason to visit and to stick around.

No matter if you’ve got a small viewership or you’re hitting it big with millions of fans, whether you’re using a fancy premium host or a platform like YouTube, running things on your own website can give you a seriously impressive return on investment.

Benefits of your own website

The benefits of creating your own are immense:

• Make it your way: You’ve got full control to design and run your platform exactly how you want. You own everything!
• Boost conversions: Take your own action and use your own methods to boost engagement and conversions
• Your crew knows you: Build a tight-knit community that’s familiar with you and what you’re all about
• Customers everywhere: You’re constantly hanging out with possible customers, making marketing a breeze

Pro tip: When we talk about streaming, we’re not talking about stuffing videos on the same server where you keep your website.

Even if you have a dedicated server, our advice is to go with an external video hosting service.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of options listed below for you to pick from.

Making your own WordPress membership site for streaming videos is very easy. Even if you haven’t done it before, you can still finish it in a few minutes.

Here’s a simple walkthrough of the process:

1. Come up with a domain name and get yourself some solid web hosting from a reputable provider like Hostinger.
2. Use the nifty auto installer to set up your WordPress site.
3. Choose the coolest WordPress theme (we’re all about Astra). Next, pick a template of your choice. Astra offers over 240 predesigned templates
4. Last but not least, supercharge your site with plugins for video streaming, memberships and automate everything

We’ve got some awesome plugins in mind, like Presto Player, SureMembers, SureTriggers, and SureCart.

These are like the dream team for whatever you’re looking to do. So, let your creativity flow!

What can these tools do?

• Astra: Astra is the world’s best WordPress theme. It’s super fast, secure, fully customizable and built with extensive features.
• Presto Player: The ultimate WordPress video player plugin that takes videos to the next level
• SureMembers: When you need a plugin to sell and grow your membership site, SureMembers has it all
• SureCart: You need to make it easy for members to pay you for content. SureCart is a robust eCommerce solution that can help
• SureTriggers: You don’t want to do things manually. It’s hectic! SureTriggers automates everything for you

How is your website better?

Your website is your own empire. You can shape it just the way you like, which no other platform offers.

You can also build a strong community on your own website. This can really help with the success of your business.

2. Vimeo

Vimeo does things quite differently from YouTube. It’s all about quality, not just pumping out videos left and right.

If you’re a pro creator aiming for top-notch video quality and killer sound, Vimeo is your place.

Especially if you are tired of those pesky ads ruining your video flow every few minutes!

Vimeo can ensure your audience remains focused.

At Vimeo, you’re the boss. You decide where your videos go – you can even display them on your own website without any extra effort.

We like how Vimeo implements privacy. You can share videos with just your followers or handpick who gets to see them. You can even lock them with a password.

Another aspect video creators like about Vimeo is that they can jazz up the video player with their own brand.

Viewers can use Vimeo for free, but if you’re the creator, you’ll need to pick a plan. They do throw in a free option, but it’s capped at 500MB of uploads per week.

How is Vimeo better?

No doubt about it, when it comes to privacy and top-notch video quality, Vimeo easily beats YouTube.

3. Facebook

If you’re all about numbers, Facebook has a jaw-dropping 3 billion active monthly users.

We can call it a worthy YouTube rival – your videos can totally go viral, snag likes, and rack up those comments with your best stuff.

Creators can use a range of formats – Reels, long videos, and Facebook Live – all there to help you target different audiences.

Facebook is keeping up with trends and is staying up to date with more features to support creators.

If you are a short form lover, Reels has a bunch of slick video editing tools you can dig into to make videos shine.

They’ve bundled all these formats into one neat “Video” tab to keep people glued to their screens.

What we like about Facebook is that it welcomes everyone. Whether you’re a pro creator, brand, influencer, or a regular person.

How is Facebook better?

Facebook is a great choice being the largest social network. Your videos can pop up in people’s feeds or get shared by friends, which means more eyeballs and more engagement.

4. Pinterest

If you’re familiar with Pinterest, you’ll know it’s a real helper when it comes to boosting sales.

Pinterest is like this big canvas where people share all sorts of cool visual ideas.

The great part is that videos on Pinterest are like magnets for attention. They’re way more interesting than plain pictures, and Pinterest is all about giving them the spotlight.

So, if you’re thinking about adding video pins to your regular feed, Pinterest suggests keeping them between 15 seconds to 1 minute.

For ads, think even shorter – like 6 to 15 seconds.

Since Pinterest is like a smart marketing platform, it’s a great playground for designers, artists, and folks who love marketing.

With hard work, you can build your community that will appreciate your creativity.

If you have your own website, which you should, you can add a link in your video pin that takes people right to a special page on your site.

That means more valuable visitors from Pinterest!

Pinterest is paying a lot of attention to videos, which is why they’ve got a special “watch” tab in their mobile app – it’s like TikTok or Reels.

For more organized working, you can even schedule your video uploads for up to a whole month.

How is Pinterest better?

Pinterest is the way to go if you want to engage potential buyers through video. Making thumbnails is easy.

You can pick a specific frame from your video and use it as the main picture when you post.

5. Instagram

Instagram offers three cool ways to make videos: Reels, Live, and Stories.

While Instagram is like a playground for marketers, influencers, and folks selling stuff, it’s also awesome for news and any other kind of video content.

It’s not a platform that needs introduction. It’s already popular and getting more so.

Back in 2021, Instagram had a whopping 1.21 billion users hanging out there, and that’s expected to hit 1.44 billion by 2025.

But here’s where the magic really happens: Instagram has different video styles that suit different needs.

Stories are snappy and last up to 60 seconds, disappearing after a day. If you’re up for a live show, you’ve got 4 whole hours to play with.

Then there’s Reels, which can be around 90 seconds long. But here’s a little trick – you can actually upload longer videos using some third-party online tools.

How is Instagram better?

In a nutshell, Instagram is like the VIP spot for influencers and sellers because it’s all about getting down to business.

6. Twitch

Are you into gaming? Maybe you’re a musician or into eSports? If so, Twitch is the place to be for live-streaming your videos.

Twitch pulls in an impressive 140 million users each month, and a lot of them are hanging out in the US.

It all kicked off as a platform for gamers, but now Twitch has a huge crowd that’s all about DIY, creativity, and lifestyle.

Video creators have got money-making options like ads, paid subscriptions, team-ups, partnerships, donations, and even virtual money.

What we like about Twitch is that the big shots have plenty of followers and tons of ways to make big bucks, but users also respect up and coming creators like you.

Even with just a few hundred followers, newbies have plenty of chances to start earning on Twitch.

How is Twitch better?

Twitch is the YouTube alternative you need when you want to hang out with a younger, super-dedicated crowd. It’s like your own special hangout!

7. Patreon

Patreon is your go-to spot if you’re a video creator and want full control over how you share stuff with your community.

On Patreon, you’re the boss. You get to post the content you love, not just what the algorithm likes.

Patreon videos allow uninterrupted videos with no ads to ruin the user experience. Instead, Patreon hooks you up with a solid subscription setup that helps you make money.

Here’s how it goes: You earn cash directly from your fans such as monthly subscriptions, donations, and even selling your own gear.

Patreon supports all devices. The video player works like a charm everywhere. It’s got some neat tricks up its sleeve, like picture-in-picture on your phone, support for Chromecast and AirPlay.

You can even make your own thumbnail for your video.

We like their quick video preview feature. You can show off your video up to two minutes long, and promote them on social media.

Creators get data and insights beyond just counting views. This helps you figure out what stuff your fans are really into.

Patreon is like the perfect spot for all sorts of artists and creative folks to make regular money by sharing what they’re great at.

How is Patreon better?

Video creators can upload and share HD videos of any length. As a creator you are in full control of your digital content which makes this platform a great place to publish.

8. TikTok

If you’ve been keeping up with Zach King on YouTube, you might’ve noticed he’s not just uploading videos for 21 million followers there. He also makes short videos on TikTok for 78 million followers there too.

Now, if you’re all about making snappy videos and using those flashy filters, TikTok has got everything you need.

TikTok is more like a household name for mobile users.

Influencers, artists, social figures, educators – name anyone and you’ll probably find them on TikTok. It’s all about feeding the hunger of a massive crowd.

The US takes the lead with TikTok fans (116 million), followed by Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, and Russia.

The app has been downloaded on Android devices over a billion times. All the platforms combined, the total number of users reached a whopping 1.6 billion mark in 2023.

TikTok gives you up to 60 seconds for videos if you’re using the app. But, if you’re uploading a pre-recorded clip, you can stretch it to 10 minutes.

As a video creator, you get tons of useful features to make your presence awesome on the app.

They’ve got stuff like Duets, Reactions, Hashtags, Live video streaming, a QR code scanner, a built-in editing playground – the list goes on!

How is TikTok better?

TikTok is a wonderful place to show off your videos to a growing audience that appreciates talent and entertainment. The platform is a combination of everything – streaming, editing and earning.

9. DailyMotion

Need a platform where your videos are valued and given genuine promotion? Enter DailyMotion.

DailyMotion might sound far behind in the race but they are catching up real quick.

DailyMotion is a French video hosting company with big plans – they’re aiming for a billion users in the next three years.

They just gave their web and app a fresh look to make things even easier.

Right now, DailyMotion’s on the lookout for creators who love making videos. No matter what you’re into, if you jump on board now, you could be among the top creators in the coming years.

Want to make money from your videos?

They’ve got a plan. Just click a button in the dashboard area to enable monetization, and you’re set. You’ll get your share of the ad revenue.

Earnings aren’t only about views. If you put your videos on your own website, you’ll get paid based on how long people watch.

So, if your content’s getting some serious attention, you could be making some serious money.

The platform offers several plans for pro video creators that start from €6000/year.

And they’re super helpful too. If you run into any issues, their customer support is there to help you out.

How is DailyMotion better?

This is the ultimate platform for video creators who want their exclusive content to stand out. The responsive customer support is like the cherry on top!

10. Wistia

Wistia is like the ultimate tool for marketers. It’s like a super boost for small and medium-sized businesses that want to shine with video.

The best part? You can use this video hosting platform to add webinars, product launches, or whatever your business needs, on your website or wherever you want.

Here’s the cool thing – you can make your videos match your style. You can customize everything from how they look to the colors and controls.

Got a number of videos? No worries!

You can show them off like a fancy gallery on your website and they’re all set up to be easily found on Google.

The A/B testing tool is a real help. As a video creator, you can test different versions of your video and see which one works best.

Plus, you get detailed stats to see how well videos are doing and where people are most interested.

We really like the tools they give you to make your videos more engaging. You can even add things like buttons or links to make your videos more interactive and fun.

Overall it helps you have a more professional look on your website compared to using embedded videos.

You can make changes to your videos without messing up with the URLs.

The “channels” feature makes it a breeze to organize multiple genres of videos so they can be displayed in an aesthetically pleasing way.

How is Wistia better?

Wistia is a video platform for business. It has plenty of features you can’t find on other YouTube alternatives. Even if you’re just starting, their basic plan has everything a small company needs to make a big impact!

Final thoughts

It’s true that YouTube is the largest video platform out there. But it’s also a fact that many creators are exploring other options too.

Some services are free and super popular, while others are more exclusive and come at a price.

Some platforms prioritize ease of use while others offer more data and analytics.

Choosing the right alternative depends on your video style and what you want for your business.

We’ve gathered some top-notch alternatives from both of these categories, so you don’t have to search any further.

So, which of these YouTube alternatives do you think suits you best? Tell us in the comments below!