YouTube is the clear leader of video portals and can be called the clear leader in the industry. According to figures from the video platform, almost a third of web users go to YouTube. It’s no wonder that the platform has long been recognized as an effective marketing tool. Videos can be uploaded there with a few clicks and even be embedded in other websites via automatically generated HTML code. But are there any alternatives to YouTube anyway?
Dailymotion was for a long time YouTube's biggest competitor in France. New platforms have since developed, such as Vimeo, Tape.tv and Clipfish, offering private and professional users different possibilities for uploading and viewing great content. We present four alternatives to Youtube in our guide, going through their advantages.es and disadvantages.
Summary
- Dailymotion
- Vimeo
- Flickr
- Twitch
- VidLii
- Metacafe
- Conclusion
Dailymotion
Dailymotion is a French video portal representing one of the best alternatives to YouTube , with an active reach of 23% of the market in France in 2015. Internationally, no other portal has been able to match this performance. Thus, Dailymotion obtains a good second place in France on this market, behind YouTube and its 57% market share. This portal also comes in twoth position in many other countries. The company claims 300 million users worldwide. 3.5 billion videos have been viewed each month on Dailymotion. Its reach in Germany in August 2015 was only 5% by comparison.
Dailymotion scores points above all thanks to the specific features of uploading videos: they are limited to 2 GB and a duration of 60 minutes . Many audio and video formats are compatible, so the user who wants to upload video can choose between .mov, .mpeg4, .mp4, .avi and .wmv formats. H.264 Video Codec, AAC Audio Codec, and a Frame-Rate of 25 FPS (frames per second) are recommended. A resolution of up to 1080p (Full HD) is possible. This portal is therefore very suitable for users wishing to upload large video files or high quality images.
The layout is clear with a navigationn blue and white. The item order is similar to that of YouTube in that it has the advantage of being able to easily find the content you are looking for, even for a beginner. The integration of videos on external platforms is also possible: the necessary HTML code is generated in one click.
Preview of the Dailymotion homepage. Source: http://www.dailymotion.com/fr
Even more features await the “partners”: indeed, there is not only on Youtube that it is possible to make money by posting videos. video monetization is also possible, as well as player adaptation and control of analysis tools. Dailymotion is thus proving to be one of the best alternatives to YouTube, especially for bloggers who want to offer paid or premium content. In order to be able to use monetization on YouTube, you must activate the corresponding setting on your page or even use a special provider widget. Some internationally renowned partners already participate in this partner program according to CNN, such as the German newspapers Suddeutsche Zeitung or Deutsche Welle for example.
The considerable choice of applications Dailymotion is a source of joy: the alternative to YouTube is available in the form of applications for Smart-TV, Playstation 4 and many more other supports. You can thus watch distraight from your sofa. This service is also available on mobile via applications dedicated to iOS, Windows or Android systems.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| ✔ Alternative to YouTube with more reach | ✘ Little used in some countries such as 'Germany (5%) |
| ✔ Full video loading functions | |
| ✔ Orderly layout | |
| ✔ Video files up to 2 GB and / or lasting 60 minutes | |
| ✔ Optional video monetization | |
| ✔ Applications for many media | < td data-label = "Disadvantages ">
Vimeo
Vimeo is an American video service founded in 2004 and is specialized in the streaming of artistically demanding videos . It is therefore not surprising that the service is developed by directors and especially managers, professionals or not, in order to offer a distribution platform for their works. There are for example some documentaries, cMusical, short and impressive lips. Anyone interested in the independent production of any kind of art can find Vimeo a great alternative to YouTube. Vimeo's reach is clearly far behind that of the competition. However, Vimeo has still found its place in this niche of video platforms with quality content.
The demand for an exchange platform for creatives is immediately reflected on the home page: it quickly transmits the impression of an interactive gallery . The service provides a pleasant environment for uploading high quality videos. Vimeo offers different types of paid accounts: the basic free version allows loading of 500 MB of video files per week only while "Vimeo Plus" offers 5 GB. The "Vimeo Pro" version offers 20 GB, with which you can publish videos in 4K, or ultra HD yourself. So there is no,in any case with professional accounts, limits to the loading of videos. The frame rate is on the other hand reduced insofar as the upload exceeds 60 frames per second.
With the pro version, you can add up to three users to your account, adapt the player according to your desires and sell your content via video on demand . 90% of the transaction costs go to the creator in such a sale. There is still a full package offering
Preview of the Vimeo homepage. Source: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/startselling
In addition, Vimeo offers many video tutorials in its Help Center on exporting content from popular video processing programs. Among these, we can mention Quicktime, Windows Live Movie Maker or even iMovie. The platform differs significantly from YouTube by prioritizing quality over quantity. Vimeo is primarily aimed at professional directors, marketing managers or artists. However, many of the main features of this YouTube alternative are only available with a paid subion.
Users benefit howeverThere is also innovative content in the free version via numerous applications : Vimeo is thus available on mobile operating systems such as Android, iOS or Windows. The service is also accessible on many devices intended for home use such as Chromecast, Apple TV, Xbox 360 or even Smart-TVs from manufacturers such as Panasonic, Philips or Samsung. With this video service, you will find a competent community giving valuable advice and feedback on the videos you upload.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|
| ✔ Quality content | ✘ Scope even lower than that of Dailymotion for example. |
| ✔ Above all interesting platform for professional content creators | ✘ The main features for uploading videos are paid |
| ✔ Full updates (paid) offering practical tools and tutorials | |
| ✔ Possibility of constructive exchanges with the community | |
| ✔ Applications for many media | |
Flickr
Flickr brings together 122 million users in 63 different countries. The million photos shared daily have built up an impressive collection of more of 10 trillion images, making this service popular as an alternative to YouTube. The placement of Flickr in our selection may surprise you as this network is originally used for photo sharing. Since early 2008, it is possible to upload videos up to 180 seconds long. These are considered long photos, with a maximum duration of 3 minutes. Before uploading a video, you must create a free account. You can then upload your videos from the same way as photos. Videos can be downloaded in HD and many formats are accepted. Basic version users can upload two videos per month. Free accounts allow storage capacity of up toe 1 TB, while “pro” accounts offer unlimited capacity, no ads, and detailed stats on your content.
Flickr doesn't have a lot of video features, but users have access to a huge, active database that can potentially be seen by the largest number of visitors.
Home page of the Flickr website. Source: https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=video&media=videos
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| ✔ High quality content | ✘ Videos only 3 minutes / 1 GB upload authorized |
| ✔ 1 TB memory with a free account, unlimited memory with a "pro" account | ✘ Few features |
| ✔ Almost all formats are compatible | |
Twitch
An alternative to YouTube also exists for gamers: Twitch is the name of the live streaming portal, which mainly focuses on thevideo games and online sports . Twitch.tv first went live in beta on June 6, 2011, and two years later already had 45 million viewers per month out of a total of around 6 million channels. In 2014, Amazon acquired the company for US $ 970 million, and since 2016, Amazon Prime customers have benefited from "Twitch Prime." This service includes free games and subions, loots and ad-free streaming. Since 2015, the video portal has hosted an annual convention called TwitchCon, which takes place in the fall in various US cities.
The main features of Twitch are quite similar the YouTube principle: in principle, content is accessible to everyone. A free inion with e-mail address-mail or Facebook account allows you to add additional features such as adding friends, chat function or following certain channels. Community character is therefore high and each registered user can stream content. If you are not playing through Playstation 4 or Xbox One, all you need is suitable software, such as Open Broadcaster software. As of 2016, the IRL function (in real life) has also existed and allows members to share moments from their own lives and discuss them with viewers. A game reference is not absolutely necessary. User-generated content is the main component of content on Twitch. However, the video portal also broadcasts professional streams of major sporting events online.
Twitch, an Eldorado for gaming fans
In addition, the larger ones Channels and Professional Channels have the opportunity to earn money through the Twitch Affiliate Program. To be invited, streamers must meet certain conditions: for example, there must be regularity in the streaming activity and a fixed audience. In return, as a streamer in the Affiliate Program, you have the option of offering various subion packages for payment or participating in the incentive program. Users can buy so called bits and thus support their favorite channels. The affiliate program also offers the possibilityto include s and make Twitch a profitable platform for gamers with professional and ambitious content.
The main difference with YouTube is that Twitch does not show recorded videos, but live recordings . In addition, despite IRI, most of the streaming content revolves around online games and sports. What is a real gold mine for fans of games like League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Counter Strike, Overwatch and Co. is probably uninteresting for users who don't know anything about the game.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| ✔ User-generated content | ✘ Contentinteresting only for players |
| ✔ Strong community character | ✘ Many features only against payment or with an Amazon Prime account |
VidLii
Is it possible to go back in time to 2008? With VidLii , you feel like you are there in seconds: the video portal is reminiscent of the beginnings of YouTube in terms of functionality and appearance. Visitors to VidLii will immediately see why the site was created: the professionally created videos are not available here but rather a mixturecolorful of music videos and amateur recordings. VidLii evokes the playful and experimental spirit of Web 2.0 that made YouTube so successful. Almost every conceivable category is represented: from the automobile to information technology to "disturbance." You can also find a category for music but you won't find current music videos here.
VidLii purely and simply represents YouTube nostalgia.
A college student first launched VidLii in 2015 under the name ClipBits with the design from the 2005 YouTube. Since then, the appearance of the video portal has changed several times as well as its name: ClipBits became VidBit and finally VidLii in 2017. For the operator, ease of use is clearly in the foreground. Downloading and sharing videos is meant to be fun and as easy as possible. Registered users can create their own public video channel or share their content only with family and friends. You can follow other channels and there is also a video ranking system: the good old stars, also a vestige of a bygone YouTube era.
Is VidLii a serious alternative to YouTube ? For those users who regret the original amateur character of YouTube and have been deterred by the platform's monetization, VidLii may be an option. However, if you're looking for high-quality, relevant content, you probably won't find it.not (yet) on VidLii. The number of subscribers to the most popular channels is barely above the double-digit range. However, one thing is certain: the video portal is still in its infancy and may well offer other possibilities for development in the future.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| ✔ User-generated content | ✘ Little relevant content |
| ✔ Variety of topics | ✘ Low range |
| ✔ High usability | |
| ✔ Retro design | |
| ✔ Free | |
Metacafe
The video platform Metacafe was created in 2012 as an alternative to YouTube and Dailymotion and is now specialized in the presentation of short original content ranging from chat videos and juggling tips to pranks and music videos. According to its own figures, theAlternative to YouTube registers approximately 12 million users each month.
Users have the ability to create unique videos, playlists and image galleries. All content is prepared so that it can be easily shared with one click on
Metacafe, short and
The website is ad-supported and offers user-generated content as well as content from professional media partners . Advertisers have the opportunity to feature marcs and products in Compared to d ' other video platforms, Metacafe tries to stay in the race by offering unlimited download . Membership is free. You can register directly on Metacafe or through a Facebook account. For Android users, an app is available through Google Play .
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|
| ✔ Original content retained | ✘ Mainly short clips |
| ✔ Free | |
| ✔ Unlimited download | |
Conclusion
This preview shows that all alternatives to YouTube have searched their niches respective and found them. While Dailymotion comes closest to YouTube's premise, Vimeo moves away with its ambitions for high-quality, artistic content. Flickr was originally designed for sharing photos, but has extended its functions to video sharing. Twitch has jumped on the bandwagon and is well on its way to becoming a streaming provider for video games and online sports, while Metacafe specializes inshort clips. vidlii is very reminiscent of youtube, but in its original form. each of these alternatives to youtube are good for their different uses and target different target groups with different strategies. Many providers have followed this movement and are now available on mobile devices. Apart from VidLii, corresponding applications are available, however in a more or less complete way.
| Platform | Pricing model | Main features | Focus |
| Dailymotion | - Free for viewers and downloaders - Price model for video promotion and | - Download long videos: 60 minutes / 2GB - Optional monetization of videos - Intuitive and clear layout | |
| Vimeo | - Free for viewers - Free basic subion - Vimeo Plus 6 € / month - Vimeo PRO 16 € / month - Vimeo Business 40 € / month - Vimeo Premium 70 € / month | - Exchange platform for creative professionals - Focuses on artistic content such as music videos, short films and documentaries - large storage capacity (according to plan) - customizable drive | Artists, designers and art lovers |
| Twitch | - Free for viewers - Free for streamers / downloaders - Twitch Prime around € 8 / month - Twitch Turbo around € 9 / month | - Live streaming platform for gamers - Property of Amazon - The function IRL allows live streaming - User Generated Content | Gamer |
| VidLii | - Free for viewers - Free for downloaders | - Fully functional video platform with the charm of a student project | Entertainment |
| Metacafe | - Free for viewers - Free for downloaders | - Specialize in short clips - Unlimited video download | Men / Entertainment |
