YouTube is undoubtedly the internet’s most dominant platform for streaming free videos online. It hosts billions of videos that people view and comment upon daily. However, YouTube can revise its guidelines without any prior indication. This has resulted in a large fraction of unhappy users are looking for other YouTube alternative websites that can offer them free video hosting and similar content.
In case you are one of them and are looking for different video streaming sites, here’s a list of best alternatives to YouTube in 2021.
14 Best Free Alternatives To YouTube (2021)
| No. | YouTube Alternative | Best For |
| 1 | DailyMotion | New Trending Videos |
| 2 | Vimeo | Connecting with other video creators |
| 3 | Metacafe | Funny clips |
| 4 | Utreon | YouTube like experience |
| 5 | IGTV | Entertaining videos |
| 6 | Twitch | Gaming and music videos |
| 7 | TikTok | Short entertaining videos |
| 8 | DTube | Decentralized video hosting |
| 9 | Veoh | Posting videos without censorship |
| 10 | 9Gag TV | Funny and viral videos |
| 11 | Internet Archive | Old movies and documentaries |
| 12 | The Open Video Project | Documentaries |
| 13 | Facebook’s Search Option | Social media content |
| 14 | PeerTube | Making money as viewer |
Before moving on to the free video websites, check out our other lists of best free alternatives:
1. Dailymotion
Dailymotion is already a popular name among video-sharing websites like YouTube in 2021. It’s interface looks like YouTube and you can find trending videos on the homepage or ‘discover more’ on the categories section and search bar at the top.
Content creators (users and beginners) can upload content up to 2GB in size and 60 mins in length at a resolution of 1080p. For the advanced users, many of these limitations are removed. With 300+ million visitors per month, this YouTube alternative serves as an excellent gateway to share your content with people across the world.
Even though Dailymotion has its own set of dos and don’ts, but the copyright policies aren’t as scary as YouTube. So there is more flexibility and better tolerance for content uploaders which also makes it one of the best YouTube alternative without censorship.
There is also an option of monetizing the content via ads or a paywall. So viewers can expect to see ads on some videos while other videos are completely ad-free.
Why use Dailymotion?
- High-quality content
- UI is just like YouTube, hence easier to use
- Lax rules with fewer risks of content removal
2. Vimeo
Vimeo is one of the best video hosting sites for artists and classy filmmakers looking for a good YouTube alternative in 2021. This platform encourages professionals in fields like music, dance, cinematography, photography, etc., to show off their work.
So if you want to see some random cat and dog videos, you might have to look somewhere else. But if classic short videos, experimental music clips, or interesting snapshots are your thing, Vimeo is your go-to place.
This alternative to YouTube has strict guidelines for uploading content as it hosts high-quality content where you can enjoy 4K Ultra HD visuals with HDR. The best thing about Vimeo is its ad-free model. It is supported by donations made by users and paywalls for some videos.
As far as the cons are concerned, its 500MB weekly upload limit can be disappointing for content creators. Although there are options to upgrade this limit, you’ll have to pay for it.
Why use Vimeo?
- Neat interface with well-defined categories for easy search
- Reliable YouTube alternative for hosting your videos online
- More focus on video and less distracting elements in the background for a better viewing experience
3. Metacafe
Metacafe is one of the oldest video streaming sites that came into existence in 2003 even before YouTube went live. This video platform specializes in short-form video content with a focus on short 90-second clips, offering quick and lighthearted videos to its subscribers.
Metacafe’s minimal interface has neatly categorized sections for better browsing and caters to about 40 million viewers. However, if you are looking for professionally made videos or a complex topic, this platform isn’t for you.
It has more clickbaity content with crafty thumbnails and titles. For someone who enjoys spending time on short humorous clips made by regular users, Metacafe is the best YouTube alternative in 2021.
Why use Metacafe?
- Excellent site for enjoying short 90 second videos
- Offers quick and to-the-point product reviews, how-to guides and funny content
4. Utreon
Utreon is the latest addition to the list of best YouTube alternatives in 2021. Honestly, Utreon looks a lot like YouTube with a similar yet refreshed UI and functionality. Here, content creators can choose to sync their YT videos which removes the need to double upload videos on both platforms.
The best part about Utreon is that you finally get a true YouTube alternative without censorship. You can stop worrying about the endless list of rules and regulations on YouTube and just focus on the basic and important ones on Utreon.
Talking about features, it is mobile-friendly, properly categorized with sections (like new, top, trending, topics, etc.). You can also monetize videos on Utreon, and channels that have been unfairly demonetized on YouTube can get help on this video platform to generate revenue again.
Why use Utreon?
- Support video files up to 4K
- Offers free speech and no censorship
- Similar UI like YouTube
5. IGTV
YouTube has a new rival from the house of Facebook — Instagram TV, which is now one of the rising best alternatives to YouTube in 2021. This new video platform offers vertical, long-form videos that have been specifically created to be watched on smartphones.
Please note that you can browse videos only through the app; however, uploading videos through desktop is allowed. If you already have an Instagram account, IGTV automatically brings you videos published by the IG creators you follow.
You can also follow other channels to view their content or simply browse through a feed that contains curated content based on your interests. As a content creator, Instagram TV is one of the best video sites like YouTube to showcase your motion content to a larger audience without spending much. If you are new to Instagram, check out our hands-on guide to IGTV for tips on how to use the platform.
Why use IGTV?
- For watching videos on a smartphone
- More short-form videos with a maximum limit of up to 1 hr
- Good revenue opportunity
6. Twitch
If you love watching gaming videos, then Twitch is the best YouTube alternative for you. It mostly hosts gaming-related content where you watch games being live-streamed by popular gamers across the world.
Twitch is also a good platform to interact with other users for gaming tips and getting all sorts of info on video games in 2021. While Twitch allows you to monetize videos just like YouTube, the payout is considerably lesser. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a good alternative to YouTube for gaming videos, Twitch is your go-to place!
Why use Twitch?
- Best for gamers
- Great for live streaming
7. TikTok
Believe it or not, but TikTok was one of the biggest YouTube competitors until 2020. The Chinese video-sharing platform gave a tough fight to YouTube with its unique video style (which all video platforms are trying to copy now). Combined with the low-cost production, TikTok motivated common people to make videos in the comfort of their homes.
In fact, many celebrities started using TikTok as a platform to promote their work and connect with fans. However, its popularity started waning when big countries like India banned TikTok and others like US and Japan threatened to ban it. Despite the bans, TikTok is still available in many countries and can be used as a YouTube alternative in 2021.
Also Read: Best TikTok Alternative
TikTok has a built-in video editor in its app for Android and iOS, which makes the content creation buttery smooth. Also, there are various third-party apps, including Adobe Premiere Rush, PicsArt, and Fuse, that can directly upload to TikTok.
Why use TikTok?
- Cheap production
- Great for mindless binge-watching
- Relaxed policies regarding content upload
8. DTube
Blockchain is the latest fad in tech town and based on this technology, a new video platform like YouTube, dubbed the ‘DTube,’ has emerged. This decentralized website is a good alternative to YouTube. In fact, it comes real close when looking for sites like YouTube because its UI looks very similar.
You can browse through the hot, trending, and watched videos on the homepage. There is also an option of saving videos to watch later and checking out viral content in 2021 through trending tags. The best part is that DTube is ad-free. It utilizes the Steem blockchain to maintain records, and users don’t have to make initial deposits or pay any transaction fees.
In fact, uploading a video on DTube rewards you with Steem crypto-currency rewards for seven days. Moreover, users who leave comments on the videos also have a chance of earning money.
Why use DTube?
- Ad-free website which gives you an uninterrupted viewing experience
- Blockchain-based platform with a chance of earning crypto-currency
- Good YouTube alternative without censorship
9. Veoh
When looking on the web for more websites like YouTube in 2021, Veoh is a name you will bump into. The video streaming site that lets you easily discover, watch, and personalize your online viewing experience.
Veoh can be a good option if you enjoy watching longer videos as it allows users to upload and post videos of unlimited length. One can find several movies, TV series, and even anime on this site.
With a clean user interface and several social networking features like adding contacts, creating groups, and direct messaging, Veoh makes a good YouTube alternative.
Why use Veoh?
- Recommended for long-form videos and movies
- Clean UI with social features to interact with groups and forums
10. 9Gag TV
If you are hunting for a video-sharing website that would provide you pure entertainment, then 9GagTV is your go-to place in 2021. Facebook and Twitter users are already familiar with this portal that offers an unlimited supply of entertainment in the form of GIFs, images, and memes.
It also hosts a vast collection of funny videos, movie trailers, and engaging content, just like YouTube. You can explore through its ‘WOW’ and ‘WTF’ section, which has amusing content hosted on it, but some of them may be NSFW.
Why use 9GagTV?
- An endless supply of entertaining visual content
11. Internet Archive’s Video Section
This website includes exactly what it says – an archive that has lots of content stored in it. Right from documentaries to TV series and movies, you will find a surprising variety in the videos section of the Internet Archive in 2021.
You can sort the content by setting filters for year, language, topic & subjects. By exploring, one can find certain videos that are hard to come by on other video sites like YouTube. Also, anyone can contribute to the archive by uploading content for free.
Why use the Internet Archive?
- A vast collection of old documentaries, TV series, movies
12. The Open Video Project
The Open Video Project, launched in 1998, is a digital library that has about 195 video segments. It is a repository of digitized video content that has several documentaries, educational, and history-related content on it.
You can select from the available content by setting filters for a specific time duration, sound, and format. A significant portion of the videos on this video platform has been mostly contributed by U.S. government agencies.
Why use The Open Video Project?
- Best YouTube replacement for finding educational documentaries
13. Facebook’s Search Option
We generally use Facebook’s search bar for finding friends, groups, or pages of interest. But the social platform offers much more than that. In fact, you will be amazed at the results when you actually use this search option to find videos in 2021.
In my opinion, Facebook’s search option is quite underrated when it comes to good YouTube alternatives. The collection of visual content offered by the social media network is as diverse as YouTube’s. Be it tutorials, reviews, music videos, funny clips; you name it, Facebook offers all of it.
So just type whatever you are looking for in the search bar and then select the videos tab on the search result page. You will find all the relevant videos for the searched keyword in one place.
The only missing feature is that you don’t get too many filters to narrow down your search like YouTube, but you can sort the videos according to year and sources. Another downside is that to use this option, you must have an FB account.
Also Read: Best Facebook Alternatives
Why use Facebook Search?
- A wide variety of videos in one place
- Quick results displaying relevant content
14. PeerTube
PeerTube is an open-source video-sharing platform that can serve as a good YouTube alternative in 2021. It is a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) software that is decentralized, just like BitTorrent, where anyone can host videos on their individual instance. Compared to other platforms like YouTube, the interface of PeerTube is simple, neat, and contains no ads. It contains a Trending and Recently Added section where you can explore new videos.
The best part about PeerTube is it overcomes limitations of YouTube, like getting blocked or censored. Therefore, it empowers the creators to showcase their content across the world very easily without the risk of getting banned. Since PeerTube is relatively new, it does not have a varied collection of videos. Nevertheless, it offers an appreciable service as a competitor.
Why use PeerTube?
- Open sourced and decentralized
- No signup required
- YouTube Alternative without excessive censorship
Start Bingewatching On Alternatives To YouTube
Even though there isn’t one site that can be a complete replacement for YouTube in 2021, but viewers and creators can use a combination of the aforementioned websites according to their needs. I hope that you found this list of best YouTube alternatives useful.
Also Read: Best Free Music Websites To Download Songs
For example, you can resort to Facebook or IGTV if you’re in the mood for some mindless binge-watching of random videos. Feel free to choose any of the websites recommended above, and in case you come across some other great video sites like YouTube, do let us know in the comment section.
YouTube Alternative FAQs
You can use other video platforms like YouTube such as Dailymotion, Utreon, Vimeo, Metacafe, IGTV, and other alternatives to YouTube I have mentioned in this article.
Vimeo is one of YouTube’s biggest competitors, but it doesn’t generate revenue like YouTube. However, it has a decent number of users which makes it a worthy rival.
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