YouTube may be the video king, but its reign isn’t absolute. The sheer volume of storage and processing power required to keep it afloat are on an unimaginable scale. Thankfully, there’s a whole frontier of alternative platforms ready to challenge the status quo. Let’s explore some of the renegade options that let you watch your videos on your terms.
Android Clients
NewPipe
The OG. The trailblazer that did it before it was cool. Since 2015, NewPipe has offered an avenue to enjoy YouTube content Google-free (and ad-free). Follow your subscriptions and download videos (or audio) with a couple of clicks, all without Google knowing a thing.
Update 2023:
YouTube now lets you download videos, too, but only if you cough up the Premium subscription fee.
Tubular
Tubular takes NewPipe’s foundation and cranks it up a notch. The enhanced UI brings extra goodies like SponsorBlock and the dislike button back. If you miss getting a sense of the community’s opinion on a video based on the like/dislike ratio, look no further.
SponsorBlock, for those not in the know, is a clever hack for blocking sponsor messages recorded within videos. Since they’re part of the content itself, ad-blockers are powerless against them. But with SponsorBlock, you can skip right over them with a single tap!
Grayjay
Grayjay emerges as the reigning champion for enjoying YouTube on Android devices. It amalgamates the best features of other apps (adblocking, downloads, dislike, SponsorBlock), wrapped in a slick UI. I can’t even lie, I like this one better than YouTube’s official app. It also doesn’t overlook basic features that competitors sometimes forget. You can cast to your TV, log into your YouTube account (kind of), and import subscriptions and playlists.
Grayjay’s unique selling point is aggregating content from multiple video providers. Notably Odysee, SoundCloud, BiliBili, Patreon, Kick, Nebula, PeerTube, Twitch, and Rumble. That’s aside from YouTube of course. One app to rule them all and all that. It also means that none of those services can track you while you’re using Grayjay.
The only real snag with Grayjay is the “not actually open-source” debacle they’re caught up in. Despite their claims and stance, they don’t actually allow anyone to modify their code. Their license reserves their right to take legal action against those who try. That’s not very open-source of them, or cashmoney for that matter.
YouTube Vanced
The undisputed king of the hill. Beyond what’s expected of an ad-free YouTube client, Vanced ups the ante with extras that make you wonder how you ever lived without them.
Picture this: you’re on your phone watching a video in full-screen mode. Swipe up or down on the right side of the screen to control the volume. Do the same on the left to adjust the brightness. And, of course, it comes with SponsorBlock.
But wait, there’s more! Rooted users can install Vanced as a system appto replace the official YouTube app. What this does is make Vanced the default app for all YouTube links. When you say “Hey Google, play some smooth jazz to set the mood”, the last thing you want to hear is an ad. This also fixes casting to TVs (or projectors) that isn’t possible on Vanced without root. Is there anything it couldn’t do?
Update 2023:
Google went after Vanced… with a vengeance. Details are murky, but Vanced ultimately shut down in 2022. Many sketchy imitations have sprung up. While some might be legit, it’s best to steer clear of this name for now unless you know what you’re doing.
SmartTube
For those seeking a solution for TV, SmartTube came to fill the role. It’s laser-focused on TVs and doesn’t support phones or tablets, despite being an Android app. It boasts popular features like built-in adblocking and even SponsorBlock. The cost of this feature-rich TV UI is comments, voice search, and casting.
Invidious
Invidious is different from everything so far. Sure it’s a YouTube front end but it’s built entirely from scratch. It doesn’t use a single line of YouTube’s code or even their API. This arguably makes it far more private than everything we’ve discussed so far.
There are several public instances available that you can freely use to watch YouTube. Since the code is open-source, there’s already apps and websites built upon Invidious. You can use an existing variant or tweak the code to create your own. That’s the beauty of open-source.
FreeTube
Speaking of which, Freetube is the first Invidious-based project here. It’s a YouTube frontend focused on privacy. It aims to replicate as many YouTube features as possible to ease the switch for everyday users.
Clipious
Clipious is another Invidious wrapper, but for Android. It comes with fan favorites like SponsorBlock and background playback. Even the TV support is top-notch with a handcrafted dedicated TV UI.
Piped
Out of all the self-hostable YouTube front ends, Piped takes the cake for being the most technically advanced. It stuffs almost every feature on this list, including LBRY integration. Why haven’t you heard of it then, you ask? Complexity and some instability.
iOS Clients
uYouPlus
uYouPlus is an open-source custom version of YouTube packed with helpful tweaks. It comes with adblock, SponsorBlock, background playback, gestures, and even control center integration.
YouTag
YouTag comes with staples like background play and downloads, but that’s not all that’s up its sleeve. YouTag shines with automatic generation of MP3 metadata. If you’re too young to know what that is, I envy you. These tags help your music show the correct artist and album art when listening offline.
DownTube
Like YouTag, DownTube empowers you to download YouTube videos. But unlike YouTag, you can’t actually watch them within the app. An odd choice for sure but since it’s open-source, you could integrate a video player. Or more realistically, just use an external one.
Alternatives
The YouTube alternative scene is a bit of a Wild West right now. Each project isolated in its own separate silo. While this might seem like the nature of decentralization, it doesn’t have to be. When done right, decentralization should be imperceptible to the end user. The platform should look and feel like any other.
It’s also worth mentioning that none of these options are decentralized. That’s the next section over.
Wistia
Wistia is like SEO, but for videos. Please don’t let me fool you into believing I understand it. They want to equip you with the tools to become a YouTuber. Or something. From recording and organizing videos to optimizing analytics and integrations. It’s also one of the few options here that isn’t free and open-source, but some swear by it so it deserved a mention.
Vidlii
Vidlii is exactly what you’d expect from a “YouTube without rules.” The UI is from the 80s, and it’s a breading ground for the kind of edgy content that’s an angsty teenager’s wet dream.
Rumble
Rumble has been around for over a decade, yet it still feels like it’s finding its footing. They’ve garnered a reputation as a haven for right-wingers, likely due to harboring many YouTube expats. Both viewers and creators voice frustrations over the confusing UI and frequent downtime. You can mitigate some of that using Grayjay, the unreliable infrastructure remains a concern though.
And let’s not forget that Rumble is only accessible within the United States.
Playeur
Ultreon Playeur aims to lure creators by offering a larger slice of the pie than YouTube does. Or even Patreon for that matter. While it can’t match YouTube’s discoverability, it’s not designed for that. Rather, it’s more of a supplementary revenue stream. It allows you to cultivate your superfans to contribute more to your bottom line. Much like YouTube, Playeur relies on an ad-based model.
2024 update:
Ultreon has rebranded to Playeur.
Floatplane
Floatplane is a video platform built by creators, for creators. Linus and Luke from LinusTechTips created Floatplane to fill the void left by Vessel. A now-defunct platform, Vessel operated much like Floatplane now does. Foregoing ad-supported monetization and algorithmic discoverability battles, it opts for paywalled content—like OnlyFans and Patreon. Sure, most viewers would prefer to consume the same content for free on YouTube, and that’s okay.
Floatplane isn’t positioned as a YouTube replacement because it doesn’t offer any discoverability. Instead, it allows fans an alternative avenue to support their favorite creators. In return, they receive a better user experience, better video quality, and perks of the creator’s choosing. These perks can include early access to videos, exclusive content, or behind-the-scenes glimpses.
Nebula
Nebula cuts through the clutter of YouTube alternatives with a unique model. Unlike the rest, it’s not bogged down with ads, nor does it hide behind paywalls like Patreon or OnlyFans. Instead, Nebula offers a familiar approach: a Netflix-style all-you-can-eat subscription model. For a fee, unlock a treasure trove of ad-free content from all creators on the platform. In the same way you experience other popular streaming services.
The main difference here, compared to YouTube, is that these creators are independent. No producers, advertisers, investors, or even algorithms to influence their art.
For viewers, the value proposition is enticing. A year of Nebula costs roughly the same as a month on most streaming services. And then there’s lifetime access for even more savings.
For creators, it’s even more appealing. Creators earn more on Nebula than they do on any other platform. This isn’t due to any kind of cut, but rather to their equity stake in the company. Needless to say, it’s liberating to own your own distribution and have no corporate overlords. This empowers creators to take more risks and explore unconventional content that advertisers wouldn’t approve of.
If it sounds too good to be true, it’s understandable to be cautious. Nebula’s long-term sustainability hinges on its user base. Many of its creators already boast considerable followings on YouTube. The hope is to convert a significant parcel of those fans into paying subscribers. Until then, it serves as a valuable supplementary revenue stream alongside YouTube.
And then there’s CuriosityStream. Also a subscription service established by YouTubers, this one focused on documentary-style content. It comes bundled with Nebula at no additional charge.
2023 Update:
CuriosityStream is no longer bundled with Nebula. It now requires a separate subscription.
BitChute
BitChute burst onto the scene boasting decentralization. Not through blockchain but through the time-tested technology of P2P . Yes, that’s the same tech that powers torrents. They were quick to tarnish their reputation by controversy, however. As it turns out, they don’t actually employ P2P or any form of decentralization.
They’ve since removed these claims from their branding, but it’s still not a good look. This shattering of their decentralization claims throws a wrench into its legitimacy. It also raises serious questions about their long-term viability.
Decentralized ⛓️
The decentralized arena today is a battleground with NodeTube, PeerTube, and LBRY as the major combatants. Each wields a unique approach, both philosophically and technically, making a unified front a distant dream.
LBRY marches to the beat of a different drum. Here, creators are rockstars, earning their own cryptocurrency, LBC, for views and achievements. Fans can directly support their favorites with LBC (you can even buy it on exchanges), and LBRY takes no cut. Sounds like a win-win, right? My concern lies with the discovery system. It heavily favors creators showered with tips. This flirts with the risk of creating echo chambers and silencing lesser-known voices.
Odysee
Odysee emerges as a polished knight in the decentralized YouTube wilderness. Built on the LBRY blockchain, it boasts a sleek UI and a treasure trove of features you won’t find in many competitors. Monetization, livestreams, “hyperchats”, tipping, and exclusive members-only content. All while taking a smaller cut than YouTube itself.
Being blockchain-based, it of course has a built-in wallet for trading LBC with other users. Even more impressive is its offering of first-party apps for Android, iOS, and even Roku. The main drawback right now is the limited content library. So limited that the website is still organized by categories. That’s unthinkable and infeasible at the scale YouTube operates.
The 4D chess play though? YouTube sync. Forget porting your videos one by one. Odysee’s YouTube sync is a game-changer. This imports your entire YouTube channel in a single click. Talk about a friction-less platform switch. And even if you’re not quite ready to abandon your YouTube fans, all your content is now available on two different platforms.
Honorable Mentions
Gleev on the Joystream blockchain and DTube on the Steem blockchain.
Self-hosted video
The self-hosted options so far involve hosting either a YouTube front-end or a decentralized alternative. In neither case is the content stored on your servers or served from them. That’s the only reason it’s at all viable.
To Actually self-host a video delivery platform is a lot more complex, and comes with a laundry list of sacrifices. The most obvious one being the lack of discoverability. Right off the bat that rules out your promising music career.
But what if you’re not trying to be the next YouTube? What if you just want a safe place to keep your own videos and share them with your family and friends? You’re not planning to let other people upload videos to it? Well that’s perfectly viable.
In fact, for individuals and businesses, I’m surprised this option isn’t more popular. YouTube is really only necessary for discoverability. If you intend to send the video link directly to its intended audience, you don’t need YouTube. You’re better off uploading your videos to your own server and sharing the link from there. That way you retain complete control and ownership over your content.
Jellyfin
Jellyfin is a media streaming server for home NAS servers. It’s a full-featured, lightweight package that allows you to share files with anyone. With Jellyfin, you can watch your videos on any computer, smartphone or TV using dedicated apps.
Jellyfin was the obvious recommendation here because of its focus on video. You can also check out other Google Drive alternatives here.