YouTube and Vimeo are two of the best video-sharing sites on the internet. They’re also among the most popular, especially among content creators who specialize in video production. In fact, both sites attract over a billion visitors every month.
Vimeo is an ideal platform for content creators who want to share high-quality videos with a limited number of viewers on an invite-only basis. However, many users find uploading videos to and watching them on Vimeo a more challenging experience than using YouTube instead.
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Here’s an in-depth review of both services so that you can make an informed decision before choosing one over the other.
What Is YouTube?
YouTube is the world’s most popular video-sharing site. It features a wide variety of video content, from music videos to educational content, movie trailers and everything in between.
When a user uploads a video to YouTube, it gets listed on a “Video Library” page where it can be viewed and shared by anyone, whether they’re a registered user or not. The Video Library page also has a “Top Rated” section that features the most popular videos at any given time. YouTube’s main features include:
- Uploading and sharing videos: In addition to watching video content made by others, you can upload your own videos to YouTube and share them with the rest of the world. Creating your own videos is a great way to build an online presence, earn money, and connect with people.
- Managing your “Channel”: The default setting for a YouTube channel is to make all videos public. However, you can also choose to keep certain videos private, or upload them to a “private” channel where they can be accessed by invited guests only.
- Playing videos in the app: YouTube is primarily a desktop website, but there are also YouTube apps for mobile devices, including iOS and Android.
What is Vimeo?
Vimeo is an online video platform that hosts original content. It’s a great choice for content creators who want to showcase their videos in high quality, and make them available to a limited number of viewers.
Vimeo is a “premium” social platform where creators can leverage additional advanced features, including an impressive analytics dashboard, real-time engagement statistics, and a dedicated customer service team. Vimeo’s main features include:
- Uploading your videos: When you upload your videos to Vimeo, they get listed on your personal “Channel” where they can be privately accessed by your invited guests only. Vimeo also offers a “Public Gallery” where you can publicly share videos that are not hosted on your “Private Channel.”
- Managing your “Channel”: All videos uploaded to Vimeo get listed on your “Channel,” where they can be publicly accessed by anyone. You can also choose to keep them private, or upload them to a “private” channel where they can be accessed by invited guests only. Vimeo also allows users to integrate their website with their “Channel,” so that viewers will get redirected to their website if they click on a Vimeo URL.
Why You Should Use YouTube Instead of Vimeo
YouTube has outgrown Vimeo and become the leading video platform in the world. The site is home to thousands of hours of video content, spanning multiple genres, languages, and topics.
This is due in large part to YouTube’s strong features and ease of use. Here’s a full list of why YouTube is a better platform for hosting and sharing videos than Vimeo:
- Traffic: YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the planet, with over one billion monthly users. Vimeo, by comparison, attracts under 50 million monthly users, most of whom are limited to English-speaking regions. The sheer volume of traffic that YouTube attracts makes it a better choice for video creators who want to reach as many people as possible.
- Search engine optimization: YouTube also ranks higher than Vimeo in search engine results. This means that people who are looking for videos on specific topics will be more likely to come across YouTube videos than Vimeo ones. YouTube videos can also be easily embedded in other websites, making them more “shareable,” and increasing their visibility on social media.
- Video stats and analytics: YouTube offers robust analytics tools designed to help video creators understand how their viewers interact with their content. Vimeo, on the other hand, lacks a robust “dashboard” and appears to be less focused on helping users optimize their video content.
Why You Should Use Vimeo Instead of YouTube
Vimeo is an ideal platform for video creators who want to share their videos with a limited number of viewers. In fact, many users consider it to be a better choice than YouTube for this very reason. Here’s a full list of why you might want to choose Vimeo over YouTube if you’re a video creator:
- Vimeo is less competitive: Unlike YouTube, Vimeo is not a “widely used” platform. This means that there are fewer people making and uploading videos to Vimeo, which makes it a less competitive environment for video creators. If you’re new to video-making and are looking for a more “friendly” environment where you can get noticed, Vimeo is a better choice.
- Vimeo offers more features: While YouTube is a massively popular website, its features are not quite as robust as those offered by Vimeo. Vimeo offers “extended” video analytics, and a customizable “end screen” where you can add your bio and other essential information.
Which One Is Better for Video Creators?
Ultimately, the best platform for video creation depends on your specific needs. YouTube is a better choice if you want to reach a wider audience, while Vimeo is a better choice if you want to engage a smaller group of video viewers.
Vimeo also has a weaker search engine presence; meaning, people who are looking for videos are less likely to find yours if you choose to upload them to Vimeo.
If you’re planning on boosting your video’s visibility, YouTube is a better choice. The one area where Vimeo does have an edge over YouTube is in terms of features.
Vimeo offers more advanced video analytics, and a “end screen” feature that lets you include your contact information at the end of your videos. These features are important for video creators who want to optimize their videos for better visibility.
YouTube Alternatives
If you’re not convinced that YouTube is the best platform for your video hosting needs, here are a few other popular video-sharing sites worth considering:
- Vimeo: As discussed above, Vimeo is a great choice for video creators who want to share their videos with a limited number of viewers. However, Vimeo is a subscription-based service, which means that viewers will have to pay to access your videos.
- Facebook: Facebook hosts and shares videos on a wide scale, making it a compelling choice for video creators who want to reach a global audience. You can also monetize your videos by running ads and selling ad space on your page. Facebook videos are also visible in your feed and on other websites.
- Dailymotion: Dailymotion is a “third-place” social platform where people go when they’re not sure where to go next. It attracts a wide variety of viewers, including those who don’t like YouTube, or those who just like Dailymotion better. Dailymotion is a great choice for video creators who want to appeal to a wide audience.
Which platform is better for video ads?
If you’re looking to run video ads, YouTube is the best choice for hosting them. YouTube is also the leading video ad platform, and offers advanced tools for targeting potential customers and optimizing ad campaigns. Vimeo, on the other hand, is not as widely used, and not as effective for hosting video ads.
