YouTube or Vimeo: Which is Better for WordPress Videos?
Unless you’ve somehow managed to sleep through the past couple of years, you’re probably aware that video has been the hottest form of online content for a while now. It can be a short video or long one, on-demand or live-streamed, testimonial, or vlog — there’s a purpose for it and an audience who’ll be willing to watch it.
Thanks to its versatility and diversity, you can expect that you’ll start thinking about adding video to your website. It doesn’t have to be today or tomorrow, but somewhere down the line, you’ll start considering it as a useful form of content. And then you’ll be faced with the question: YouTube or Vimeo for WordPress? And is there, maybe, a better alternative to the two?
We’re here to help you with that dilemma. In this article, we’ll discuss:
You might think that it would be a good idea to have your videos on the server where your website is. You’re already paying for the hosting, right, so why have any part of your website’s content hosted on third-party sites?
The reason you should do this is because video isn’t just your regular type of content like an image or an article from a WordPress post. Videos are much, much bigger, and they require lots of space to store them.
But even if that wouldn’t be a problem, the bandwidth it takes to deliver a video to the people watching it can be substantial. Higher video quality and consequent viewers can up the bandwidth demand, and the host might be able to keep up. So you can expect them to impose some restrictions. That’s why hosting specialized video hosting platforms is such a good idea.
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You’d be within your rights to think that YouTube is the be-all, end-all, of hosted video options. Sure, there are other platforms such as Netflix, that deliver TV shows and movies. There’s also Twitch, which is where the streaming video community likes to hang out. But YouTube’s unique set of features make it the platform for content creators who work with video.
What’s so great about YouTube? Where to start:
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It’s completely free, and you can store as many videos as you want.
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It allows you to upload videos up to 4k.
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It’s an established place where people come for content.
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Embedding is incredibly easy.
How can you go wrong with a video platform owned by Google that’s been dubbed one of the biggest search engines in the world without being a search engine? A couple of ways because YouTube is far from perfect:
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You can’t escape the ads and recommended videos anymore.
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The embedded video player will look basic.
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It’s a platform rife with copyright claims.
YouTube is a big community that can often resemble a jungle of video content. It gives you the option to post some high-quality content, even though the embedded player won’t look as good. YouTube also makes it easy for people to take down videos with bogus copyright claims or siphon your monetization earnings.
If YouTube is the platform where you can see your favorite brands’ ads, clips from a TV show, and original content ranging from commentary to videos of pets, Vimeo is the place where you go to look for professional video. Whether it’s a short movie, an animation, or an independent music video, you’ll find it there, and you won’t be the only one looking for it.
Vimeo has a lot going for it, including:
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It lets you upload files up to 8k.
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It won’t run ads before, during, or after your video.
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No recommended videos, either.
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It has customizable embed options.
All these features add up to paint a picture of a platform that’s focused on the quality of video above anything else. And even though that might indeed be the case, it doesn’t mean Vimeo doesn’t have a fault or two. Those include:
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The basic plan is limiting – you need a paid plan for better features.
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It doesn’t have a broad audience.
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The types of content that do well on the platform are limited.
Vimeo surely isn’t for everyone. But if you have some artistic leanings and if you’re willing to spend a couple of bucks each month for a reliable service, you might consider using Vimeo. If you plan to create 8k videos, you’ll have no better choice.
If for one reason or another, you can’t or don’t want to use YouTube, and you need a video hosting platform with similar functionalities, Dailymotion is just the thing you need. It’s a video platform that has plenty to offer even though it’s not nearly as popular as YouTube is.
If you use Dailymotion for your WordPress video, you’ll get:
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Up to 4k video size.
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Unlimited video hosting for free.
It’s hard to say if Dailymotion is just YouTube without the audience, but the absence of views and a considerable following will soon be noticeable. These numbers aren’t the only downside of Dailymotion you’ll notice:
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Ads play throughout videos.
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Embedding isn’t as exciting as it is with other options.
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The maximum file size is much smaller than YouTube’s.
Overall, YouTube’s alternative might often seem like it’s lightyears away from getting even close to the video hosting behemoth. But Dailymotion can still be a useful platform, even if it ever only serves as a backup channel.
Every social network that’s even remotely serious about having a user base these days needs to have a video service. Social networks cannot afford to skip the wonder that is video, and it didn’t take Facebook too long to jump on the bandwagon. Now, video is a trendy type of content on the network, and Facebook has also been working on expanding its appeal to video content enthusiasts.
The pros of using Facebook for your video storage and embedding needs include:
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Unlimited storage.
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It has plenty of audience-building tools.
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It’s Facebook.
There are advantages to turning the world premier social network into a repository for your video files. There are also a couple of reasons why you might decide not to do it, such as:
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Lower video quality — up to 720p.
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Embedded player options are basic.
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Ads will play on your videos.
Facebook is a mixed bag — it’s perfect if you’re already building an audience on a social network, and you don’t want to have your videos on multiple websites. And you’ll have access to some great tools to build that audience. Too bad you won’t be able to use high-quality video.
Often enough, when you’re looking for the best solution to a problem, you’ll find that a slight change of context might change your choices significantly. Is YouTube better than Vimeo? Depends on what you need it for. Is any of these platforms the best? No. Is there a better way to navigate this? Let’s try.
Vimeo is the best platform for WordPress video if you want to showcase your creative side. YouTube is the best if you’re a content creator or a marketer who can trade professional sleekness for virality. Dailymotion is the best if you don’t like YouTube, and you want more than what Facebook can offer, but for free. Finally, Facebook is an excellent option if you already have an established presence on the platform. So which is best, YouTube or Vimeo? It mostly depends on who’s asking.
