Monday, August 28, 2006

Top 20 video sharing sites rated

If you consume only mainstream media you'd be forgiven for thinking that there is only one video upload service on the net: the ubiquitous YouTube. Its stratespheric rise has left even the mighty Google in the shade in the burgeoning area of video sharing.

Of course, there are dozens of video upload sites with more springing up every week. Below is a round up of twenty of the best, with a comparison of key features. In order to make the comparison as fair as possible I uploaded the same video clip to each of the sites.

1.) Vimeo
http://www.vimeo.com/

vimeo

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 30Mb per week
Upload from e-mail/mobile: Y
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: Y
Privacy settings: N
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: integration with Flickr

Appearance: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Features: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

2.) Dailymotion
http://www.dailymotion.com/

dailymotion

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 150Mb per clip
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Categorisation by location

Appearance: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Features: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

3.) grouper
http://www.grouper.com/

grouper

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 110Mb per clip
Upload from e-mail/mobile: N
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: Y
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Windows Media
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Download to iPod or PSP

Appearance: 4/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Features: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

4.) vSocial
http://www.vsocial.com/

vSocial

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip
Upload from e-mail/mobile: N
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: N
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Creative Commons license

Appearance: 4/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Features: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

5.) YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/

YouTube

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip
Upload from e-mail/mobile: Y
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Huge user base

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Features: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

6.) motionbox
http://www.motionbox.com/

motionbox

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip
Upload from e-mail/mobile: Y
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: N
Ratings: N
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: filmstrip timeline

Appearance: 5/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Features: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

7.) Metacafe
http://www.metacafe.com/

Metacafe

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per video
Upload from e-mail/mobile: N
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Video podcast

Appearance: 4/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Features: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

8.) Bolt
http://www.bolt.com/

Bolt

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip
Upload from e-mail/mobile: N
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: N
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Record direct from webcam

Appearance: 4/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Features: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

9.) blip.tv
http://blip.tv/

blip.tv

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: None
Upload from e-mail/mobile: Y
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: N
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Option to play in original upload format

Appearance: 5/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Features: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

10.) Revver
http://www.revver.com/

Revver

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: Y
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Quicktime
Comments: N
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Appends revenue-generating ads to the end of your video

Appearance: 4/5
Ease of use: 3/5
Features: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

11.) ClipShack
http://www.clipshack.com/

ClipShack

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip, 5Gb in total
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Upload from webcam

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Features: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

12.) Google Video
http://video.google.com

Google Video

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip
Upload from e-mail/mobile: N
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: Y
Privacy settings: N
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: N
Killer feature: Video sizing options

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

13.) ZippyVideos
http://www.zippyvideos.com/

ZippyVideos

Register to upload: N
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 20Mb for free acounts (10Mb for anonymous uploads)
Upload from e-mail/mobile: N
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Windows Media
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Choice of video qualities

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 3/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

14.) DropShots
http://www.dropshots.com/

DropShots

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 2 minute clips for non-paying users
Upload from e-mail/mobile: Y
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: N
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: N
Tagging: N
Killer feature: Dropbox desktop uploader

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 3/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

15.) Sharkle
http://www.sharkle.com/

Sharkle

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb per clip, 1Gb in total
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature:

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 3/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

16.) vidiLife
http://www.vidilife.com/

vidiLife

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: None
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Windows Media
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: Playlists

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 3/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

17.) SelfcastTV
http://www.selfcasttv.com/

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: None
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: Y (iPod & PSP)
Privacy settings: N
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: N
Killer feature: Thumbnail video previews

Appearance: 3/5
Ease of use: 2/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

18.) Pixparty
http://www.pixparty.com/

Pixparty

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 10Mb per video
Upload progress indicator: Y
Download clips: Y
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Windows Media
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: None

Appearance: 2/5
Ease of use: 3/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 2/5

19.) eVideoShare
http://www.evideoshare.com/

eVideoShare

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 100Mb
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: N
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: Y
Ratings: Y
Tagging: Y
Killer feature: None

Appearance: 2/5
Ease of use: 2/5
Features: 3/5
Overall: 2/5

20.) VideoWebTown
http://www.videowebtown.com/

VideoWebTown

Register to upload: Y
Cost: Free
Upload limit: 840Mb per clip, 30Gb in total
Upload progress indicator: N
Download clips: Y (iPod & PSP)
Privacy settings: Y
Converts to: Flash
Comments: N
Ratings: Y
Tagging: N
Killer feature: Download to iPod or PSP

Appearance: 2/5
Ease of use: 2/5
Features: 2/5
Overall: 2/5

Other video sharing sites (not reviewed):

AOL UnCut video - http://uncutvideo.aol.com/
Castpost - http://www.castpost.com/
eyespot - http://www.eyespot.com/
flukiest - http://www.flukiest.com/
Ourmedia - http://www.ourmedia.org/
vMix - http://www.vmix.com/
vobbo - http://www.vobbo.com/

12 comments:

wayndres said...

Hey good article. I just started a small site myself (www.mondobella.net) for video upload ONLY!, I'm gearing it towards the Good Stuff of life. I want videos that are inspiring, funny, precious, endearing, etc. without the boobs and all. lol It also features videos of music and movies along with news to make it a well rounded site, Check it out, let me know. Click Here

Anonymous said...

One video upload site that did not make your list is http://www.nelsok.com I am hearing more and more about this site. They seem to have a good layout and all the features I use on the other sites as well. The site has a concept similar to revver where the users can earn from their video uploads.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps there is room for two other video sharing sites on this top 20 list: Seveload and Motiono, both are pretty neat, Seveload is slow, Motiono is pretty fast, i use them both as well as Youtube, which is the God of video sharing sites. Please include Motiono on this list , motiono is still beta however it is pretty neat and easy to use, if less is more then motiono is the most, here's a somewhat humorous video on sevenload which is promoting motiono: http://en.sevenload.com/videos/Ocb9YNx/Motiono-com-3

Anonymous said...

Informational, however, you missed another one. Up and coming is vidShadow.com. This is a wholesome site, which will fall in compliance with FCC regulations on profanity and obscenity.

We offer educational, self improvement, religious and typical videos that do not cross the line. take

We take reports of inappropriate postings very seriously!

Profiles are reviewed once a week, and anything inappropriate is cancelled.

We truly aim to keep this a family friendly site, and providing a parent is active in registration, ensuring the correct age is input, adult ratings will automatically bounce any attempt to view anything with an adult content label!

We've also recently made audio improvements, and rolled out a customized video player!

Anonymous said...

There is one more you may have overlooked. vidshadow.com allows you to earn cash for the videos you are posting at free sites.

This is a wholesome, family oriented site created to fill the need for such!

Providing a parent is there at the time of registration to ensure a correct age is placed in the member profile, adult ratings will bounce any attempt by a minor to access anything with adult content.

We are going to comply with FCC broadcasting regulations with regard to profanity and obscenity as well.

Self-improvement videos, fitness videos, conservative views of the news, and some of the best director's cuts you have ever seen are available on this site!

We urge all parents and teachers to view this, as there are learning tools that will enhance classroom experience as well.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Well I agree with some of what has been said above about the sites but a new one i came accross today was:-

http://www.bandally.com

not sure about how much it work sbut looks good form what i see and youTube will rule

-Dan

African List said...

I would like to add www.jujunation.com. Most African sites never seem to make most list. This is a great site for African music videos and video sharing. It is also a social network site. Check it out to watch great African music videos and other stuff. Everything from pop to the new hottest African craze; Mapouka.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, there seem to be so many video sites today.....Also I saw many video search engine sites like truveo.com,
ulink.com, blinkx.com, vizhole.com .....

Unknown said...

We (Movidity Inc) also have a mobile video UGC site...in fact it mobilizes your videos like mobile YouTube, except that the uploads are immediately mobilized when you uploads them

Go to www.movy.tv and read the How-to document which contains the link to the downloadable midlet player

Anonymous said...

In Australia we are using a site called WasabiTV (http://www.wasabitv.com.au), any file size and good strucuture etc of the shows on the sites...

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Even if the generalist sites like youtube or revver still get the biggest audience, the niched ones which are targeting a specific audience, whether geographically (China, Japan, Turkey…), by language (German, Arabic, French…) or for the kind of content they enable to publish (cooking, planes, extreme sports…) are getting more and more important.
I have compiled a list of nearly 400 of those sites with their niche on http://www.ilikesharingvideos.com/video-sharing-sites/en/
If you're interested in that expansion, you should give it an eye.

Anonymous said...

Very nice article! Thanks for sharing