5 Video Sites That Are Better Than YouTube

But what if YouTube happens to be inaccessible? Or you simply want more options for viewing videos online? What alternatives are there?

These days, video is such a huge part of the online experience that there are many options available. Here are 10 great alternatives to YouTube, although the “better than” is obviously open to debate.

1. Vimeo

Even if you visit YouTube on a regular basis, it’s worth adding Vimeo to your regular rotation of video sites. The site was the first on the web to support high-definition videos, and while it does include a selection of user-generated fare, its emphasis is more on high-quality content.

Among other things, Vimeo features a number of well-known movies and TV series, such as E!’s The Royals, Spike TV’s Blue Mountain State, and Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black.

The site also has an easy-to-browse search feature that organizes videos by category and channel. Not sure what to watch? A regularly updated selection of Vimeo staff picks can help point you in the right direction.

2. The Internet Archive

As its name suggests, Internet Archive is a web-based library of all sorts of free content, including books, music, software, and, of course, movies.

Just as you might associate a physical library with doing research, one of the strengths of the Internet Archive’s video content is its vast collection of historical content. While it does also have some newer content, some of its best videos are older and obscure news reports, TV series, and movies that are typically harder to find on other sites.

Like many other sites, users can also upload videos to the Internet Archive. When uploading videos, H.264 is the common video coding format used.

3. Crackle

Owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, think of Crackle as a sort of online TV channel that features both original shows for the web, as well as Hollywood movies and TV shows from various networks.

Some of Crackle’s original content has earned critical acclaim, including the web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee starring Jerry Seinfeld. It also has a good selection of TV shows from the past, such as All in the Family, 227, Firefly, Mad About You, and News Radio.

4. MySpace

Many of you may only know of MySpace as the mid-2000s social networking site that turned out to be a precursor to Facebook. The site is still around, and these days it’s putting a stronger emphasis on video.

Many of the videos on MySpace are interview-based and feature celebrities in situations you might not always see them in

5. TED

If you’re not yet familiar with TED, now is the time to get acquainted. The TED website features more than 2,300 talks covering a vast swathe of topics, such as technology, business, design, science, and global issues.

Some of the talks are funny, and some are emotional. Some talks are meant to teach you something specific, while others are there mainly for entertainment. The one constant with all the TED videos, however, is that you’re likely to take something memorable out of each one.