[best platforms to share videos privately]

20 Best Video Sharing Platforms and Apps

Published on March 18, 2025

20 Best Video Sharing Platforms and Apps

Picking a platform to host and share your videos can be tricky. Each video-sharing site has its own pros and cons, making it difficult to know where to start.

 

To help you get started, we’ve compiled our research to present you with the 20 best video sharing platforms for 2025, whether you are a business, a creative professional, or simply a person wanting a reliable location to upload your videos.

11 Free Video Sharing Platforms

For when your budget is “I spent it all on an external hard drive.”

1. Google Drive

Best for: Sharing drafts with your easily-distracted group project team.

a screenshot of Google Drive homepage

Image credit: Google

 

Why I like it: It’s already glued to your Gmail. Drag, drop, and send a link that expires faster than your New Year’s resolution gym and diet plan.

 

Watch out: Viewers need a Google account. Naming files “final_v2_final.mp4” will haunt you later. Google scans for copyrighted content and repeated violations get accounts suspended.


Pro tip: Use Google Groups to manage access and document folder structures (e.g., “Raw_Footage,” “Edits”)

 

Cost: Free (15GB to start)

2. Dropbox Basic

Best for: Cross-platform sharing with minimal fuss.

a screenshot of Dropbox homepage

Image credit: Dropbox

 

Why I like it: Works on every device, even that dusty iPad in your drawer. The “File Request” feature lets clients upload directly to your Dropbox.

 

Watch out: Free storage fills up fast (2GB). Dropbox enforces copyright takedowns just like Google Drive.

 

Cost: Free (2GB); $11.99/month for 2TB

3. WeTransfer (Free)

Best for: “Here’s the video and now please stop DMing me.”

a screenshot of WeTransfer homepage

Image credit: WeTransfer

 

Why I like it: No account needed. Files vanish after 7 days, like Snapchat for adults.

 

Watch out: No encryption. Recipients might side-eye links titled “CLICK_THIS_NOW.” Typos in emails can send your party video to CorporateAccounting@...

 

Pro tip: Add a password (not “1234”) and use the calendar reminder to nudge recipients.

 

Cost: Free (2GB); $12/month for 1TB

4. YouTube (Unlisted)

Best for: Hiding videos from subscribers (but not the internet).

a screenshot of Youtube studio

Image credit: YouTube Studio

 

Why I like it: Unlimited uploads, embeddable anywhere. Great for drafts or karaoke clips you’re not ready to publish.

 

Watch out: Unlisted links can leak. Copyrighted music gets videos muted or demonetized.

 

Pro tip: Schedule unlisted videos to go public later. Use vague titles like “Project_Test_1.”

 

Cost: Free

5. MediaFire

Best for: Sharing mixtapes or nostalgia-packed playlists.

a screenshot of MediaFire homepage

Image credit: MediaFile

 

Why I like it: 10GB free storage. No download limits. Nostalgia-friendly.

 

Watch out: So. Many. Pop-up ads. Just please use an ad blocker. Not secure for sensitive files.

 

Pro tip: Zip files before uploading and use bulk downloads to avoid clicking 47 times.

 

Cost: Free (10GB); $5/month for 1TB

6. Mega

Best for: Paranoid preppers who encrypt their grocery lists.

a screenshot of Mega homepage

Image credit: Mega

 

Why I like it: End-to-end encryption. 20GB free storage. Feels like a spy movie. They upgraded their interface to be modern recently.

 

Watch out: Law enforcement can still subpoena your data.

 

Pro tip: Store recovery keys in a password manager—lose them, and your files are gone forever.

 

Cost: Free (20GB); $6/month for 400GB

7. Flixier

Best for: Video production teams who are working together and fed up with passing huge files back and forth.

a screenshot of Flixier homepage

Image credit: Flixier

 

Why I like it: Flixier mixes editing with simple sharing features, which makes it ideal for remote teams. Cloud editing eliminates "my computer isn't powerful enough" excuses from teammates. Private sharing links with optional passwords keep your work-in-progress away from prying eyes.

 

Watch out: Learning a new editing interface takes time, even one that is intuitive.

 

Cost: Free (2GB)

8. Flipgrid

Best for: Teachers who want students to submit video essays (and secretly judge them).

a screenshot of Flipgrid homepage

Image credit: Flipgrid

 

Why I like it: Password-protected grids, moderation tools, and student reactions (the emojis are included).

 

Watch out: Feels academic because it actually is. Free version’s design options? Well...no.

 

Pro tip: Use Topics to organize submissions (like "Thracians vs. Samurai: Who would win?").

 

Cost: Free for educators

9. Rumble

Best for: Creators focused on free speech and immediate monetization.

Image Source: Rumble

 

Why I love it: Monetize from day one and there are no minimum subscribers to hit. They have a 60% ad revenue share and content licensing options to partners.

 

Watch out: Smaller (and hyper niche) audience and a politically conservative base. Discoverability is rough for new creators.

 

Cost: Free

10. Twitch

Best for: Live streaming with a love of gaming, emphasis on engagement and community-building.

Image Source: Twitch

 

Why I love it: Extremely interactive community with built-in chat, emotes, and raids. You can monetize quickly via the Twitch affiliate program, however, you must have 25 fans to be approved.

 

Watch out: STIFF competition, HORRIBLE discoverability for new streamers. The platform takes a 50% revenue cut.

 

Cost: Free to stream

11. Dailymotion

Best for: Creators looking for a YouTube alternative with a low barrier to monetization.

Image Source: Dailymotion

 

Why I love it: No video hosting limits with free account, monetize videos after only 1,000 total views, plus it has a strong country-specific distribution.

 

Watch out: The audience and revenue potential are significantly smaller than on YouTube. The user interface is clunky and ads can be a bit overwhelming.

 

Cost: Free

4 Affordable Private Video Hosting Platforms

For when you've got a side hustle budget (or finally remembered your PayPal password).

9. Vimeo Pro

Best for: Artists who want their portfolio to say, "I’m sophisticated, but I also know my memes."

a screenshot of Vimeo homepage

Image credit: Vimeo

 

Why I like it: Password protection, no ads, and a sleek, ad-free player with advanced privacy controls and analytics that actually matter. You can use the "Review Page" option to receive feedback without the flood of emails.

 

Watch out: There's a 20GB/week cap on uploads. The interface is somewhat too awkward for daily users.

 

Cost: $20/month

10. Frame.io

Best for: Film teams drowning in endless versions of the same project.

a screenshot of Frame homepage

Image credit: Frame.io

 

Why I like it: Frame-specific comments, version control, and seamless editing software integrations that keep your workflow perfectly in sync.

 

Watch out: It's quite a bit of an overkill for casual sharing, and the pricing adds up really fast for bigger teams.

 

Pro tip: Tag collaborators with clear roles (e.g., "Audio Editor") to avoid any confusion.

 

Cost: $15/user/month

11. SendGB Extra

Best for: Sending raw footage to clients still stuck in "Kindly find attached" mode.

a screenshot of SendGB homepage

Image credit: SendGB

 

Why I like it: Send files up to 500GB, password-protect links, and track downloads. It handles bigger files much better than most free tools and you can easily set custom expiration dates to nudge procrastinating clients.

 

Watch out: Downloads vanish after 30 days. There aren't any collaboration features.

 

Cost: €44.90 per year for 500GB transfers

12. Podbean

Best for: Podcasters who hit "record video" by mistake and need to keep it off the public radar.

a screenshot of Podbean homepage

Image credit: Podbean

 

Why I like it: Private RSS feeds, basic analytics, and monetization options for niche creators. You can easily repurpose old audio episodes into video clips without starting from scratch.

 

Watch out: Free plan slaps Podbean branding everywhere. Video features are barebones, unfortunately.

 

Cost: $14/month

6 Private Video Sharing Platforms for Business

For when your company credit card is ready to flex.

13. Wistia

Best for: Businesses focused on video marketing and lead generation.

a screenshot of Wistia homepage

Image credit: Wistia

 

Why I like it: Wistia nails the essentials: customizable players for branding, heatmaps to spot viewer drop-offs, and analytics that obsess over watch time. You can use the "Turnstile" feature to lock videos behind email sign-ups. It's perfect for converting some curious clicks into actual leads. Oh, and it also integrates nicely with HubSpot and Mailchimp.

 

Watch out: Pricing leans premium—expect to pay more than your average SaaS tool. The learning curve’s steep, and the free plan’s more of a teaser than a trial.

 

Cost: Paid plans start at $19/month

14. Vidyard

Best for: Sales teams who replace “Let’s hop on a call” with a personalized video.

a screenshot of Vidyard homepage

Image credit: Vidyard

 

Why I like it: Vidyard turns awkward sales pitches into video gold. Track if prospects actually watch past the intro, record your screen mid-Zoom nap, and integrate nicely with Salesforce.

 

Watch out: Too sales-focused for casual use. Add-ons bleed your wallet dry, and the free plan is kind of basic.

 

Cost: Paid plans start at $59/user/month

15. Brightcove

Best for: Mega-corporations with budgets bigger than your entire department’s salary.

a screenshot of Brightcove homepage

Image credit: Brightcove

 

Why I like it: Brightcove is the Ferrari of video hosting. It’s a bit over-engineered, stupidly secure, and loved by IT teams who enjoy VPNs for fun. GDPR? HIPAA? They’ll check every compliance box while hosting your CEO’s holiday message.

 

Watch out: Pricing requires a secret handshake. Overkill unless you’re streaming to 10k employees daily. Setup needs a developer and a six-hour Teams call.

 

Pro tip: Use their API to auto-upload videos, then blame bots when something breaks.

 

Cost: Custom (read: “You’ll need CFO approval”)

16. Dacast

Best for: Businesses juggling live streams and on-demand videos (because why choose?).

a screenshot of Dacast homepage

Image credit: Dacast

 

Why I like it: Dacast does both live streaming and on-demand video hosting without any issues. White-label options let you pretend you built it in-house, and paywalls turn content into a side hustle.

 

Watch out: Pricing tiers are hieroglyphics. 4K streaming costs extra (naturally), but the customer support is stellar.

Pro tip: Test live streams with a private link first, unless you want HR’s video going viral.

 

Cost: Plans start at $39/month

17. Panopto

Best for: Companies that think “fun” is a 45-minute compliance video with a quiz.

a screenshot of Panopto homepage

Image credit: Panopto

 

Why I like it: Panopto is designed with education in mind, offering features like quizzing and analytics for training videos. Searchable transcripts find that one slide about TPS reports, and LMS integrations make HR feel tech-savvy.

 

Watch out: UI looks and feels quite outdated and there’s no free trial.

 

Pro tip: Bookmark key sections so employees can skip to the part where Brenda explains PTO.

 

Cost: Custom

18. SproutVideo

Best for: Small teams who want security.

a screenshot of SproutVideo homepage

Image credit: SproutVideo

 

Why I like it: SproutVideo..not too fancy, not too basic, just right. They offer a solid mix of privacy features, analytics, and customization options. Customizable players let you hide the “Powered by” shame.

 

Watch out: Less flashy than the big names. Advanced features hide behind paywalls, and the 14-day trial expires faster than your enthusiasm for Monday meetings.

Pro tip: Set viewer limits to stop clients from forwarding videos.

 

Cost: Plans start at $10/month

Choose the Right Platform for You

Selecting a hosting and sharing site that suits your videos can be difficult, and before sharing, you'll want a solid video editing tool to prep your video for sharing.

 

The video sharing platform that will work best for you is completely based on your goals:

 

  • For maximum exposure and a long-term library, you can’t beat YouTube. 
  • For creating a live community interactive space, Twitch reigns supreme. 
  • If you are a business that focuses on marketing and analytics, you should consider Wistia or Vidyard. 
  • If you’re looking for free speech or need a fast way to monetize their content, Rumble or Dailymotion has some enticing options.
  • For teams needing to collaborate in the editing process, cloud-based tools such as Flixier can simplify the whole workflow from creation to sharing.

 

The best strategy is to know your audience and know your content, then select the platform that helps serve their best interests.

About the author
Adrian Nita

Adrian is a former marine navigation officer who found his true calling in writing about technology. With over 5 years of experience creating content, he now helps Flixier users understand video editing in simple, easy-to-follow ways.

Adrian Nita

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