Vimeo Versus YouTube: Which One is Better?

Most Internet users know about YouTube, the most popular video-sharing web site ever launched. In January 2010, YouTube had 100.9 million viewers who watched 6.3 billion videos (62.6 videos per viewer), according to ComScore Media Metrix (1).

In contrast, there is the video site Vimeo, which currently reaches about 2.5 million viewers and showcases roughly 15 million videos. Started in 2006 by Jakob Lodwick and Zach Klein, the site was eventually sold to publicly traded IAC. IAC also owns many other mid-size web sites, including Match.com, Ask, and Citysearch. Vimeo was one of the first video sites to stream videos in high resolution, although the offerings were initially featured in the lower 720p high definition (HD) standard. Recently, Vimeo joined the ranks of YouTube and SmugMug to offer 1080p HD standard as well.

When comparing Vimeo to the behemoth YouTube, are there any advantages to using one over the other? Actually, yes, there are. Some of the advantages of Vimeo include its better quality stereo audio, support for HD content, an option to download the source video file, ability to maintain old comments on video replacements, better privacy settings (e.g., password protected videos), better embedding options, and real-time status updates while the video is uploading.

In contrast, YouTube has a few advantages of its own, namely, a one gigabyte upload limit per video, a more widely supported API (e.g., iPhone, iPod Touch), and "Insight" statistics that inform video creators when and where their videos are being viewed (2). Of course, the biggest draws of YouTube are its large community of viewers, as well as the popularity of the site.

However, it isn't about the size of the Vimeo community that matters, but rather its quality. Vimeo supports a community of video creators, many of which are directors, actors, or musicians. Examples of Vimeo community members include the directors Jason Reitman and Ruben Fleischer. The actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and the musicians Kanye West, Beck, and Moby also have Vimeo sites. Because Vimeo features a more closely knit community of video creators than YouTube, these individuals are also more supportive of each other and far less likely to make vicious comments on each other's postings. Likewise, certain merchants are more likely to work with Vimeo because many of its video creators are quite serious about their work and are attempting to move away from amateur to professional status. As an example, the camera manufacturer Canon is currently holding a contest where Vimeo members are encouraged to submit videos based on photographs. The winners of this contest will receive Canon gear and an opportunity to make a film with the Pulitzer Prize-winning filmmaker Vincent Laforet.

Vimeo offers different services in order to match the needs of its members. Vimeo Plus subscriptions run $59.99. For this fee, one can showcase uploaded videos with no ads. Also, the actual uploading of videos progresses faster.

So, what is the bottom line for Vimeo versus YouTube? In summary, if one is looking for a higher-end video posting site with a more elite and supportive community of viewers, then Vimeo is the better choice. If one is looking for a highly viewed site with a large community of followers, then YouTube makes for a better choice.

References:

1. YouTube Surpasses 100 Million U.S. Viewers for the First Time http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2009/3/YouTube_Surpasses_100_Million_US_Viewers

2. YouTube Feature Tells Video Creators When and Where a Clip Is Being Watched, by Stephanie Clifford http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/technology/27youtube.html?_r=1&ex=1207281600&en=2d59c3f6de859213&ei=5070&emc=eta1