YouTube

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to YouTube

A curated collection of the 10 best self hosted alternatives to YouTube.

YouTube is a video-sharing platform enabling users to upload, view, share, and monetize videos. It offers channels, live streaming, content discovery, recommendations, and subscription features for creators and audiences.

Alternatives List

#1
Invidious

Invidious

Invidious is an alternative YouTube web front-end that reduces tracking and improves performance, offering RSS feeds, subscriptions, and video playback without a Google account.

Invidious screenshot

Invidious is an alternative web front-end for YouTube that lets you browse, search, and watch videos with a strong focus on privacy and performance. It can proxy/avoid many Google requests, supports account-less usage, and exposes features like subscriptions and feeds without requiring a Google login.

Key Features

  • Browse and watch YouTube content via an alternative web UI (video pages, channels, playlists, trending)
  • Search YouTube and view metadata (descriptions, comments, captions) through the Invidious interface
  • Subscription system without a Google account (subscribe to channels and manage a feed)
  • RSS feeds for channels and subscriptions to integrate with feed readers
  • Lightweight interface with configurable player behavior and privacy settings
  • Multiple deployment options (including Docker) and support for public instances

Use Cases

  • Provide a privacy-preserving YouTube viewing experience for a household or small community
  • Create RSS-based workflows for following YouTube channels in a feed reader
  • Offer an alternative, low-overhead YouTube front-end for low-power devices or constrained networks

Limitations and Considerations

  • Reliability can depend on YouTube changes and rate-limiting; instances may require maintenance/tuning to stay functional
  • Some YouTube features may be incomplete or behave differently than the official site

Invidious is commonly used as a replacement front-end for YouTube when minimizing tracking is a priority. It is best suited for users who want fast access to YouTube content, feeds, and subscriptions without relying on Google’s official web interface.

18.4kstars
2.1kforks
View Details
#2
Asciinema

Asciinema

CLI tool and web app to record, replay, and share terminal sessions in a compact, text-based format with copyable output and embeddable players.

Asciinema screenshot

Asciinema is a terminal session recorder and player that captures what happens in your shell and replays it as a text-based “asciicast”. It is commonly used to share CLI demos, tutorials, and bug reproductions with accurate timing and copyable output.

Key Features

  • Records terminal input/output with timing data (not a video), producing small .cast files
  • Local playback in the terminal via asciinema play
  • Web playback via an embeddable HTML player (asciinema player)
  • Upload/sharing workflow using asciinema upload and the asciinema.org hosting service (optional)
  • Copyable terminal text during playback (useful for commands/snippets)
  • JSON-based cast format that can be post-processed and integrated into toolchains
  • Supports theming and terminal size metadata for consistent replays

Use Cases

  • Create CLI demos for README files, documentation portals, and blog posts
  • Share reproducible bug reports or support requests with exact terminal timing
  • Produce training materials for internal tooling and onboarding

Limitations and Considerations

  • Captures terminal I/O, not pixels: full-screen TUIs may replay differently across environments
  • Not suitable for demos requiring rich visuals (images/video); use screen recording for that

Asciinema provides a practical middle ground between static snippets and heavyweight video recordings, enabling accurate, lightweight, and script-friendly sharing of terminal sessions. It fits well into developer documentation and teaching workflows where copyable output and small artifacts matter.

16.6kstars
992forks
View Details
#3
PeerTube

PeerTube

PeerTube is a self-hosted, federated video platform using ActivityPub and BitTorrent/WebTorrent to publish, stream, and share videos across interconnected instances.

PeerTube screenshot

PeerTube is a decentralized video hosting and streaming platform where anyone can run their own server (“instance”) and federate with others. It combines ActivityPub federation with peer-to-peer video delivery (WebTorrent) to reduce bandwidth costs and avoid a single central platform.

Key Features

  • ActivityPub federation: follow channels, interact and discover videos across instances
  • P2P-assisted delivery with WebTorrent (viewers can help seed while watching)
  • Full video publishing workflow: upload, transcode, manage channels, playlists, and metadata
  • Live streaming support (with HLS playback) for broadcasting events
  • Built-in moderation and safety tools: reporting, account/channel management, blocklists/allowlists
  • Embeddable player and sharing options for external websites
  • Plugin and theme system to extend functionality and customize UI
  • REST API for automation and integrations; supports third-party clients

Use Cases

  • Community- or organization-run “YouTube alternative” for publishing public video content
  • Educational institutions hosting lecture recordings and live streams under their own rules
  • Creators federating with like-minded instances while keeping control over policies and branding

Limitations and Considerations

  • Bandwidth and storage needs can be significant, especially without enough P2P participation
  • Federation features depend on other instances’ policies and uptime; discovery can vary by network

PeerTube fits teams and communities that want a modern video platform with federation, extensibility, and reduced centralized dependency. It is especially useful when governance, moderation rules, and hosting control need to remain in the hands of the publisher rather than a single global provider.

14.4kstars
1.7kforks
View Details
#4
MeTube

MeTube

MeTube is a web interface for yt-dlp that lets you queue and manage video/audio downloads from many sites, with presets, playlists, and Docker-based deployment.

MeTube screenshot

MeTube is a lightweight web application that provides a browser-based UI for yt-dlp, making it easier to download videos or extract audio from supported sites without using the command line. It focuses on simple queue-based downloads with configurable options and a persistent download history.

Key Features

  • Web UI to submit download URLs and manage a download queue
  • Uses yt-dlp as the backend downloader (supports many video sites)
  • Audio-only downloads and format selection via yt-dlp options
  • Playlist/channel support (submit a playlist URL for batch downloads)
  • Configurable output directory for downloaded files (volume-mounted in Docker)
  • Presets for commonly used yt-dlp options (quality/format/flags)
  • Basic download status tracking and history in the UI
  • Container-first deployment (official Docker image and docker-compose examples)

Use Cases

  • Run a home media “ingest” tool to download videos/music into a media library
  • Provide a simple downloader UI for non-technical users on a LAN
  • Batch-download playlists/channels for offline viewing or archiving

Limitations and Considerations

  • Functionality is constrained by yt-dlp capabilities and site changes; some sites may break until yt-dlp updates
  • Not a full media manager/player; it focuses on downloading rather than library browsing/streaming

MeTube is a practical companion for users who like yt-dlp’s power but prefer a web UI and queued downloads. It is best suited for personal or small-team environments where a simple, containerized downloader service is needed.

12.1kstars
829forks
View Details
#5
Owncast

Owncast

Owncast is a self-hosted live streaming server for broadcasting RTMP to a web player with built-in chat, moderation tools, embeddable stream pages, and theming.

Owncast screenshot

Owncast is a self-hosted live video and audio streaming server that lets you run your own “Twitch-like” site. It accepts an RTMP ingest from common streaming tools and publishes a web-based player with integrated chat and a customizable stream page.

Key Features

  • RTMP ingest for live broadcasts (works with OBS, Streamlabs, etc.)
  • Built-in web player and stream page you can host under your own domain
  • Integrated real-time chat with moderation tools (ban/timeout, message deletion, etc.)
  • Viewer authentication options and configurable chat/stream settings
  • Admin dashboard for configuring the instance, stream metadata, and appearance
  • Embeddable player/chat to integrate streams into other websites
  • Recording/archiving support and basic file/media handling for stream assets
  • Theming/customization for the viewer-facing page (branding, layouts)

Use Cases

  • Creators hosting independent live streams without relying on Twitch/YouTube
  • Organizations running internal live events (town halls, training sessions)
  • Communities streaming meetups or conferences with moderated chat

Limitations and Considerations

  • Feature set is intentionally lighter than large platforms (e.g., discovery, recommendations, and large-scale creator monetization are out of scope).

Owncast is a pragmatic option for running a private or public live stream with chat using familiar broadcast tooling and a simple web experience. It prioritizes ease of deployment and ownership of your streaming platform over platform-scale social features.

10.8kstars
1.2kforks
View Details
#6
Tube Archivist

Tube Archivist

Download, index, and stream YouTube channels/playlists with full-text search, metadata, and a web UI powered by yt-dlp and Elasticsearch.

Tube Archivist screenshot

Tube Archivist is a self-hosted application for building and maintaining a local YouTube library. It automates downloading from channels/playlists, enriches videos with metadata, and provides a web interface to browse and stream your archived collection.

Key Features

  • Automated downloads for channels and playlists with scheduling and queue-based processing
  • Web UI to browse channels, videos, and playlists with progress and library management tools
  • Full-text search and filtering over indexed video metadata (powered by Elasticsearch)
  • Playback/streaming from your server, including thumbnails and rich metadata pages
  • Subtitle support (download and indexing when available)
  • Multi-user support with authentication for shared libraries
  • Docker-based deployment with companion services (Elasticsearch/Kibana, Redis)

Use Cases

  • Maintain an offline archive of educational channels and reference playlists
  • Build a private “YouTube library” for a household or team with searchable metadata
  • Preserve important videos that may be deleted or region-restricted later

Limitations and Considerations

  • Resource usage can be significant for large libraries due to Elasticsearch indexing and thumbnail generation
  • Focused on YouTube ingestion; broader multi-site video ingestion depends on yt-dlp support and project configuration

Tube Archivist combines a download pipeline with a media-library-style UI to manage long-term YouTube collections. It is best suited for users who want automated acquisition plus fast search and convenient playback from a curated local archive.

7.4kstars
350forks
View Details
#7
Restreamer

Restreamer

Restreamer is a web UI for ingesting live video (RTMP/SRT/HTTP), optionally transcoding with FFmpeg, and restreaming to platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or custom RTMP targets.

Restreamer screenshot

Restreamer (by datarhei) is a self-hosted live streaming relay that receives a live input stream, optionally transcodes it, and forwards it to one or more outputs. It focuses on making common streaming workflows easy through a browser-based UI while still exposing an API and Docker-first deployment.

Key Features

  • Ingest live streams via RTMP and other supported protocols (via the underlying streaming engine)
  • Restream/relay to multiple destinations (e.g., YouTube Live, Twitch, Facebook Live, custom RTMP endpoints)
  • Optional transcoding and re-encoding using FFmpeg (e.g., bitrate/codec changes)
  • Browser-based management UI for configuring inputs/outputs and monitoring status
  • Docker-based deployment with persistent configuration and simplified updates
  • HTTP API for automation and integration with external systems
  • Designed to run on modest servers and edge devices, depending on transcoding load

Use Cases

  • Mirror one live stream to multiple platforms simultaneously
  • Receive RTMP from OBS and forward it to a CDN/ingress point over a controlled network path
  • Centralize live stream routing/transcoding for events, churches, classrooms, or community broadcasters

Limitations and Considerations

  • Transcoding is CPU/GPU intensive; capacity depends heavily on FFmpeg settings and available hardware acceleration

Restreamer is a practical option when you need a controllable, web-managed live streaming “hub” that can ingest a stream once and distribute it to many destinations. It is especially useful for simple restreaming setups and small-to-medium live production workflows that benefit from Docker deployment and API control.

4.8kstars
513forks
View Details
#8
iSponsorBlockTV

iSponsorBlockTV

Self-hosted service that skips ads, intros, and other segments on YouTube TV/embedded clients using SponsorBlock data and device-side controls.

iSponsorBlockTV screenshot

iSponsorBlockTV is a self-hosted companion service that brings SponsorBlock-style segment skipping to YouTube clients running on TVs/media devices where browser extensions are not available. It runs on your network and controls playback by monitoring/communicating with supported YouTube TV or embedded YouTube clients and applying community-submitted SponsorBlock segments.

Key Features

  • Integrates with the SponsorBlock database to fetch skip segments (e.g., sponsor, intro, outro, self-promo).
  • Designed for TV/media-device YouTube experiences where extensions cannot be installed.
  • Network service that can be run on a server/home lab and paired with supported devices.
  • Configurable skipping behavior by category (skip, mute, or ignore depending on support).
  • Provides setup and configuration guidance via repository documentation.

Use Cases

  • Automatically skip sponsor segments and intros on YouTube watched via Smart TVs or streaming boxes.
  • Household-wide YouTube segment skipping without per-device browser plugins.
  • Centralized configuration for multiple living-room devices on the same network.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Works only with specific supported YouTube TV/device clients and may rely on device control/remote APIs; compatibility varies by platform and app updates.
  • Accuracy depends on SponsorBlock community submissions and segment timing.

It is a practical solution for extending SponsorBlock’s benefits to living-room viewing setups. If you already use SponsorBlock on desktop/mobile, iSponsorBlockTV can complement that by covering TV-based playback with centralized control.

4.7kstars
198forks
View Details
#9
MediaCMS

MediaCMS

Self-hosted video platform for uploading, managing, and streaming media with transcoding, playlists, channels, search, and embeddable players.

MediaCMS screenshot

MediaCMS is a self-hosted, open source media publishing platform focused on video. It provides a YouTube-like workflow for uploading, organizing, moderating, and delivering videos with an embeddable player and optional transcoding pipeline.

Key Features

  • Video uploads with web-based management UI for media items, channels, categories, and tags
  • Transcoding/encoding pipeline (commonly via FFmpeg) to generate web-friendly renditions
  • Embeddable video player for external websites and sharing
  • Playlists and channel-style organization for collections and publishers
  • Full-text search and browsing by categories/tags
  • User accounts with roles/permissions and admin moderation workflows
  • API support for integrations (where enabled/configured)

Use Cases

  • Internal company video portal for training, onboarding, and announcements
  • Education or community sites hosting lecture series, talks, or recorded events
  • Organizations replacing public video hosts for controlled branding and distribution

Limitations and Considerations

  • Feature set and scalability depend heavily on deployment choices (storage, CDN/reverse proxy, transcoding workers); large libraries typically require careful tuning.

MediaCMS is a practical choice when you need a centrally managed video library with a web UI and an embeddable player, while keeping control of storage and delivery. It targets teams and organizations that want a general-purpose video publishing platform rather than a lightweight file listing site.

4.6kstars
856forks
View Details
#10
AzuraCast

AzuraCast

All-in-one web radio suite for managing stations, scheduling shows, and streaming to listeners via a modern web UI and APIs.

AzuraCast screenshot

AzuraCast is an open-source, self-hosted web radio management suite that helps you run one or more online radio stations from a web interface. It bundles streaming, automation, media management, and listener-facing pages into a Docker-based platform.

Key Features

  • Multi-station management with per-station configuration, users, and permissions
  • Built-in automation via Liquidsoap and DJ tools; supports playlists, scheduling, and time-based rotations
  • Icecast and SHOUTcast (via Shoutcast-compatible endpoints) streaming support with mountpoints/ports
  • Web-based media library with uploads, organization, and playlist assignment
  • Station public pages with embedded web player, stream URLs, and basic station metadata
  • Live broadcasting support for external encoders (e.g., BUTT, Mixxx) with source/DJ authentication
  • Listener analytics and reports (e.g., listener counts, peak listeners, song history)
  • REST API for station data/now playing integration plus webhooks for event-driven integrations
  • Docker and Docker Compose-based deployment with guided installer and upgrades

Use Cases

  • Running a community or campus radio station with scheduled shows and live DJ sets
  • 24/7 “automated radio” for a brand, venue, or hobby project with rotating playlists
  • Hosting multiple niche stations (different genres/languages) on a single server

Limitations and Considerations

  • Streaming/encoding and storage needs scale with concurrent listeners and media size; large stations may require careful resource planning.
  • Some advanced broadcast workflows may still require external encoder/DJ software for live shows.

AzuraCast is best suited for individuals and organizations that want an integrated, web-managed radio stack without assembling separate streaming, automation, and management components. Its Docker-first approach and mature ecosystem make it a common choice for modern self-hosted web radio deployments.

3.7kstars
687forks
View Details

Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running