PeerTube

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.