The best video platforms, according to hackers
7 video platforms were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 1 earns the Hacker Approved badge.
Top pick
The most recommended video platform with the badge. Each figure is 5 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Ad-free sharing, no corporate control
Free, decentralized video platform that lets people share videos without ads or big-company control. Common caveat: little content and no way to earn money.
All 7 video platforms, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | YouTube | 653 | 1,346 | 33% | 13 | 10 yrs21 owners | — |
| 2 | PeerTube | 66 | 30 | 69% | 10 | — | Approved |
| Tied 3 | YouTube Shorts | 21 | 130 | 14% | 9 | — | — |
| Tied 3 | Loops app | 21 | 24 | 47% | 2 | — | — |
| 5 | Twitch | 12 | 49 | 20% | 7 | — | — |
| 6 | Rumble | 8 | 5 | 62% | 6 | — | — |
| 7 | Instagram Reels | 5 | 22 | 19% | 4 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same video platform in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to video platforms that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.