Most everyone is familiar with YouTube by now. Owned and operated by Google, the video juggernaut that receives an estimated 450 million users a month. It’s a household name that is as familiar as Facebook, Twitter, or Craigslist. Even your technologically inept Uncle knows about YouTube because he spends the better part of his Friday nights downloading blooper reels and classic rock performances. YouTube is part of our cultural language, and it’s already pre-programmed as a 'favorite" on most Apple computers.
YouTube is the most popular gig in town; however, it’s not the only one. If YouTube is like that super-popular girl in your high school science class, then Vimeo is more like the mysterious new kid. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to use video platforms to brand and boost your business, or you’re simply a computer user looking for quality video content, it’s important to know that YouTube does'nt have a monopoly on online video. There are other fish in the sea. Here is a closer look at YouTube and Vimeo.
The Video Library
The biggest difference between YouTube and Vimeo is the size of their video libraries. In a sense, it is like comparing a behemoth Wal-Mart to a mom and pop store. Here are the numbers. It’s estimated that YouTube uploads 20 minutes of footage every minute; that number translates to roughly 2 million new video minutes every 24 hours. Vimeo, on the other hand, has 14,000 uploads, which equals about 17 million users each month. However, what makes Vimeo impressive is that roughly 10% of the video uploads are in HD.
Video and Sound Quality
Vimeo’s biggest claim to fame is that it has the highest quality videos on the web. It was the first site to adopt 720p HD, and it continues to be technologically innovative when it comes to delivering smooth, precise video content. The content on YouTube, on the other hand, runs the gamut from Ingmar Bergman style masterpieces to bottom-of-the-barrel filler. Of course, this is to be expected when you have so many worldwide users. The techies out there will want to know that Vimeo has a higher video bit rate than YouTube. Vimeo delivers at 5,000 kbits, while YouTube offers around 2,000. If you're not a techie, well, save that stat for your next dinner party.
Some critics have compared and contrasted these online video platforms like this: Vimeo is for auteurs with a passion while YouTube is for little kids with an old school video camera. This analogy isn’t fair, but it does underline the difference in video quality. At the same time, it doesn’t matter how good your video looks if nobody is going to see it; sure, while 17 million users is hardly nobody, it certainly pales in comparison to the whopping 450 million who use YouTube each month.
When it comes to online video platforms the most important thing is having a choice. In the end, choice is the fundamental engine of good business and consumerism. Different people need different tools; YouTube and Vimeo, while similar, have enough nuanced differences to cater to a specific clientele. What works for you is just like asking the age-old question: The Beatles or The Stones?
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