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YouTube Logo

Video hosting platform for individuals and businesses

Last updated: March 2025

Table of Contents

YouTube - 2025 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

What is YouTube?

YouTube is a video hosting service designed to help individuals, video creators, and businesses search, discover, upload, and share videos. It allows users to create video channels based on specific topics, subscribe or follow other channels and organize videos in the form of playlists.

Businesses can utilize YouTube Advertising to create video advertisements, configure campaigns in various formats, and track performance using measurement tools. Parents and caregivers can utilize YouTube Kids to customize and improve kids’ online experience by allowing them to only view approved content. It also offers a YouTube Music application, which allows individuals to stream music and discover trending media.

Other features include video recommendations, privacy controls, ad settings, parental controls, auto-play functionality, and more. Businesses can also embed videos on websites, associate brand domain names with the channel, engage the audience using illustrations, audio cues, and text across videos, and share videos across social media channels.

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YouTube’s pros and cons based on 814 verified reviews

To identify what users like and dislike about YouTube, our data scientists apply advanced modeling techniques to our proprietary reviews data. We've sorted the resulting list of pros and cons based on the percentage of users who expressed positive sentiment toward the given topic in their reviews.

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To determine these pros and cons insights, we analyzed responses from 814 verified reviews

Diverse learning resources

98% of reviewers feel positive about YouTube as a learning platform. Reviewers appreciate the wide range of tutorials and educational content available for free. They find it useful for self-learning, improving skills, and even catching up on missed classes. Some users report that YouTube helps them in their professional and personal growth by providing access to knowledge on various subjects.

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“It's a useful website and application to find resources and tutorials to get better understanding of the skills and tutorials, and also good to self-learning”
“I learn new skills as I watch tutorials on YouTube and that improves my business”

Effective content sharing

97% of reviewers feel positive about YouTube's content sharing capabilities. Users appreciate the ease of sharing content across multiple platforms and the ability to reach a large audience. They find it beneficial for business growth, marketing strategies, and connecting with people who share similar interests. Some users indicate that YouTube's sharing options are excellent for promoting products and engaging with their target market.

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“YouTube is a phenomenal platform for business growth and provides an opportunity for business owners to share free content that connects with their audience and target market.”
“It is very inclusive because it allows you to share quickly to the majority of other networks and it allows people who do not necessarily use YouTube to stay in touch with what is being done on the platform.”

Extensive information availability

94% of reviewers feel positive about YouTube's information access. Users think YouTube is a comprehensive source for information on almost any topic. They appreciate the platform's ability to provide reliable and diverse content, which helps them make informed decisions and learn new things. Some users say it is their go-to source for news and educational content, and they find it easy to use and navigate.

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“One of the best things about youtube is that you can find information about almost everything in the world.”
“I consider YouTube my go to source for the real news reported by trustworthy organizations and people.”

Monetization opportunities

94% of reviewers feel positive about YouTube's earning potential. Users think YouTube offers significant opportunities for content creators to earn money through video monetization, memberships, and ad revenue. They appreciate the platform's ability to generate extra income and support entrepreneurial ventures. Some users say that YouTube has helped them turn their hobbies into profitable businesses.

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“By educating new people about creating YouTube videos they can build and multiply their income opportunities and help them make good money while doing what they love the most”
“YouTube is really a game changer and has generated a lot of entrepreneurs creating jobs for millions of people all around the world, who use the platform for their business.”

Intrusive ad display

83% of reviewers feel negative about YouTube's ad display. Users think the frequent and intrusive ads disrupt the viewing experience. They find the number of ads excessive, especially in the free version, and feel that it forces them to consider paying for the premium subscription. Some users report that the ads can be inappropriate and interrupt the flow of content.

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“The use of advertising is understandable and justifiable on the free version of the software but having ads play in the midst of content is intrusive and interrupts the flow of artistic content, even with the option to skip. ”
“Now that they launched premium subscription, advertisements frequency has been increased a lot, maybe too much for the average viewer”

Disruptive video ads

82% of reviewers feel negative about YouTube's video ads. Some users say the increasing number of ads, especially those that interrupt videos, is frustrating. They find that ads often disrupt the viewing experience, particularly during longer videos. Some reviewers indicate that the frequency and placement of ads can be annoying and diminish the overall enjoyment of the platform.

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“Using it to host videos you want to embed on websites can be frustrating because it doesn't offer the same level of customization that Video Pro does. When watching videos, ads can be very obnoxious when they interrupt what you're watching.”
“What I liked least about YouTube is the increasing number of ads, which can disrupt the viewing experience, especially on longer videos. While some ads are skippable, others interrupt the flow, and it feels like there are more of them than ever before.”

Excessive advertisements

59% of reviewers feel negative about YouTube's advertisements. Users think the platform has become overly saturated with ads, which can be intrusive and distracting. They express concerns about privacy and the quality of the advertising content. Some users feel that the abundance of ads negatively impacts their experience and makes the platform less enjoyable.

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“The youtube youtube advertising can atimes be intrusive and and distracting for a user”
“Ads are too many and too often, which sometimes greatly affect my experience online.”

YouTube's key features

GetApp's analysis of 272 verified user reviews collected between November 2021 and January 2025 identified YouTube's most critical features and how it performs according to users.

Subtitles/Closed Captions

Reviewers appreciate YouTube's Subtitles/Closed Captions for enhancing accessibility and comprehension, especially for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers and non-native speakers. They say this capability improves SEO by incorporating keywords and making content searchable. Users report that subtitles help in noisy environments and when audio quality is poor. However, they mention that auto-generated captions can be inaccurate and sometimes delayed. They find the option to manually add subtitles valuable for accuracy and inclusivity. Of the 60 YouTube users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Subtitles/Closed Captions, 95% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“The subtitles and closed captions helps a lot of our audiences to comprehend and understand our videos properly. And I can even speak as a YouTube content consumer, that this feature has helped me comprehend and understand a lot of content.”
“Subtitles can help, by reaching different locations and to viewers with different native languages. Closed caption is a feature that helps users comprehend the video in case the audio is not good or for those who can only rely on captions. ”

Audio/video file upload

Reviewers indicate that YouTube's audio/video file upload process is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing for high-quality uploads. They appreciate the ability to customize thumbnails, titles, and privacy settings. Users report that the platform supports various formats and ensures content protection. They find the drag-and-drop functionality convenient and note that the upload speed is generally good, even with slow internet connections. However, some mention occasional upload freezes requiring restarts. Of the 199 YouTube users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Audio/video file upload, 94% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“The upload process is very simple and allows you to customize thumbnails, title, playlists, privacy, and more.”
“Audio or Video uploading is the key requirement for any creator and YouTube offers a fuss-free uploading process with almost zero interruption. The speed is fairly fine even during slow connectivity.”

Social Sharing

Users report that YouTube's social sharing capabilities are valuable for increasing content visibility and engagement. They appreciate the wide array of sharing options, including integration with platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Reviewers highlight the ease of sharing links and embedding videos on other websites. They say this aspect helps in viral marketing and building a community. However, some users feel that more flexibility in sharing content across platforms is needed. Of the 163 YouTube users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Social Sharing, 93% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“This aspect is very important for anyone who creates content on multiple platforms that allows him to bring more visitors to his content on YouTube, and YouTube is still developing in this aspect as it needs more flexibility in sharing content on other platforms”
“On a personal computer, YouTube videos can be shared from their website to a number of social media platforms. Infact, YouTube's native sharing list includes more social networks than any of the other big names in social media. On a mobile device, youtube videos can be shared to any compitable app on the device”

Video Streaming

Reviewers feel that YouTube's video streaming is user-friendly and accessible, providing high-quality playback even with varying internet speeds. They appreciate the ability to stream live videos, which enhances real-time engagement with viewers. Users report that streaming is convenient for educational and entertainment purposes, offering a vast library of content. They mention occasional buffering issues but attribute these to internet quality. They find the adaptive bitrate capability helpful for smooth playback. Of the 176 YouTube users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Video Streaming, 91% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“When it comes to reaching out to Creators' audience on a single platform in real-time, YouTube Live Videos are extremely important. Users/Creators can gain from this as they manage live streams and engage with viewers in real time on YouTube when conducting a workshop, giving a class, or broadcasting an event. Creators can use webcams or mobile devices to do Live Videos on YouTube.”
“Accessibility: Video streaming on YouTube is accessible to a wide range of users, regardless of their location, device, or internet speed. As long as you have an internet connection, you can access YouTube from almost anywhere in the world.Convenience: Video streaming on YouTube is convenient, as you can watch videos on demand, pause and resume at any time, and access an extensive library of content across a variety of genres.Entertainment: YouTube offers a diverse range of video content, from music videos and movies to educational content and comedy sketches. Video streaming on YouTube can provide hours of entertainment for users of all ages and interests.Education: Video streaming on YouTube is an excellent resource for education and learning. YouTube offers a vast collection of educational content, including tutorials, lectures, and documentaries, which can help users expand their knowledge and skills.”

Reporting/Analytics

Reviewers appreciate YouTube's detailed reporting and analytics for providing valuable insights into audience engagement and content performance. They highlight metrics like views, watch time, demographics, and traffic sources. Users report that these insights help refine content strategies and optimize posting schedules. They find the analytics important for understanding viewer behavior and improving content. However, some users mention that more granular data could further enhance their ability to tailor content. Of the 134 YouTube users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Reporting/Analytics, 82% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“They have awesome reporting and analytics. You can manage subscriptions. Keep track of how channels and videos are doing. Keep track of watch time, subscribers and estimated revenue. There are so , so, many great things about this aspect of the software.”
“YouTube collects all of the viewer data and gives you the info in the Analytics tab. Here you can find all of the info like gender, age range, subscription status, and way more!”

Time Stamps

Reviewers indicate that YouTube's Time Stamps are helpful for navigating lengthy videos efficiently. They appreciate the ability to jump to specific parts of a video, which saves time and improves the viewing experience. Users report that time stamps enhance searchability and help organize content. They find this capability particularly useful for educational videos and tutorials. However, some users feel that more widespread use of time stamps by creators would be beneficial. Of the 44 YouTube users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Time Stamps, 82% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“An uploaded video can be divided into parts showing different topics discussed in the video. The best part is that you can click the time stamp and skip to the specific part that you want. ”
“Time stamps are very useful for an educator because often times you would like to direct students to a specific portion of the video instead of wasting lengthy amounts of time on an entire video. Time stamps allow you to find the portion of the video you would like to watch right away with ease and efficiency. This feature works well in YouTube and I have never encountered any issues with it. ”

All YouTube features

Features rating:

Live Captioning
Text Overlay
Speech Recognition

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YouTube integrations (357)

Integrations rated by users

We looked through 814 user reviews, to identify which products are mentioned as YouTube integrations, and what is the users perception.

iMovie logo
iMovie

Integration rating: 5.0 (4)

Allowing uploads from iMovie helps creators edit their content with a system they are comfortable using.

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Ashlyn Elwood

Realtor

OBS Studio logo
OBS Studio

Integration rating: 4.8 (4)

It is essential to have the broadcasting software to link with Youtube for our streaming service to work and they work well together overall.

MT

Matthew Thiner

Pastor

Streamyard logo
Streamyard

Integration rating: 5.0 (2)

Adds features to livestreaming like sharing viewer comments on screen or the option to set up and intro and theme song to really get the viewers interested.

wg

woodly greene

admin assistant

Snapchat logo
Snapchat

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Uploading my videos from snapshot gives me the ability to let content be seen for longer and by a broader audience then snapshot alone.

AR

Amy Roberts

Server

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

It's important because I am able to deliver an interactive class in Google Workspace to my students with the help of YouTube.

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Anonymous Reviewer

Guidance counselor

Moovly logo
Moovly

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

We use Moovly to create videos and update members on events of importance. Our association needs a place to host and distribute these videos from on an easy to use format. Youtube fulfills that role flawlessly.

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Anonymous Reviewer

Policy Specialist

Gmail logo
Gmail

Integration rating: 5.0 (4)

Instagram logo
Instagram

Integration rating: 5.0 (4)

WhatsApp logo
WhatsApp

Integration rating: 5.0 (2)

VEGAS Pro logo
VEGAS Pro

Integration rating: 4.0 (1)

vidIQ logo
vidIQ

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Discord logo
Discord

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Padlet logo
Padlet

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Google Drive logo
Google Drive

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Wix logo
Wix

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Integration rating: 4.0 (1)

Safari logo
Safari

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Gymdesk logo
Gymdesk

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Patreon logo
Patreon

Integration rating: 4.0 (1)

TikTok logo
TikTok

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Shopify logo
Shopify

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Castr logo
Castr

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Moodle logo
Moodle

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Descript logo
Descript

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

YouTube support options

Typical customers

Freelancers
Small businesses
Mid size businesses
Large enterprises

Platforms supported

Web
Android
iPhone/iPad

YouTube reviews

Overall rating

4.8

/5

814

Positive reviews

96

%

Rating breakdown
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend9.25/10
Rating distribution

5

4

3

2

1

641

142

30

0

1

Pros
“There's lots of pros, like you can make awesome videos like DVD/Blu-ray openings, lift videos, gaming videos, etc. You can also like, share and comment on people's videos and community posts as well.”
“It is the most popular video sharing platform so it is the best way to reach your audience. YouTube is easy to use and allows for sharing content that you cannot email due to the file size of video.”
“I can easily saved and download my favorite videos. There are so many movies in all languages on Youtube for all people and this is a good strategy to connect all people to one app.”
Cons
“It has been accused of not doing enough to remove content that violates community guidelines, which led to concerns about the impact on content.”
“I really hate the copyright thing. It makes me unable to upload videos with the songs I like.”
“I feel YouTube should not be allowed to censor and violate freedom of speech.”

YouTube FAQs

Q. Who are the typical users of YouTube?

YouTube has the following typical customers:
Small Business

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Q. What languages does YouTube support?

YouTube supports the following languages:
English


Q. Does YouTube offer an API?

No, YouTube does not have an API available.

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