Social
PeerTube
YouTube alternative with P2P streaming and no ads
PeerTube offers a privacy-conscious alternative in the social space, with a stronger focus on data protection than many mainstream tools.
Who is this for?
✓ Good for you if:
- • You want a YouTube alternative without ads or
- • You prefer platforms where you choose your server
- • You want granular video privacy controls (public, unlisted, private, internal, password-protected)
- • You need P2P streaming to reduce server load (can be disabled for privacy)
- • You want to self-host your own instance for complete control
⚠ Think twice if:
- • You need the largest video platform user base
- • You want simple, mainstream video-sharing experience
- • You want to avoid federation complexity (data shared across servers)
- • You need P2P streaming disabled (may expose IP addresses)
- • You want complete anonymity (requires email)
Overview
PeerTube implements a federated video platform using the ActivityPub protocol (W3C standard). The platform is built on Node.js and TypeScript with PostgreSQL for data storage. Users join independent servers (instances), each with autonomous policies and moderation. Videos support privacy levels: public (federated across instances), unlisted (accessible via link), private (uploader only), internal (same instance users only), and password-protected. PeerTube uses WebTorrent P2P protocols for video streaming to reduce server load, which can expose viewer IP addresses within the P2P network. P2P can be disabled at instance or user level for privacy. The platform uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication, bcrypt for password hashing, and supports two-factor authentication via TOTP. The federated architecture means data is shared across servers when interacting with users on other instances. Users can self-host instances for complete control over data, policies, and moderation. The codebase is open source (AGPL-3.0) and maintained by Framasoft, a French non-profit organization.
Privacy highlight
video platform with no ads, no , and granular privacy controls. P2P streaming reduces server costs but can expose IPs.
Quick facts
- Country:
- 🇫🇷 France
- Pricing:
- Free
- Platform:
- Web, Android, iOS
- Technical:
- Intermediate
- :
- Yes
- :
- Minimal telemetry
- :
- Yes
- Open-source status:
- Fully open source
- :
- Yes
- :
- Yes
Key features
- Privacy-friendly social platform.
Security & encryption Click to expand
- Yes
- Encryption protocols
- , , WebTorrent
- PeerTube uses standard / for all connections. User passwords are hashed using bcrypt. The platform does not implement for video content. PeerTube uses .0 for and supports two-factor (2FA) via . Session tokens are managed securely. Video files are stored on the server with standard filesystem at rest (depends on hosting provider). P2P streaming uses WebTorrent protocol which does not provide of video content in transit between peers.
- Offline support
- No
Telemetry & tracking Click to expand
- Minimal telemetry
- No
- Ip no
- PeerTube instances collect minimal data. Most instances do not collect usage statistics or by default. Instance administrators can optionally enable basic , but this is not enabled by default. The platform does not send data to external services. Crash reporting and error are typically handled locally on the instance. PeerTube does not include third-party scripts or services in the default installation. Note: P2P streaming may expose viewer IP addresses to other viewers in the P2P network.
Jurisdiction & compliance Click to expand
- PeerTube is decentralized - data residency depends on which instance you join. Each instance is independently operated and may be hosted in different jurisdictions. The main PeerTube project is maintained by Framasoft, a French non-profit organization. Users can choose instances in their preferred jurisdiction or self-host their own instance.
- policies vary by instance, as each instance is independently operated. Most instances retain user data (videos, account information) until the user deletes their account or content. Deleted content is typically removed from the database, though may retain data for a period. Instance administrators set their own retention policies. Users can export their data and delete their accounts at any time. Federation means that content shared with other instances may be retained on those instances according to their policies. Video files may be cached by P2P network participants.
- Legal frameworks
- GDPR (where applicable). Each instance may be subject to different legal frameworks depending on its jurisdiction.
- Revenue sources
- Donations, Hosting
Editorial signals Click to expand
- 87
- Trust score
- 81
- Trust breakdown (0–10)
- Encryption: 65, Audits: 75, Open source: 95, Telemetry: 90, Jurisdiction: 85, Transparency: 80, Trackers: 95
- Editorial notes
- Usability: 70, Performance: 85, Family friendly: 75
User experience Click to expand
- Signup requirements
- Email address required for account creation. Some instances may require email verification. Username and display name are also required. No phone number or other personal information required.
- Onboarding difficulty (1-5)
- 3
- Accessibility features
- PeerTube includes accessibility features such as keyboard navigation, screen reader support, and video player controls. The platform follows WCAG guidelines. Accessibility features may vary by instance and client application.
Backup & portability Click to expand
- Yes
- Migration tools
- PeerTube supports video export and channel migration features. Users can download their videos and channel data. Migration tools may vary by instance. The platform supports standard video formats for export.
- Account recovery is typically handled through email-based password reset. Users can export their account data as a backup. Instance administrators may provide additional recovery options depending on their policies. Two-factor authentication recovery codes should be saved by users.
Similar privacy apps
Same categoryLemmy
Score 88Lemmy offers a privacy-conscious alternative in the social space, with a stronger focus on data protection than many ...
Mastodon
Score 86Mastodon offers a privacy-conscious alternative in the social space, with a stronger focus on data protection than ma...
Pixelfed
Score 85Pixelfed offers a privacy-conscious alternative in the social space, with a stronger focus on data protection than ma...
Related Guides
Best Apps and Tools for Ultimate Data Protection
Discover the top privacy apps in 2025...
Read guide →How to Choose a Secure Messenger: Complete Guide
Learn how to choose a secure messaging app. Compare encryption, metadata protection, and privacy ...
Read guide →How to Set Up 2FA: TOTP vs Push vs Security Keys
Learn how to set up two-factor authentication. Compare TOTP apps, push notifications, and securit...
Read guide →