- Free video hosting platforms at a glance
- Ten places to host and embed your videos for free
- What to check in free video hosting
- Public video platforms and private business hosting
- Embedding hosted video without slowing your site
- Video hosting mistakes to avoid
- Why a smaller video host can be a smart pick
- Trial uploads for your free video hosting shortlist
- Frequently asked questions
Free video hosting stores your video and streams it to viewers so you can embed a player on your own pages. Check embedding, ads, branding, privacy controls, length limits and retention before you upload. This page lists ten platforms in no particular order, then covers how to choose and what to check first.
Putting a video on your website sounds easy until you realise that a big file can slow your pages down and may not play smoothly on every phone. That's why most people don't upload video to their own web hosting. They use a video hosting platform, then embed the player on their page.
Here are ten platforms with a free plan or free way to start, in no particular order and sorted alphabetically. A few are household names and most are smaller or built for specific jobs. I've taken every description from each tool's own website and help pages, so check the current details on each site before you rely on one. If you're also thinking about your channel, my guide to video marketing covers the bigger picture.
Free video hosting platforms at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site or help pages show a free plan or free allowance. Trial only means a free trial but no ongoing free plan. No means neither is stated. Free plans often limit storage, length, branding or privacy, so read each one before you upload.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| api.video | Hosting API | Hosting and delivery inside your own site or app | Yes |
| Bunny Stream | Video hosting and CDN | Hosting with a fast delivery network | Trial only |
| Cloudinary | Media platform | Video and images managed in one place | Yes |
| Jumpshare | Recording and sharing app | Screen recordings shared by link | Yes |
| Loom | Recording and sharing app | Quick screen and camera messages | Yes |
| Mux | Video API | Developer-first streaming infrastructure | Yes |
| Streamable | Clip hosting | Short clips hosted and shared fast | Yes |
| Vimeo | Video hosting | Clean, ad-free player and privacy settings | Yes |
| Wistia | Business video hosting | Marketing video with a branded player | Yes |
| YouTube | Video platform | Public reach plus free embedding | Yes |
Ten places to host and embed your videos for free
api.video
Best for: Developers and technical owners who want to build hosting and playback into their own website or app.
Bunny Stream
Best for: Owners comfortable with a developer-style dashboard who want hosting with a global delivery network.
Cloudinary
Best for: Sites that already manage lots of images and want video transformed and delivered from the same account.
Jumpshare
Best for: People who record their screen and want to share the clip by link with notes and AI summaries.
Loom
Best for: Anyone sending quick walkthroughs or video messages to clients and colleagues.
Mux
Best for: Product teams and developers who want streaming and analytics tools they can build on.
Streamable
Best for: Anyone who wants a simple place to upload a short clip and share a link or embed.
Vimeo
Best for: Creators and businesses who want a clean player and control over who can watch.
Wistia
Best for: Marketers who want a branded player and want to see how viewers watch their videos.
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YouTube
Best for: Creators and businesses who want an audience, search visibility and free embedding on their own site.
What to check in free video hosting
Free hosting comes with trade-offs. Knowing which ones matter for your site saves a lot of re-uploading later.
- Embedding. Can you place the player on your own pages, or only share a link?
- Ads and suggestions. Some players show related videos or ads after yours finishes.
- Branding. Check whether the player shows the platform's logo on your video.
- Privacy controls. Look for options to keep videos unlisted or restricted to certain domains.
- Length and size limits. Free plans often cap how long or how large a video can be.
- Retention. Find out whether free videos stay up or are removed after a period.
- Ownership. Read the terms on who owns the video and what the platform may do with it.
Public video platforms and private business hosting
- Public platforms bring built-in audiences and search visibility, but you give up control over what appears around your video.
- Business hosting gives you a branded player, privacy settings and viewer insights, but free plans are often limited.
- Recording and sharing apps are quick for walkthroughs and messages, though not always designed for a library of marketing videos.
- Developer platforms are flexible if you can build with them, but need technical time.
If your videos live on a big public platform, you may also want to understand how it decides what to show. My article on why a video can get stuck at zero views is a good read.
Embedding hosted video without slowing your site
- Embed one video per page where you can, rather than several at once.
- Use a thumbnail that loads the player only when someone clicks.
- Add a short written summary beside the video so the page still makes sense without it.
- Test the page on a phone over mobile data.
- Check captions work, so people watching with the sound off can follow along.
Video hosting mistakes to avoid
- Uploading a video you don't own the rights to, such as music or footage.
- Skipping captions or a text summary.
- Choosing a platform before checking its limits on length or file size.
- Keeping the only copy of your video on a free platform with no backup.
- Embedding a player that shows unrelated videos to your visitors.
Why a smaller video host can be a smart pick
Smaller hosts are often built for one job, such as marketing videos or quick screen recordings, so they can be simpler to use and give you more control over the player. Before relying on one, check that it's still being updated, read the help pages, test an upload and keep your original files safe.
Do you make a video hosting or video player tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Trial uploads for your free video hosting shortlist
Pick two platforms and upload the same short clip to each. Compare how the video looks, how easy the embed is and whether the limits suit your plans. Keep a copy of your originals whichever you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What is video hosting?
It's a service that stores your video and streams it to viewers, so you can embed a player on your site instead of loading a heavy file from your own web hosting.
Why not upload video directly to my website?
Large files can slow pages down and may not play well on every device. A hosting platform handles streaming and formats for you.
What limits do free video hosting plans have?
Common limits include storage, video length, file size, branding on the player and fewer privacy or analytics options. Each platform's site lists its own.
Can I embed a video from a free platform on my own site?
Usually, but not always. Check that embedding is supported on the plan you're using, and look at what appears around the player.
Who owns the videos I upload?
You generally keep the rights to your own content, but each platform's terms say what it may do with it. Read them before you upload.
