1️⃣YouTube
YouTube dominates long and short video, stacking colossal watch time and ad revenue. If you want dependable payouts and discoverability, this is where views convert into dollars fast. Add Shorts, Lives, and evergreen search and you get compounding traffic.
- Highest global watch time
- Strongest ad revenue via Partner Program
- Search-driven evergreen views
- Shorts + long-form + live in one place
- Robust analytics and copyright tools
- Trusted for brand deals
- Fierce competition for clicks
- Algorithm shifts require adaptation
- Higher production effort for standout videos
2️⃣TikTok
TikTok still delivers the quickest viral spikes and massive reach for new faces. Brands and creators turn trends into sales with creator marketplace deals and shoppable links. It is the fastest path from zero to explosive awareness.
- Fastest path to viral reach
- Low production barrier
- Creator Marketplace deal flow
- Powerful music and effects
- High ad view-through on short clips
- Shoppable features and live
- Lower average CPM than YouTube
- Trend volatility
- Occasional regional policy uncertainty
3️⃣Instagram Reels
Reels keeps your brand top-of-feed while tapping into Instagram's shopping and DM engine. Cross-posting and collaborations can stack reach without rebuilding audiences. Great for polished short-form that converts to DMs and store visits.
- Built-in shopping and DMs convert fast
- Strong brand collab culture
- Easy cross-posting to Facebook
- High engagement with short
- polished clips
- Algorithm can throttle reach
- Music licensing limits in some regions
- Revenue relies heavily on brand deals
4️⃣Facebook Video
Facebook's Watch and Groups still drive huge view piles in many niches. Mid-roll ads, Stars, and subscriptions add more ways to monetize. Works best for community-led and how-to content.
- Massive reach in Groups and niche communities
- Multiple monetization options
- Older audiences with higher purchasing power
- Great for tutorials and how-to
- Younger demographics less active
- Eligibility thresholds for in-stream ads
- Aggressive moderation can demonetize
5️⃣Twitch
Twitch owns live engagement, turning loyal viewers into subs, Bits, and tips. Long sessions push high watch time and strong community stickiness. Great for streamers who sell memberships, merch, and sponsor slots.
- Live subs
- Bits
- and tips
- Deep community loyalty
- Sponsorship-friendly for gaming and tech
- Extensions and overlays boost retention
- Discoverability is weak for new channels
- Very long streaming hours
- Lower CPM on VOD replays
- Highly saturated top categories