Best ways to share videos online privately
In the worst scenario, after hours of uploading, you'll get a message that the file is too big and can't be attached. Sometimes file compression may help, but not always.
Luckily, there is a wide range of more convenient and faster ways to share videos privately without exposing them to all Internet users. Just make sure that the chosen method is secure, user-friendly, and affordable.
Here is the list of the easiest ways. Each of them includes a variety of platforms, apps, and sites, but we'll name just a couple of examples.
Video hosting platforms
The main advantage of this way of sharing is that you can upload a video online, which will be accessible to the chosen people via a link. Unlike cloud solutions (we'll talk more about them later), video hostings allow you to watch a recording in a browser without downloading it to your device.
YouTube
YouTube is the best-known video hosting platform. It's ideal for anyone who needs to share videos, as this resource offers many free options. You can avail of two of them:
- Private videos. They are not shown in search results or on your account page. To let someone see a private YouTube video, you should add this person's mail to an access list. Note! The access list may include 50 emails as a maximum.
- Unlisted videos. These recordings are not shown in the search results but are accessible to everyone with a video link. Privacy is not perfect, as there is always a possibility that someone will occasionally come across your private home clips, share the link with total strangers or repost the video on their channel.
Find more detail on YouTube video privacy settings on their official help page.
Vimeo
Vimeo is one of the main YouTube competitors, and it's also quite convenient, but its free plan allows uploading only 500MB of content a week and 5GB in total. There are different ways you can manage your video's privacy settings, depending on your chosen plan.
Cloud storage solutions
This way of sharing doesn't expose your private recordings to the general public so that no one can see your data, even accidentally. Cloud storages often look like computer folders where you can save your files; the only difference is that they are stored on your hard drive and synced to an external server.
Dropbox
Dropbox is one of the best cloud storages as it offers 2GB for free and has very affordable fee plans. You may share with other people separate files as well as whole folders. Find more information on that in the Dropbox Help Center.
Google Drive
Google services have revolutionized the way of online collaborating, document editing, and file sharing. Unlike other cloud storages, Google Drive allows watching videos online, pretty much like a video hosting platform. The only disadvantage: to get access to shared content, your invitee should have a Google account, but nowadays, almost everybody does.
As always, check out their help center to get to know more.
Onedrive
OneDrive is a Microsoft development, so if you are an active Windows user and have an Office 365 subscription, there is no reason why you shouldn't be profiting OneDrive.
Don’t hesitate to read more on their official help site.
Social media
This way may be the easiest sharing option, but remember that not all social media allow data downloading (unless you have special software). The chosen people can watch the video online but not edit or save it to their devices.
Facebook video sharing is extremely convenient, as you may choose groups of people to share your post with, make the recording "private" (invisible to anybody else) or set access for an exact person.
Here is a short instruction on Facebook video privacy settings.
Instagram settings may seem complicated, so it's better to check out their official help manual to make sure you share with the right people in the right way.
Important! Even if you post your videos in a private mode and nobody can see or search them, your content should still comply with the platform's rules. Your account may be blocked if the algorithms find something considered a rule violation. So make sure you go through their privacy terms and conditions to ensure your assets are safe and intact.
Enjoy your life and share good memories with your close ones!