# Need advice on video hosting

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-video-hosting/853342>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 7, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-video-hosting/853342 "2020-05-07T17:27:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-video-hosting/853342/1 "2020-05-07T17:27:12Z")

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I have put together some content, which I wish to share, but very selectively so. What is the lowest cost option where I can upload a video where I can control who can view the content? Preferably also make it difficult to download and share. Your advice is welcome.

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**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-video-hosting/853342/2 "2020-05-07T19:48:04Z")

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The obvious answer is private videos on YouTube. Is there some reason you’ve rejected that option?

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**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-video-hosting/853342/3 "2020-05-07T21:25:13Z")

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> [@markn\_1](#):
>
> The obvious answer is private videos on YouTube. Is there some reason you’ve rejected that option?

Ignorance, mainly. I only know youtube as a very open source of videos. Secondarily, I know videos on youtube can fairly easily be downloaded and copy, and ideally I’d like thatvto be more difficult.

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-video-hosting/853342/4 "2020-05-07T22:38:28Z")

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On YouTube, you can make videos unlisted, so that only people you share the URL with can see it. But they can always share and/or download it.

For a bit of money ($12/mo?) you can put it on Vimeo instead, where you can limit sharing by password, or with certain people. You can also “disable” downloads. I say “disable” because it just hides the download option, but people can still pirate it if they try hard enough (such as with a screen recording). In general, if you want better protection than that you’re going to have to use a DRM solution, and those are hit and miss.  
If you are a developer (or want to hire one) you can also use [Cloudflare Stream](https://www.cloudflare.com/products/cloudflare-stream/), which includes functionality to make a [unique signed URL](https://developers.cloudflare.com/stream/security/signed-urls/) for every person you want, that is only valid for a set duration.

But, again, none of these are foolproof. Anybody can still pirate your video if they try hard enough. They just make casual drive-by downloads less likely.

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**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-video-hosting/853342/5 "2020-05-07T22:48:54Z")

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Right, if you can play a file from any site, you can download it, if you’re willing to make a little effort.