# Vimeo vs YouTube

The clearest difference is ads: Vimeo at none against YouTube's shown. YouTube's advantage is ratings volume (49M vs 12K) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Vimeo sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and YouTube sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

YouTube holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: YouTube has 49M ratings behind it against 12K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of Vimeo's written reviews are positive against 48% of YouTube's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Vimeo ships an update fortnightly, YouTube weekly. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Vimeo | YouTube |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vimeo/id425194759/reviews) | **[4.7 (49M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube/id544007664/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12K | **49M** |
| Positive reviews | **49.2% of reviews** | 48.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #20 | **#1** |
| Size | 149 MB | 375 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Vimeo.com, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/425194762) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Vimeo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vimeo/id425194759)

**Currently charting:** #20 Top Free · Photo & Video, #54 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Watch and upload high-quality videos in 4K HDR without ads. Access AI-powered tools for script generation and text-based editing, and collaborate with teams. Save videos for offline viewing and stream live events.

**Highlights:** Ad-free 4K Ultra HD video playback, AI-powered script generation, Built-in teleprompter for recording, Text-based video editing, Live streaming capabilities, Offline video viewing, Team collaboration and management

**Features:** SharePlay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vimeo Plus Monthly - 5GB/week | $11.99 | per month |
| Vimeo Starter Monthly | $20.00 | per month |
| Vimeo Pro Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Vimeo Standard Monthly | $41.00 | per month |
| Vimeo Plus Annual | $83.99 | per year |
| Vimeo Monthly plan | $109.99 | per month |
| Vimeo Advanced Monthly | $124.99 | per month |
| Vimeo Starter Annual | $143.99 | per year |
| Vimeo Standard Annual | $300.00 | per year |
| Vimeo Advanced Annual | $900.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Great video quality
- 💡 Spatial video support
- 🚀 Fast and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Search function not working
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 💰 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted videos not recoverable
- Purchased videos not accessible
- Inconsistent playback performance
- Unreliable upload and sync

**Requested features**

- Improved search functionality
- Better video management tools
- Offline viewing options
- More customization and control
- Easier account management


### YouTube

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube/id544007664)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #2 Top Grossing, #5 Top Free · Photo & Video, #38 Top Free (US App Store)

Watch and subscribe to a vast array of videos, from music and gaming to news and learning. Discover trending content, connect with creators, and even upload your own videos. Offers options for ad-free viewing and exclusive perks.

**Highlights:** Personalized video recommendations, Subscribe to favorite channels, Explore trending and popular content, Connect with creators via comments and posts, Create and upload videos, Ad-free viewing with Premium, Save videos for offline playback

**Features:** Siri integration, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Lite | $11.99 | per month |
| FOX One | $19.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium | $20.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium | $20.99 | per month |
| Youtube Premium Family | $34.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium Family | $34.99 | per month |
| Super Chat | $1.99 | one-time |
| Movies & Shows | $2.99 | one-time |
| Movies & Shows | $3.99 | one-time |
| Super Chat | $4.99 | one-time |
| Movies & Shows | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great app
- 🎨 Diverse content
- 🎓 Educational videos
- 🎶 Excellent music selection
- 🌐 Vast library of videos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Too many ads
- 🤖 Biased algorithm recommendations
- 🔇 Inability to listen with screen off
- 🔍 Difficult to find relevant content
- 🔒 Censorship concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Video playback issues
- Subscription tab bugs
- Inconsistent UI changes
- Syncing problems across devices
- Unreliable video recommendations

**Requested features**

- Bring back dislike button
- Improve playlist management
- Add option to customize video quality
- Enhance background playback
- Improve comment section functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Vimeo free?

Vimeo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is YouTube free?

YouTube is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Vimeo or YouTube?

YouTube is rated higher. Vimeo averages 4.5 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while YouTube averages 4.7 from 49M ratings.

### Do Vimeo or YouTube have ads?

YouTube shows ads; Vimeo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Vimeo or YouTube?

Vimeo ships an update fortnightly, and YouTube weekly. Most recently, Vimeo was updated on September 26, 2026 and YouTube on September 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Vimeo or YouTube?

Vimeo currently peaks at #20 in the App Store charts, and YouTube at #1. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*