Overview
PeerTube is a decentralized, federated video hosting platform built with Node.js and ActivityPub. Videos are served peer-to-peer via WebTorrent directly in the browser, reducing server bandwidth. Instances can federate with each other and with Mastodon, allowing cross-instance following and discovery. It supports video upload, live streaming, playlists, subtitles, and channel management. Server setup requires Node.js, PostgreSQL, Redis, and a reverse proxy.
Where it falls short of Netflix
- Server setup is complex, requiring PostgreSQL, Redis, Node.js, and nginx; no official Docker Compose for production.
- P2P seeding can expose viewer IP addresses unless a proxy mode is enabled.
- No recommendation algorithm; content discovery is limited across the federated network.
- Monetization and subscription/paywall features are absent or rudimentary.
We list the gaps honestly so you can decide if the trade-off is worth owning your data.
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