What is PeerTube and what is JoinPeerTube.org?
PeerTube is free, open-source software for sharing online videos, developed by Framasoft, a French non-profit. JoinPeerTube.org is the official site that explains what PeerTube is, points you to recommended content and platforms, and guides you toward using it. The core difference from mainstream video sites: PeerTube is decentralized, has no ads, does not track you, and is not subject to the monopoly of any single company. If you want to understand what PeerTube actually is before deciding whether to use it, this covers the essentials.
What PeerTube actually is
PeerTube is not one website. It is a tool that lets anyone create their own video platform, in complete independence. Each platform is built, managed, and moderated by its own owners — so there is no single opaque algorithm or one-size-fits-all moderation policy governing everything you see.
Those platforms can then be connected to each other, forming a large network of platforms that are simultaneously autonomous and interconnected. This is what "decentralized" means in practice: many independent sites that can still surface each other's content.
According to JoinPeerTube.org, the network spans more than 1,600 platforms and around 1,000,000 videos, with over 600,000 hosted videos, more than 70 million views, and 150,000 users.
How it differs from Big Tech video platforms
| Dimension | PeerTube | Typical Big Tech video platform |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Free, open-source software created for non-commercial purposes by Framasoft | Proprietary platform owned by a company |
| Control | Each platform is run and moderated by its own owners | Centralized rules and recommendation systems |
| Advertising | No advertising | Ad-supported |
| Tracking | Does not track you | Profiling and behavioral tracking |
| Structure | Autonomous platforms connected into one network | Single centralized service |
The site frames this directly: PeerTube is "a free software, not a secret formula that belongs to Google (in the case of YouTube) or to Vivendi/Bolloré (Dailymotion)." It treats you as a person rather than a product to be profiled and locked into video loops.
Why the open-source license matters
PeerTube is released under a free/libre license, which the site says guarantees fundamental freedoms for users. In practical terms, that means:
- You can help improve PeerTube with ideas or suggestions.
- You can modify the source code yourself.
- The software is an ethical, open-source digital common rather than a closed product.
This is the mechanism behind the independence claim: because the code is open and the platforms are separately owned, no single entity can unilaterally change the rules for everyone.
Using PeerTube on mobile
PeerTube is also available as a mobile app, which lets you discover, watch, and share videos hosted across the entire federated network in one interface. Documented capabilities include:
- Browsing the fediverse — browse thousands of channels and videos across multiple PeerTube instances, with content from the whole federation gathered together.
- Playback — quality settings, subtitles, and full-screen mode, without tracking or ads.
- Offline viewing — download and watch videos without a connection; the site states no premium subscription is required for this.
- Publishing — use the video manager to publish videos from your phone, edit metadata, or view statistics.
What you'll find on JoinPeerTube.org
The site is a starting point rather than a platform itself. It offers:
- An explanation of what PeerTube is and who makes it.
- Recommendations selected from across the network's videos and platforms.
- Directories of platforms created with PeerTube and videos hosted on them.
- Guidance if you have questions about getting started.
If your goal is simply to watch videos, you can go straight to a PeerTube platform or the mobile app. If your goal is to host your own videos under your own rules, the site's guidance is the place to start.