The TikTok vs. YouTube rivalry has consequences, as each platform is better suited for specific viewers and creators.
Here’s how to decide if TikTok or YouTube is better for you.
Overall Findings
Videos are fast and brief, with a maximum of three minutes.
UI immediately delivers new videos based on an algorithm.
Creators are paid from a shared fund.
Over 1 billion monthly active users.
Videos of varying styles and lengths.
UI focuses on subscriptions and recommendations.
2.5 billion monthly active users.
As of 2024, YouTube has over twice the number of monthly active users than TikTok.
The rivals also differ in presentation.
YouTube is driven through subscriptions, recommendations, and searches.
YouTube is happy when viewers stay engaged with long videos.
TikTok is a quicker, more immediate experience that moves viewers straight from one video to the next.
TikTok wants to keep users engaging with new videos and seeing new, fresh creators.
Creators have different experiences.
Supported Devices and Availability: Both Are Nearly Universal
Launched as an app for mobile devices.
Now available as a website.
Also available on most smart TVs.
Best for vertical video.
Launched as a website.
Now available as an app for mobile devices.
Best for horizontal video.
YouTube and TikTok have different origins.
YouTube was created for use through a web web client, while TikTok was built for use on mobile.
This still influences the look and feel of each platform.
Both companies have put effort into expanding the reach of their platform.
YouTube has apps for iOS and Android, while TikTok can be viewed through a web surfing app.
Both have apps available on most brands of smart TVs.
However, there’s an important difference in the punch in of videos each supports.
YouTube supports both horizontal and vertical video but leans heavily towards horizontal video.
TikTok only supports vertical video.
As a result, TikTok works best on smartphones, while YouTube is best for PCs and televisions.
Both are banned in some countries.
YouTube is banned in China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, and Turkmenistan.
TikTok is banned in India, Iran, Afghanistan, and other countries.
Reach and Audience: TikTok Is Big, YouTube Is Huge
1 billion monthly viewers.
Popular in Mexico, United States, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Average year-over-year growth around 20 percent.
2.5 billion monthly viewers.
Popular in India, United States, Thailand, and UK.
Year-over-year growth is slowing.
YouTube and TikTok are both popular and influential, but YouTube has a big lead.
It’s the second most popular social media platform in the world withover 2.5 billion monthly active users.
TikTok has 1 billion monthly active users, which is hugebut far less than YouTube.
The audience differs significantly.
YouTube is preferred in India and Thailand, while TikTok is very strong in Mexico and Brazil.
Both apps are popular in the United States, Russia, Pakistan, and most Western European countries.
Most videos are less than a minute long.
Most videos are brief and to the point.
Videos can be any length.
Most videos are around 10 minutes long.
Very wide variety of video content.
The length of content differs.
YouTube supports varying lengths, from Shorts that last seconds to documentary and podcast-style videos over ten hours long.
YouTube hasn’t published its platform-wide average video length recently, but 10 minutes long is a decent guess.
TikTok is more focused on short videos that last a minute or less.
YouTube is also embracing this with a format called Shorts.
Individual creators can be difficult to follow.
Works best on vertical displays.
UI is focused on subscriptions and recommendations.
Individual creators are easy to follow.
Works best on horizontal displays.
YouTube and TikTok are both video platforms, so the core of the user experience is similar.
Users visit each to see videos and, once a video is over, are guided to another video.
TikTok skews towards using an algorithm to immediately serve up a new video that will engage your interest.
Leaping to new videos is quicker, especially on mobile, but viewers may feel less connected with creators.
Focus on views to sustain a channel.
Minimum of 100,000 views in last 30 days for payment.
Most creators make videos with third-party software.
Focus on gaining subscriptions to sustain a channel.
YouTube and TikTok offer different experiences for creators.
Signing up to create on both platforms is simple.
It’s possible to edit and post entirely within each platform.
Most YouTube creators use a third-party video editor.
An exception to this is YouTube’s Shorts, which are TikTok-like videos.
These are paid through the YouTube Shorts Fund.
Both platforms let anyone create and upload videos, but have a baseline for payment.
TikTok requires 100,000 “authentic video views” within the last 30 days.
YouTube is a more popular platform in terms of monthly active users.
The breadth of content on YouTube is made possible by its more favorable creator’s program.
YouTube offers a better share of the revenue.
TikTok has its place, however.
TikTok is great at keeping viewers engaged and entertained.
FAQ
YouTubers vs. TikTokers was an amateur boxing event in 2021 between stars of both platforms.
In the end, YouTubes McBroom defeated TikToks Hall in three rounds.
Togo live on TikTok, launch the TikTok app and tap theplus signat the bottom of the screen.
Next to the recording icon, tapLive.
Enter a title for your livestream, and then tapGo Liveto begin your stream.
TikTok users who qualify for livestreams can also create Live Events.
