Dailymotion is a video platform where creators upload, share, and monetize videos, similar to YouTube but smaller and with different rules for who can earn money

Dailymotion is a free video hosting and sharing platform based in France. You can upload videos, watch content from other creators, and earn money from ads if you meet their requirements. Unlike YouTube, Dailymotion has fewer restrictions on certain types of content and a simpler path to monetization for new creators — you do not need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to start earning.

The platform works much like YouTube: you create an account, upload video files, add titles and descriptions, and the platform hosts them. Viewers can watch, comment, and share. Dailymotion handles the video encoding and storage, so you do not need your own server. The main difference is audience size — Dailymotion has roughly 300 million monthly visitors compared to YouTube's 2.5 billion, so your videos will reach fewer people unless they go viral.

Key Takeaways

  • Dailymotion lets you monetize videos immediately without subscriber or watch-hour minimums, while YouTube requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours before you can earn.
  • The platform is free to use for uploading and hosting, but you keep a smaller share of ad revenue than you would on YouTube — typically 50% compared to YouTube's 55%.
  • Dailymotion's audience is much smaller than YouTube's, so videos reach fewer viewers unless they gain significant traction.
  • The platform allows some content types that YouTube restricts, including certain political commentary and adult-oriented material, though it still has community guidelines.

How monetization works on Dailymotion

To earn money on Dailymotion, you need a verified account and content that follows their community guidelines. Unlike YouTube, you do not have to wait for a subscriber milestone. You can turn on monetization as soon as you upload your first video, though Dailymotion reviews new channels for quality before ads appear on them.

Dailymotion uses a revenue-sharing model: the platform keeps 50% of ad revenue and pays you 50%. YouTube's split is 55% to creators and 45% to YouTube, so you earn slightly less per view on Dailymotion. However, because the barrier to entry is lower, many creators use Dailymotion as a secondary platform while building an audience on YouTube. Some creators upload the same video to both platforms to maximize earnings across both audiences.

Payment happens monthly via PayPal or bank transfer once you reach a minimum threshold (usually around $100). Dailymotion also offers a partnership program for high-performing channels that can include bonuses and better revenue terms, though the exact benefits vary.

Content restrictions and what you can upload

Dailymotion allows a broader range of content than YouTube in some areas. Political commentary, satire, and discussion of controversial topics face fewer automated takedowns. The platform also permits some adult-oriented content that YouTube would demonetize or remove, though it still prohibits illegal material, harassment, and explicit sexual content.

Like all platforms, Dailymotion has community guidelines that prohibit hate speech, violence, copyright infringement, and misinformation. Videos that violate these rules can be removed and your account suspended. The platform uses both automated systems and human reviewers to enforce these rules, though the process is generally slower and less aggressive than YouTube's.

If you are uploading videos that YouTube has demonetized or restricted, Dailymotion may allow them and let you earn from them. This makes it useful for creators working in politics, true crime, or other sensitive topics. However, you should still read Dailymotion's full community guidelines before uploading to avoid surprises.

Uploading and managing videos on Dailymotion

The upload process is straightforward. Log in, click the upload button, select your video file, and add a title, description, and tags. Dailymotion accepts most common formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, and WebM. File size limits are generous — up to 4 GB per video — so you can upload high-quality footage without compression.

After upload, Dailymotion encodes the video into multiple quality levels so viewers can watch at 480p, 720p, 1080p, or higher depending on their connection. This encoding takes time — usually 10 minutes to an hour depending on file size and platform load. During encoding, your video is not yet visible to the public.

Once live, you can edit the title, description, and tags anytime. You can also set privacy levels (public, unlisted, or private), add custom thumbnails, and organize videos into playlists. Dailymotion's creator dashboard shows view counts, watch time, and earnings in real time, similar to YouTube's analytics.

Audience size and discoverability compared to YouTube

Dailymotion's search and recommendation algorithm is less sophisticated than YouTube's, which means videos are harder to discover unless they already have momentum. YouTube's algorithm learns viewer behavior across billions of hours of watch time and can surface niche content to interested audiences. Dailymotion's algorithm is simpler and tends to promote videos that already have views and engagement.

This means success on Dailymotion often depends on driving your own traffic. If you have an existing audience on social media, email, or another platform, you can direct them to your Dailymotion videos and they will perform well. If you are starting from zero, YouTube is usually a better choice because its algorithm can help unknown creators gain traction.

That said, some creators use Dailymotion as a backup platform. If a video performs well on YouTube, uploading it to Dailymotion can generate additional views and revenue from a different audience. Some viewers prefer Dailymotion's interface or have privacy concerns about YouTube, so a secondary presence can be worthwhile.

Dailymotion versus YouTube for video creators

Choose Dailymotion if you want to start earning immediately without hitting subscriber thresholds, if your content is sensitive or political and might be demonetized on YouTube, or if you want a secondary platform to maximize revenue. The lower barrier to monetization and broader content policies make it attractive for creators who are frustrated with YouTube's restrictions.

Choose YouTube if you want the largest possible audience, the best recommendation algorithm, and the highest earning potential per view. YouTube's 2.5 billion monthly users and sophisticated discovery system mean your videos can reach far more people. YouTube also offers more tools for creators, including community posts, Super Chat, channel memberships, and merchandise integration.

Many successful creators use both. They upload to YouTube first because the audience is larger, then mirror videos to Dailymotion to capture additional views and revenue. This strategy works especially well for evergreen content like tutorials, reviews, or educational videos that do not depend on trending topics or algorithm timing.

Technical requirements and video editing considerations

Dailymotion does not require any specific video format or quality level. You can upload phone recordings, screen captures, or professionally edited footage. The platform will encode everything into multiple quality tiers automatically. However, higher-quality uploads perform better — viewers are more likely to watch and share polished content, which affects your earnings.

If you are editing videos for Dailymotion, aim for at least 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second. Use clear audio without background noise, and keep videos between 3 and 20 minutes for best performance (though longer videos are allowed). Dailymotion's algorithm favors watch time, so longer videos that keep viewers engaged earn more than short clips.

You will need video editing software to prepare your content. Free options like DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, or OpenShot work fine for beginners. Paid software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro offers more advanced features but is not necessary to start. The key is that your video is properly encoded and exported as an MP4 or similar format before uploading to Dailymotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload the same video to both YouTube and Dailymotion?

Yes. Many creators upload identical videos to both platforms to reach different audiences and earn from both. There is no rule against this, and it is a common strategy. Just make sure the video does not violate either platform's community guidelines.

How long does it take to get paid on Dailymotion?

Earnings are calculated monthly and paid out once you reach the minimum threshold (usually around $100). Payment arrives via PayPal or bank transfer within a few days of the payout date. If you do not reach the threshold in a given month, your earnings roll over to the next month.

What happens if my video gets demonetized on Dailymotion?

Dailymotion will notify you if a video violates monetization policies. You can appeal the decision or edit the video to comply with guidelines and request a review. If the video is removed entirely for violating community guidelines, you can appeal that decision as well, though the process is slower than YouTube's.

Do I need to be a certain age to monetize videos on Dailymotion?

You must be at least 18 years old to receive payments from Dailymotion. If you are younger, you can still upload and share videos, but you cannot enable monetization or receive earnings.

Is Dailymotion safe for uploading personal videos?

Dailymotion has privacy controls that let you set videos to private or unlisted so only people with the link can watch them. However, like any platform, once you upload content, you should assume it could be downloaded or shared. Do not upload anything you would not want public, even if you set it to private initially.