Best Free Webseries Platforms: Where to Watch & Submit Your Work

Best Free Webseries Platforms: Where to Watch & Submit Your Work

The digital landscape has revolutionized storytelling. Webseries, short-form episodic content distributed online, have emerged as a vibrant and accessible medium for both creators and viewers. Breaking free from the constraints of traditional television, webseries offer niche narratives, experimental formats, and a direct connection between artists and audiences. This article explores the best platforms for watching and, crucially, submitting your own webseries, all while navigating the complex world of free content.

Platforms for Watching Webseries (Free Options)

The internet is awash with platforms offering free webseries. However, quality, legality, and user experience vary significantly. Here’s a curated list of platforms offering a compelling viewing experience:

• 

  YouTube: The undisputed king of online video, YouTube offers a staggering library of webseries, ranging from amateur productions to professionally funded projects. Its open platform allows anyone to upload content, leading to incredible diversity.

  • Pros: Massive audience reach, monetization opportunities (through the YouTube Partner Program), customizable channels, extensive search functionality, integration with Google services.
  • Cons: High competition, algorithm-driven visibility (making it hard to get discovered), ad saturation, varying content quality, potential for copyright infringement.
  • Focus: Independent creators, vlogs, educational content, short films, music videos, and increasingly, serialized narratives.

• Vimeo: Known for its focus on high-quality independent films and artistic expression, Vimeo provides a more curated viewing experience than YouTube. While it offers both free and paid content, a significant number of excellent webseries are available for free viewing.

  • Pros: High video quality, ad-free viewing (on certain tiers), supportive community, emphasis on artistic merit, stronger copyright protection.
  • Cons: Smaller audience compared to YouTube, less emphasis on monetization for free creators, subscription fees for advanced features.
  • Focus: Independent filmmakers, animators, documentaries, short films, and visually stunning webseries.

• Dailymotion: Another major video-sharing platform, Dailymotion hosts a wide range of content, including news clips, sports highlights, and, importantly, webseries. While it might not have the same level of prestige as Vimeo, it offers a valuable alternative.

  • Pros: Large audience reach, diverse content library, monetization options, relatively easy content uploading.
  • Cons: Lower video quality compared to Vimeo, ad-supported viewing, less emphasis on independent creators.
  • Focus: News, sports, entertainment, and a mix of amateur and professional webseries.

• Facebook Watch: Facebook’s video platform has been steadily growing in popularity. It hosts a variety of original content, including some webseries, and allows creators to build communities around their shows.

  • Pros: Massive user base, built-in social networking features, community building tools, potential for viral reach.
  • Cons: Algorithm-driven visibility, focus on short-form content, monetization can be complex, data privacy concerns.
  • Focus: Short-form entertainment, vlogs, live streams, and webseries aimed at specific demographics.

• Tubi: This platform focuses on providing free, ad-supported movies and TV shows. While not exclusively dedicated to webseries, Tubi often features independent productions and lesser-known series that you might not find elsewhere.

  • Pros: Completely free to watch, large library of movies and TV shows, availability on various devices.
  • Cons: Ad-supported viewing, limited selection of webseries compared to YouTube or Vimeo, content quality can vary.
  • Focus: Independent films, classic movies, and a selection of webseries, often with a focus on genre content.

• Crackle: Owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Crackle offers a curated selection of free, ad-supported movies and TV shows, including some original webseries.

  • Pros: Free to watch, original content, professionally produced shows, availability on multiple platforms.
  • Cons: Ad-supported viewing, limited selection compared to larger streaming services, content availability varies by region.
  • Focus: Original webseries, classic TV shows, and a mix of Hollywood films.

• Internet Archive: A digital library of websites, books, music, and videos, the Internet Archive hosts a treasure trove of older and obscure webseries, often unavailable elsewhere.

  • Pros: Completely free, vast archive of content, historical significance, access to rare and forgotten webseries.
  • Cons: Content quality can vary greatly, navigation can be challenging, legal status of some content may be unclear.
  • Focus: Archival content, historical webseries, and independent productions from the early days of the internet.

• Dedicated Webseries Websites: Numerous websites are dedicated solely to showcasing webseries. These platforms often offer a more curated experience and highlight independent creators. Examples include Highball.TV and various genre-specific sites. These sites often have submission guidelines that are readily available.

  • Pros: Curated content, focus on independent creators, supportive community, potential for niche audiences.
  • Cons: Smaller audience reach compared to larger platforms, monetization options may be limited, content quality can vary.
  • Focus: Independent webseries, genre-specific content, and emerging talent.

Submitting Your Webseries: A Guide for Creators

Creating a webseries is only half the battle. Getting it seen requires a strategic approach to platform selection and submission. Here’s a breakdown of how to submit your work to the platforms listed above:

• YouTube: The most straightforward platform for uploading.

  • Process: Create a YouTube channel, upload your videos, optimize your titles and descriptions with relevant keywords, create eye-catching thumbnails, and promote your channel on social media.
  • Tips: Use playlists to organize your episodes, engage with your audience in the comments section, and consider using YouTube Analytics to track your performance.
  • Monetization: Apply for the YouTube Partner Program once you meet the eligibility requirements (1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid watch hours in the past 12 months).

• Vimeo: While offering a more curated experience, Vimeo also allows creators to upload their content.

  • Process: Create a Vimeo account, upload your videos in high quality, tag your videos with relevant keywords, and consider using Vimeo On Demand to sell your series.
  • Tips: Focus on visual aesthetics, engage with the Vimeo community, and consider entering your series in Vimeo Staff Picks.
  • Monetization: Vimeo offers various monetization options, including Vimeo On Demand, Vimeo Pro, and Vimeo Business.

• Dailymotion: Similar to YouTube, Dailymotion allows creators to upload their content.

  • Process: Create a Dailymotion account, upload your videos, optimize your titles and descriptions, and promote your channel on social media.
  • Tips: Use playlists to organize your episodes, engage with your audience, and consider using Dailymotion Analytics to track your performance.
  • Monetization: Dailymotion offers monetization options through its advertising program.

• Facebook Watch: Requires creating a Facebook Page for your webseries.

  • Process: Create a Facebook Page, upload your videos to Facebook Watch, engage with your audience, and use Facebook Ads to promote your series.
  • Tips: Use Facebook Live to interact with your fans, create engaging content that encourages sharing, and use Facebook Insights to track your performance.
  • Monetization: Facebook offers monetization options through in-stream ads and branded content.

• Tubi & Crackle: These platforms typically acquire content through distribution agreements or partnerships with production companies. Submitting directly is often difficult.

  • Process: Contact distribution companies that specialize in independent films and webseries. Prepare a comprehensive pitch package, including a synopsis, trailer, and budget.
  • Tips: Attend film festivals and markets to network with distributors and buyers. Research the types of content that Tubi and Crackle typically acquire.

• Internet Archive: Uploading to the Internet Archive is relatively straightforward.

  • Process: Create an Internet Archive account, upload your videos, and add metadata to describe your series.
  • Tips: Ensure your content is properly licensed. Consider using Creative Commons licenses to allow others to share your work.

• Dedicated Webseries Websites: Submission guidelines vary widely.

  • Process: Research websites that align with your webseries’ genre and style. Carefully review their submission guidelines. Prepare a pitch package that includes a synopsis, trailer, and episode links.
  • Tips: Tailor your pitch to each platform. Highlight what makes your series unique and why it would be a good fit for their audience.

Important Considerations for Creators:

• Copyright: Ensure you own the rights to all the content in your webseries, including music, footage, and graphics.
• Quality: Invest in good sound and visuals. Even a low-budget webseries can benefit from professional-quality production.
• Marketing: Promote your webseries on social media, film festivals, and online communities.
• Engagement: Interact with your audience. Respond to comments, host Q&As, and build a community around your series.