--- title: How does the Lightcast video quality compare to YouTube's? description: The quality of the video is dependent on the original file you upload to our servers. Lightcast transcodes the video file in 12 different bitrates and formats to make it viewable on every device and e --- ![company logo](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/hs-fs/hubfs/test-header.png?height=120&name=test-header.png) [Support Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/) - [Open a Support Ticket](https://mediacloud.dev.lightcast.com/support-center/open-ticket) - - [Go to Customer Portal](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tickets) YouTube Video Publishing - [Getting Started](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/getting-started) - [Video Guides](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides) - [Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#subtitles) - [Audio Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#audio-archive) - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#sub-channels) - [Watermarks](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#watermarks) - [Video Minutes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-minutes) - [Account Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#account-settings) - 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[Video on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#miscellaneous) - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#sub-channels) - [Facebook Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#facebook-video-publishing) - [Trailers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#trailers) - [YouTube Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#youtube-video-publishing) - [Video Upload](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-upload) - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#media-groups) - [Closed Captions - Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#closed-captions-subtitles) - [Video Export](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-export) - [Scheduled Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#scheduled-publishing) - [Troubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#troubleshooting) - [Watermarks Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#watermarks-feature) - [Geo Blocking](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#geo-blocking) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/miscellaneous) - [Bandwidth Usage (Video Minutes)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/bandwidth-usage-video-minutes) - [Lightcast API](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-api) - [Tips Of The Week](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tips-of-the-week) - [Audio on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/audio-on-demand) - [Release Notes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/release-notes) - [Storage & Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding) - [Storage](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#storage) - [Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#transcoding) - [Analytics](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/analytics) - [Platforms & App Stores](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores) - [Chromecast/Google Cast & Apple AirPlay Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#chromecast-google-cast-apple-airplay-publishing) - [AndroidTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#androidtv) - [Amazon FireTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#amazon-firetv) - [Mobile Devices/Mobile Apps](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#mobile-devices-mobile-apps) - [Podcast Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#podcast-channels) - [AppleTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#appletv) - [WebApp](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#webapp) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#general) - [Roku](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#roku) - [App Ownership](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#app-ownership) - [Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming) - [LIVE-to-VOD](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-to-vod) - [Simulated Live](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#simulated-live) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#miscellaneous) - [Toubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#toubleshooting) - [VOD-to-LIVE](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#vod-to-live) - [Facebook Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#facebook-live-streaming) - [YouTube Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#youtube-live-streaming) - [Live Encoder / Encoder Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-encoder-encoder-settings) - [Multi-Bitrate Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#multi-bitrate-streaming) - [Pay-per-View (PPV) for Live Events](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#pay-per-view-ppv-for-live-events) - [Livestream DVR](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#livestream-dvr) - [24/7 Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming) - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#24-7-cloud-scheduler) - [Linear Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#linear-streaming) - [Lightcast DRM](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-drm) - [Code Authentication](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/code-authentication) - [Payment & Billing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/payment-billing) - [Video Advertising (AVOD/ALIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive) - [Publishers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#publishers) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#general) - [Advertisers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#advertisers) - [Lightcast EasyPay](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay) - [Lightcast EasyPay for Subscription Content (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-subscription-content-svod-slive) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#miscellaneous) - [Lightcast EasyPay for Donations](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-donations) - [Lightcast Academy](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy) - [Account Training](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy#account-training) - [Subscription System (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/subscription-system-svod-slive) - [Pay-Per-View (PPV)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/pay-per-view-ppv) - [Media Player](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#general) - [Player Embed Tool](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-embed-tool) - [Player Sharing Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-sharing-feature) - [Player Configurator](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-configurator) [Back to home](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/) 1. [Support Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/) 2. [Video on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand) 3. YouTube Video Publishing - [Getting Started](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/getting-started) - [Video Guides](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides) - [Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#subtitles) - [Audio Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#audio-archive) - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#sub-channels) - [Watermarks](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#watermarks) - [Video Minutes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-minutes) - [Account Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#account-settings) - [Workflow Presets](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#workflow-presets) - [App Builder](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#app-builder) - [Player Customization](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#player-customization) - [Pay-Per-View](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#pay-per-view) - [Media Stats Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-stats-center) - [Revenue](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#revenue) - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-groups) - [Video Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-archive) - [Platforms](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#platforms) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#miscellaneous) - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#24-7-cloud-scheduler) - [Live Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#live-channels) - [VOD Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#vod-channels) - [Video on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#miscellaneous) - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#sub-channels) - [Facebook Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#facebook-video-publishing) - [Trailers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#trailers) - [YouTube Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#youtube-video-publishing) - [Video Upload](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-upload) - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#media-groups) - [Closed Captions - Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#closed-captions-subtitles) - [Video Export](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-export) - [Scheduled Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#scheduled-publishing) - [Troubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#troubleshooting) - [Watermarks Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#watermarks-feature) - [Geo Blocking](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#geo-blocking) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/miscellaneous) - [Bandwidth Usage (Video Minutes)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/bandwidth-usage-video-minutes) - [Lightcast API](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-api) - [Tips Of The Week](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tips-of-the-week) - [Audio on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/audio-on-demand) - [Release Notes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/release-notes) - [Storage & Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding) - [Storage](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#storage) - [Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#transcoding) - [Analytics](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/analytics) - [Platforms & App Stores](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores) - [Chromecast/Google Cast & Apple AirPlay Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#chromecast-google-cast-apple-airplay-publishing) - [AndroidTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#androidtv) - [Amazon FireTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#amazon-firetv) - [Mobile Devices/Mobile Apps](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#mobile-devices-mobile-apps) - [Podcast Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#podcast-channels) - [AppleTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#appletv) - [WebApp](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#webapp) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#general) - [Roku](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#roku) - [App Ownership](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#app-ownership) - [Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming) - [LIVE-to-VOD](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-to-vod) - [Simulated Live](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#simulated-live) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#miscellaneous) - [Toubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#toubleshooting) - [VOD-to-LIVE](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#vod-to-live) - [Facebook Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#facebook-live-streaming) - [YouTube Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#youtube-live-streaming) - [Live Encoder / Encoder Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-encoder-encoder-settings) - [Multi-Bitrate Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#multi-bitrate-streaming) - [Pay-per-View (PPV) for Live Events](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#pay-per-view-ppv-for-live-events) - [Livestream DVR](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#livestream-dvr) - [24/7 Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming) - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#24-7-cloud-scheduler) - [Linear Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#linear-streaming) - [Lightcast DRM](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-drm) - [Code Authentication](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/code-authentication) - [Payment & Billing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/payment-billing) - [Video Advertising (AVOD/ALIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive) - [Publishers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#publishers) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#general) - [Advertisers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#advertisers) - [Lightcast EasyPay](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay) - [Lightcast EasyPay for Subscription Content (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-subscription-content-svod-slive) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#miscellaneous) - [Lightcast EasyPay for Donations](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-donations) - [Lightcast Academy](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy) - [Account Training](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy#account-training) - [Subscription System (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/subscription-system-svod-slive) - [Pay-Per-View (PPV)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/pay-per-view-ppv) - [Media Player](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#general) - [Player Embed Tool](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-embed-tool) - [Player Sharing Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-sharing-feature) - [Player Configurator](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-configurator) # How does the Lightcast video quality compare to YouTube's? The quality of the video is dependent on the original file you upload to our servers. Lightcast transcodes the video file in 12 different bitrates and formats to make it viewable on every device and even for viewers with 3G cellphone connections or low bandwidths available.  The viewing quality adapts to the available bandwidth of each viewer's device/location. Provided that you uploaded the same video file to YouTube and that you are watching it on the same device, at the same location, in the same local network, with the same internet connection (apx. at the same time) - you will receive a similar bitrate/video quality from both platforms. That said, YouTube is only a video sharing site (comparable to [CROSS.TV](http://www.cross.tv/home/692512)) and not an OVP or CDN, thus in most cases not making the same HD qualities available.  The YouTube and the Lightcast Players provide similar bitrate adaptive technology and both allow viewers to switch between different bitrate qualities. [![company logo](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled-2.png?height=120&name=Untitled-2.png)](https://mediacloud.lightcast.com) - [![facebook_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/facebook_circle_color.png)](https://www.facebook.com/lightcastinc) - [![twitter_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/twitter_circle_color.png)](https://twitter.com/lightcast_inc) - [![linkedin_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/linkedin_circle_color.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightcast/) - [Open a Support Ticket](https://mediacloud.dev.lightcast.com/support-center/open-ticket) - - [Go to Customer Portal](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tickets)