Odysee Review: Worth It? (Not for Everyone)

Odysee is a video-sharing platform that promises more freedom, fewer restrictions, and the ability to earn crypto just by creating or supporting content.

That sounds very appealing, especially if you are tired of traditional platforms like YouTube.

But as with anything that claims you can earn online, it is important to understand how it actually works before you sign up. So, in this Odysee review, I will break down exactly what it offers, how you can earn from it, and whether it is really worth your time.

And let me just tell you right now that there are a few important things you need to know before you sign up. So, let’s begin.

What is Odysee, and what does it offer?

Odysee is a decentralized video platform built on the LBRY blockchain. In simple terms, it is a YouTube alternative where videos are stored and distributed using blockchain technology instead of relying on one central company.

And since it technically functions like YouTube, you can expect to earn by uploading original videos.

Now, to figure out if it is worth your time, the first step is to understand how its earning opportunities work. And the only way to do so is to take a closer look at the earning opportunities it offers, so you will have a clear idea of how you can supposedly earn from it.

So, here’s how you can earn rewards from Odysee.

Option 1 – Uploading Videos

Originally, Odysee offered a way for you to earn rewards just by watching videos and commenting on them. However, it has since removed this earning opportunity.

Now, the primary way to earn from Odysee is to become a content creator and upload your original videos to the platform. You can also synchronize your YouTube channel to your Odysee account, so you can have videos on your Odysee channel.

But in general, this is not something I would personally do or recommend, as you never know how YouTube might react to this.

Also, this feature has several limitations, which is why it is recommended that you upload your videos to the Odysee platform instead, if you decide to use it.

The first step to earning from uploading videos is to create your Odysee channel (just like you usually would with YouTube).

After your channel is created, you can start uploading videos. After doing so, you’re still not guaranteed to earn rewards. This is a very important thing to remember. But, as of the writing of this review, the platform has disabled the monetization features because it is in the process of switching from one form of cryptocurrency to another (more on this later).

I will update this review if and when the monetization feature is available. Now, if the monetization feature is enabled, the way to earn from the videos you upload is when a person decides to support your video or your channel by leaving a tip.

It’s up to them how much they want to tip you. So, the biggest difference with YouTube is that you won’t be relying on the platform for income. Instead, you’ll have to upload fun and interesting videos that people who watched it feel compelled to leave a tip.

It’s a very hard way to earn, in my opinion. And from what I saw when I was testing the site, most videos are from independent content creators, which means the topics of the videos are quite niche. Sure, there are videos that you can usually see on YouTube, but there aren’t that many.

So, I’m not exactly sure if it’s the best way to earn as a content creator. From what I could see when I tested it, the main selling point of Odysee is that it is an ad-free, community-supported platform. While it all sounds good on paper, it’s also the biggest drawback for content creators looking to earn.

An ad-free, community-supported platform also means your income will solely rely on people finding enough value in the videos you upload that they feel compelled to leave a tip. If that is the path you have to take to earn as a content creator, you are better off joining well-established streaming platforms like Twitch, in my opinion. You’ll have a better chance of getting tips from viewers because you can interact with them.

Another way to earn from Odysee is to set a video for rent or purchase. You’ll be paid in the form of the crypto the platform supports (more on this later). You can set the price of how much your videos cost, but to be honest, this is not the ideal platform to use for this method of earning.

There are better freelance sites that you can use to earn from videos you create, in my opinion. This is why this earning opportunity is not exactly an easy way to earn.

Another drawback I noticed during testing is that the videos you click load slowly. That alone makes it not an ideal platform to host videos, in my opinion. People are used to YouTube’s speed, so the fact that Odysee is slower can turn people off.

Option 2 – Referral Program

The other way to earn from Odysee is through its referral program. You can earn LBRY credits by sharing your referral link with the person you want to invite. Then, when they click the link and sign up as a member, they will become your referral.

Then, you’ll receive LBRY credits for doing so. Unfortunately, LBRY credits aren’t exactly doing well, and their value is down. The developers of the LBRY blockchain, the company that created LBC (LBRY Credits), officially wound down operations after losing a legal battle with the U.S. SEC and accruing large debts.

This is the reason why Odysee is moving from the LBRY blockchain to the Arweave Network. So, as of the moment, you are stuck with earning LBC from its referral program, which is at risk of losing its monetary value over time because its developer is not actively supporting it anymore.

That’s why this earning opportunity is not very profitable, in my opinion.

Recommended: Check Out the Top GPT Sites

How do you get paid?

As explained above, Odysee’s payment system has transitioned from the LBRY blockchain to the Arweave Network. As you can see in the photo below, it has announced that LBC will be going away soon, and it will be using the AR cryptocurrency for monetization.

You can still withdraw your LBC earnings to any crypto wallet that supports it. But if you are really interested in joining Odysee, you’ll need to create a Wander wallet, so you can withdraw your AR crypto earnings in the future when its monetization feature is resumed.

As for the threshold you must reach to withdraw your earnings, the website says you can withdraw any amount you want. You just have to account for the transaction fee involved upon withdrawal. So, it is best to only withdraw your earnings when you’ve accumulated a significant amount.

Now, one thing you must remember if you want to earn from Odysee is that you’ll need to enable the monetization of your videos. Once you do that, you can receive tips and set up a paywall so people can pay to see your videos.

Overall, I would say their payout system isn’t that great because you are limited to one option. Aside from that, it doesn’t offer cash payments. So, if you prefer to earn cash, then I recommend you check out the top sites that pay via PayPal instead.

How much money can you make?

The breakdown of how its monetization feature works is not available on the platform. But if you base it on the information shown above, I would say its earning potential is very low.

The fact that you can only earn from videos if people choose to leave a tip means there’s no guarantee you can earn from it.

And if you decide to lock your videos behind a paywall (meaning people have to pay to watch them), it will require a different strategy to earn that involves a lot of time and effort. You’ll have to market the videos you are offering, and that involves a lot of work.

Based on my testing, it doesn’t offer a lot of value to content creators and even to viewers who are looking to earn, because your earnings will be tied to the value of the crypto it supports.

While the idea of a video-sharing platform being run on a blockchain is unique, its real-world implications are not profitable, in my opinion.

Can you use it on mobile?

The best thing about Odysee, in my opinion, is that it has a mobile app you can download. The app works on both Android and iOS devices, so you can use your phone to manage your account.

But in terms of the process involved for earning from the platform, it will require the use of a computer because you’ll be creating videos to upload, and you can’t edit them using your mobile phone. Sure, there’s always an option to use mobile apps to edit videos, but based on my experience, these apps don’t offer a lot of good features.

When editing videos, it is still best to use your computer.

Who can join Odysee?

Odysee is available worldwide, or at least in countries where crypto is not banned. To join, you must be at least 13 years of age.

To sign up as a member, you just have to fill out the registration form. During sign-up, you can choose to synchronize your YouTube channel to your Odysee account, but I’ll be honest with you, I never got the chance to test this feature because I don’t want my YouTube videos to appear on this platform.

So, I can’t say more about how that feature works. After you are done signing up, you must click the verification link in the email that Odysee will send to you. Once you do that, you can log in to the platform and start setting up your channel.

Can you get support?

Odysee has an extensive FAQ section you can check out. It discusses most of the basic topics you need to know about the platform. However, you won’t find a lot of useful information regarding the monetization feature, probably because they have disabled it.

That’s just my guess, so if you have questions about how to earn, you must contact its support team instead to resolve your concerns. You can do so by sending your inquiry via email to help@odysee.com. You can also join their Discord channel if you want to chat with a representative or other users immediately.

Overall, I would say it does provide the minimum required support to its members since it offers an easy way to ask for help.

Final Verdict

Odysee is a platform that lets you earn by uploading videos. It doesn’t have a lot of upside as of the writing of this review. All it has are glaring limitations that you must consider.

To help you with your decision, here’s a summary of its pros and cons, so you can clearly see an overview of what it offers.

In my opinion, Odysee is not for everyone. If you already create videos and want an alternative platform with more freedom, Odysee can be worth trying. It works best as a secondary platform, and not a main income source.

But if your goal is to earn money just by watching videos or doing simple tasks, Odysee will disappoint you because it doesn’t offer guaranteed earnings. Aside from that, withdrawing your earnings from this platform is a bit more complicated compared to YouTube.

So, if you are looking for consistent or beginner-friendly online earnings, I suggest you check out the top survey and GPT sites in your country instead. The sites and apps on this list all have good earning potential, so you can earn a decent amount quickly.

Plus, most (if not all) of them offer cash rewards.

If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Odysee, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.