Sepia Search is the official search engine for PeerTube

Sepia Search is indeed the official search engine for PeerTube, developed and maintained by Framasoft, the same French non-profit organization behind the PeerTube software itself.

Because PeerTube is decentralized (made up of thousands of independent "instances"), there isn't naturally a single "home page" like YouTube. Sepia Search was created to solve this by providing a central gateway to discover content across the entire federation.

Key Facts About Sepia Search

• Mascot Connection: The name comes from Sepia, the PeerTube mascot (a cuttlefish).

• Opt-in Philosophy: It doesn’t automatically index every PeerTube site. Instance administrators can choose whether or not to be included in the search results.

• Moderation: Unlike the decentralized instances which set their own rules, Sepia Search is moderated by Framasoft to ensure results comply with their terms of service (e.g., removing content that promotes hate speech or illegal acts).

• Open Source: True to the project's roots, the code for the search engine is completely open source, meaning anyone can host their own alternative version with different indexing rules.

Since PeerTube is decentralized, your journey depends on whether you want to be a resident (joining someone else's instance) or a landlord (hosting your own).

---

1. Joining an Existing Instance (Easier)

If you just want to upload videos or interact with others, you should join a pre-existing community. Each instance has its own rules, storage limits, and moderation.

• How to find one: Visit joinpeertube.org/instances. You can filter by:

  • Topic: (e.g., Gaming, Music, Science & Tech)

  • Language: (English, French, Spanish, etc.)

  • Registration Policy: Look for "Open" if you want to sign up immediately. Some require an application.

• Recommendation for 2026:

  • FUTO: A high-performance instance focused on tech and digital freedom.

  • Diode Zone: Great for creators focused on electronics, making, and DIY projects.

  • TilVids: A popular educational and high-quality "edutainment" instance.

---

2. Hosting Your Own Instance (For Tech-Savvy)

Hosting your own gives you total control but requires maintenance. As of late 2025/early 2026 (PeerTube v8.x), the process is more streamlined but still technical.

Technical Requirements

• Server (VPS): At least 2GB RAM (4GB recommended) and a modern CPU.

• OS: Most people use Debian or Ubuntu.

• Domain Name: You’ll need a custom domain (e.g., video.yourname.com).

• Storage: Video files are huge! Most admins use S3-compatible Object Storage (like Wasabi or Backblaze B2) to keep their local server disk from filling up.

Two Ways to Install

1. The "Pro" Way: Follow the Official Production Guide. It involves setting up PostgreSQL, Redis, Nginx, and Node.js manually.

2. The "Easy" Way: Use YunoHost or Docker.

   • YunoHost is a server operating system designed for self-hosting that lets you install PeerTube with basically one click.

   • Cloudron is another "app store for servers" that handles the updates and backups for you for a small fee.

---

Which path sounds better for you?

• "I just want to upload videos": I can help you find a specific instance that matches your niche (like art, gaming, or coding).

• "I want to run the show": I can walk you through the first few commands to set up a VPS for your own instance.

Do you consider this article interesting? Share it on your network of Twitter contacts, on your Facebook wall or simply press "+1" to suggest this result in searches in Google, Linkedin, Instagram or Pinterest. Spreading content that you find relevant helps this blog to grow. Thank you!

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus

About Hugo

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution that offers an operating system predominantly focused on desktop computers but also provides support for servers. Based on Debian GNU / Linux, Ubuntu focuses on ease of use, freedom in usage restriction, regular releases (every 6 months) and ease of installation.