FreeTube is the best option for a desktop client. It can be quite hit and miss however and I think recommended it to people as a replacement for Youtube (assuming you’re not in desperate need or desire to replace YT) is a recipe for disaster. A lot of the conveniences of YouTube do not exist in FreeTube and if people have a poor experience with their first privacy-minded experience, they’re likely to make a u-turn, think it’s not worth the effort, and never look back.
If I were a YouTube user here’s what would bother me with Freetube
- No subscription sync between phone, television, computer etc.
- Whether videos load is hit and miss. I often end up piping a stream to mpv instead, because it doesn’t load in FT. YouTube ALWAYS works, and I don’t need to switch between instances to have a video working.
- Doesn’t support 1080+ on all videos, despite the video being offered in the resolution.
- No interactive parts, e.g. can’t comment, participate in live streams, like videos, etc.
I appreciate and like FreeTube. I use it all the time, but I would not force it on someone who’s used to YouTube. Using Invidious with an account is perhaps better, but not by much.
If you want to sell them on FreeTube I think your best bet is painting it as a desktop client for youtube which you can customize, themes etc. could make it a bit more appealing, but most people want their subscriptions, watch history, saved videos etc, to travel with them between devices, and FreeTube will never offer that.
edit: I am aware that you can export subscriptions and watch history, but what I’m referring to here is being able to watch something on your computer, stop, continue from the same point on your phone, tv, etc. Convenience is what keeps people from privacy focused alternatives, always has been, always will be.