Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions operators ask most. If yours is not here, the rest of the documentation goes deeper — or open a ticket from your dashboard.

General

What is TubePress?

A free, self-hosted CMS for building video tube sites. You install it on your own server and own everything — the code, the database, the content and the audience. Think of it as WordPress, but purpose-built for tube sites. See the Introduction.

Is it really free?

Yes. The software is free for both personal and commercial use, with no license fee, no premium tiers and no usage limits. Your only costs are the things any website needs — a domain, hosting and bandwidth. Optional cloud services (the catalogue, AI and the marketplace) are billed separately with prepaid credits, but nothing forces you to use them.

Can I use it commercially and run multiple sites?

Yes to both. Run as many independent sites as you like; there is no per-site fee.

Cost & licensing

Is the source code encrypted with ionCube?

No. Every line is readable, modern PHP. There are no encoded files and no ionCube requirement — you can audit and modify the whole codebase.

How is this different from KVS, MechBunny or xStreamer?

Those are paid products (KVS and others ship ionCube-encoded by default). TubePress is free and fully source-available. For a fair feature-by-feature breakdown see the comparison pages.

What are credits, and do I need them?

Credits are prepaid units for the optional cloud services — importing from the content catalogue, AI features and the marketplace. New accounts start with 150 free credits. A site with its own content and no AI never has to buy any.

Hosting & requirements

What do I need to run it?

An ordinary LAMP or LEMP server: PHP 8.2 or newer, MySQL/MariaDB, and Apache or Nginx. FFmpeg is only needed if you transcode video yourself. Full details on the Requirements page.

Does it work on shared hosting?

Yes, for many sites. There is no system-crontab requirement — the built-in pseudo-cron and heartbeat handle scheduled work. Heavy transcoding workloads are better on a VPS, and you can offload transcoding to separate workers.

How do I install it?

Upload the files and run the six-step web installer — about five minutes. See Installation.

How do updates work?

Updates are signed and replace only the core, never your themes, plugins, content or settings. You can update with one click from /admin/updates. See Updating.

Content & features

How do I add content?

Upload videos directly, import them in bulk, pull them automatically from feeds (MRSS/RSS/CSV/JSON), or import ready-made videos from the catalogue. See Importing videos.

Does it handle transcoding?

Yes. Uploads are converted into web-ready renditions, and you can distribute the work across one or more FFmpeg transcode servers.

Can I change the design?

Completely. Re-brand without code through Appearance settings, switch themes, or build your own with the theme API.

How does ranking work?

The optional CTR ranking engine orders content by real engagement (clicks and watch-completion), not just upload date — surfacing the videos visitors actually want.

Can I monetize my site?

Yes — the built-in ad system supports banner, native and popunder zones plus VAST pre-roll, with reporting.

Account, support & legal

Do I need a TubePress account?

Only to use the cloud services. The CMS runs entirely on its own; linking an account just unlocks the catalogue, AI, marketplace and support. See Connecting your account.

Where does my data live?

Always in your own database on your own server. Even when connected to a TubePress account, the cloud only handles credits, downloads and support — never your users or content.

How do I get help?

Open a ticket from your dashboard or the in-admin support widget. See Announcements & support, and check Troubleshooting first for common fixes.

Is running an adult site legal where I am?

That depends on your jurisdiction and is your responsibility. TubePress includes compliance tools — an age gate, RTA meta tag, and static pages for 2257/DMCA/privacy notices — but it cannot give legal advice. Consult a professional for your region.

Next steps