To watch YouTube without ads, you don’t need a YouTube Premium subscription. There are several alternative methods to suit all tastes. We’ll tell you about them all, from easiest to most complicated. Say goodbye to intrusive advertising.
We all agree that YouTube shines more for its content than its application. Thanks to YouTube, it’s possible to find videos you won’t find anywhere else. That’s why it’s one of the most visited websites in the world . Despite Google’s decision to flood it with advertising, short videos, and other additions that hinder the enjoyment of its content, to the point that many are forced to subscribe to YouTube Premium to avoid the ads, it’s no secret that there are many ways to watch YouTube without ads . If you know how.
The ingenuity of YouTube’s more than 2.7 billion users worldwide has made it possible to find cheaper , or even free, alternatives for those who don’t want to or can’t afford a YouTube Premium subscription. These range from sharing a Premium account to signing up in countries with lower prices, such as Argentina, Turkey, India, or the Philippines. It’s a trick that Google has been cracking down on in recent years, even though paying less is better than paying nothing.
Below, we offer a comprehensive overview of the main methods for watching YouTube without ads . From the simplest, requiring minimal installation, to more elaborate yet effective methods, depending on the screen or device you want to use to enjoy your favorite YouTube channels and videos . One thing is certain: if the price of YouTube Premium seems excessive or prohibitive, you can always choose a more budget-friendly alternative.
YouTube without ads from your browser
The quickest way to watch YouTube without ads and without a YouTube Premium subscription is to install an ad blocker in your web browser. This way, you don’t have to switch browsers. You’ll forget about YouTube ads and most pages and content will load faster . While not always effective, the following ad blockers are highly recommended for avoiding ads on YouTube. And most of them are free.
- Adblock Plus . Free with an optional paid version. Available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, and Yandex. It also works in the Samsung Internet Browser for Android and Safari for iPhone and iPad. And it has its own Adblock Browser for Android.
- AdGuard . Free with an optional paid version. It has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS (Safari), and Android, and extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Yandex. It also offers other services, such as VPN and DNS , which we’ll discuss later.
- Ghostery . Free. Available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, and Brave. It also has an iOS app , compatible with Safari. For Android, install its extension in Edge and Firefox. Its blog claims it can block 99% of YouTube ads.
- SponsorBlock . Free. It’s the most popular YouTube ad blocker. And because its code is open source, many applications integrate it. It’s available as an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Opera. It can also be used on Android or iOS through other apps that we’ll see later. And on TVs.
The main advantage of these apps is that you install them once and forget about them. You just need to open YouTube in your web browser . You won’t need the official app, so you can uninstall it or only use it to browse your channels and create playlists.
Browsers to watch YouTube without ads
Another way to enjoy YouTube without ads in your browser is to switch to one that has its own ad-blocking tools. You can have two or more browsers running on your mobile phone without any issues. And if you’re going to watch YouTube videos, some browsers are particularly effective at blocking ads.
- Brave . Highly recommended . Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. It blocks ads on YouTube and other video platforms. It also lets you listen to Spotify music ad-free . The iOS version includes a feature for creating playlists with videos and audio from different platforms. And on both iOS and Android, you can use YouTube in the background . Best of all, it’s free and hassle-free.
- Opera . One of the most innovative browsers. Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iOS, and Android. Its built-in ad blocker lets you watch YouTube ad-free. It also features its own AI and a free VPN . And it has other useful features like using instant messaging directly from the browser, such as WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, or Telegram.
- Vivaldi . Another browser that surprises with its integrated features. Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. In addition to a browser, it integrates a calendar, notes, and email client. Its ad blocker removes YouTube ads . And it even lets you use Proton’s free VPN . It also specifies that it allows you to watch videos in the background .
These are the three most popular browsers that allow you to use YouTube without ads , but you probably know many more. Especially on Android, where alternative browsers packed with unique features abound.
Apps to watch YouTube without ads on Android
We’ve already seen two ways to watch YouTube without ads in your browser. It’s clear that using the official app is complicated, since you’ll see ads no matter what. Another option is to use an alternative application . The problem is that there are many, and not all of them are trustworthy . Some applications promise to show you YouTube videos without ads. Others are victims of external attacks, like the one recently suffered by one of the most popular ones, which has since been fixed. So, if you’re going to use them, be cautious.
- NewPipe . Available for Android. With a design similar to the official YouTube app, you can watch YouTube videos without ads, play videos in the background, download videos, and access your history, subscriptions, and other standard features.
- LibreTube . One of the alternatives recommended by SponsorBlock. Available for Android. It blocks YouTube ads, doesn’t use Google services, is free, allows you to subscribe to channels and create playlists, etc. Simple but effective.
- SmartTube . Available for Android TV , Fire TV, and Google TV. It’s one of the most comprehensive apps, as you can continue using your YouTube account to access your history, subscriptions, and playlists. You won’t notice the difference. And it has many advantages. In addition to watching YouTube ad-free, it allows you to block and control secondary aspects of the platform.
In addition to the apps mentioned above, you’ll find many more. For Android, you can try FreeTube, Tubular, SkyTube , or Clipious . We haven’t mentioned ReVanced because it’s a very generic app for customizing many aspects of Android, besides blocking YouTube ads. But it’s also highly recommended.
YouTube without ‘public’ on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV
 100vw, 1920px” /></figure>
<p class=)
Alternative apps are more limited on Apple operating systems. Unlike on Android, installing apps from outside the App Store is more complicated. And those available in the official store must meet requirements that restrict developers. However, there are solutions such as the following:
Yattee is a media player for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Compatible with many video formats, it lets you play YouTube video links without ads. It’s not as practical or convenient as the previous methods, but it’s free and can get you out of a pinch, especially if you want to watch YouTube without ads on Apple TV.
Unwatched for YouTube lets you create playlists of YouTube videos and play them ad-free. It’s free and available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Add videos to your playlist from your iPhone, and watch them ad-free on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. You can also access YouTube via a web browser from the app to search for and add links to your playlist.
Websites to use YouTube without ads
Another way to enjoy YouTube without ads is to find and play them on alternative websites . Some are very well done. They’re not the same as the official platform, but they try to add similar features so you won’t miss them.
- SkipVids . Available for any browser. Includes a search engine and topics of interest. Blocks ads , has a background player, and video downloads .
- SkipCut . Available for any browser. It also has a Chrome extension. Paste the video link and it plays it ad-free. It also lets you download videos, play them in the background, watch live streams, etc.
- Invidious . Available for any browser. Its purpose is to provide access to YouTube content without ads and without your data reaching Google. It works through instances or versions hosted on private servers. It has versions for networks like Tor Onion and I2P . When you access an instance, you can search for any YouTube content and play it without ads, and without leaving a trace on Google’s servers.
Watch YouTube from other countries using a VPN
One recommendation some YouTube users make is to use a VPN to watch YouTube , whether free or paid. This, in itself, doesn’t prevent you from seeing ads. But, according to those who have tried it, if you connect from countries like Albania , you’ll see hardly any ads between videos or during the videos themselves. Other recommended countries include Cambodia, Ivory Coast, Laos, Madagascar, and Russia .
The advantage of this method is that it allows you to continue using the official YouTube app and your user account, keeping your viewing history, subscriptions, and so on. The only drawback is that you won’t be able to watch videos that are blocked in those countries, something you might encounter if you consume copyrighted content in certain locations.
DNS to block ads on YouTube
I’m including this method because it often appears on these kinds of lists. However, those who have tried it don’t always give it good reviews. Changing your DNS might have allowed you to watch YouTube without ads in the past . But nowadays, this method isn’t always effective. The reason is that you can block YouTube content if you know its domains and servers, but the domains and servers used to display ads are different.
The DNS services typically recommended in this case are those offered by NextDNS and AdGuard . NextDNS offers its DNS for free with limitations. You can also subscribe to their paid services. Its main purpose is to block advertising and content inappropriate for children and minors . However, legal advertising will still be displayed. AdGuard also offers its own DNS service for the same purpose. It too has a free version and paid subscriptions.
YouTube without ads on your TV
We’ve already covered virtually all the solutions for watching YouTube without ads on all possible devices, from PCs and Macs to mobile phones, tablets, and compatible TVs. But there’s still one more method. What if you want to enjoy YouTube ad-free on your Samsung or LG TV , Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV , or consoles like Nintendo Switch, Xbox One , or PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 ?
If your TV has an Android TV or Fire TV device, or uses those operating systems, you can use Smart Tube or an alternative web browser . But this isn’t always possible. Some TVs have their own proprietary systems, like Tizen on Samsung or WebOS on LG . And game consoles use their own closed systems.
The solution for all these devices is called iSponsorBlockTV . It’s free , open-source, and uses the SponsorBlock blocker, which specializes in YouTube. Its main drawback is that it’s not easy to install and requires a server device , such as your computer, a Raspberry Pi, or a NAS. Here’s how it works: you create a Docker service associated with the official YouTube app you want to use ad-free, using the code provided by the app itself. This server then blocks ads on the TV or device you’re using to watch the YouTube TV app.
When setting up the service, you can choose whether to block all advertising, including intros, sponsored segments, and other elements before, during, and after the video . You can also link it to one or more devices that have the YouTube app installed for TVs or similar devices.
