📅 Last updated: May 2026
Note: YouTube Vanced is discontinued. This comparison is for historical and educational purposes.
| Feature | YouTube Vanced | YouTube Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued | Active |
| Cost | Free | Paid |
| Ad-free | Yes | Yes |
| Background play | Yes | Yes |
| SponsorBlock | Yes | No |
| iOS | No | Yes |
| Offline downloads | No | Yes |
| Official | No | Yes |
| Creator revenue | No | Yes |
When Vanced made sense
YouTube Vanced appealed to Android users who wanted ad-free playback, background audio, and SponsorBlock without a subscription. It mirrored the official app closely, so migration from stock YouTube felt natural.
Why Premium wins today
YouTube Premium is the only supported path for ad-free official YouTube on iOS, offline downloads, and YouTube Music bundling. Vanced receives no security patches and login often breaks as Google changes authentication.
Since Vanced is discontinued, the practical comparison today is between ReVanced and YouTube Premium.