Quick Comparison: All Platforms
| Solution | Platform | Ad Blocking | Background Play | Google Login | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ReVanced | Android | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Free |
| NewPipe | Android | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Free |
| LibreTube | Android | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Free |
| uBlock Origin | Desktop | ✓ | N/A | ✓ | Free |
| Brave Browser | All | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | Free |
| SmartTube | Android TV | ✓ | N/A | ✓ | Free |
| FreeTube | Desktop | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Free |
| YouTube Premium | All | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $13.99/mo |
Best YouTube Ad Blocker for Android
Android has the widest choice because sideloading apps is straightforward there. Three options stand out.
1. ReVanced: best overall
ReVanced patches the official YouTube app to remove every ad format while keeping your Google account, subscriptions, and watch history. It also adds SponsorBlock, background playback, and theme customization. Setup takes longer than the others because you patch the app yourself, but that is also what makes the process verifiable.
2. NewPipe: easiest setup
NewPipe is a standalone app, so there is no patching involved. It is lightweight, avoids tracking, and can download videos and audio. The trade-off is that it does not support Google account login.
3. LibreTube: most private
LibreTube routes all requests through the Piped alternative frontend, which keeps direct contact with YouTube's servers to a minimum. It suits people who put privacy above everything else.
Blocking YouTube Ads on Desktop
On desktop, browser extensions remain the most effective approach.
uBlock Origin: the standard choice
uBlock Origin is the most widely recommended content blocker for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It stops pre-roll, mid-roll, and overlay ads on YouTube. Pair it with the SponsorBlock extension to skip in-video sponsor segments as well.
Brave Browser: built-in blocking
Brave ships with ad and tracker blocking built into the browser itself. There is nothing to install beyond the browser: open YouTube and most ads are gone.
Blocking Ads on Android TV
SmartTube is purpose-built for Android TV, Fire Stick, Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and Nvidia Shield. It removes YouTube ads entirely and its interface is designed around remote-control navigation, so it feels native on a television.
Watching YouTube Without Ads on iOS
iOS is the most locked-down platform for this because Apple restricts sideloading. The realistic options are:
- YouTube Premium: official, works everywhere, no workarounds needed
- Brave Browser: watch YouTube in-browser with built-in ad blocking
- Safari with content blockers: partial blocking through extensions
What Happened to YouTube Vanced?
YouTube Vanced was the most popular way to block YouTube ads on Android until it was discontinued in March 2022 following Google's cease and desist. ReVanced is the community-maintained successor with the same feature set. If you would rather pay for an official ad free YouTube experience instead, Premium remains the only route Google supports.
Frequently Asked Questions
ReVanced is the most popular option. It patches the official YouTube app to remove video, banner, and interstitial ads while keeping your Google account and subscriptions.
Yes. ReVanced, NewPipe, and LibreTube are free and open source on Android, and uBlock Origin is a free browser extension for desktop.
No. On Android, ReVanced or NewPipe block ads for free. On desktop, uBlock Origin works well. On iOS, Brave Browser blocks some ads, though Premium is the only complete option there.
No. YouTube Vanced was discontinued in March 2022. ReVanced is the maintained successor and offers the same ad blocking with regular updates.