Vanced vs ReVanced: Quick Comparison
| Feature | YouTube Vanced | ReVanced |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Discontinued (2022) | Active community project |
| Distribution model | Pre-modified APK | Patch-based via Manager |
| Updates | No new releases | Regular patch updates |
| Android support | Depends on old builds | Depends on supported app versions |
| Root required | No (non-root version available) | No (non-root supported) |
| MicroG / GmsCore | Vanced MicroG (outdated) | GmsCore (updated) |
| SponsorBlock | Built-in | Available as patch |
| Music app | YouTube Music Vanced | ReVanced Music patches |
| Official source | No longer available | GitHub repositories |
| Safety | No security updates | Community-maintained |
Project Status
YouTube Vanced was permanently discontinued in March 2022 after the development team received legal pressure. No official update, patch, or new version has appeared since.
ReVanced is an active community project that keeps developing and releasing updates. It operates through public GitHub repositories with an active contributor base.
App Model
This is the difference that matters most:
- Vanced distributed a complete modified APK that users installed directly, with all modifications preconfigured.
- ReVanced uses a Manager application that patches a base app such as YouTube with modifications the user selects. You download the base app, then apply patches to build your own customized version.
ReVanced is more flexible as a result, at the cost of one extra step the old Vanced model never needed.
Updates and Compatibility
Vanced stopped receiving updates in 2022 and cannot adapt to YouTube's changing backend. ReVanced updates its patches independently of the base app, which holds up better over time.
Features
Both projects targeted the same user needs, with different implementations:
- Ad blocking: both remove ads, though ReVanced implements it as configurable patches
- Background playback: available in both, offered as a toggleable patch in ReVanced
- SponsorBlock: both integrate SponsorBlock for skipping sponsored segments
- Theme customization: both offer dark and AMOLED themes
- Playback controls: both allow codec and resolution overrides
Safety and Source Trust
Since Vanced is discontinued, treat any APK claiming to be a new Vanced version with suspicion. ReVanced's source code is public on GitHub, which allows inspection that discontinued APKs from unknown sources cannot match.
Which One Should You Research Today?
For most users, ReVanced is the practical one to research, simply because it is maintained. Whichever way you go:
- Verify sources against official repositories
- Understand the patching model before proceeding
- Consider alternatives like NewPipe or LibreTube
- Review the safety checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
No. ReVanced is a separate community project that uses a patching model, unlike Vanced which distributed a prebuilt modified APK.
No. ReVanced is developed by a different group of contributors. It is a separate open source project.
Some old installations may still partially work, but the app receives no updates and will keep degrading over time.
ReVanced's source code is public on GitHub, which allows anyone to inspect it. Old Vanced APKs from unknown sources have no such verification.
No. Both Vanced and ReVanced support non-root installations. ReVanced uses GmsCore instead of the old Vanced MicroG.