The best YouTube clients, according to hackers
9 YouTube clients were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 8 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended YouTube clients with the badge. Each figure is 10 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Blocks ads
A free, open-source Android YouTube app that blocks ads, plays in the background, downloads videos and keeps subscriptions without an account, though YouTube changes periodically break it.
Hides or disables Shorts
People recommend ReVanced as a patched YouTube app for Android that removes ads, hides Shorts and adds SponsorBlock. Critics note it breaks after YouTube updates and needs repatching.
Blocks YouTube ads
Free app that blocks YouTube ads and sponsor segments with a cleaner interface. Critics warn it was recently compromised and requires a Google account.
All 9 YouTube clients, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NewPipe | 113 | 23 | 83% | 13 | — | Approved |
| 2 | ReVanced | 43 | 10 | 81% | 10 | — | Approved |
| 3 | SmartTube | 41 | 7 | 85% | 11 | — | Approved |
| 4 | PipePipe | 37 | 5 | 88% | 6 | 10 mo5 owners | Approved |
| 5 | FreeTube | 28 | 1 | 97% | 10 | — | Approved |
| 6 | Grayjay | 16 | 0 | 100% | 9 | — | Approved |
| 7 | YouTube ReVanced | 14 | 0 | 100% | 8 | — | Approved |
| 8 | Tubular | 11 | 2 | 85% | 7 | — | Approved |
| 9 | Microwave iOS app for ATproto videos | 6 | 1 | 86% | 2 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same YouTube client in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to YouTube clients that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.