# SmartTube

41 Hacker News commenters recommended SmartTube and 7 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 11 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Free app that blocks YouTube ads and sponsor segments with a cleaner interface. Critics warn it was recently compromised and requires a Google account.

## Why people recommend it

- Blocks YouTube ads (10 comments): "a person can install SmartTube and watch ad-free YouTube with a configurable glitz-free remote-oriented interface and SponsorBlock" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46058664)) "sideload apps like Smarttube to watch ad-free YouTube that would never be allowed on Play Store/App Store" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50173383)) "You can choose the grid size, among many other things (most importantly, no ads!)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46055302))
- Built-in SponsorBlock skips sponsor segments (9 comments): "SmartTube with both ad-blocking and sponsor block is the killer feature of Android TV as a platform." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46371175)) "I would add Smarttube with Sponsorblock extension for android TV to the list." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46189057)) "There's smarttube for Android TV like nvidia shield, no ads and sponsorblock." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46972777))
- Better interface and customization (7 comments): "SmartTube lets us eliminate them, as well as all the other awesome UI customization makes it a far superior experience." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46111521)) "a YouTube client with ad blocking, other features and zillion UX improvements" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46251552)) "It has SponsorBlock and better UI customization than the official one." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46107831))
- Works well on Android TV (4 comments): "controlled conveniently with your TV remote instead of some mouse, cables, etc." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47333410)) "SmartTube on Android TV has no ads and skip sponsors" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47617146)) "nothing is as good as SmartTube on androidtv" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47787490))

## What people warn about

- Recently compromised or hacked (3 comments): "Apparently, yes. My guess is it was the Shai-hulud npm malware leaking their Github keys." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46107527)) "SmartTubeNext recently got hacked too" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46597608)) "it was recently compromised" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46190844))
- Requires a Google account (2 comments): "You risk losing your entire Google account along with all documents, photos, mail" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46105746)) "I didn't want to trust this app with a google account, it's mandatory to use it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46104416))
- Vague release info and undated downloads (2 comments): "The official announcement is very sparse on details." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46105240)) "still offers undated "Stable" and "Beta" downloads" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46107052))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [NewPipe](https://hackerapproved.com/p/newpipe.md): 113 recommend
- [FreeTube](https://hackerapproved.com/p/freetube.md): 28 recommend
- [Grayjay](https://hackerapproved.com/p/grayjay.md): 16 recommend
- [YouTube ReVanced](https://hackerapproved.com/p/youtube-revanced.md): 14 recommend
- [Tubular](https://hackerapproved.com/p/tubular.md): 11 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "SmartTube", https://hackerapproved.com/p/smarttube/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).