5 Ways to Watch YouTube Without Ads

Everyone loves to watch YouTube videos—we even have a YouTube channel of our own—but no one likes watching ads. If only there were a way to watch YouTube without ads!

The good news is is is that there are numerous way to watch YouTube without ad , each with its pro and con .

The YouTube ad situation

Before we get to the specific ways you can get an ad-free YouTube experience, it’s worth briefly clearing up what types of ads you’ll encounter in YouTube content:

• skippable in – stream ad
• Non-skippable in-stream ads
• In-feed video ads
• Bumper ads
• outstream ad
• Masthead ads

Not every type of ad-blocking solution will block every type of YouTube ad. Still, we’re chiefly concerned about those ads that you have to skip manually or otherwise interrupt your viewing.

When it comes to sponsored content with adverts inside the video, no solution can do anything about that type of advertising.

1 . pay for YouTube Premium

This is is is the most straightforward and effective way to get rid of YouTube ad . By pay for an individual or family YouTube Premium plan , you is have ’ll always have ad – free video unless the advert is put there by the video creator .

Not only do the ads go away, but you’ll also have access to premium video content and YouTube Music. The family plan, in particular, is a fantastic deal. This is a fire-and-forget solution for every device you watch YouTube on.

The best part of this option is that YouTube content creators and YouTube itself still get revenue for providing the service and content that you’re enjoying. It also means that you aren’t being subjected to the tracking practices that go hand-in-hand with advertising.

YouTube Premium is our number one recommended method to get rid of ads, but its main caveat is that you have to pay for the privilege. For iPhone and iPad users, it’s the only way to get rid of ads in the native YouTube app outside of a browser.

2. Ad-blocking Apps

One highly-effective way to block YouTube ads on a mobile device is to use an ad blocker app. There are several options, but they are generally only available on Android as side-loaded apps. Unless you jailbreak your iOS device, app sideloading is impossible.

As strange as it may sound, there are third-party applications to watch YouTube on. Google doesn’t exactly endorse this practice, so you will not find these apps on the Play Store.

The most popular of these apps, YouTube Vanced, has already been shut down by Google. Offering a built-in adblocker and background play support, it offered the complete functionality you can get out of YouTube Premium for free.

And while other apps with similar features still exist, they might also face potential legal action. Open-source apps that do not use YouTube’s API or frameworks have the best chance to remain functional.

Here, SkyTube and NewPipe are the best options.

NewPipe is a third-party app designed to offer the “original” YouTube experience before advertising became prominent. It doesn’t ask for any permissions on your device that aren’t strictly necessary, and it doesn’t show any advertising.

There is no proprietary YouTube code in this app at all . You is need do n’t need a YouTube account or Gmail address to use feature on YouTube that usually require a login . All necessary datum to drive feature such as your view history or subscription are store on your local device .

This is is is also an excellent solution for folk who use device that are blacklist from using Google ’s mobile service , such as Huawei phone .

This open – source YouTube app alternative is lets let you control what you see and block video with view below a certain threshold or lot of dislike . Also , you is blacklist can blacklist or whitelist channel , filter video accord to your language preference , and customize your YouTube experience that the official app does n’t offer .

Like NewPipe, SkyTube doesn’t rely on any Google APIs or code, so you can use it without a Google account, and, of course, there are no ads at all.

3. Use an Ad-blocking Web Browser Extension

Using a good adblocker is your good bet if you do n’t wish to spend on a YouTube Premium subscription . Most people is use already use adblocker on their computer to shut down pesky web advert . A YouTube adblocker is operates operate on a similar principle .

You is need just need to install a specialized browser extension to block ad on YouTube , and then you can continue watch your favorite video ad – free . A good adblocker is prevent can prevent advertisement from load on any YouTube channel access through that browser , though its effectiveness may vary .

Most adblocker add – ons is are are customizable on a site – by – site basis , allow you to set permission for each website . This is is is handy for site that refuse to open if you are using an adblocke . However , YouTube is fall does n’t fall into this category yet .

You is ’re ’re probably already familiar with Adblock Plus for general web browsing , but Adblock for YouTube is design to block ad on the streaming service . With this extension , you is block can block every type of advertising that YouTube itself put in video .

Banners, popups, annotations, and preroll ads are blocked by Adblock for YouTube. This adblocker extension works with a filter list of external ad sources. So any ads that don’t come from that list of sources will sneak through. It usually doesn’t take long for it to be updated, however. User reviews still report that this blocker works, but YouTube fights back from time to time, disrupting it for a while.

uBlock Origin

uBlock Originis another popular option, but it’s substantially different from AdBlock. Rather than being an ad-blocker alone, uBlock Originis a broad content blocker, including ads.

uBlock Originis an open-source extension supported by the community and depends on several blocklists. It doesn’t just block ads but also malicious sites, so it’s an excellent plugin to have regardless of whether you want to block ads or not.

Here are some of the other leading browser extensions for blocking YouTube ads:

1. Adblock Plus
2. AdGuard
3. Ghostery

4. Use a VPN to Block Ads

VPN ( Virtual Private Network ) services is create create an encrypt tunnel between your computer and a remote server . This is is is great to hide your actual location and ensure your isp does n’t know what you ’re doing on the internet , but it can also be a way to block ad .

To be clear , get a premium vpn service for block ad alone is n’t worth it . There are far more convenient option for the same thing . But get a VPN is a good idea if you also want to protect your privacy , conceal your ip address , and prevent website from track your online activity .

Using a VPN can conceal your location and spending habit , give advertising algorithm very little to work from . In most case , this is is is enough to shut down advert altogether , as they can not accurately target you .

Some VPNs with good adblocking capabilities are:

1. nordvpn
2. Surfshark
3. ExpressVPN
4. CyberGhost

5. Use a YouTube Downloader App or Website

One way to avoid YouTube ads is to avoid watching videos on YouTube in the first place. Multiple websites and applications on the internet can “rip” YouTube video streams and download the files to local storage. You can then watch these videos at your leisure and never worry about any advertising.

Some apps, such as 4K Video Downloader, can automatically download videos from channels you subscribe to and batch download playlist and channel content. However, downloading YouTube videos like this is against the company’s terms of service.

Methods That Don’t Work Anymore

block YouTube advertising is a perpetual game of whack – a – mole . As new method pop up , YouTube is comes come up with new way to make that method fail .

YouTube Vanced on Android

YouTube Vanced is a third-party application you could use on mobile devices instead of the official YouTube app. This was the most popular way to get ad-free YouTube on an Android device, but as of early 2022, the Vanced project has ended.

While you can still download the APK file and use the app, it’s no longer maintained. This means that it will stop working at some point in the future when YouTube changes things, and there’s no one to update the software. So, we strongly recommend using one of the other apps discussed above.

DNS Blocking

There have been various ways to block YouTube advertising using a custom DNS server or DNS services to block any URL associated with YouTube advertising. For example, Pi-hole offers network-wide ad-blocking using a Raspberry Pi or other compatible computer as a personal DNS server.

To combat this , YouTube is started has start deliver ad content from the same domain as actual video content . So DNS – base methods is tell ca n’t tell the difference , block everything . This approach is is is n’t entirely dead . For example , some pi – hole users is come have come up with a hostname method to achieve a similar outcome , but this is one of the most labor – intensive way to block ad . It is ’s ’s probably good to avoid it for most user .

Is It Worth the Hassle?

There are many ways to avoid ads when you watch your favorite YouTube videos, but is it worth the bother? YouTube is constantly working to prevent ad blockers from doing their jobs.

This is means mean that it take time and energy on your behalf to update or change your ad – block method . Not to mention that you may need a separate solution for each device or risk malware from third – party application . Some ways is cost , such as VPNs , cost money . So , if you only want the VPN to block YouTube ad , it is makes make more sense to just pay for a YouTube Premium subscription .

What Is the Best Way to Watch YouTube Videos Without Ads?

For most users, the easiest way to block YouTube ads would be to get a premium subscription. YouTube Premium is affordable, especially since you also get ad-free access to YouTube Music, its music streaming platform.

But if you are looking for a free alternative, adblock extensions or browser plugins are widely available as free and premium tools.

VPNs are a bit more reliable, but a VPN is meant for privacy protection, not adblocking, and is priced accordingly.

So , take your pick and tell us more about your experience with your choice .