I know there's browsers that can block ads and what not. For those of you that do such a thing, what browser/add on do you like for being able to watch Youtube without all the annoying ads? Is it different for computer vs phone?
I mainly use Chrome for everything right now, but I suppose a separate browser just for Youtube could be helpful, especially on phone and possibly helpful on the computer too. Is that what you all do or do you use the same browser for everything? It seems it'll mess up my Google password manager if I switch everything to Firefox or Brave.
Additionally, what about Youtube Music? I've used Spotify mainly on my phone. Is there a good replacement so I don't have to buy the subscription before?
Also, I've read about Revanced and not really sure what the process is for setting that app up. What would this be replacing and I suppose I need to watch some videos on how to set this up, but if anyone can give me the basic idea that would be great.
Thanks for any help!
How do you all manage using your Youtube with no subscription?
byu/Orion_Oregon inFrugal
Posted by Orion_Oregon
41 Comments
Use Firefox with AdBlock Plus or uBlock. Just drop Chrome altogether, and you’ll be fine 99.9% of the time.
I’m pretty sure YouTube Revanced still works. I mainly used it on YouTube music, but you need to update it from time to time. I stopped updating it bc I realized if I skip the song and go right back I don’t have to hear the add.
Pc, ublock origin lite on chrome. Firefox, or brave browser.
ublock orgin lite still works for me, for some it doesn’t.
On phones, I’m sure Android has a lot of options. On iOS your stuck using YouTube on safari or brave.
Big fan of brave on iOS tbh. I’m on a iPhone XS and it feels sluggish on safari. I’m assuming because of all the extra elements it hs to load. Surfing is noticeably smoother in brave than safari, in my experience.
For Smart TV’s or other devices you can’t easily dig into the network settings, you can configure soemthing like NextDNS or setup a pi-hole.
uBlock Lite for Chrome. SmartTube on my smart TV
Firefox, ublock plus and untrap. it literally takes a separate browser and two extension to make it usable but that gets it back to no ads, no shorts, no polls, just my feed.
Firefox + ublock on everything I can. I’ve been using Firefox for over twenty years.
VPN and set it to Albania. YouTube doesn’t show ads there.
Firefox and any adblocker. Although I have noticed the picture quality getting worse…and this is from videos I’ve watched before on channel I subscribe to.
Firefox with uBlock.
Although I use it with my phone too, and then I just put up with the ads. It’s annoying af, though. I don’t use YouTube for music, only other kinds of videos. For music my partner pays for Spotify Duo.
I just mute the ads.
Duckduckgo browser. Suppresses a lot.
Ad block. A year or two ago they tried to make it so it didn’t work but all you had to do was clear the cache and it worked again so they gave up I think.
I just skip the ads
I just skip them during the video, take five seconds
Adblock. I aldo just watch less and less
No one mentioned it, but I recently swapped to Firefox when Chrome got rid of ublock, and it transferred 90% of my passwords with no issues. I still keep Chrome installed for the occasional password check, but overall, it’s been pretty easy to swap.
I use a lot of the free streaming services anyway, and even my paid ones have ads, so I’ve just gotten used to “old fashioned” TV and do something else while the ads are on. Though at least with YT, with most of the ads, I can skip them after a few seconds.
Edit: It actually reminds me of when I was a kid and commercials were the time when you ran to the bathroom, raced to see how fast you could make your snack/meal, or did a couple more problems of your homework. lol
Brave browser, it’s literally all the same functionality of YouTube premium
I just watch the ads. I watch youtube most on my TV actually so all of the ad-blocking isn’t really possible there, and I’m usually doing other things around the house while youtube is on so the ads aren’t as annoying and easy to tune out.
My previous message was deleted by autobot due to the link to extension store.
Blocking the Ad on YouTube is breaking the TOS. I was using ad auto-skipper extension, and it doesn’t block any ad but it auto-click a skip button. You can install it on every browser.
github . com/squgeim/yt-ad-autoskipper
chromewebstore . google . com/detail/youtube-ad-auto-skipper/lokpenepehfdekijkebhpnpcjjpngpnd?hl=en
I’m not a user of Spotify, so IDK about it.
ublock origin takes care of the ads nicely. I also use an extension called Unhook to hide youtube shorts and most of the suggestions, because I didn’t like how successfully those were optimizing for my engagement.
Frankly I just sit through ads. I suspect this is a generational “problem” as I lived through an era where you watched the program when it was on and you watched ads of varying length that could never be skipped.
I also don’t watch crappy “influencers” who put in a billion midroll ads.
An ad every 5 or 6 minutes is a reminder I should look away sometimes.
I use Brave.
ReVanced for Phone
SmartTube for TV
Try to find alternatives to Google for your password manager, it is not a good one anyways outside of Android. Bitwarden is a popular one but there are many more.
Once that’s figured out, using Brave would be a good idea.
I use AdBlock on my laptop. I’ll just watch the ads on my phone for YouTube; for Spotify when I hit an ad I just quickly close the app and reopen it, it resumes my song. Takes like 2 seconds and I usually only use the app when I’m at the gym anyways so.. it’s not a huge inconvenience to me.
Yes, Revanced
PC – Chrome browser with the extension ‘ublock origin lite’ installed
iPhone – I use the Brave browser to watch YouTube videos.
TV with android OS – install ‘Smartube beta’ from google play store. It’s a YouTube-like app for your TV.
Between these three methods I never see ads on YouTube.
1. I just deal with the ads. They’re annoying but usually skippable after a few seconds.
2. Spotify has a free option, too – it also has ads, but it’s free
Once you get a lick of Vanced you can’t go back. Its literally better than the subscription
Brave. I can do Reddit without ads, too
FreeTube.
I use brave browser. It’s built in Adblock is great vs YouTube and Netflix ads on my computer
On IOS – I bought wipr2 and started using safari to watch YouTube. I fall asleep to YouTube and my watch history was starting to get insane with all the hours long ads they were playing after I fell asleep.
Edit: I installed the wipr2 on my computer and allowed it to share across devices, so it works on my phone’s safari as well.
I just skip or watch ads if I have to, it’s not a big deal
Revanced Manager Plus for Android is the way to go for YT, reddit, YT Music, and more.
Just use Brave Browser. Open Youtube.com. Done.
Adblock on PC, Adblock browser on my phone
Like others have said, on your laptop, use Firefox with the uBlock extension. For phone, use the Brave browser, they have an adblocker built in. I’ve never had any issues.
I just deal with the ads. Me and the ads have become one, a unique partnership, a ying and a yang.
When I have youtube up on my phone I dont click the video – b/c usually it’ll start playing regardless – and when you do it this way no adds will pop up.