YouTube is where we learn how to bake a cake, laugh at some funny cat videos, and follow our favorite creators. However, the unskippable and never-ending advertisement may spoil the experience, particularly when we are approaching the good part.

There has been a long and glorious period when we had a savior in the Android world, which helped us evade this frustration: YouTube Vanced Alternatives. It was a steroid version of the normal YouTube app. It came with all the cool stuff you would have to pay extra to get, such as no advertisements, listening to music with your screen turned off, all free. It was a paradigm shifter to so many.

However, as they say, everything good has to end. The developers of Vanced were forced to close it some time ago. 

This left millions of hearts (and phones) with a massive gap. And, chances are, you have been trying to fill that vacuum ever since you were one of them  to. The positive news? The Vanced spirit never dies!

In this tutorial, we shall take a cordial tour in search of the finest YouTube Vanced Alternatives at the moment, in the mid-2025. We will simplify all the information you need to know in layman terms without the jargon. Consider me as your friend who has already completed all the homework and is here to provide you with the inside information. We will help you to find a new favorite YouTube watching way!

Why Was YouTube Vanced So Popular?

Vanced is dead and yet people are discussing it as though they miss an old friend. It was not just one cool feature; there was a combination of them that made YouTube better.

• Advertisements are a thing of the past: Youtube Vanced Alternatives prevented all the ads on YouTube. No pre-roll advertisements, no pop-ups in the middle of the video and no banners taking up space on the screen. Watching was an unadulterated and uninterrupted pleasure.
• Continue to listen to music as you work: The standard YouTube app pauses when you change the application or turn off the screen. Vanced also allowed you to leave the audio to play in the background. Youtube simply became a free music streaming platform.
• PiP mode (Picture-in-Picture): This aspect allowed you to minimize the video into a small floating window that remained on top of your other applications. You might have sent a message to a friend, scrolled through social media or browsed the web, and your video continued playing in the corner.
• The Sponsor Skipper (SponsorBlock): This was a stroke of genius. Vanced was able to automatically jump past the sponsored parts, introduction sequences, and the like and subscribe messages within the videos themselves. It saves you a lot of time.
• It is under your control: Vanced provided a lot of customization settings to the users. You might be able to compel videos to stream in high definition, bypass screen resolution restrictions, and select the theme of your choice (hi, real dark mode!).
• Completely free: It provided all these amazing features which make up the paid subscription YouTube Premium at the unparalleled cost of nothing. No wonder it turned into the must-have app among so many Android users.

Top 10 YouTube Vanced Alternatives in 2025

And here is the principal list: the top Youtube Vanced alternatives in 2025. We have considered numerous alternatives, direct replacements and clever workarounds.  

1. ReVanced Manager  

ReVanced is sometimes referred to as the actual spiritual successor of the original Vanced project. It is not an ordinary app that you can download but rather a strong manager that allows you to change the official YouTube app on your own. It works like a toolbox that puts all the neat stuff you enjoyed with Vanced, such as ad-blocking and background play, into the most recent version of the YouTube app directly through the Play Store. This makes a Revanced a powerful Youtue Vanced Alternatives for users looking to retain similar features.

It is one of the best YouTube Vanced alternatives. This is a clever way of doing it since you will always have the latest YouTube interface and functionality, yet you will not have to deal with the irritating commercials. The initial configuration may be technical as you need to patch the app, but the manager will help you with it.  After it is completed, the outcome is the nearest thing to the original Vanced experience, hence the best option to use by the die-hard fans who desire everything to be the same as it was.

Key Features:  

•  Has an official YouTube app as its foundation.  
•  Full blocking of ads (video and layout ads).  
•  Has SponsorBlock.  
•  Background playback and Picture-in-Picture.  
•  Very customizable using dozens of patches.  
•  Enables secure logging in to your Google account.

Pros:  

•  The most full-featured one.  
•  It is always built on the latest version of YouTube.  
•  Community based and open-source.  
•  Allows you to select exactly what features you would like to add.  

Cons:  

•  It is not as simple as downloading a file.  
•  The manager and the YouTube APK are to be downloaded separately.  
• You might have to re-patch the app when YouTube is updated.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: revanced.app

2. NewPipe

NewPipe is a good option when you care about your privacy and prefer to use an easy app. It has been in the market several years ago and has gained the confidence of numerous users. It aims to provide you with the whole YouTube experience but without any of Google frameworks, thus it loads fast and does not track your activities. You do not have to log in using your Google account, making it a reliable YouTube Vanced Alternatives for privacy-focused users.

Rather, you may export your subscriptions in YouTube and it stores them securely in your device. NewPipe has it all: powerful ad-blocker, background and pop up playback, and ability to save videos or songs to your phone to watch or listen to later. The user-friendly, clean interface leaves all the emphasis on content, without any distracting add-ons. NewPipe is ideal when you want an easy, non-public means of viewing or listening.

Key features:

•  No advertising.
•  Background and pop-up player.
•  Audio and video downloader.
•  Non-logged-in subscription import.
•  Very light and quick.
•  Has support for other platforms such as SoundCloud and Bandcamp.

Pros:

•  Great to have privacy; no Google tracking.
•  Installation and use are very easy.
•  Does not need a powerful phone to work.
•  Free and regularly maintained.

Cons:

• You are not able to log in using your Google account.
• You are not able to comment on videos and view your cloud-based playlists.
• Subscriptions are locally stored, and thus they are not synced.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: newpipe.net

3. LibreTube

LibreTube is an emerging YouTube client which provides a sleek user interface. Similar to NewPipe, it is constructed with privacy being its central principle, thus it does not utilize any of the official Google code and you do not require a Google account to use it. LibreTube excels at its user experience and innovative features. It is considered one of the best YouTube Vanced options. It is one of the best YouTube Vanced alternatives. It has a lovely interface that is user-friendly.

Among its most remarkable features is the possibility to use the instances of Piped. It means that the app will channel its requests to various servers, and thus your activity is less likely to be traced and the app is more reliable. It is also possible to organize your favorite channels and manage them locally as you create groups. LibreTube promises a high-end, ad-free experience with background play and downloads in a visually pleasing package to the privacy-aware user.

Key Features:

•  No ads.
•  Picture-in-Picture and background playback.
•  Audio and video downloads.
•  Google account-free subscription management.
•  User-friendly modern interface.
•  Employs Piped to increase privacy and performance.

Pros:

•  Gorgeous and user-friendly design.
•  Great attention to the privacy of users.
•  Freely available and maintained by a development team.
•  Subscription grouping is an excellent organization tool.

Cons:

•  No log in to Google account, thus no access to comments and posts in the community.
•  It being a newer app, can at times be more buggy than older options.
•  Uses public Piped servers that may be slow or offline.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: https://libretube.dev/

4. Grayjay

Grayjay is a promising and thrilling project developed by a famous tech-personality Louis Rossmann. It does not want to be another YouTube client; it is a platform aggregator. The concept of Grayjay is to not be bound to an app of one platform. It allows you to subscribe to creators, not channels, and you can watch their videos regardless of where they post them, whether it is YouTube, Odyssey, or any other site. Each creator has its own sources that you can customize so you never miss their content, making Grayjay a unique YouTube Vanced Alternatives with a broader approach.

Grayjay has all the major functions such as ad-blocking and background playing, and it also lets you log in to various platforms in order to synchronize your subscriptions and post comments. It is an effective tool for those viewers who are sick of big tech dictating their experience and wish to contribute to a more open and creator-friendly ecosystem. Its vision of a single content experience is next-generation, although it is still developing.

Key Features:

•  Gathers material not only on YouTube.
•  Complete ad-blocking and SponsorBlock.
•  Background and PiP playback.
•  Downloading of videos.
•  Enables you to access different accounts on platforms.
•  Sources that can be customized by creator.

Pros:

•  A progressive application that favors a decentralized web.
•  Allows you to follow creators on various services.
•  Rich in features and very customizable.
•  Good growth and a well-defined, user-centered mission.

Cons:

•  The application is not free, it has a paid model to guarantee sustainable growth.
•  It may be more complicated to install than a mere YouTube client.
• Because it runs on numerous platforms it may consume more resources than a dedicated client.

• Pricing: Paid (one-time fee or subscription)
• Website: grayjay.app

5. YouTube Premium

The formal option is YouTube Premium. It is actually Google giving you a better experience on its own. It is the sole 100 percent secure, lawful and trouble-free method of removing commercials, permitting background playback and retrieving videos to watch offline. It is considered a premium YouTube Vanced replacement. It is one of the best YouTube Vanced alternatives. Once you subscribe, these features are flawless on all your devices where you are signed in: your phone, tablet, computer and even your smart TV.

YouTube Music Premium is also a full-featured music streaming service, competing with Spotify and Apple Music, that also comes with a subscription. Although it requires a monthly subscription fee, you are not paying to get rid of nuisances, but also you are directly supporting your favorite creators as they get a share of the subscription money. YouTube Premium is an excellent and simple option to consider by those who desire an absolutely worry-free, smooth experience and are ready to pay the price of it.

Key features:

• Absolutely no ads on any devices.
• Background playback.
• Download offline.
• It has YouTube Music Premium.
• Is compatible with all devices (Android, iOS, Web, TV).

Pros:

• 100 percent safe, legal and officially supported.
• Most convenient to install- simply subscribe.
• Your money is going straight to the creators.
• Syncs across all your devices perfectly.

Cons:

• It is an expenditure on a monthly basis.
• It doesn’t have advanced features like SponsorBlock or tweaks.
• The algorithms of Google are still tracking you.

• Pricing: Monthly subscription (prices vary by region)
• Website: youtube.com/premium

6. Brave Browser

A normal web browser may at times be more useful than a specialized application. Brave is a privacy-oriented browser. It has a built-in ad and tracker blocker, known as Brave Shields, which disables video and banner ads on YouTube by default, so you can have a clean viewing experience immediately. Brave also provides the option of playing videos in the background. Activate this in settings, and you’ll find Brave to be a simple yet effective YouTube Vanced Alternatives.

Then you may enter your YouTube account as you do on the computer. You will be able to use all your subscriptions, playlists and comments. Since Brave is a popular browser, it is safe to download it using Google Play Store. Brave is a good compromise in case you do not want to download apps on unknown sources.

Key Features:

•  In-App ad and tracker blocker.
•  Background playback.
•  Unlimited access to the YouTube site.
•  It is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
•  Anonymous Browse.

Pros:

•  Very simple and secure to put in place.
•  No sideloading is required.
•  Blocks ads in all websites, not only YouTube.
•  Enables you to sign in to your Google account securely.

Cons:

•  It is not as smooth as a native app.
•  No built-in SponsorBlock (but may be possible in extensions on the desktop).
•  No specific button to download to watch offline.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: brave.com

7. uYouPlus (for iOS)

Are you an iPhone or iPad user and despise watching YouTube ads? uYouPlus is the solution to your problem. iOS is more restricted than Android, so you cannot download any application you like. uYouPlus is a customized version of the official YouTube app on iOS with the new and powerful features. It provides the complete Vanced experience on Apple devices with full ad-blocking, background audio playback and Picture-in-Picture on iOS 11 and up. making it a strong YouTube Vanced Alternatives for iOS users.

It also comes with an in-built downloader which allows you to download videos and audio in different formats directly to your device. The primary obstacle is the installation, which generally involves a computer and an application such as AltStore, although it is worth the additional effort to those who are ready to go the extra mile, as the result is a feature-filled YouTube experience that cannot be matched on iOS, and is not subject to advertisements and restrictions.

Key Features:

•  Blocks all the YouTube advertisements.
•  Background playing.
•  Picture-in-Picture on all users.
•  In-built media downloader (up to 4K).
•  SponsorBlock support.
•  Personalization of the app design.

Pros:

•  The most loaded YouTube mod on iOS.
•  Gives a very close experience to Vanced.
•  Gives access to your Google account.
•  A vibrant development and community support.

Cons:

•  It is complicated to install and needs a computer (AltStore or Sideloadly).
•  Must be refreshed on a weekly basis at no charge with a free Apple developer account.
•  It is not as easy as one could download it in the App Store.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: https://uyouplus.com/uyou-enhanced/

8. SkyTube

SkyTube is an old, free program that provides you with a clear and straightforward manner to view YouTube. Similar to NewPipe, it was designed to operate without authentication on a Google account. It is a great choice, therefore, to those who are concerned with privacy. It is available in two places: F-Droid offers a completely Google-free version, and the second one is called SkyTube Extra, which adds both the ability to use the official YouTube player and the ability to cast videos to your TV or screen. This makes SkyTube a solid YouTube Vanced Alternatives for users valuing simplicity and privacy.

SkyTube is the only one that has the essentials: ad-blocking, video downloading, and background playback. It also allows you to block or whitelist some channels so you can customize your feed. You are even able to import your current subscriptions to make a smooth transition out of another app. It is one of the best YouTube Vanced options. The appearance might be somewhat dated, yet the SkyTube is extremely stable and easy to navigate with a smooth ad-free experience.

Key Features:

•  No advertisement.  
•  Downloading of videos.  
•  Background and pop-up player.  
•  Non-logged-in subscription import and management.  
•  Capability to block undesired channels.  
•  Has a video blocker to filter.

Pros:  

•  Extremely solid and dependable.  
•  Free and privacy-safe.  
•  Distinct channel-blocking capabilities.  
•  Uncomplicated and easy to use.

Cons: 

•  No Google account log-in.  
•  The interface is a bit outdated when it comes to newer applications.  
•  Does not have a SponsorBlock.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: https://skytubeapk.com/

9. SmartTube

You can bring the YouTube experience without ads on your phone and project it on the largest screen in your home: the television. SmartTube is an open-source, brilliant YouTube client that is specifically built on Android TV and Amazon Fire TV. Have you ever faced such a situation when you were watching a movie and suddenly an unskippable commercial appeared? Or you were watching a playlist on your TV and you were annoyed by an unskippable commercial? This app is what you need—a perfect YouTube Vanced Alternatives for smart TVs.

It fully transforms watching on your smart TV, offering a clean and advertisement-free interface that is simple to use with a remote control. SmartTube guarantees that your living room is a commercial-free zone, and it will bring the best of Vanced to your couch, which makes it a necessary app to have in case you have a compatible smart TV or streaming stick.

Key Features:

•  Blocks any kind of advertisements (video, banner, etc.).
•  Incorporates SponsorBlock to skip in-video parts.
• It is TV screen and remote control navigation-friendly.
•  Allows playing up to 8K resolution and different codecs.
•  Does not need Google Play Services to run.
•  Enables log-in to synchronize subscriptions and history.

Pros:

•  The ultimate ad-free YouTube on smart TVs.
•  Free software and with a great reputation.
•  Comes with numerous features such as high-resolution support.
•  Its committed developer regularly updates it.

Cons:

•  Supports Android TV-based devices only (e.g. Nvidia Shield, Chromecast with Google TV, Firestick).
•  It has to be sideloaded, which is a challenge to first-time users on a TV.
•  Not on cell phones or tablets.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: https://smarttubeapp.github.io/

10. Vanced Extended

When the original Vanced team ceased development, a few committed community developers continued development of the project. Vanced Extended is an example of such an unofficial continuation, referred to as a fork, of the original project. It is designed to continue its development, to offer bug fixes and to upgrade the application so that it is compatible with newer versions of YouTube. It gives the same experience as the original Vanced, with the same foundation and principles, making it a reliable YouTube Vanced Alternatives for long-time users.

You have the standard interface, the same potent ad-blocking, SponsorBlock and customization that you are used to. It may take some time to update because the development team is small and it may not work on a consistent basis. It is one of the best YouTube Vanced options. Nevertheless, it is a straightforward and close substitute to individuals who cannot live without the original app. Be sure to download it on a reliable source, which is often the official GitHub page of the developer.

Key Features:

•  A direct successor of the original Vanced project.
•  Total ad-blocking.
•  SponsorBlock, background play, and PiP.
•  Complete customization.
•  Needs MicroG to sign in to your Google account.

Pros:

•  Provides the same experience as the original YouTube Vanced Alternatives.
•  The same interface and features.
•  Is still being updated by the community.

Cons:

• It is not easy to find the official and safe download link.
•  The process of development may be halted.
•  Has the same legal gray-area presence as the original Vanced.

• Pricing: Free
• Website: Available on GitHub (search for “Vanced Extended” by user inotia00)

Are These Alternatives Safe to Use?

It might be the biggest question in your mind so it is prudent to be cautious. The quick reply to that is: it depends on what source you use.

Such apps as NewPipe, LibreTube, and SkyTube are viewed as highly safe. They are open-source, that is, their code is available publicly. It can be scrutinized by tech-savvy individuals worldwide to ensure that it is not carrying something malicious within it. You are safe as long as you get them through their official websites or reliable open-source app stores such as F-Droid.

Even such applications as ReVanced Manager are secure, as long as you obtain the manager on its official website (revanced.app). The manager is open-source itself. It then takes the official YouTube app on your phone to generate the modified version, which is a fairly safe procedure. The greatest danger is the download of these applications on random websites. There are official applications that can be found on Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and you do not need to worry about security at all.

Web Browser Alternatives and Their Benefits

Brave and Firefox are secure browsers which you can download on the phone, but a simple browser would be an even easier option.

• Simple and Safe: The biggest advantage is ease and safety. There is no need to enable the option of installing apps not known to Google Play or downloading APK files. You simply go to the Play Store and select a browser you can trust and install it. It is the most secure method of enjoying an ad-free experience.
• Universal Solution: The other benefit is that it is compatible with virtually everywhere. A YouTube-cleaning ad-blocking browser is great, but you also get ad- and tracker-blocking on virtually every site you visit, making the internet in general faster, more secure, and less annoying.
• Hassle-Free: Lastly, it is convenient. You log in to your account without having to use any workarounds and you do not need to fear your modded app will become broken once YouTube is updated. The sacrifice is that the user interface is a webpage rather than a sleek app, but to most users the advantages of safety and ease of use more than outweigh this minor disadvantage.

How to Install These Alternatives on Android/iOS

Choose an app of your choice.

What to do to install it in an Android phone: Enable Unknown sources. Open settings > Security (or settings > Apps). Locate the option of installing the unknown apps. Choose your browser, whether it is Chrome or Firefox, and switch the button to “Allow from this source.”

• Get the APK file: Open the official site of the app in your phone browser (e.g. newpipe.net or revanced.app). Go ahead and click to download the installation file that will have the extension to be apk.
• Download the App: After the download is complete, you can tap on the notification or visit your Downloads folder. Click the file you downloaded. Your cell phone will prompt you to install the application. Click on install and you are finished. The application will now be visible among your other apps.

For iOS (iPhone/iPad):

This is made more difficult by Apple which has limitations on the apps that can be installed.

The most widespread method is to utilize AltStore.

• Install AltServer in a Computer: You require either a Mac or Windows computer. Download and install the AltServer application on the official site altstore.io. Plug your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.  
• Install AltStore in Your iPhone: Click on the AltServer icon on the menu bar (or system tray) of the computer. Click on the option of installing AltStore and select your iPhone. Put in your Apple ID and password (no need to worry; this is to sign the app to your device).
• Believe Profile: In your iPhone, tap on Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. You will find yourself as an Apple ID developer. Press it and then press Trust.
• Download the App (e.g., uYouPlus): Open the Safari browser on your iPhone, and search the official GitHub of uYouPlus to download its .ipa file. Download it and open it with AltStore via the menu Share. AltStore will then install the app on your phone.

Also Read: Best YouTube Alternatives

Conclusion

People were disappointed when YouTube Vanced ceased to work. Still the community has returned with a vengeance. YouTube Vanced alternatives are numerous nowadays, and everyone can find a suitable one.

To get the best and feature-rich Vanced experience, use ReVanced Manager. NewPipe or LibreTube are the best options to consider in case you are most concerned about privacy, and you are looking to have something simple and light. uYouPlus is the obvious choice, in case you have an iPhone or an iPad. It is a good, worry-free choice to use a browser such as Brave or to purchase YouTube Premium, especially when you desire simplicity and do not want to bother.

There is no single Vanced alternative that can be described as the best one by any person. You are advised to select what suits you in terms of features, privacy and convenience. We hope that this guide will help to find the correct choice and continue watching YouTube without breaks.

Also Read: AI Video Generator Tools

FAQs

Are these YouTube Vanced Alternatives illegal?  

It is a gray area. It is not a criminal offense, but using these apps goes against the Terms of Service of YouTube. Google is very unlikely to do anything to individual users.

Is there a chance that my Google account can be banned because I use one of these apps?  

The risk is not zero, and very low. There is a theoretical chance in the case of apps with which you log in (such as ReVanced or uYouPlus). 

What is the way to get my channel subscriptions on an application such as NewPipe?  

Exportation of your subscriptions is possible in your Google account. Visit google.com/takeout, and only choose YouTube and export subscriptions.csv file. 

Which is the most simple and safe Vanced alternative to begin with?  

The simplest and safest is the Brave Browser. It is available to be downloaded directly on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.