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I recently discovered SmartTube Next for Android TV to get an ad free experience and integrated Sponsorblock on my Nvidia Shield TV.

I found NewPipe for my phone but I don’t see a way to connect my YouTube account to it and I guess I need to import my subs manually every time I change something.

So I’m wondering if there is an alternative YouTube app that is blocking ads (and ideally integrates Sponsorblock) for my smartphone and has the ability to connect my YouTube account like SmartTube Next does?

9krpm ,

tubular. you can then share from official youtube app to tubular and watch your recomendations with out ads and with sponsorblock if you choose. no way to auto sync the subscriptions tho

LetThereBeR0ck ,

Is there a reason it needs to be an app? I was in a similar situation and what worked best for me was just replacing the YouTube app with a Firefox shortcut to YouTube.com. I’m still logged in and the uBlock Origin extension strips the ads out. I think the Sponsorblock extension should also work with this system.

In general I’ve just started replacing apps with annoying ads with either a Firefox webapp or a Firefox shortcut. Works great and reduces the app count on my phone too.

Tywele OP ,

I am very particular about my home screen and prefer to have Material You icons everywhere but unfortunately Firefox shortcuts don’t have that.

LetThereBeR0ck ,

You can override the icon anyway. Instead of using the X app, I have a Firefox shortcut for x.com but it’s called Twitter and has the bird app icon instead of a big X.

helenslunch ,
@helenslunch@feddit.nl avatar

LibreTube is my favorite. GrayJay is also pretty cool for cross-platform video aggregation.

possiblylinux127 ,

Newpipe and libretube is what I use. They are both available on F-droid and both good for privacy.

Blisterexe ,

Get the izzyonfdroid version of libretube though, the version on the main fdroid repo is broken

possiblylinux127 ,

I will never use Izzyonfdroid and you shouldn’t either. It is a cheap alternative to high free software standards. It bypasses the verification process of the main F-droid repo.

As for Libretube it was just updated in the F-droid main repo recently. It works fine for me.

Ilandar , (edited )

Try Grayjay. It’s free (though you can buy a license to support its development) and open source has fully viewable source code. You can login through the YouTube plugin’s settings and either stay logged in or import all your subscriptions and then logout to avoid any further Google tracking. It’s pretty stable compared to other FOSS YouTube apps and also has plugins for Twitch, Nebula and other video/audio content platforms. The YouTube plugin supports SponsorBlock and dislikes. Grayjay is being actively developed by the FUTO organisation, so is unlikely to randomly die like can sometimes happen with other FOSS projects.

Depending on how you use YouTube, the one significant downside may be the complete lack of support for Shorts. Not only can you not access Shorts from inside Grayjay, but if you open a Shorts link inside the application you cannot play it in full screen vertical. I am not a Shorts viewer (I used to disable it in ReVanced) but other FOSS apps like LibreTube support Shorts so this is one notable point of difference with Grayjay.

@unknowing8343

possiblylinux127 , (edited )

Correction: GrayJay is not foss

Ilandar , (edited )

You’re technically correct, if I recall they decided to release it under an alternative license after seeing other FOSS YouTube clients like NewPipe being forked, loaded with ads and then put on the Play Store. This gives FUTO the option of pursuing legal action if bad actors attempt to do the same with their app. However, it is free and the source code is viewable.

possiblylinux127 ,

I personally wouldn’t view the code as that makes you a liability for foss. If you view proprietary code you need to be very careful you do not mistakingly write similar code.

Just because the source code is available does not make it foss. It is in fact quiet proprietary even though everyone seems to think differently.

I frankly do not see the point of it. We have foss apps that work just as well or better without the baggage. What’s worse is that they are unofficial for all the services so you could end up causing headaches. For instance, the Nebula viewer is not approved by Nebula and could break at any time. I realize that could be said for Newpipe and others as well but they are at least foss and flexible.

helenslunch ,
@helenslunch@feddit.nl avatar

GrayJay is not free. It is just a paid app that you can use without paying.

Ilandar ,

If it is free to download, free to use and has no pay nagging or restrictions then it is effectively free to any user. As I said, you can buy a license to support its development and this is clearly what they would like you to do, but there is nothing forcing you to pay.

helenslunch ,
@helenslunch@feddit.nl avatar

The difference is that you are expected to pay. Louis and FUTO are very explicit about this.

FutileRecipe ,

The difference is that you are expected to pay. Louis and FUTO are very explicit about this.

I don’t really follow them, but I did skim the Grayjay FAQ, and it never says that. Just that they make money by selling licenses, no subscription, and it works identically without paying. I don’t suppose you have a source that is more explicit than the official Grayjay FAQ page?

grayjay.app/

apotheotic ,

Grayjay is pretty snazzy

shortwavesurfer ,

What you do with new pipe is there is an RSS button that you can click and export each channel you want to subscribe to into your RSS reader.

unknowing8343 ,

If you want to use your YouTube account (at your own risk) then Vanced is your option.

I recommend using a proxy, tho, and for me LibreTube is the best app currently out there.

You can make an account on a Piped instance (YouTube proxy) so you can sync-up subscriptions and all.

Meltrax ,

You’re looking for ReVanced.

GlenRambo ,

Tubular is NewPipe + sponsor block for phone. But as you say its not connected to your account.

People were using revanced to get the YT app without ads. Not sure if it works any longer.

You can also try mobile fire fox with addons. But YT are cracking down atm.

Your setup is the same as mine and it seems the best for now.

Robin ,

Revanced still works but it’s a cat and mouse game. Sometimes it will stop working but the next day someone will have found a workaround. Bit of a hassle to patch the new APK each time.

Player2 ,

Revanced works just fine still

Substance_P ,

Have you tried the Grayjay app grayjay.app although it encourages you to not block ads and sponsors for the benefit of the creators you can in the settings. It also allows you to connect with your various accounts, YouTube and others.

Fake4000 ,

Obviously you never heard of Revanced. Search it online and get to know how to patch one. You will thank me.

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