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YouTube is a platform we all know and love. But it's one that doesn't necessarily provide you with all of the features you may want out of the box. Despite paying for a YouTube Premium subscription, many of us also used to use Vanced for the additional features that it offered. While advertisements are part-and-parcel of any online service these days, alternatives such as Vanced offer more than just advertisement blocking. They provide features such as more granular video playback options, device spoofing (which was helpful in bypassing restrictions), bringing back the YouTube dislike button, SponsorBlock, and more. Even better was the ability to log in and watch YouTube on Huawei devices, something that you could only do in a browser otherwise. But recent developments with Vanced will force people to look for alternatives, and we're here to help with that.
XDA VIDEO OF THE DAY
Navigate this article:
- What happened to Vanced?
- Best Vanced replacements
- Buy YouTube Premium
- NewPipe
- SkyTube
- LibreTube
- Kiwi Browser
- Adblock
What happened to Vanced?
Addressing the elephant in the room, Vanced was taken offline by its developers after the team received a cease and desist order from Google. We reached out to one of the admins on the team's Discord server shortly after the news broke, and we were told that they were instructed to refrain from using YouTube's name and distributing packages that violate YouTube's Terms of Service. The team verified that it was legitimate, and had no choice but to pull down download links for Vanced.
As it stands, you can no longer download Vanced Manager from the Vanced website. Though if you have Vanced Manager already installed, you can download and install YouTube Vanced, Vanced Music, and Vanced microG.
The current versions of YouTube Vanced will continue to work for now, as they're based on relatively recent versions of the YouTube app. However, as Google makes changes to the YouTube platform, it's likely that some aspects will likely break as time goes on until eventually, Google requires users to update to a newer version. So while you can continue to use the app for a while still, there will eventually be a point of time in the future when you will need to either fall back to the official YouTube app or look for a Vanced replacement as an alternative.
Best Vanced replacements
Because of all of the benefits of Vanced, we put together a list of the best alternatives to prepare you for whenever Vanced stops working. These are some of the best alternatives with all of the features that you know and love so that you're not missing out. They're likely not going to beperfect Vanced replacements, but they'll certainly get very close.
Buy YouTube Premium
Honestly, the problem with apps like these is that they will always be playing a cat and mouse game. If Google is really going after YouTube alternatives, then it's going to be sooner rather than later that these apps are whittled down one by one. Cutting to the chase and paying for YouTube Premium will net you 90% of the features that are offered here anyway, and you'll get the added benefit of supporting your favorite creators. If you used to watch videos in Vanced and didn't have a YouTube Premium subscription, then the creators earned no money from your view. With YouTube Premium, you'll get most of the features you miss, and you keep the lights and heating on for your favorite content creators. Sounds like a win-win, right?
If you've decided to just pay up, you can get a YouTube Premium subscription starting at $11.99 per month, but you can pay less by opting for an Annual plan, a student plan, or a family plan.
YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium has 90% of the features of Vanced whilst also giving you the ability to support your favorite creators.
NewPipe
4 Images
NewPipe is a classic alternative that has been around longer than Vanced has. It's completely free and open-source while offering background playback, picture-in-picture, video downloading, and more. It's continuously updated with new features, and the developers are incredibly privacy-conscious. One downside of that is that you can't log in to your YouTube account in NewPipe, but it does mean there are no advertisements and it works on devices that don't have Google apps. You can also share videos from the regular YouTube app on your phone to NewPipe for playback if you wish.
If you're interested, there's also a fork of NewPipe that's maintained and integrates SponsorBlock, though the official NewPipe build does not utilize it as the NewPipe developers view sponsorship as a more ethical form of advertising than tracked advertisements. You can download NewPipe from F-Droid or the team's website, and you can download the SponsorBlock variant from GitHub.
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipe/
SkyTube
5 Images
SkyTube is an interesting one, as it comes in two variants. One is "SkyTube Extra" which packs closed libraries and supports the official YouTube player and casting. The other is a completely open-source variant that's published on F-Droid, though it's slower to update (the team says up to five days for an update) and obviously lacks those additional features.
However, no matter which you choose, you're getting video downloading, background playback, video blocking, no advertisements, and a whole lot more. SkyTube is also available on F-Droid, though you'll need to download SkyTube Extra from the team's own website.
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/free.rm.skytube.oss/
LibreTube
4 Images
LibreTube is an interesting YouTube app as it's currently in beta, and it shows. However, it still has some crucial features that may entice you to try it out. One of the most interesting things about LibreTube is that it uses Piped, so you don't ever connect directly to Google's servers. There's a server in between you and Google (and LibreTube lets you select from a few). You can register an account onthat server if you want to subscribe to channels, but you're not subscribing on any Google-affiliated service.
You can check out the default Piped front-end that LibreTube uses in your browser normally. Piped is primarily aimed at being used on desktop, but it's a cool proof of concept to see how it can form the basis of an alternative YouTube client on mobile. LibreTube is only available on GitHub currently.
Kiwi Browser with SponsorBlock, Return YouTube Dislike, and uBlock
3 Images
If you don't want to use any of the above apps, you can always use a browser such as Kiwi Browser to install extensions and create your own YouTube experience. Kiwi Browser is a Chromium-based browser developed by XDA Senior Memberarnaud42 with support for desktop extensions. There is already a litany of extensions that pertain to YouTube that you can get on the Chrome extension store, and they're all installable in Kiwi. I set up SponsorBlock, Return YouTube Dislike, uBlock Origin, and YouTube Enhancer in a Kiwi Browser instance, and it works surprisingly well. It's not perfect (and you do need to use YouTube in desktop mode in the browser for it to work), but once set up, there are no issues.
As for what you'll be getting with Kiwi Browser, you can watch videos in HD, without advertisements (and without sponsorship segments), and you get a dislike button back. What's more, you can log in to YouTube as you normally would, and you get a closer-to-desktop experience. It's a little bit annoying and not as easy to just share a video to Kiwi Browser as you would in NewPipe nor is there a picture-in-picture player, but it works. Even better is that Kiwi Browser is in itself a great browser, and you might find other uses for extensions on mobile, too.
If you don't care for anything but ad blocking, you can also install uBlock Origin in Firefox from the built-in add-on store and then navigate the mobile site.
Good old Adblock
If all you care about is blocking advertisements, then you should definitely check out our guide on how to block advertisements on Android both with root and without root. It's nowhere near as efficient as the above solutions (and will likely require you to watch YouTube in your web browser), but it's also quick and easy to set up and maintain and works for a wider set of use cases than just YouTube.
A cat and mouse game that's impossible to win
Here's the thing: Google will always win when it's their cat and mouse game. Anyone violating the YouTube ToS can be ordered to cease and desist from their actions, and that's exactly what has happened with Vanced. Only time will tell if Google intends on going after these other available options.
One thing is for sure though. When dealing with open source projects like the ones above, if one falls, ten more will pop up in its place.
FAQs
Which is the best alternative of YouTube Vanced? ›
- LibreTube. It is an upcoming YouTube client based on privacy-friendly YouTube frontend Piped. ...
- NewPipe. ...
- Kiwi Browser. ...
- SkyTube. ...
- UBlock Origin. ...
- YouTube Premium. ...
- YMusic.
NewPipe is a classic alternative that has been around longer than Vanced has. It's completely free and open-source while offering background playback, picture-in-picture, video downloading, and more. It's continuously updated with new features, and the developers are incredibly privacy-conscious.
Will there be another Vanced? ›Recently, Google sent a cease and desist letter to the developer of the YouTube Vanced app. After that, on 13th March 2022, developers of the Vanced app announced that the app would no longer be available. They have taken down all download links of this app already.
Can YouTube ban you for using Vanced? ›While it may be in a legal grey area, YouTube is well within their rights to terminate your account if you use the app.
Why is Vanced discontinued? ›The Vanced owners say they've had to discontinue the project “due to legal reasons.” Google sent the Vanced owners a cease and desist letter recently, which has forced the developers to stop distributing and developing the app.
What is LibreTube? ›LibreTube is an alternative frontend for YouTube. It uses the Piped API to load data and play videos and thus needs no YT account and no Google Services on your device.
What is better than NewPipe? ›There are more than 100 alternatives to NewPipe for a variety of platforms, including Android, Linux, Mac, Windows and Online / Web-based. The best alternative is YouTube, which is free. Other great apps like NewPipe are youtube-dl, AIMP, Invidious and FreeTube.
What replaced Vanced? ›The very first alternative to YouTube Vanced is NewPipe. NewPipe is an open-source YouTube alternative that does not depend on the YouTube API. It means you can use the application without the Google Mobile Service, and you need not log in to your Google account to use NewPipe.
Is it legal to use NewPipe? ›NewPipe is free and open source
You can check the source code on GitHub and contribute to NewPipe. NewPipe is covered by the GPL 3.0 license.
Mini. While the existing versions of the app will continue to work, it will become outdated in two years or so as Vanced will no longer push any updates. "Currently installed versions will work just fine until they become outdated in two years or so," the company tweeted.
Who is the owner of pure tuber? ›
YouTube Vanced - Owner at Pure Tuber - Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India | LinkedIn.
What is Vanced MicroG? ›MicroG allows Android apps to access replica application programming interfaces (APIs) that are provided by Google Play Services, including the APIs associated with Google Play, Google Maps, and Google's geolocation and messaging features.
Who created Vanced? ›| Other names | Vanced |
|---|---|
| Original author(s) | xfileFIN, Laura, ZaneZam, KevinX8 |
| Developer(s) | Vanced Team |
| Initial release | 2017 |
| Final release | 17.03.38 / February 17, 2022 |
YT Vanced doesn't require any permission from Android system to work, which means it doesn't collect any personal data from the device.
Does Google ban for Vanced? ›Google has sent the owners of Vanced a cease and desist letter, according to reports. A spokesperson for Vanced said: “Vanced has been discontinued. "In the coming days, the download links on the website will be taken down.
How do I use Vanced after ban? ›Install the APKMirror Installer from the Play Store, then open it the app. 4. Click on browse files, the vanced apkm file should be there. Wait for a couple of seconds or minutes so that the files data can be loaded.
Does Vanced APK still work? ›While the app will continue to work for anyone who currently has it installed on Android, without any future updates it's likely to stop working at some point soon. The Vanced owners say they've had to discontinue the project “due to legal reasons.” YouTube Vanced still works, but it is now known as YouTube TV.
Can I still download Vanced? ›It added a number of features to the official YouTube app, including built-in adblocking, background playback, black/dark themes, and much more. However, note that YouTube Vanced has been discontinued as of March 13, 2022. You can check out other recommended YouTube Vanced alternatives.
What is Allowlist in YouTube? ›Allowlisting on YouTube means that a video will not be claimed by YouTube Content ID. If your profile has been allowlisted but your videos remain claimed, please reach out to us via the help desk so that we can release the claim for you.
What are Midrolls in YouTube? ›When you upload videos that are 8 minutes or longer, you can enable ads during the middle of the video (known as "mid-rolls") in addition to having them at the beginnings and ends of videos.
Which YouTube APK is best? ›
- NewPipe.
- YT Premium (Vanced)
- SkyTube.
- TubeMate.
- VidMate.
- FlyTube.
- OGYouTube.
- YouTube Go.
Other interesting Android alternatives to TubeMate are SnapTube, FrostWire, Addoncrop YouTube Video Downloader and SongTube. TubeMate alternatives are mainly YouTube Downloaders but may also be Video Downloaders or YouTube Clients.
Is NewPipe part of YouTube? ›NewPipe is a Youtube client that doesn't use any libraries that are dependent on Google's framework or on any Youtube API. The application is limited to analyzing Youtube itself in order to obtain needed information.
Is YouTube Vanced still updated? ›The developers posted the announcement on Twitter on Sunday: Vanced has been discontinued.
Is NewPipe APK safe? ›Is NewPipe Safe? Many people have doubts about using a little-known third-party application that isn't even available in the Google Playstore. After all, malicious apps that steal user data do exist, often masquerading as useful tools. But NewPipe suffers from no such issues.
Is Apple a NewPipe? ›NewPipe is not available for iPhone but there are plenty of alternatives with similar functionality. The best iPhone alternative is YouTube, which is free.
Does NewPipe collect data? ›NewPipe keeps all this data offline and even tries not to use any proprietary Google APIs to make the app work. The app makers say that the only information sent is what's needed to get the video and channel details.
Is YouTube Premium better than Vanced? ›YouTube Premium does have an upside of applying to all your devices, whereas Vanced is for Android devices only. So it makes sense to explore this option if you also want ad-free playback on your smart TV, gaming console, and other gadgets.
Is Pure Tuber safe? ›Absolutely. Pure Tuber is a clean app without virus nor malware. There is nothing harmful about Pure Tuber.
How can I play Pure Tuber if my phone is off? ›Doing it the Pure Tuber way!
Once you've installed Pure Tuber, to play YouTube videos in the background, all you need to do is open the application, find the video of your choice and tap on 'Background. ' The option can be found just beneath the screen on which the video is streaming. That's it – yes, it's that simple!
How can I watch YouTube without ads? ›
Adblocking apps for TV, tablets, and smartphones
We'd advise using Total AdBlock alongside your Firefox browser for those using Android devices. This will prevent most ads when you watch YouTube, similarly to Adblock Plus.
For the last few weeks microG has been using a lot of battery power while my phone is standby...
Is microG better than Gapps? ›microG is a re-implementation of some core proprietary Google services that allows you to use some features on your phone that would otherwise require Google's packages installed, without ever installing them or having anything Google related on your phone. So to answer your question: microg is better for privacy.
Is Vanced pirated? ›YouTube Vanced simply offers a couple of different highlights. It doesn't alter the content of YouTube and neither promotes piracy.
Is Vanced stopped? ›After facing a legal threat from Google, the popular Vanced YouTube app is being discontinued. The developers have confirmed that they have stopped all further development of the project, and Vanced has been officially discontinued.
Is YouTube Vanced Russian? ›Additionally, in response to rumors that Vanced devs were Russian, the post stated that "[none] of the team members are in Russia or Ukraine, nor do they have any links to those countries."
Is YouTube Vanced paid? ›While the premium version asks you to invest money to enjoy the service, there is a freemium model that gave leeway to users to stream ad-free content without making any payment for a subscription.
Is Vanced draining battery? ›It seems kinda unusual to me that this app uses so much battery. It's a vanced problem, they have a problem in their latest release. I noticed the same thing and it's a global problem. Check "Vanced" on Reddit and you will see many people are complaining about it.
Who owned YouTube Vanced? ›YouTube Vanced, which was created in 2017, is a mod of Google's Android YouTube app.
Is Vanced a malware? ›Vanced doesn't put you at a higher risk of getting malware or being hacked. Also, a lot of people have used Vanced, and the general consensus is that it doesn't impact the YouTube experience in any negative way.
› wiki › YouTube_Vanced ›
YouTube Vanced
Google finally succeeds in killing YouTube Vanced
What is Vanced and why has Google banned it?
Is NewPipe Safe? Many people have doubts about using a little-known third-party application that isn't even available in the Google Playstore. After all, malicious apps that steal user data do exist, often masquerading as useful tools. But NewPipe suffers from no such issues.
Is NewPipe part of YouTube? ›NewPipe is a Youtube client that doesn't use any libraries that are dependent on Google's framework or on any Youtube API. The application is limited to analyzing Youtube itself in order to obtain needed information.
Is YouTube Premium better than Vanced? ›YouTube Premium does have an upside of applying to all your devices, whereas Vanced is for Android devices only. So it makes sense to explore this option if you also want ad-free playback on your smart TV, gaming console, and other gadgets.
Is there a better YouTube client? ›NewPipe is an open source YouTube application for Android that has all the features that the official YouTube application does not support, or only offers when you pay for it. The official YouTube application is preloaded on most Android devices.
Does NewPipe collect data? ›NewPipe keeps all this data offline and even tries not to use any proprietary Google APIs to make the app work. The app makers say that the only information sent is what's needed to get the video and channel details.
Is there a better YouTube app for Android? ›TubeMate is by far the most popular YouTube App Alternative for Android. The App provides various options for downloading videos in HD, SD, and mp3 with different resolutions and formats. Tubemate lets you watch and download videos from YouTube and other video-sharing sites.
Which tool is best for YouTube? ›Canva. Canva is a tool that is also used in YouTube marketing as it allows you to create beautiful professional-quality featured images for your video content. Their interface is pretty simple and intuitive that allows you to create a good-looking YouTube banner and YouTube channel art in various layouts and fonts.
Who owned YouTube Vanced? ›| Other names | Vanced |
|---|---|
| Original author(s) | xfileFIN, Laura, ZaneZam, KevinX8 |
| Developer(s) | Vanced Team |
| Initial release | 2017 |
| Final release | 17.03.38 / February 17, 2022 |
The battery drain almost seems to be on par with the display's battery drain (see attached picture). It seems kinda unusual to me that this app uses so much battery. It's a vanced problem, they have a problem in their latest release. I noticed the same thing and it's a global problem.
Is Vanced still working? ›
Vanced has been discontinued.
How long will YouTube Vanced last? ›Mini. While the existing versions of the app will continue to work, it will become outdated in two years or so as Vanced will no longer push any updates. "Currently installed versions will work just fine until they become outdated in two years or so," the company tweeted.
› comments › gxnxd0 › newpipe... ›
