The last time we discussed YouTube Vanced was in June 2021, and much has changed since then. Google finally decided to open its nuclear silos to demand the project’s termination, and while already installed copies of the app still work without problems, it’s only a matter of time before they become digital paperweights. With that in mind, today we’re going to explore some of the best YouTube Vanced alternatives and the main compromises we must accept when using them.
YouTube Is in Trouble
The quality of the official app is deteriorating, with increasingly heavy and invasive updates. Add to that the service’s absolute lack of flexibility, and the mobile experience ends up disappointing. This has forced many users to explore alternatives or simply give up the app and use YouTube in their mobile browser.
YouTube Vanced seemed like the ideal answer to all our complaints; however, the “cease and desist” from Mountain View arrived. The rumor mill suggests the trigger was the intention to turn the Vanced logo into an NFT (the news broke on this tweet), but none of that matters now. What we need today is to know the best YouTube Vanced alternatives, and here are three of them.
NewPipe
NewPipe is one of the top recommendations for abandoning the official YouTube app. By completely ignoring Google’s libraries and the platform’s API, NewPipe has no trouble running on older devices (there’s a legacy edition available) or on devices without the Google Play Services module. As if that weren’t enough, NewPipe allows video downloads and background playback. NewPipe is open source, and we can get updated copies via F-Droid.
Now, its virtue is also its weakness: since it doesn’t rely on the official API, NewPipe doesn’t support login. That means we must import our subscriptions manually, a tedious process from every point of view.
SkyTube
SkyTube is another alternative that’s making a lot of noise. There are two versions: one fully open source, and the Extra edition that includes certain features dependent on proprietary libraries. SkyTube seeks to stand out by offering a powerful video blocker, with filters by channel, language, view count, and more. We can also customize the interface, hiding entire sections.
The downside of SkyTube is that it hasn’t received updates in over a month and carries a number of significant bugs. Personally, I have to run the app more than once for it to start, and the feature to enter our own API key isn’t working properly. Like NewPipe, SkyTube doesn’t support login.
LibreTube
LibreTube is a relatively young project, but no less interesting. From the start, its developer warns that LibreTube is in beta, so it’s inevitable to find errors and other limitations in the latest version of the app. LibreTube depends on the Piped project (more info below), and that delivers a clean, minimalist experience without irrelevant elements, ideal for humbler devices. Another advantage of LibreTube is the ability to change the Piped instance in case something fails.
Naturally, LibreTube’s problems are nothing more than growing pains. Updates are frequent, but the build number sits at 0.2.3 at the time of writing. There’s no support for comments, search filters, or playlists, and the login system has some bugs. Patience.
Bonus Track: Piped / Invidious
In general terms, both projects have the same goal: to present a light-minimalist-stripped-down interface of YouTube without the standard service’s garbage. Piped and Invidious work with the concept of instances that guarantee functionality. If one of those instances stops working, there’s another just a click away.
Piped’s interface is a bit more polished and tends to load faster, but Invidious has advanced options, including video downloads. And since they work directly on compatible browsers, we don’t need to install anything extra.
Summary
Replacing YouTube Vanced is annoying and frustrating for its users, but the good news is that they won’t be left empty-handed. Ideally, Google would finally pick up the glove and prepare less problematic editions of its official apps, but with a combination of these options, it’s possible to keep enjoying the platform. Good luck!
