FreeTube
FreeTube is an open source desktop YouTube player that lets you watch videos without ads and protects privacy by preventing Google tracking through cookies and JavaScript. Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, it stores data locally, recommends VPN/Tor for anonymity, and supports feature-rich viewing.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- AppImageHub
- Flathub
- Flatpak
Features
Properties
- Privacy focused
- Lightweight
Features
- Ad-free
- YouTube Downloader
- Import subscriptions
- No registration required
- Desktop Application
- Watch blocked videos
- Watch later
- No Tracking
- User Profiles
- Dark Mode
- Picture in Picture
- Floating windows
- MP3 Downloader
- Support for 4K
- Playlists management
- Portable
- Kids Mode
Tags
- FOSS
- YouTube Music
- Youtube player
- youtube-videos
- User interface
FreeTube News & Activities
Recent News
- IanDorfman published news article about FreeTube
FreeTube version 0.8 beta showcases from-scratch rewrite and brand new designThe privacy focused and open source YouTube app FreeTube has been rewritten from scratch to provide...
Recent activities
- gingamuffin liked FreeTube
- Pirat_t liked FreeTube
SudoVanilla added FreeTube as alternative to Nora Frontend
mlogictech added FreeTube as alternative to Playlist Wiper- jamz rated FreeTube
- jamz liked FreeTube
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What is FreeTube?
FreeTube is an open source desktop YouTube player built with privacy in mind. Use YouTube without advertisments and prevent Google tracking from you with their cookies and JavaScript. Available for Windows, Mac & Linux thanks to Electron. Please note that FreeTube is currently in Beta. While it should work well for most users, there are still bugs and missing features that need to be addressed.
How does it work?
FreeTube uses the proprietary YouTube HTTP API with a set of hard coded API keys. Videos are resolved using youtube-dl and played using the stock HTML5 video player. While YouTube can still see your API and video requests it can no longer track you using cookies or JavaScript. Your subscriptions, history, and saved videos are stored locally on your computer and never sent out. Using a VPN or Tor is recommended to hide your IP while using FreeTube.
Features
Watch videos without ads Use YouTube without Google tracking you using cookies and JavaScript Make API calls through the Tor network Subscribe to channels without an account Local subscriptions, history, and saved videos Export & import subscriptions Mini Player Light / dark theme
FreeTube Videos
FreeTube information
Developed by
PrestonNLicensing
Open Source (AGPL-3.0) and Free product.Written in
Rating
Average rating of 4.6Alternatives
80 alternatives listedSupported Languages
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AlternativeTo Categories
Video & Movies, Audio & MusicGitHub repository
- 19,555 Stars
- 1,281 Forks
- 314 Open Issues
- Updated
Comments and Reviews
MiniTube isn't working for me on Linux Mint regardless of installing from the software center or the deb file, even though I installed libmpv1 from the package manager. Therefor, I'm using FreeTube instead. It works for the most part. I can subscribe to channels, view comments, download videos, enable dark mode, etc.
EDIT: I forgot a few other great features it has. It offers import/export functionality in FreeTube, NewPipe, or OPML formats. It can also connect with Tor.
However, one problem I have is it appears to only play HD at 720p and not 1080p. Another is it doesn't seem to be getting recognized by my screensaver. My screensaver starts up after 1 minute of playing a video on FreeTube as if there's no activity going on.
[Edited by CapR, August 11]
It sucks. IDK why FreeTube has so many positive comments? First of all, only 1080p video is available. Why? Devs stayed something about YouTube streams, available only in 1080p with audio, so higher resolutions are inaccessible. What? And what with all those YouTube downloaders and video players like MPC-HC, which easily generate streams in 1440p or 4K, you need only copy the link to the video. What is the problem for FreeTube?
Second thing - subscriptions. You cannot import your subscriptions from Youtube into FreeTube. There is a FAQ that lists steps to doing so, but it does not work. You only get a bunch of API errors. I also tried some methods mentioned on the internet, but nothing works. Just the same list of API errors. Hell, even podcast apps easily import my subs from YT, why is so problematic with FreeTube?
After all, without those 2 features: high bitrate/resolution videos and accessing my subs, FreeTube is almost useless for me.
Most people don't enjoy tediously copying links to MPC for every video they want to watch.
And how many people enjoy watching videos in low ress with low bitrate?
You can watch 4k videos.
It is relevant because it shows errors all the time, mostly "API" type errors and "403" errors all the time, if you are lucky, there is an update and it works for a month or so, then it's back to what it was before with errors and all
Without Google's skill & financial base (ads), therefore:
Excellent application. Best beyond my expectations.
Desktop app on Ubuntu works great. A few errors here and there, but compared to YouTube's own interface and their ridiculous amount of ads, FreeTube runs as smooth as silk. Highly recommend.
Good so far. FreeTube has a YouTube sort of front end and stores user info. It requires an app installation vs Invidious which doesn't require an app, but doesn't store user info (favorites etc according to my understanding)
It's fantastic and adds basic features that youtube has done their best to strip away from desktop for years - theatre mode by default, playback settings that pop up on hover, sorting options on channels and searches that aren't dumbed down, no disgusting delay in pausing video. Can import/export subscriptions from youtube or comparable YT clients like Newpipe. Best of all you don't have to have a google account.
There are a bunch of bugs with the miniplayer. No tabs doesn't bother me that much. Wish it had a streamlined queue feature like Newpipe, the playlists are still a bit unwieldy. IF you have an intermittent connection videos won't automatically start replaying, you have to refresh manually.