A NewPipe alternative that runs in your browser

NewPipe is a well-regarded open-source YouTube client, but it is Android-only and installed outside the Play Store. If you want the same calm viewing experience on an iPhone, a laptop or a TV, SkipAds runs in the browser instead.

The practical difference: what you have to install

NewPipe is distributed as an APK, usually through F-Droid or the project's own releases, which means sideloading and manual updates. That is fine if you are on Android and comfortable with it - and impossible if you are on an iPhone, an iPad, a work laptop, or a smart TV.

SkipAds is a website. There is nothing to install, nothing to sideload, and nothing to keep updated. It works the same on every device with a modern browser.

Where NewPipe is ahead

Credit where it is due. NewPipe is fully open source, works without Google Play Services, downloads videos and audio for offline use, supports background and popup playback at the OS level, and does not depend on YouTube's own player. For a privacy-focused Android user who wants offline downloads, it is genuinely excellent and SkipAds does not replace it.

Where SkipAds fits better

  • Any device. iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac, Android, smart TV - anywhere with a browser.
  • Nothing to install or update. No APK, no sideloading, no F-Droid.
  • Your subscription feed. Sign in with Google and you get the channels you actually follow, synced across devices.
  • Playlists, history and comments. Built in, and available without any setup.
  • Picture-in-picture. Pop the player out and keep working.

How playback works

SkipAds plays video through YouTube's own player. Unlike a standalone client, it does not extract or proxy video streams - which means views and watch time are still counted by YouTube and still credited to the creator. The trade-off is that videos creators have restricted to YouTube cannot be played here, and downloads are not available.

Which to choose

On Android, wanting offline downloads and no Google dependency at all: NewPipe. On anything else, or if you would rather not install anything: SkipAds. They are not really competitors - they solve the same want on different platforms.