Alternatives to FreeTube

Desktop YouTube client that keeps subscriptions and history locally. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as FreeTube.

  • Invidious

    Self-hostable YouTube front end with subscriptions and no account.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Invidious moves YouTube viewing to a web front end that can be self-hosted, with per-channel RSS, though public instances are frequently rate limited or blocked.

  • Piped

    YouTube front end that proxies streams so Google never sees your address.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Piped is a web front end that can proxy streams so Google never sees your address, with SponsorBlock and subscriptions, but public instances are often rate limited.

  • LibreTube

    Android YouTube front end that needs no Google Play Services.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    LibreTube brings a GPL-3.0 YouTube front end to Android without Google Play Services, with background playback, but depends on public Piped instances.

  • Grayjay

    An Android video app that gathers creators from YouTube and other platforms into one feed.

    FreeProprietaryAndroid

    Grayjay is an Android app that combines YouTube with other video platforms in one feed, but it is not open source and relies on plugins.

  • Yattee

    A privacy-oriented video player for iOS, tvOS and macOS that works with Invidious and Piped.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSiOS

    Yattee is a native app for iOS, tvOS and macOS that plays YouTube through Invidious or Piped instances instead of connecting directly.

Also worth comparing

These listings name FreeTube as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Materialious

    A Material Design front end for YouTube and Invidious on web, desktop, Android and Android TV.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroidWebSelf-hosted

    FreeTube is a desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that keeps subscriptions locally with SponsorBlock, and has no Android or TV version.

  • PipePipe

    An open-source Android app for watching YouTube, BiliBili and other video sites without a Google account.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    FreeTube moves YouTube viewing to Windows, macOS and Linux desktops with local subscriptions and SponsorBlock, and covers YouTube only.

  • Tubo

    A self-hostable web front end that brings the NewPipe streaming experience to the browser.

    FreeProprietaryWebSelf-hosted

    FreeTube is an AGPL desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that stores subscriptions locally, instead of a self-hosted web service, and covers YouTube only.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.