The official YouTube app works mostly as advertised but it still lacks many important features that users care about, such as background play and the ability to download videos. Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for the incomplete YouTube experience when watching videos on your mobile, as there are several alternatives that can fulfill your needs. To help you figure out which one to use, we’ve listed some of the best third-party YouTube apps for mobile you should try.
1. YMusic
Of all the third-party YouTube apps out there, YMusic (Android-only) is probably the most accurate at mimicking that YouTube experience (its default color scheme is green, but you can change this to the traditional YouTube red if you like).
In the “Discover” section, you’ll have access to YouTube, from where you can search YouTube using the button at the top right corner, or browse via the categories of Home, Music, Recommended, Your Top Tracks and Library, where you can access your playlists, your YouTube channel (if you have one) etc.
One of the great features of YMusic is that you can listen to music and videos in the background, without having to stay in the app or leaving your screen on. You can also download videos as audio files by tapping the three-dotted menu icon next to a given video then selecting your Download option.
We also appreciate the feature to listen to locally download music, podcasts, whatever you like by tapping the menu at the top left then selecting “Library.”
As you can imagine, Google isn’t too fond of YMusic so you need to download it from its own site. Once you have the app, you will get internal notifications when you can update it.
2. NewPipe
You won’t find NewPipe (Android) in the Google Play Store. You can get it from F-Droid instead, which is a website dedicated to free and open-source software. Since NewPipe doesn’t rely on any Google framework libraries or the YouTube API and only parses the website to get the information it needs, the app will work on devices without Google Services installed, such as newer Huawei devices.
The app sports a minimal, ad-free interface that allows you to watch videos and save them or play them in the background with the screen off. You can force videos to play at your preferred quality and use the built-in picture-in-picture mode, which is quite handy when you want to watch a video and perform another task at the same time.
You don’t need a YouTube account to use this app, but you can still subscribe to channels as usual or import your existing subscriptions after exporting them via the YouTube website.
3. YouTube Vanced
If you’re just looking for an ad-free YouTube experience, and we know many of you are, as ad interruptions can be incredibly annoying, YouTube Vanced (Android) may just be the perfect app for you.
Vanced is a modded version of the official YouTube app that has been enhanced with a bunch of extra features, including the ability to play videos in the background. It also retains the ability to sign in to your YouTube account and do everything that was possible from the official app.
The app allows you to save videos for offline consumption, just like in the official YouTube app. To start using YouTube Vanced, you’ll need to download the APK from the official website and install it on your Android device. If you want to log in to your account, you’ll also have to install the MicroG for Vanced companion.
4. FireTube
FireTube is great app (Android) for those who are looking to save mobile data simply by listening to YouTube content without the video or choose the video quality. It’s another app that is not available in the Play Store, so you’ll need to get the APK file and manually install it on your device.
Although the app appears to be focused on music, you can use if for any YouTube videos – not only music videos. The audio will continue to play even if you switch to another app or turn off your device’s screen. Crucially, the app lets you log in to your YouTube account so that you can listen to your custom playlists.
5. iTube
iTube (Android | iOS) is another worthy YouTube alternative. While it does not offer the option to save videos, it does boast a clean interface that makes listening to your favorite tracks a breeze. The app offers the possibility to adjust the bass and treble for every track, and it can play video in the background. What’s more, iTube can bring up the lyrics of the song you’re viewing.
You can log in with your account in iTube and create and edit playlists. The app also offers access to a list of curated playlists based on different music genres, so whenever you need inspiration, iTube has your back. Another highlight of using iTube is that videos aren’t interrupted by annoying ads.
6. YouTube++
For those on iOS, YouTube++(iOS) can enhance your YouTube viewing habit. The app, which is actually recommended by Vanced, lets you block intrusive ads and includes the much coveted play in the background option.
Those who download the app, which is not listed in the official app store by the way, will be able to also set video playback speed (0.5x – 2.0x), disable age restrictions and more.
7. YouTube Go
Strictly speaking, YouTube Go (Android | iOS) cannot be counted as a third party app as it is still developed by Google, but this light version of the YouTube app is still useful for users with devices with low memory and on limited data plans. However, keep in mind that this app is only available in a limited number of regions, so you may have to download the APK if you wish to take it for a spin.
What makes YouTube Go a great choice is that it allows you to choose how many megabytes of bandwidth you want to spend when watching a video. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your data plan usage, using the YouTube Go app may be what you’re looking for.
Other than that, this YouTube app lets you log in with your account and save videos for later viewing. YouTube’s lightweight version is built so that it can function seamlessly, even on low Internet connections. One thing of note, though, is that you won’t escape the annoying ads if you go ahead and decide to use this app.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why aren’t there more alternative YouTube apps for iOS users?
YouTube does not approve of these YouTube alternatives, so many have been removed from the App Store. As for the remaining crop, most have garnered sub-par ratings from users.
2. How do I install an open-source Android app or APK?
If it’s your first time downloading an app from F-Droid we have you covered with this guide that shows you how to use the alternative marketplace. On the other hand, if you have an APK, here’s how to install apps from outside the Play Store.
3. How do I improve my YouTube experience on PC?
The apps on our list work on mobile devices, but if you’re spending a much of your time using YouTube on PC, then perhaps you should check out our list of add-ons you should use for a better YouTube experience.
Wrapping Up
If you’re fed up with the lack of useful features in the official YouTube app, any of these alternatives should be a worthy replacement. Most of them are free to install and use, so feel free to try each one and choose the one you like best. If you’re looking for more YouTube tips, check out our guide detailing how to play YouTube videos in VLC and learn how to share a specific part of a YouTube video.