I have been using Brave as my browser for years, I have never once seen an ad on YouTube. Nor have I ever had any of the issues that have been reported with people using ad blockers.
I’m leeching premium from a friend so no ads on pc, but because I’m getting sick and tired of all the shorts shit being pushed onto me (even play automatically when I would open the YouTube app) I’m using Grayjay on my phone instead of the official YouTube app. Never ads and it even has sponsor block. Plus you can follow creators instead of channels, across platforms. And downloading a video means you can actually watch it without a connection too. It has more perks then someone paying for premium has. Piracy pais off.
Grayjay is from Louis Rossmann, one of the biggest advocates for right to repair. It costs 10 dollars, one time payment, but if you don’t pay it also works. It’s open source. If you have an issue and mail then, they actually respond (fast) to try to solve the issue, or make changes to the app to make it better. It’s really great what they do. And YouTube hates him.
On android I use Revanced. It patches the official Youtube app (patches are open source) to greatly expand the base functionality and offer a lot more customization of the UI.
For me the best features are ad block, sponsorblock (skips in video sponsored segments), and complete excision of shorts from all aspects of the app.
It also works on Youtube Music, effectively allowing free premium (just don’t get the local downloads of your most listened tracks to help save data, but I have unlimited anyway).
I am honestly not against in-video sponsorships because it’s at least vetted by the creator and I can hold them accountable if they push garbage. Also it’s negotiated by them, not some trickle from google. At some point these folks need to get paid.
Also firefox + ublock, but for me, it literally makes YouTube unusable. As in videos just flat out will not play in any way. I just get an endlessly loading spinner for the video
I mean they did also inject affiliate links without the users noticing which is really shady behaviour from a browser because it has one job, open the link I click and nothing else. But that’s just IMHO if that is acceptable for you personally then there is no issue with that.
Wow missed that entirely. That’s messed up. I’m a Mac user so I guess that’s why I didn’t realize it. The way my machine is set up I would’ve known and deleted them immediately.
I haven’t found any that actively and effectively put privacy front and center while also working basically just as good as chrome (compatibility wise).
I have been using Brave as my browser for years, I have never once seen an ad on YouTube. Nor have I ever had any of the issues that have been reported with people using ad blockers.
I’m using firefox + ublock origin and have never had the reported issues either.
Best setup by far. Changed my internet experience for the better in so many ways.
Folks should also get freetube
I’m leeching premium from a friend so no ads on pc, but because I’m getting sick and tired of all the shorts shit being pushed onto me (even play automatically when I would open the YouTube app) I’m using Grayjay on my phone instead of the official YouTube app. Never ads and it even has sponsor block. Plus you can follow creators instead of channels, across platforms. And downloading a video means you can actually watch it without a connection too. It has more perks then someone paying for premium has. Piracy pais off.
Shorts are the bane of my ADHD ass
I’m going to have to look into Greyjay for sure just for the no shorts part
Yeah I hear ya, same here. Fuck shorts.
Grayjay is from Louis Rossmann, one of the biggest advocates for right to repair. It costs 10 dollars, one time payment, but if you don’t pay it also works. It’s open source. If you have an issue and mail then, they actually respond (fast) to try to solve the issue, or make changes to the app to make it better. It’s really great what they do. And YouTube hates him.
https://grayjay.app/
TIL Louis Rossmann somehow more based than I believed
On android I use Revanced. It patches the official Youtube app (patches are open source) to greatly expand the base functionality and offer a lot more customization of the UI.
For me the best features are ad block, sponsorblock (skips in video sponsored segments), and complete excision of shorts from all aspects of the app.
It also works on Youtube Music, effectively allowing free premium (just don’t get the local downloads of your most listened tracks to help save data, but I have unlimited anyway).
I am honestly not against in-video sponsorships because it’s at least vetted by the creator and I can hold them accountable if they push garbage. Also it’s negotiated by them, not some trickle from google. At some point these folks need to get paid.
Also firefox + ublock, but for me, it literally makes YouTube unusable. As in videos just flat out will not play in any way. I just get an endlessly loading spinner for the video
I have had that happen a few on desktop if I left a video paused overnight, but refreshing the page sorted it out right away.
It sometimes happens for me as well
Usually I can to the vid if I go to the channel and try again. Or trying again a little while later.
It’s fuckin annoying when it trips
This is the way.
Don’t use brave, they’re shady. LibreWolf with uBlock Origin is plenty.
It’s not so much shady as 1) crypto BS incorporated into it and 2) the CEO is homophobic IIRC.
It does what it does well but I only keep it as chromium browser for when I absolutely need one. Firefox/Mullvad browser are my daily drivers.
Edit: ehhh brave actually has done more sketchy things than I realized
I mean they did also inject affiliate links without the users noticing which is really shady behaviour from a browser because it has one job, open the link I click and nothing else. But that’s just IMHO if that is acceptable for you personally then there is no issue with that.
Wasn’t aware of that. I open brave like every 4 months. That’s not cool for sure
I do turn off all the rewards and other BS in the browser, but I will look into Firefox and uBlock. Thank you.
It’s a great combo and the sync between phone/computer with Firefox is excellent
You forgot the VPN service they install without consent.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/20/23925192/brave-browser-vpn-windows-11
Wow missed that entirely. That’s messed up. I’m a Mac user so I guess that’s why I didn’t realize it. The way my machine is set up I would’ve known and deleted them immediately.
Still waiting?
Any reason for picking it over all the other chromium browsers?
It blocks in line ads and trackers, that’s why I have been using it.
I haven’t found any that actively and effectively put privacy front and center while also working basically just as good as chrome (compatibility wise).
Ungoogled chromium with some privacy extensions would probably be a similar experience.
Waterfox…
That’s not chromium-based it’s a Firefox fork.
I’m confident its people using Chrome with Adblock Plus
I’ve had this issue where youtube is sort of breaking for me, but it shouldn’t matter because I very begrudgingly pay for Youtube Premium.
(I’m not extremely tech savvy to the point where it’s easy for me to set up a raspberry pi or whatever to watch youtube in bed on my tv OK?)
Anyways, sometimes it like, gets weird and the video player gets stuck at 0:00 and loops like 3 seconds of the video.
Pro top for premium: cancel sub, VPN into country like India turkey Ukraine etc, subscribe with credit card with no fx fees.
Enjoy 3usd per month rate
Assuming they’re not from one of those countries already
That was the assumption but the advice is for anyone who hates google enough but hates ads more or just wants to save money.
Just use an ad blocker that isn’t Ad Block Plus on Chrome and you’ll be able to go adless without sucking Google’s cock.
We responding to the guy who said he wants on teevee and doesn’t care to fuck with it.
Sadly, I checked and if you try to sign up with A VPN it cock blocks you and says “sowwy can’t vewivy yow cowntwy :(”
And you have to make a whole new youtube account just for it.
Nah that will just ruin regional pricing for those that actually needs it.