The main ways to remove YouTube ads
YouTube shows ads in three places: before a video starts, during the video, and in the sidebar. You have four realistic options to stop seeing them: pay for YouTube Premium, use an ad blocker in your browser, use a different app, or watch on a device where ads don't load. Each one has a real trade-off — cost, features you lose, or the risk that YouTube blocks your access.
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month in the US (prices vary by country and change over time). It removes all ads, lets you read videos to watch offline, and plays videos in the background if you close the app. If you use YouTube heavily, the math is straightforward: one subscription removes ads everywhere you watch on that account.
Ad blockers are free browser extensions that stop ads from loading in the first place. They work on desktop and laptop computers. YouTube actively works against them — the platform detects ad blockers and sometimes refuses to play videos or shows a message asking you to turn the blocker off. Some ad blockers stay ahead of this, others don't. This is an ongoing technical fight, not a permanent solution.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes all ads for $13.99 per month and works on every device where you watch YouTube.
- Ad blockers are free but YouTube detects them and may refuse to play videos; they work only in your browser, not in the YouTube app.
- Third-party apps like NewPipe (Android) and Invidious let you watch without ads, but they lack features like subscriptions and recommendations.
- YouTube can ban your account if you use methods it considers a violation of its terms, though this is rare for ad blockers alone.
- The fastest way to test whether you want to pay is to try an ad blocker first; if YouTube blocks it, you know the cost of the convenience.
Using an ad blocker in your browser
Ad blockers work by filtering out the code that loads ads before they appear on your screen. The most common ones are uBlock Origin (free, open-source), Adblock Plus (free with a paid version), and AdGuard (free and paid versions). You install them as an extension in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, and they work on any website, not just YouTube.
The catch is that YouTube knows ad blockers exist and detects them. When YouTube spots one, it may show a message saying "Ad blockers aren't allowed on YouTube" and refuse to play videos until you turn it off. Some ad blockers update frequently to get around this detection; others don't. If you install one and YouTube blocks you, try a different one — but understand that this is a temporary fix, not a permanent one. YouTube has more resources than ad blocker makers and usually wins these fights eventually.
Ad blockers only work in your browser. If you watch YouTube on the YouTube app (on your phone, tablet, or smart TV), the ad blocker won't touch it. You would need to watch through your browser instead, which is slower and lacks some app features.
Third-party apps that remove ads
Apps like NewPipe (Android only), Invidious, and Piped let you watch YouTube videos without ads and without logging in. They pull video data from YouTube but don't use YouTube's official app or website. Because they're not YouTube's app, they don't load YouTube's ads.
The trade-off is significant: these apps don't have YouTube's recommendation algorithm, you can't see your subscriptions in the same way, and features like playlists, watch history, and comments are limited or missing. NewPipe is the most polished of these, but it's only available on Android. Invidious and Piped work on any device with a browser, but they're slower and less stable than YouTube's official platform.
YouTube doesn't officially ban accounts for using these apps, but the apps themselves exist in a gray area. YouTube could shut them down at any time, and has done so to similar projects in the past. If you rely on one and it disappears, you lose access.
YouTube Premium and what it includes
YouTube Premium removes ads, but it also adds features: offline downloads, background play (video keeps playing when you close the app or lock your phone), and ad-free browsing of YouTube Music. The subscription is $13.99 per month in the US, but YouTube also offers a bundle with YouTube Music for $22.99 per month, and a family plan for $22.99 per month that covers up to six people.
The subscription works across all your devices — phone, tablet, computer, smart TV — as long as you're logged into the same account. If you share your account with family members, they all get the benefits, though YouTube's terms say the account should be used by one household.
YouTube offers a free trial, usually one month. This is the clearest way to see whether the ad-free experience is worth the cost to you. After the trial ends, you're charged monthly unless you cancel.
What YouTube's terms say about ad blockers
YouTube's terms of service say that using ad blockers violates the agreement. In practice, YouTube rarely bans accounts for ad blocker use alone — the company's main response is to detect the blocker and refuse to play videos until you turn it off. Bans are more common for other violations, like uploading copyrighted content or operating a bot network.
That said, the terms are clear, and YouTube could change its enforcement at any time. If you use an ad blocker, you're accepting a small risk that your account could be restricted or banned. For most people, this risk is low, but it's not zero.
Comparing your options side by side
| Method | Cost | Works on app? | Risk | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Premium | $13.99/month | Yes, all devices | None | Subscribe and done |
| Ad blocker (browser) | Free | No, browser only | YouTube may block videos; account ban is rare | Install extension, may need to switch blockers |
| NewPipe or Invidious | Free | Yes, but limited features | App could be shut down; fewer features | Install app, lose subscriptions and recommendations |
| Watch on a different device | Free | Depends on device | None | Limited by what you own |
The real cost of each choice
YouTube Premium costs money but removes friction — you pay once and ads are gone everywhere. Ad blockers are free but require you to manage them as YouTube detects and blocks them, and they don't work on the app. Third-party apps are free but cost you features and stability. There's no option that gives you everything for nothing.
The choice depends on how much you watch YouTube and how much the ads bother you. If you watch a few videos a week on your phone, the app ads might not be worth $14 a month. If you watch daily on multiple devices, Premium pays for itself in convenience. If you watch mainly on desktop, an ad blocker might be enough.
The fastest way to decide is to try a free trial of YouTube Premium. If you cancel before the month ends, you're not charged. This tells you whether the ad-free experience is worth the cost to you, without guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can YouTube ban me for using an ad blocker?
YouTube can ban your account for violating its terms, which include using ad blockers. In practice, bans for ad blocker use alone are rare — YouTube usually just detects the blocker and refuses to play videos. Account bans are more common for other violations like uploading copyrighted content. The risk exists but is low for most users.
Will an ad blocker work on the YouTube app on my phone?
No. Ad blockers are browser extensions and only work in your web browser on desktop or laptop. The YouTube app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV bypasses the browser entirely, so ad blockers can't touch it. You would have to watch YouTube through your phone's browser instead, which is slower and lacks app features.
What happens if YouTube detects my ad blocker?
YouTube shows a message saying "Ad blockers aren't allowed on YouTube" and refuses to play videos. You can turn off the ad blocker to watch, or try a different ad blocker that YouTube hasn't detected yet. This is a temporary fix — YouTube updates its detection regularly, and ad blockers update to get around it. Eventually YouTube usually wins.
Is NewPipe safe to use?
NewPipe is open-source, meaning its code is public and reviewed by other developers. It doesn't require you to log in or give it your YouTube password. The main risks are that YouTube could shut it down (it has done so to similar apps before) and that you lose YouTube features like subscriptions and recommendations. It's safe in the sense that it won't steal your data, but it's not stable long-term.
Can I share a YouTube Premium subscription with family?
YouTube offers a family plan for $22.99 per month that covers up to six people in the same household. Each person gets their own account and their own recommendations. The standard $13.99 plan can technically be shared, but YouTube's terms say it should be used by one person only, so a family plan is the official way to do it.