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Grayjay alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Grayjay: no iOS app, and source-available rather than open source. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Grayjay, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. NewPipe currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1NewPipe logoNewPipeOpen sourceYesAndroid4 of 466.5
2FreeTube logoFreeTubeOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3Invidious logoInvidiousOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 459.6
  1. NewPipe logo

    1. NewPipeTop pick

    Best for: Android users who want ad-free YouTube with background play and downloads

    Open sourceAndroid

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Grayjay

    Fully open source under the GPL and lighter, if you mostly watch YouTube on Android.

    Pros

    • Background and popup playback without a subscription
    • Downloads video, audio or captions for offline use
    • No Google account or proprietary Google APIs

    Cons

    • Not on the Play Store; installed via F-Droid or APK
    • Can stop working for days when YouTube changes
    • Android only
    Visit NewPipe Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is NewPipe a good Grayjay alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL 3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum Android
    Android 6
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Google APIs
    None used
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Services
    YouTube, PeerTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. FreeTube logo

    2. FreeTube

    Best for: Desktop users who want to follow YouTube channels without ads, tracking or a Google account

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Grayjay

    An open-source desktop YouTube client with local subscriptions and no plugins to manage.

    Pros

    • Subscriptions without a Google account, stored locally
    • No ads and a familiar YouTube-like layout
    • Imports your existing YouTube subscriptions

    Cons

    • Can break temporarily when YouTube changes its site
    • No personalized recommendations or account features like commenting
    • Desktop only
    Visit FreeTube Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is FreeTube a good Grayjay alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPLv3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Local data
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Ads
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Invidious logo

    3. Invidious

    Best for: Privacy-minded viewers and self-hosters who want YouTube in any browser without ads

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Grayjay

    Browser-based and self-hostable, so it works on iPhones and any other device.

    Pros

    • Works in any browser, no install needed on the device
    • Subscriptions and playlists without a Google account
    • Self-hostable, with a documented API

    Cons

    • Public instances are often slow or blocked by YouTube
    • Running your own instance takes ongoing maintenance
    • Fewer features than YouTube's own site
    Visit Invidious Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Invidious a good Grayjay alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Accounts
    No YouTube account needed
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    REST API
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)
    SponsorBlock
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Grayjay alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

NewPipe logo

Best Grayjay alternative for most people

NewPipe

Fully open source under the GPL and lighter, if you mostly watch YouTube on Android.

FreeTube logo

Best Grayjay alternative for a free option

FreeTube

An open-source desktop YouTube client with local subscriptions and no plugins to manage.

Invidious logo

Best Grayjay alternative for open source

Invidious

Browser-based and self-hostable, so it works on iPhones and any other device.

Invidious logo

Best Grayjay alternative for self-hosting

Invidious

Browser-based and self-hostable, so it works on iPhones and any other device.

FreeTube logo

Best Grayjay alternative for Mac

FreeTube

An open-source desktop YouTube client with local subscriptions and no plugins to manage.

FreeTube logo

Best Grayjay alternative for Windows

FreeTube

An open-source desktop YouTube client with local subscriptions and no plugins to manage.

FreeTube logo

Best Grayjay alternative for Linux

FreeTube

An open-source desktop YouTube client with local subscriptions and no plugins to manage.

Invidious logo

Best Grayjay alternative for working in the browser

Invidious

Browser-based and self-hostable, so it works on iPhones and any other device.

Grayjay alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Grayjay?

NewPipe ranks first right now. Fully open source under the GPL and lighter, if you mostly watch YouTube on Android. FreeTube and Invidious follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Grayjay?

Yes. NewPipe (open source), FreeTube (open source) and Invidious (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Grayjay?

Yes: NewPipe, FreeTube and Invidious. Invidious can also be self-hosted.

Which Grayjay alternatives work on Linux?

FreeTube runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Grayjay?

The complaints we hear most: no iOS app; source-available rather than open source; plugins can break when platforms change.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Grayjay, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.