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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
1Invidious logoInvidiousOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 459.6
  1. Invidious logo

    1. InvidiousTop pick

    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.