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LibreTube alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave LibreTube: youTube only, unlike NewPipe, and not on Google Play. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces LibreTube, 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 468.8
2Grayjay logoGrayjayFreeNoAndroid, Windows, macOS +14 of 461.8
3Invidious logoInvidiousOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 459.4
4FreeTube logoFreeTubeOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 457.5
  1. NewPipe logo

    1. NewPipeTop pick

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

    Open sourceAndroid

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from LibreTube

    The original no-account YouTube app, which also covers SoundCloud, PeerTube and Bandcamp.

    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 ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is NewPipe a good LibreTube alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL 3.0
    Checked Oct 29, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum Android
    Android 6
    Checked Oct 29, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Google APIs
    None used
    Checked Oct 29, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Services
    YouTube, PeerTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp
    Checked Oct 29, 2026newpipe.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Grayjay logo

    2. Grayjay

    Best for: People who follow creators across YouTube, Twitch and PeerTube and want one feed

    FreeAndroid, Windows, macOS, Linux

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from LibreTube

    Pulls YouTube, Twitch, PeerTube and more into one feed, with a desktop app too.

    Pros

    • One feed for several video platforms via plugins
    • Downloads, background play and casting built in
    • Fully functional without paying

    Cons

    • No iOS app
    • Source-available rather than open source
    • Plugins can break when platforms change
    Visit Grayjay Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Grayjay a good LibreTube alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    Android, Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 29, 2026grayjay.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free, optional one-time purchase
    Checked Oct 29, 2026grayjay.app(opens source in a new tab)
    iOS app
    Not planned soon
    Checked Oct 29, 2026grayjay.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Casting
    FCast, Chromecast, AirPlay
    Checked Oct 29, 2026grayjay.app(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

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from LibreTube

    A privacy front-end in the browser, for watching YouTube without an app on any 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 ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Invidious a good LibreTube alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 29, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Accounts
    No YouTube account needed
    Checked Oct 29, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    REST API
    Checked Oct 29, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)
    SponsorBlock
    Supported
    Checked Oct 29, 2026invidious.io(opens source in a new tab)
  4. FreeTube logo

    4. FreeTube

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from LibreTube

    The desktop counterpart: an ad-free YouTube app for Windows, Mac and Linux.

    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 ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is FreeTube a good LibreTube alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPLv3
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Local data
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Ads
    None
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freetubeapp.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best LibreTube alternative for…

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

NewPipe logo

Best LibreTube alternative for most people

NewPipe

The original no-account YouTube app, which also covers SoundCloud, PeerTube and Bandcamp.

Grayjay logo

Best LibreTube alternative for a free option

Grayjay

Pulls YouTube, Twitch, PeerTube and more into one feed, with a desktop app too.

Invidious logo

Best LibreTube alternative for open source

Invidious

A privacy front-end in the browser, for watching YouTube without an app on any device.

Invidious logo

Best LibreTube alternative for self-hosting

Invidious

A privacy front-end in the browser, for watching YouTube without an app on any device.

FreeTube logo

Best LibreTube alternative for Mac

FreeTube

The desktop counterpart: an ad-free YouTube app for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Grayjay logo

Best LibreTube alternative for Windows

Grayjay

Pulls YouTube, Twitch, PeerTube and more into one feed, with a desktop app too.

Grayjay logo

Best LibreTube alternative for Linux

Grayjay

Pulls YouTube, Twitch, PeerTube and more into one feed, with a desktop app too.

Invidious logo

Best LibreTube alternative for working in the browser

Invidious

A privacy front-end in the browser, for watching YouTube without an app on any device.

LibreTube alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to LibreTube?

NewPipe ranks first right now. The original no-account YouTube app, which also covers SoundCloud, PeerTube and Bandcamp. Grayjay and Invidious follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to LibreTube?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to LibreTube?

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

Which LibreTube alternatives work on Linux?

Grayjay and FreeTube run on Linux.

Why do people switch from LibreTube?

The complaints we hear most: youTube only, unlike NewPipe; not on Google Play; playback breaks at times when YouTube changes.

How is this list ranked?

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