The experience of watching YouTube videos seems to be deteriorating over time, especially if you watch them on your smart TV. Prepare yourself for a barrage of unskippable 30-second ads before your video even starts. And as if that isn’t bad enough, YouTube may now even show you ads when you pause a video, interrupting your viewing experience even further. Fortunately, there are two solutions to Block YouTube Ads. The first option is to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which eliminates ads altogether. However, this may not be a desirable choice for everyone due to the associated cost. The second option is to seek out an alternative to the official YouTube app that can block ads and enhance your viewing experience.
One such alternative is SmartTubeNext, an app that allows you to block ads on YouTube when using devices running on Android TV. This app is compatible with various devices, including those with Chromecast built-in, Amazon’s Fire TV streaming sticks, Xiaomi’s Mi Box streaming device, Nvidia Shield, and many other Android TV streaming boxes. To install SmartTubeNext, you can refer to the instructions provided on its GitHub page. Once installed, the app can update itself automatically. SmartTubeNext effectively blocks all ads on YouTube and even incorporates the SponsorBlock extension, enabling you to skip ad reads and other sponsored segments within videos created by your favorite YouTube content creators.
Moreover, SmartTubeNext offers additional features such as picture-in-picture mode, allowing you to watch YouTube videos while simultaneously streaming live sports games or using other apps. The app also supports casting and voice search, further enhancing its usability. To set up SmartTubeNext for your specific device, you can consult the instructions available on its GitHub page.
However, it’s important to note that SmartTubeNext serves as a replacement for the YouTube app exclusively. It cannot be used as a substitute for the YouTube TV app, which is used for watching live TV channels. Additionally, while SmartTubeNext provides an effective ad-blocking solution, its user interface may not be as polished as Google’s official offering. Nevertheless, this minor trade-off is worthwhile, especially considering the increasingly intrusive nature of ads that seems to worsen with each passing year.
If, for any reason, SmartTubeNext is incompatible with your device or fails to meet your needs, another option is to subscribe to YouTube Premium. However, there is a workaround to obtain a more affordable deal. By using a reliable VPN service and opening a private browsing mode on your browser, you can access better offers from other countries. For instance, YouTube Premium can cost less than $2 per month in countries like Argentina, India, and Turkey, compared to the standard $12 per month in the United States.
By exploring these alternative solutions, you can liberate yourself from the frustration of intrusive ads during your YouTube viewing sessions. Whether you opt for the ad-blocking capabilities of SmartTubeNext or utilize the cost-effective approach of subscribing to YouTube Premium through a different region, you can reclaim an uninterrupted and enjoyable YouTube experience, free from the constant disruption of advertisements.