FreeTube is an open-source desktop YouTube client for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It uses a built-in local extractor or the Invidious API to fetch content, blocks ads by default, and stores subscriptions, history, and playlists entirely on your device.
FreeTube
Win Mac Linux Open Source
Official website freetubeapp.io
Our take
FreeTube is the cleanest desktop option for watching YouTube without feeding Google’s ad profile: no cookies, no JavaScript fingerprinting, all your data stays local. The two-extractor design is a genuine resilience win, since you can switch between the local API and Invidious if one breaks. The honest catch is that your IP address is still visible to YouTube or whichever Invidious instance you use, so pair it with a VPN or Tor if IP exposure matters to your threat model. Desktop-only users who watch a lot of YouTube and want a proper native experience should reach for this first.
GitHub at a glance
FreeTubeApp/FreeTube
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21,253
Last commit
today
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License
AGPL-3.0
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