SkipVids vs SmartTube
An ad-free YouTube client exclusively for Android TV and Fire TV.
| Feature | SkipVids | SmartTube |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-free viewing | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| SponsorBlock | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Background play (mobile) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Picture-in-Picture | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Audio-only mode | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Works on iOS | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Works on Android | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Works on desktop | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Works in browser (no install) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Smart TV casting | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Clickbait thumbnail removal | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Dislike count restoration | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Sleep timer | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Chrome extension | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| No tracking / privacy | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free tier available | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
SmartTube Pros
- Free and open source
- SponsorBlock
- Works on Android TV & Fire TV
- Picture-in-Picture on TV
SmartTube Cons
- TV only — no phone, tablet, or desktop
- Requires sideloading
- No mobile background play
- No audio-only mode
- No clickbait thumbnail removal
- No sleep timer (on other devices)
- No Chrome extension
Why SkipVids Wins ★
- Works on every device — phone, tablet, desktop, AND TV
- Cast to any smart TV from SkipVids
- No sideloading needed
- Background play on mobile
- Audio-only mode
- Clickbait thumbnail removal
- Sleep timer
- Chrome extension
The Verdict
SmartTube is brilliant on TV but that's all it does. SkipVids can cast to your TV AND work on every other device too.
Try SkipVids Free →
No install. No sign-up required. Works in any browser.