SkyTube is an open source YouTube player for Android that lets you watch videos without ads and without a Google or YouTube account. It is built as free software (GPL-3.0) and does not track your behaviour.
Developer: SkyTubeTeam · License: GPL-3.0 (open source) · Price: Free
Official file from the developer's release · Oct 29, 2026 · SHA-256 02a65ab5aebe78f9…
Screenshots
Key features
- Video blocker: blacklist/whitelist channels, block by language, low views or high dislikes, with a toolbar count of blocked videos
- Marks watched or partially watched videos and can resume playback
- Video swipe controls for volume, brightness, comments and description, plus bookmarks, playlists and thumbnail downloads
- Import YouTube subscriptions, get subscription feeds with non-intrusive notifications, and back up/restore bookmarks and subscriptions locally
- SponsorBlock support to skip sponsor segments, plus the ability to play video faster or slower than live
Why isn’t SkyTube on Google Play?
SkyTube is published by its developers on GitHub and on F-Droid, not on Google Play.
Is SkyTube safe?
SkyTube is fully open source under the GPL-3.0 license and this is the official release from the SkyTubeTeam repository. Note there are two builds: the GPL-3.0 "SkyTube" version is fully open source and available on F-Droid, while "SkyTube Extra" adds official YouTube player and Chromecast support through closed-source third-party libraries and gets updates immediately rather than the usual up-to-5-day delay. SkyTube comes straight from its developer rather than through Google Play, so it hasn’t gone through Google’s app review. As with any app, check the permissions it asks for and install it if you’re comfortable with them.
How to install
- Tap the download button above: the APK file downloads straight to your phone.
- When Android asks, allow your browser to install unknown apps.
- Open the file and tap Install.
FAQ
Is SkyTube free?
Yes. It is gratis and licensed under GPL-3.0, meaning it is free software you can use, study and share.
Do I need a Google or YouTube account to use SkyTube?
No. SkyTube does not require a Google/YouTube account to operate and is not dependent on Google Apps (GApps).
What is the difference between SkyTube and SkyTube Extra?
SkyTube is fully open source and free software, available on F-Droid, with updates normally arriving within 5 days. SkyTube Extra adds an official YouTube player and Chromecast support powered by closed-source third-party libraries and receives updates immediately, but it is not fully open source.
What Android version do I need?
SkyTube requires Android 4.4 (KitKat) or later, which is API level 19 or greater. If your device runs Android 4.0 to 4.3, use SkyTube Legacy instead.
More free apps you won’t find on Google Play: Open Source Apps · Best Android apps not on the Google Play Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SkyTube free?
Yes. It is gratis and licensed under GPL-3.0, meaning it is free software you can use, study and share.
Do I need a Google or YouTube account to use SkyTube?
No. SkyTube does not require a Google/YouTube account to operate and is not dependent on Google Apps (GApps).
What is the difference between SkyTube and SkyTube Extra?
SkyTube is fully open source and free software, available on F-Droid, with updates normally arriving within 5 days. SkyTube Extra adds an official YouTube player and Chromecast support powered by closed-source third-party libraries and receives updates immediately, but it is not fully open source.
What Android version do I need?
SkyTube requires Android 4.4 (KitKat) or later, which is API level 19 or greater. If your device runs Android 4.0 to 4.3, use SkyTube Legacy instead.
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