Video Streaming
The primary threat when using a video streaming platform is that your streaming habits and subscription lists could be used to profile you. You should combine these tools with a VPN or Tor to make it harder to profile your usage.
Clients¶
FreeTube¶
Recommendation
FreeTube is a free and open source desktop application for YouTube. When using FreeTube, your subscription list and playlists are saved locally on your device.
By default, FreeTube blocks all YouTube advertisements. In addition, FreeTube optionally integrates with SponsorBlock to help you skip sponsored video segments.
Warning
When using FreeTube, your IP address may still be known to YouTube, Invidious, or SponsorBlock depending on your configuration. Consider using a VPN or Tor if your threat model requires hiding your IP address.
LBRY¶
Recommendation
The LBRY network is a decentralized video sharing network. It uses a BitTorrent-like network to store the video content, and a blockchain to store the indexes for those videos. The main benefit of this design is censorship resistance.
The LBRY desktop client helps you stream videos from the LBRY network and stores your subscription list in your own LBRY wallet.
Note
Only the LBRY desktop client is recommended, as the Odysee website and the LBRY clients in F-Droid, Play Store, and the App Store have mandatory synchronization and telemetry.
Warning
While watching and hosting videos, your IP address is visible to the LBRY network. Consider using a VPN or Tor if your threat model requires hiding your IP address.
We recommend against synchronizing your wallet with LBRY Inc., as synchronizing encrypted wallets is not supported yet. If you synchronize your wallet with LBRY Inc., you have to trust them to not look at your subscription list, LBC funds, or take control of your channel.
You can disable Save hosting data to help the LBRY network option in 
Settings → Advanced Settings, to avoid exposing your IP address and watched videos when using LBRY for a prolonged period of time.
NewPipe¶
Recommendation
NewPipe is a free and open source Android application for YouTube, SoundCloud, media.ccc.de, Bandcamp, and PeerTube (1).
Your subscription list and playlists are saved locally on your Android device.
Downloads
- The default instance is FramaTube, however more can be added via Settings → Content → PeerTube instances
Note
NewPipe is available on the main F-Droid's repository. We recommend that you use NewPipe's own F-Droid repository instead to get faster updates.
Warning
When using NewPipe, your IP address will be visible to the video providers used. Consider using a VPN or Tor if your threat model requires hiding your IP address.
SponsorBlock¶
NewPipe x SponsorBlock is a fork of NewPipe with SponsorBlock integrated to help you skip sponsored video segments.
It also has integration with Return YouTube Dislike, and some experimental settings such as the ability to use the built-in player for local playback, an option to force fullscreen on landscape mode, and an option to disable error reporting prompts.
This fork is not endorsed by or affiliated with the upstream project. The NewPipe team has rejected integration with SponsorBlock and thus this fork is created to provide this functionality.
Web-based Frontends¶
Invidious¶
Recommendation
Invidious is a free and open source frontend for YouTube that is also self-hostable.
There is a list of public instances, with some instances having Tor onion services support.
Warning
Invidious does not proxy video streams by default. Videos watched through Invidious will still make direct connections to Google's servers (e.g. googlevideo.com); however, some instances support video proxying—simply enable Proxy videos within the instances's settings or add &local=true to the URL.
Tip
Invidious is useful if you want to disable JavaScript in your browser, such as Tor Browser on the Safest security level. It does not provide privacy by itself and we don’t recommend logging into any accounts.
When self-hosting, it is important that you have other people using your instance as well in order for you to blend in. You should be careful with where and how you are hosting Invidious, as other peoples' usage will be linked to your hosting.
When you are using an Invidious instance, make sure to read the privacy policy of that specific instance. Invidious instances can be modified by their owners and therefore may not reflect their associated privacy policy. Some instances have Tor .onion addresses which may grant some privacy as long as your search queries don't contain PII (Personally Identifiable Information).
Piped¶
Recommendation
Piped is a free and open source frontend for YouTube that is also self-hostable. Alternative instances can be selected from "Preferences".
Piped requires JavaScript in order to function.
Downloads
Tip
Piped is useful if you want to use SponsorBlock without installing an extension or to access age-restricted content without an account. It does not provide privacy by itself and we don’t recommend logging into any accounts.
When self-hosting, it is important that you have other people using your instance as well in order for you to blend in. You should be careful with where and how you are hosting Piped, as other peoples' usage will be linked to your hosting.
When you are using a Piped instance, make sure to read the privacy policy of that specific instance. Piped instances can be modified by their owners and therefore may not reflect their associated privacy policy.
Librarian¶
Recommendation
Librarian is a free and open source frontend for the LBRY/Odysee video sharing network that is also self-hostable.
There are a number of public instances, with some instances having Tor onion services support.
Downloads
Warning
Librarian does not proxy video streams by default. Videos watched through Librarian will still make direct connections to Odysee's servers (e.g. odycdn.com); however, some instances may enable proxying which would be detailed in the instance's privacy policy.
Tip
Librarian is useful if you want watch LBRY content on mobile without mandatory telemetry and if you want to disable JavaScript in your browser, as is the case with Tor Browser on the Safest security level.
When self-hosting, it is important that you have other people using your instance as well in order for you to blend in. You should be careful with where and how you are hosting Librarian, as other peoples' usage will be linked to your hosting.
When you are using a Librarian instance, make sure to read the privacy policy of that specific instance. Librarian instances can be modified by their owners and therefore may not reflect the default policy. Librarian instances feature a "privacy nutrition label" to provide an overview of their policy. Some instances have Tor .onion addresses which may grant some privacy as long as your search queries don't contain PII (Personally Identifiable Information).