Where NewPipe and LibreTube are the usual names in this niche, SkyTube covers similar ground with a smaller footprint: the APK is 9.6 MB and the app costs nothing. It is an open-source YouTube client that plays videos, downloads them and manages subscriptions without showing ads. This page covers version 3.003, updated on November 1, 2026.
Who SkyTube suits: older phones and ad-averse viewers
SkyTube runs on Android 4.4 and later, so older phones and tablets that newer clients skip can still use it. The first release came out on February 27, 2016, and the project has been maintained since.
It suits anyone who wants to browse YouTube without ads and would rather use software whose source code is public. The code sits on GitHub under the GPL-3.0-only licence. The developer name is not known to us.
Subscriptions, swipe controls and downloads in practice
Playback and search are the base. You can look up videos, music and channels, browse channel pages, open playlists and read comments. Trending and Most Popular lists are also included.
Subscriptions are handled inside the app. You can import them from YouTube, get quiet notifications for new uploads and read them in a subscriptions feed. Swipe gestures on the player adjust volume and brightness, and also bring up comments and the description.
Other tools include bookmarks, video downloads and the option to view or download thumbnails.
Channel blacklists and blocking options
The app includes a blocking system. It supports channel blacklisting and whitelisting, filters, and exclusions based on low view counts or high dislikes. That helps keep feeds clean without manual curation.
SkyTube pros and cons
Pros
- Free and without ads
- Open source under GPL-3.0-only with a public GitHub repository
- Small 9.6 MB download
- Runs on Android 4.4 and later
- Channel blacklisting, whitelisting and view-based filters
Cons
- Developer is listed as unknown
- Version 3.003 is the current release.
- No Google Play rating or install figures
- Download formats and quality options are not documented
Is SkyTube safe?
The APK for package free.rm.skytube.oss is stored here unmodified. Its SHA-256 checksum is 87519cf2fd08b8d5d0b7b18efc9499cbaefd3345f479d56ce227afc6537d5780, so after downloading you can hash your copy and compare the two values. The source is public under GPL-3.0-only, which lets anyone inspect what the app does, though the publisher is unnamed. The app shows no ads.
How to install SkyTube
- Download the APK with the button on this page and wait for it to finish.
- Compare the file with the SHA-256 checksum shown here if you want to confirm it arrived intact.
- Open the file on your phone and allow installs from this source when Android asks.
- Finish the install, then open SkyTube from your app drawer.
