privacyguides.org/docs/video-streaming.md

title	icon
Video Streaming	material/video-wireless

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 logo](/assets/img/video-streaming/freetube.svg){ align=right }

**FreeTube** is a free and open source desktop application for [YouTube](https://youtube.com). When using FreeTube, your subscription list and playlists are saved locally on your device.

FreeTube also features [SponsorBlock](https://sponsor.ajay.app) to help you skip sponsored advertisements. All YouTube advertisements are also blocked by default.

!!! Warning
    When using Freetube, your IP address is still known to YouTube, [Invidious](https://instances.invidious.io) and the SponsorBlock instances that you use. Consider using a [VPN](/providers/vpn) or [Tor](https://www.torproject.org) if your [threat model](/threat-modeling) requires hiding your IP address.

[Visit freetubeapp.io](https://freetubeapp.io){ .md-button .md-button--primary } [Privacy Policy](https://freetubeapp.io/privacy.php){ .md-button }

**Downloads**
- [:fontawesome-brands-windows: Windows](https://freetubeapp.io/#download)
- [:fontawesome-brands-apple: macOS](https://freetubeapp.io/#download)
- [:fontawesome-brands-linux: Linux](https://freetubeapp.io/#download)
- [:pg-flathub: Flatpak](https://flathub.org/apps/details/io.freetubeapp.FreeTube)
- [:fontawesome-brands-github: Source](https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube/)

LBRY

!!! recommendation

![LBRY logo](/assets/img/video-streaming/lbry.svg){ align=right }

**The LBRY network** is a decentralized video sharing network. It uses a [BitTorrent](https://wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent)-like network to store the video content, and a [blockchain](https://wikipedia.org/wiki/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.

!!! Warning
    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](https://lbry.com/faq/earn-credits) funds, or take control of your channel.

!!! Warning
    Only the **LBRY desktop client** is recommended. The [Odysee](https://odysee.com) website and the LBRY clients in F-Droid, Play Store, and the AppStore have mandatory synchronization and telemetry.

!!! Warning
    While watching and hosting videos, your IP address is visible to the LBRY network. Consider using a [VPN](/providers/vpn) or [Tor](https://www.torproject.org) if your [threat model](/threat-modeling) requires hiding your IP address.

!!! Tip
    You can  disable *Save hosting data to help the LBRY network* option (⚙️ Settings → Advanced Settings) to avoid exposing your IP address and watched videos when using LBRY for a prolonged period of time.

[Visit lbry.com](https://lbry.com){ .md-button .md-button--primary } [Privacy Policy](https://lbry.com/privacypolicy){ .md-button }

**Downloads**
- [:fontawesome-brands-windows: Windows](https://lbry.com/get)
- [:fontawesome-brands-apple: macOS](https://lbry.com/osx)
- [:fontawesome-brands-linux: Linux](https://lbry.com/linux)
- [:fontawesome-brands-github: Source](https://github.com/lbryio)

NewPipe

!!! recommendation

![Newpipe logo](/assets/img//video-streaming/newpipe.svg){ align=right }

**NewPipe** is a free and open source Android application for [YouTube](https://youtube.com), [SoundCloud](https://soundcloud.com), [media.ccc.de](https://media.ccc.de), [FramaTube](https://framatube.org), and [Bandcamp](https://bandcamp.com).

!!! note
    NewPipe is available on the main [F-Droid](https://www.f-droid.org)'s repository. We recommend that you use the NewPipe's own [F-Droid repository](https://newpipe.net/FAQ/tutorials/install-add-fdroid-repo) instead to get faster updates.
Your subscription list and playlists are saved locally on your Android device.

[Visit newpipe.net](https://newpipe.net){ .md-button .md-button--primary } [Privacy Policy](https://newpipe.net/legal/privacy){ .md-button }

**Downloads**
- [:fontawesome-brands-android: F-Droid repo](https://newpipe.net/FAQ/tutorials/install-add-fdroid-repo)
- [:fontawesome-brands-github: Source](https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe)

NewPipe x SponsorBlock

!!! recommendation

![NewPipe x SponsorBlock logo](/assets/img/video-streaming/newpipe.svg){ align=right }

**NewPipe x SponsorBlock** is a fork of [NewPipe](https://newpipe.net) with [SponsorBlock](https://sponsor.ajay.app) integrated to help you skip sponsored advertisements.
It also has 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.

!!! note
    This fork is not endorsed by or affiliated with the upstream project. The NewPipe team has [rejected](https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/pull/3205) integration with SponsorBlock and thus this fork is created to provide this functionality.

[Visit github.com](https://github.com/polymorphicshade/NewPipe){ .md-button .md-button--primary }

**Downloads**
- [:fontawesome-brands-android: F-Droid repo](https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/org.polymorphicshade.newpipe)
- [:fontawesome-brands-github: Source](https://github.com/polymorphicshade/NewPipe)

Web-based Frontends

Invidious

!!! recommendation

![Invidious logo](/assets/img/video-streaming/invidious.svg#only-light){ align=right }
![Invidious logo](/assets/img/video-streaming/invidious-dark.svg#only-dark){ align=right }

**Invidious** is a free and open source front end for YouTube that is also self-hostable. There are list of [public instances](https://instances.invidious.io). Some instances have [Tor](https://www.torproject.org) onion services support.

!!! tip
    Invidious is useful if you want to disable JavaScript in your browser, such as [Tor Browser](https://www.torproject.org/) on the Safest security setting. It does not provide privacy by itself and we don’t recommend logging into any accounts.

!!! warning
    Invidious does not proxy the video stream through its server by default. Videos watched through Invidious will still make direct connections to Google's servers (googlevideo.com); however, some instances support video proxying. This can be enabled by adding `&local=true` to the URL.

!!! warning
    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.

!!! note
    When you are using an Invidious instance, be sure to go 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).

[Visit invidious.io](https://invidious.io){ .md-button .md-button--primary } [Privacy Policy](){ .md-button }

**Downloads**
- [:fontawesome-solid-earth-americas: Instances](https://instances.invidious.io)
- [:fontawesome-brands-github: Source](https://github.com/iv-org/invidious)

Piped

!!! recommendation

![Piped logo](/assets/img/video-streaming/piped.svg){ align=right }

**Piped** is a free and open source front end for YouTube that is also self-hostable. Alternative instances can be selected from "Preferences".

!!! tip
    Piped is useful if you want to use [SponsorBlock](https://sponsor.ajay.app) 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.

!!! warning
    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.

!!! warning
    When you are using a Piped instance, be sure to go 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.

!!! warning
    Piped requires javascript in order to function.

[Visit piped.kavin.rocks](https://piped.kavin.rocks/){ .md-button .md-button--primary }

**Downloads**
- [:fontawesome-brands-github: Source](https://github.com/TeamPiped/Piped)