[Loophole] YouTube Free from Ads without Any Adblocker & No Premium Membership (with VPN)

neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 01:28
Last edited 25/12/2024 - 17:45

Some people know about this trick but may only know a few locations and not all VPNs are effective to use with this trick. This trick doesn't work with PureVPN. I also have NordVPN & Surfshark VPN

You can buy VPN with 100% or almost 100% cashback through Topcashback / Cashrewards that are usually informed in Ozbargain such as NordVPN or Surfshark for example.

Trick on using YouTube free from ads without any adblockers and no premium membership:
Just connect to certain VPN through certain server locations.

I have just tested Surfshark VPN for short time as I just bought this VPN. So far, Albania location doesn't show ads in YouTube.

I have tested NordVPN, try one of these locations:

  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Armenia
  • Bahamas
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Uzbekistan

You can inform in the comment if certain locations above show ads in YouTube. This post will be updated accordingly.

This trick cannot be consistently applied to PureVPN (any locations). One day no ads, but next day ads appeared with PureVPN, lol. I have tested this trick with android phone and ipad through browser and YouTube app.

If you don't want to pay for YouTube Premium (save money) and you don't want to see ads, you can use this trick. If you don't have VPN, you can buy VPN with 100% or almost 100% cashback for example Surfshark through Topcashback or NordVPN through Cashrewards for example.

Another way that many people usually use is through Revanced app to block ads in YouTube. For smart TV, SmartTube app for example. If you want to play YouTube in the background (background play), you can use Brave browser (built-in adblocker) or Firefox browser with "uBlock Origin" extension and "SponsorBlock" extension. Other browsers that can install these extensions can be used too (uBlock Origin at least).

If you googling/browsing in a browser, all server locations show ads. So, this trick has only been tested on YouTube.

Internet YouTube

Comments

  • El cheepo on 27/11/2024 - 01:34
    +29

    I absolutely love the lengths people will go to avoid paying for YouTube premium.

    (I am people)

    • follow on 27/11/2024 - 01:43
      +2

      I'm happy to pay for a Pakistani subscription

      Wonder if it's worth finding a Pakistani resident and giving them a spot on a family account in exchange for using their card as the payment method.

      • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 02:06
        -2

        Why do you want to pay if this trick works? No ads. For background play, I can use Brave/Firefox browser.

        • follow on 27/11/2024 - 03:52
          +3

          not having to do that is worth $15/year

          • NotReallyaMoneySaver on 27/11/2024 - 05:22
            +1

            @follow: I use Youtube on my phone quite a bit. Background play is nice but I hate the web interface on Firefox. Not to mention, having Youtube play while your screen's off is incredibly nice as it helps with podcasts and other stuff. There's also Youtube Music which isn't as good as Spotify but works. I'm very happy to spend $15 a year on premium.

            • Rukiata on 27/11/2024 - 05:47
              +1

              @NotReallyaMoneySaver: Name checks out

            • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 07:26

              @NotReallyaMoneySaver: I am fine with YouTube web interface in Firefox or Brave. I don't want to pay Google.

              I don't use YouTube Music. At the moment I am using free Amazon Music for 4 months that was informed in Ozb (previously 5 months free). Amazon Music has hi-res music, while YouTube doesn't have it. I used Apple Music too in the past. I have my own hi-res music too.

              • NotReallyaMoneySaver on 27/11/2024 - 07:31

                @neoleo: I mean fair enough if you don't want to pay google. I'm fine with paying google for Ytb premium. I would happily sacrifice a meal or two out at the local restaraunt/cafe for Youtube premium. I'm not a fan of Apple Music as I don't like paying for specific songs as I kinda just listen to whatever I'm feeling. Amazon Music was kinda iffy last time I used it but what are you going to do once the 4 months are over?

                • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 07:37

                  @NotReallyaMoneySaver: Use the next free Amazon Music or Apple Music. Or download more hi-res music for free :P I found that Apple Music is far superior than Amazon Music or even Spotify and YouTube in term of hi-res music quality, the interface and the entire songs collection in it.

          • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 07:18
            +1

            @follow: It's just like few minutes effort to buy a VPN and install it. So, I prefer not to pay Google.

    • JimmyF on 27/11/2024 - 09:37

      I absolutely love the lengths people will go to avoid paying for YouTube premium.

      So paying more for a VPN sub than a YT prem sub would cost….. Makes sense!

      • El cheepo on 27/11/2024 - 11:34

        That was kind of the joke…

        Its stupid, but people do it.

        • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:38

          Read my comment below :)

      • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:33

        It's 100% cashback with Surfshark at the moment. So much cheaper than paying for YouTube Premium. The effort is only few minutes. Done :)

        I also use Adguard adblocker in my devices and also Brave and Firefox browser with uBlock Origin extension.

        There are still a lot of people who don't use or even know about adblocker. Look at your family, relatives, friends and colleagues. Most of them don't use adblocker or even know about adblocker. This is just another way to use YouTube free from ads without any adblocker, only use this VPN trick.

      • Flyerone on 01/12/2024 - 15:30
        +1

        YT premium only gets you youtube premium, a VPN offers a whole host of opportunities.

  • Mortin on 27/11/2024 - 01:54
    +1

    It works

  • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 07:29

    Surfshark VPN has adblocker feature, but I don't enable it for the purpose of testing this YouTube ad free experience without any adblockers and no Premium membership.

  • CodeXD on 27/11/2024 - 08:44
    +1

    adblock is still easier to apply and use?

    • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:37
      +1

      The problem is the total number of people who use adblocker globally is tiny if compared with the total global population that don't use adblocker. Look at your family, relatives, friends and colleagues. Most of them don't use or even know about adblocker.

      • CodeXD on 27/11/2024 - 15:38

        Ah yes, but my entire family and dogs and cats are all using VPN.

        • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:41

          Are you sure your entire family use adblocker? I think most older person especially parents and grandparents don't use adblocker or even know about it.

          • CodeXD on 27/11/2024 - 15:44
            +1

            @neoleo: I know they do cos I install it for them haha

            I can guarantee you more people use adblocker than VPN lol

  • tomclancy on 27/11/2024 - 09:22
    +11

    Phone = Revanced ✅
    TV = SmartTube ✅
    PC/web = Brave (or Firefox/Chrome with uBlock Origin + SponsorBlock) ✅

    …but sadly no way to avoid ads on Google home speakers 😥

    • spackbace on 27/11/2024 - 12:06

      I might look to do this for a while :) Losing my Premium from Turkey in mid-December

      • tomclancy on 27/11/2024 - 12:54
        +2

        I lost my Premium Turkey 2 weeks ago. Forced my hand. Did the above 👆 and haven't looked back.

        An unexpected bonus was using Revanced to patch a few other apps to remove ads (Duolingo, Facebook, Messenger…)

        As I said, only issue is the Google home (10 second ad played between every 5th song on Youtube Music). I've started researching non-Google Android-based alternatives (example: Lenovo tab with speaker dock) but it's not cheap.

        • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 16:12
          +1

          Could you put vpn in router settings? This depends on the type of the router. If VPN in the router, this trick may work. I haven't tried YouTube Music with this trick. I don't have Google Home anymore.

  • tenpercent on 27/11/2024 - 09:37
    +2

    Brave browser + ublock origin = no ads & free
    I don't even remember what internet ads look like.

    • pegaxs on 27/11/2024 - 11:04
      +3

      Same… until about 3 days ago when I opened the wrong browser on my phone while I was out shopping (I am mostly on wifi at home with a pihole DNS and use Brave as the default browser) and I was literally assaulted with ads… I thought WTF has gone wrong until I realised I was using "Safari" and thought… "OMG! how the (fropanity) do people live on the internet like this?" I had not realised just how bad it has gotten.

      • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:46

        Why not put Adguard adblocker app or NextDNS app for system wide adblocking? I use both. No matter any browser/apps you use. I use Brave browser and Firefox browser with uBlock Origin extension too.

  • Stevemao on 27/11/2024 - 09:48
    +1

    What about Apple TV?

    • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:50

      From googling about vpn for apple tv in google search, there are several VPNs include Surfshark VPN that can be used for Apple TV? Check google and you can read the answer.

      Could you put vpn in router settings? This depends on the type of the router.

  • wots on 27/11/2024 - 10:12
    +5

    All you need is brave browser. No further extensions or tricks required. I’m using Brave for YouTube only, as my dedicated YouTube app, and chrome for everything else. Might switch to brave completely

    • Subere on 27/11/2024 - 11:04
      +1

      This. Just use Brave browser on phone and PC.

      • ekto on 27/11/2024 - 11:11

        What about on TV?

        • Subere on 27/11/2024 - 11:13
          +2

          As mentioned above, I use Smart Tube Next side loaded on my NVIDIA shield.

    • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:52

      Yes, I use Brave browser and Firefox browser with uBlock Origin extension too. This is just another way to use YouTube ad free without any adblocker.

  • Boioioioi on 27/11/2024 - 11:11

    So youtube never shows ads in those countries? I wonder why

    • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:57

      Maybe because of the languages and advertisers may not target this 🤷 or maybe banned in certain countries from reddit comments I read previously.

  • montorola on 27/11/2024 - 11:43

    Anyone have any tricks for Youtube no ads on Hisense TVs (with Vidaa OS)

    • djsweet on 27/11/2024 - 12:16
      +2

      You could probably use an adblocking dns

      • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 16:03

        Adblocking DNS doesn't work for YouTube ads as far as I know. Unless if the DNS can use uBlock Origin extension, I don't think so.

    • tomclancy on 27/11/2024 - 13:00
      +1

      I have Hisense with Vidaa OS. But I stuck a Chromecast with Google TV in the back so I never see Vidaa OS. Boots straight into the CwGTV home screen. It opens up heaps more capabilities like thousands of free IPTV channels, any sport you like etc. Plus when I switch TVs in the future I bring the Chromecast with me and no change in my setup.

    • neoleo on 27/11/2024 - 15:59

      Could you put vpn in router settings? Or use Chromecast/amazon fire tv stick, android tv box etc. to use VPN.

    • baybaboy on 20/12/2024 - 12:35

      Controld dns change to any of the free countries

  • ozbrgnr on 19/12/2024 - 18:35
    +1

    What a life saver!! Kudos to the OP and whosoever found this. Thank you to the community for the insights and learnings everyday.

    After years of using low cost youtube premium, Google denied any extensions on the current account. Existing PIA subscription to the rescue.

  • M00Cow on 23/12/2024 - 11:58

    I also VPN to such countries when downloading podcasts, as they don't insert ads.

  • Kidsgame on 28/12/2024 - 16:40
    +1

    For those using a Unifi router, you can configure your preferred VPN through a VPN client and then create a rule that transfers YouTube content to the VPN. With this setting, you can play YouTube without ads on almost any device within your network without having to add VPN to each device.

    • neoleo on 28/12/2024 - 18:53

      Great idea, but I guess most people don't have Unifi router … Not even myself. I guess home routers mostly came from telco or some common brands like TP-Link, etc.

  • Bammers on 01/01/2025 - 21:09

    So, anyone found a way to register via a cheaper country instead of paying what we get stung for locally?

    Was subscribing via India but that died recently, and the local cost of $45 p/month for a family account is laughable.

    • neoleo on 01/01/2025 - 23:30

      So, you haven't read the trick above? Just need to buy 1 VPN account with almost 100% cashback at the moment with PIA (95% cashback) through Cashrewards for example.

      Just share the same login detail (account) of the VPN with your family and choose certain country like Albania etc. Then no more ads in YouTube website and YouTube app. That's it.

      • Bammers on 02/01/2025 - 06:53

        Was hoping to not have to use a VPN, and in hindsight this was most likely the wrong thread to ask the question in. Cheers.

        • spackbace on 02/01/2025 - 11:50

          Afaik no one has been able to come up with a solution

          Personally I'm just using Smarttube on the TV's. Sponsor skips is a nice side benefit :)

  • ATTS on 12/01/2025 - 19:06

    I cant remember how, but i use to download youtube videos as a flv file and watch offline. Is this still possible

    • neoleo on 12/01/2025 - 19:15

      I use TubeMate app in my android phone to download video from many websites.

      There are certain websites and browser extensions that can download video too.

      • ATTS on 12/01/2025 - 19:46

        Thanks yeah its been a long time

        I will try tubemate

        Also any recommendations for extensions and websites to do that also?

        • neoleo on 13/01/2025 - 09:48

          Just googling YouTube video downloader for websites. You can search something similar for browser extensions.

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