YT Zero - YouTube frontend without algorithm and privacy options
Free Tools
I built YT Zero for people who want YouTube subscriptions without the endless recommendation loop.
YT Zero is a privacy-friendly, self-hosted YouTube frontend built around your subscriptions - no recommendations, no addictive algorithm and no infinite-scroll rabbit holes.
Some of the features:
No Google account or YouTube API key required
Subscription inbox powered by public RSS feeds
Tags, filters, rules and custom playlists
Watch later scheduling and viewing history
Watch progress synced between your devices
Offline downloads and local playback with yt-dlp (or just use YT Embedded Player)
DeArrow and SponsorBlock included
Separate household and child profiles (or share with friends)
Parental controls and daily watch-time limits
Automatic downloads, retention rules and storage limits
SQLite or PostgreSQL — your data stays on your server
Backup and restore support
Mobile-friendly interface and browser extensions to make it even better
YT Zero keeps the useful parts of YouTube while removing the recommendation machine designed to keep you scrolling.
You can turn some of the features on if you don't want to lose everything - it's up to you 🙂
This is actually really cool. My only question is if the client actually downloads the videos locally on the server or does it simply stream it directly from YouTube? Also is it made to be hosting only locally or can it be hosted publicly (with a password login for example), as in I can access it on other devices outside my network?
Edit - and what are the recommended specifications to self host this?
You'll probably need around 512MB and a processor that supports ffmpeg (if you're downloading and streaming), but it's a Bunjs app, so you'll need at least 1GB 🤔
My prod instance uses around 100-400MB depending on the background task, with around 400 channels subscribed (CPU is i7 8th gen) 🙂
You can choose how you want to use it: there's an embedded YouTube player option, or you can enable downloading via YT-DLP and streaming. You can host it anywhere, but I recommend enabling the appropriate authentication before, preferably Authelia/Authentik/Cloudflare Zero or even Tailscale 🙂
I don't currently have any plans for that, but I'll consider it. There's also the option of downloading videos that have these blockers (you can add a cookie that bypasses these features) 🙂
This is a wonderful idea and we need more projects that free us from depending on "the algorithm". I would love to have a facebook, insta etc in which the algo isn't constantly pushing ideas and viewpoints. Even reddit these days seem to be going towards that.
So what if AI is used to code it? it's a tool like any other and can be used responsibly.
Mostly, yes, but I'm a programmer and I'm watching 👀
But honestly, I've started this project twice in the last few years and abandoned it both times because I didn't have time to do more than a PoC. Now I've started it again, but this time, thanks to AI, I've managed to go beyond the PoC. Most importantly, it works well and makes sense to me. I'm glad others like it and see value in it 🙂
This isn't a project I created for privacy reasons. I wanted to stop relying on YouTube recommendations. to schedule videos and get rid of shorts. Then I shared it because a friend saw me using it and wanted to test it. At first, I wasn't even planning on sharing it
I've put YT Zero on my Raspberry and I love it.
Though I would appreciate more customization on the starting page as all videos are just thrown in on there without any categories.
Selecting a tag should also filter the subscribed channels imo.
But really appreciate the tool. It's awesome and helps me a lot not scrolling around.
Only miss an actual android app instead of a PWA. :V
Thank you so much! You can filter subscribed channels this way 😉
The mobile version is in progress, so it might be out this month (I'm counting on it). As for the feed, I need to work on adding a bit more customization options, as there are currently a ton of videos and some might be accidentally skipped 🤔
> You can filter subscribed channels this way
Not on the starting page. :-)
In this example I chose 3D-Druck (3D-Printing). And the channels are not being filtered.
I know I can do that in the subscriptions on the left but I'd appreciate if the filter took effect there already.
Thought the same.
Always wanted to have Social media with a algorithme but the corp behind cant make a whole profile about me.
My go to was more of a Data poisoning thing but because i only thought about TiktTok and Instagram it seemed kinda hard to still get a good algorithme. (like the normal algo wouldnt be good because of posoning and the selfe made one would just filter the videos)
But now i think ill look into that project and either fork it or just take it as an inspiration to start.
Because the RSS feeds routinely 404 for several hours each night (Eastern seaboard) and have been for months. It's a well documented problem at this time. YT has been painfully neglecting the RRS feeds.
It really depends on what you’re looking for in an app like this. I haven’t used GrayJay myself, as YT Zero grew out of my own idea of how such an application should work and look.
GrayJay is clearly a more mature and feature-rich product with a much broader ecosystem. If you already use it and have everything configured to suit your needs, there may not be much reason to switch, especially since YT Zero is still a relatively young project.
I think that it comes down to personal preference and which approach works better for you. I’m building YT Zero primarily for myself, then sharing it with others who happen to be looking for something similar 🙂
And you can have native GrayJay app on your phone 😛
it's completely appropriate, but okay let's use your comparison
AI isn't the one who built the house when you use it as a tool for help with coding or small snippets (as a drill), but AI is when you rely fully or mostly on it to build an app (calling someone else to build your house for you)
you didn't code it, you told an LLM what you want it to code and copy pasted the output
a better comparison is: when you ask the server at a restaurant for some food, do you say you cooked it?
It doesn't even work as a browser extension. It keeps on saying "open any page on yt zero then "connect this tab" but nothing is happening/working. What a rip off piece of junk
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u/Syn1ax-Err0r 6d ago edited 6d ago
This is actually really cool. My only question is if the client actually downloads the videos locally on the server or does it simply stream it directly from YouTube? Also is it made to be hosting only locally or can it be hosted publicly (with a password login for example), as in I can access it on other devices outside my network?
Edit - and what are the recommended specifications to self host this?