A calmer way to watch YouTube
A digital detox for YouTube
Keep the channels you chose and turn down the parts of YouTube that never end.
End doom-scrolling today
iOS 17+ · Version 5.3.2
What a YouTube detox actually means
A detox here is not about quitting video or proving you have more discipline than everyone else. It is about deciding what you want from YouTube and removing the parts that keep you there after you are done.
ZenTube is a smaller, calmer client: the channels you chose, in the categories you made, with the endless parts turned down.
Three levers
ZenTube gives you three practical levers. You can use one or all of them.
- The Shorts filter — Hide Shorts from the feeds you browse.
- Category feeds — See only the channels you follow, grouped the way you chose.
- Zen Mode — Hide thumbnails so the feed is less visually loud.
The Shorts filter and some other options are part of the premium version.
A daily practice
A routine can be simple. In the morning, open one category and check what is new. Later, browse the categories you care about and leave the rest alone. When you want to explore, use search on purpose, then close it.
ZenTube does not schedule this for you. The point is that the app has an end: you can finish the feed and put the phone down.
What it won’t do
A smaller client still has limits, and it is better to be clear about them:
- It will not block YouTube system-wide. ZenTube is a separate app and does not modify Google’s YouTube app or website.
- There is no Android version.
- It is not a background music player. YouTube’s Terms of Service do not allow third-party apps to provide that.
- It will not remove every distraction. Titles, thumbnails, and habits still exist; ZenTube only changes what the app puts in front of you.
- It is not a medical or therapeutic tool. It is a video client with fewer distractions.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a blocker?
- No. ZenTube is a YouTube client, not a website or app blocker. It removes Shorts, recommendations, and autoplay from what it shows you when those filters are on, but it does not block YouTube elsewhere on your phone.
- Does it replace YouTube?
- No. ZenTube is for the channels you follow and the videos you choose to watch. Google’s YouTube app and website are unchanged.
- Can I still explore?
- Yes. The Explore/search tab is there when you want to look for something new. It is a deliberate step rather than a shelf that follows you around.
Sounds good?
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