SmartTube
Free open-source YouTube-style video client for Android TV and TV boxes.
- Stars
- 35.8k
- Forks
- 2.2k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- Java
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- App
What it is
SmartTube is a free, open-source app for Android TVs and TV boxes that lets you browse and play video content from public sources in a TV-friendly interface. It is designed to be used with a remote control rather than a phone or computer. The README says it has no advertising UI elements and does not require Google Services.
- Watch videos from public sources on a living-room Android TV
- Skip sponsored segments using SponsorBlock integration
- Play video at adjusted speeds, up to 60fps and 8K where the device supports it
- View live chat while watching a stream
Great for
- People who watch online video on an Android TV or TV box
- Users who want a TV interface without Google Services
- Viewers who want SponsorBlock skipping and adjustable playback speed
- Owners of older Android TV boxes who need a lightweight client
Not ideal for
- Phone or tablet users, since the README says it is not supported on phones and tablets
- Owners of Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, or Apple TV, which the README says are not supported
- Owners of newer Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select and later devices running VegaOS, which the README says are incompatible
- Anyone who wants an officially supported app from an app store, since the README says it is not published on any store
How to get it
- 1
Download the app
You'll need: Android TV, Google TV, or Android TV box running Android 4.3 or above
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube - 2
Run it
- Download the beta or stable APK using the Downloader app by AFTVnews, entering kutt.to/stn_beta or kutt.to/stn_stable on your TV.
- Confirm the security prompts to install the app.
- Open SmartTube on your TV and follow its first-launch prompts.
- Check the built-in updater in Settings > About for newer versions.
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the beta release for faster access to new features and bugfixes, per the README
- Enable SponsorBlock integration to skip sponsored segments
- Customize the buttons on your remote through the app's settings
- Use the built-in updater to receive changelogs automatically
Downloads
Strengths
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Does not require Google Services and has no advertising UI elements, per the README
- Works on a wide range of older Android TV and TV box hardware, per the README
Trade-offs
- Comment functionality is described as unstable, and voice search and casting may be weaker than official apps
- The README includes an announcement that some builds may have been affected by malware, so users should verify the source of the APK carefully
- Installation requires sideloading an APK, which is more technical than installing from an app store
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartTube (this) | 35.8k | App | beginner | 4 days ago | People who watch online video on an Android TV or TV box |
| popcorntime | 10.7k | App | intermediate | 2 months ago | People who want one app to browse movies and TV shows across platforms |
| yazi | 43.2k | App | intermediate | 4 days ago | People who already spend time in a terminal and want a faster way to browse folders |
| super-productivity | 23.4k | App | beginner | 4 days ago | People who want a personal task list with built-in time tracking |
| maui | 23.3k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | C# developers who want to target phones and desktops from one codebase |
| ideavim | 10.3k | App | beginner | 4 days ago | Developers who already know Vim and want its keys inside a JetBrains IDE |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.