SmartTube is a free, open-source alternative interface for watching YouTube on Android TV and Fire TV, with an ad-free viewing mode and a more customizable layout than the official app. It isn’t distributed through the Amazon Appstore or Google Play, so getting it installed means sideloading it with Downloader.

Who Can Use SmartTube?

SmartTube is for YouTube-heavy households who want more control over the viewing experience — fewer interruptions, SponsorBlock support, and playback tweaks the official app doesn’t offer. Because it requires sideloading, it’s best suited to people who are already comfortable installing Downloader first.

SmartTube on Firestick

1. Install Downloader first if you haven’t already (see our Downloader guide above).

2. Open Downloader and enter the official SmartTube GitHub releases URL to grab the latest APK.

3. Once the APK downloads, select Install when prompted.

4. If you see a warning about unknown sources, go to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer Options and enable Apps from Unknown Sources for Downloader.

5. Open SmartTube from your Fire TV apps list and sign in with your Google account if you want your subscriptions and watch history.

SmartTube illustrative install mockup
Installing SmartTube through Downloader on a Fire TV device.

Install SmartTube on Android TV Devices

1. Install Downloader from the Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore.

2. Enable Install unknown apps for Downloader in your device’s Settings.

3. Use Downloader to enter the SmartTube GitHub releases URL and download the latest APK.

4. Select Install once the download finishes, then open SmartTube from your apps list.

Key Features

— Ad-free playback mode built into the app itself.

— SponsorBlock integration to automatically skip sponsored segments.

— A TV-optimized interface with faster navigation than the official app.

— Regularly updated by an active open-source community.

SmartTube takes an extra sideloading step that the other apps on this list don’t, but for a YouTube-focused streaming setup, it’s one of the more actively maintained third-party clients available for Android TV and Fire TV.