BlockTube alternative: Smart Filter compared with BlockTube
Smart Filter is a free Chrome extension that hides YouTube videos and comments by keyword or by a rule you describe in plain words. BlockTube blocks videos, channels and comments on YouTube by keyword, regular expression or channel.
Smart Filter and BlockTube in short
Smart Filter and BlockTube both hide YouTube videos and comments by keyword or channel name. BlockTube 0.4.8 is open source (GPL-3.0) for Chrome and Firefox and adds regular expressions, blocking by video length, hiding watched videos and a custom JavaScript filter. Smart Filter adds AI rules that describe a kind of video, such as clickbait titles, a Hidden line with a Show button instead of removing the item, and 10 other sites that work out of the box, such as Reddit and X. Smart Filter keyword rules take * and ? wildcards, not regular expressions. Its keyword rules are free; AI rules use credits, up to 10,000 to start, then plans from $5 a month. Facts about BlockTube were checked on 13 October 2026.
Smart Filter and BlockTube side by side
Both hide videos and comments that you name. BlockTube offers more exact controls on YouTube; Smart Filter adds rules that describe a kind of video and runs on other sites too.
| Feature | Smart Filter | BlockTube |
|---|---|---|
| Sites | Any site; YouTube is one of 11 that work out of the box | YouTube |
| Block videos by keyword | Yes, with * and ? wildcards | Yes, also with regular expressions |
| Block by describing the video | Yes, with AI rules such as clickbait titles | No |
| Block a channel | By its name, as a keyword rule | By name or ID, also from a menu on the video |
| Block comments | By author or text, with keyword or AI rules | By user or by keyword |
| Block by video length | No | Yes |
| Remove Shorts, Movies, Explore | Hides Shorts that match a rule | Yes, as a whole |
| Hide watched videos | No | Yes |
| Custom JavaScript filter, password-protected settings | No | Yes |
| What you see instead | Folded into a Hidden line with a Show button, or blurred or dimmed | The video or comment is removed |
| Open source | No | Yes, GPL-3.0 |
| Browsers | Chrome | Chrome, Firefox |
| Price | Free. Keyword rules cost nothing; AI rules use credits, up to 10,000 to start, then plans from $5 a month | Free |
| Data sent | Nothing for keyword rules. For AI rules, after you agree: the rule and each item's text, sent to Smart Filter's server | None, according to its listing |
Checked on 13 October 2026 against the BlockTube Chrome Web Store listing (version 0.4.8) and its GitHub repository. Extensions change; if a line here is out of date, write to [email protected].
Which one fits
BlockTube is the better pick if
You know the channels and words you want gone, want regular expressions, length filters or a password on the settings, want open source code, or use Firefox.
Smart Filter is the better pick if
What you want gone is easier to describe than to list, such as clickbait or drama videos, or you want the same rules on Reddit, X and other sites.
More on what Smart Filter does on YouTube: the YouTube filter page. To remove recommendations and Shorts as a whole, see the Unhook comparison.
Smart Filter and BlockTube: questions
Is Smart Filter a BlockTube alternative?
For hiding videos and comments by keyword or channel name, yes, and it adds AI rules that describe a kind of video. BlockTube has controls Smart Filter lacks: regular expressions, video length, hiding watched videos and custom JavaScript.
Can Smart Filter use regular expressions?
No. Keyword rules take a list of words and phrases with * for any run of letters and ? for one letter. For anything harder to pin down, an AI rule describes the kind of item in plain words.
How do I block a YouTube channel with Smart Filter?
Add the channel's name as a keyword rule. The channel name is part of each video's text, so its videos are hidden in the home page, search and the sidebar. A keyword also matches titles with the same words.
Does Smart Filter work outside YouTube?
Yes. Reddit, X, Google, Hacker News, Amazon, Airbnb, eBay, Etsy, Bluesky and Indeed work out of the box, and other sites work too. BlockTube is for YouTube only.
How much does Smart Filter cost?
Keyword rules are free with no limit. AI rules come with up to 10,000 credits to start; one credit checks one item against one AI rule. After that, plans start at $5 a month, or a one-time top-up adds 75,000 credits for $10.
What does Smart Filter send off my computer?
Nothing for keyword rules, which run in your browser. For AI rules, and only after you agree: the rule and up to 400 characters of each item's text, with a random install ID. AI rules never run on email, chat or banking sites. Details are in the privacy policy.
Block what you can name. Describe the rest.
Free in the Chrome Web Store.
Add to ChromeSmart Filter is an independent extension, not affiliated with BlockTube or YouTube. Product names belong to their owners.