Brave blocks most YouTube ads, but not all of them

Brave stops the majority of ads that appear on YouTube — both the skippable ads at the start of videos and the mid-roll ads that interrupt longer content. However, Brave does not block every ad format YouTube uses. Some ads slip through because they are embedded directly into the video itself or because YouTube changes how it delivers ads faster than Brave's filters update.

If you want to remove YouTube ads completely, your only may provide option is YouTube Premium, which costs $13.99 per month (or $139.99 per year). Brave is free and blocks most ads without requiring a subscription, but it is not a perfect replacement for YouTube's paid tier.

Key Takeaways

  • Brave blocks standard YouTube ads — the ones that play before videos and between video segments — without any setup required.
  • Ads that YouTube embeds directly into video content cannot be blocked by any browser, including Brave.
  • YouTube occasionally changes how it serves ads, and some new formats may display in Brave until the browser's filter lists update.
  • Brave works on desktop, mobile, and tablet, so ad blocking applies across all devices where you use the browser.
  • Using Brave does not violate YouTube's terms of service, though YouTube discourages ad blocking and may eventually restrict access for users who block ads.

How Brave's ad blocking works on YouTube

Brave uses filter lists — databases of known ad servers and tracking domains — to block ads before they load. When you visit YouTube, Brave checks every request the page makes against these lists. If a request matches a known ad server (like Google's ad network), Brave stops it from loading. This happens automatically; you do not need to install anything extra or change any settings.

The browser blocks ads on YouTube the same way it blocks ads everywhere else on the web. It does not target YouTube specifically — it simply prevents any content from loading that comes from domains known to serve advertisements. This is why Brave also removes ads from news sites, blogs, and other platforms without you having to do anything.

What types of YouTube ads Brave cannot block

Brave cannot block ads that YouTube embeds directly into the video file itself. These are called in-video ads or sponsored segments. A creator might say "This video is brought to you by [company]" and then spend 30 seconds talking about a product. Because the ad is part of the actual video content, not a separate ad request, no browser can remove it.

YouTube also occasionally tests new ad formats or changes how it delivers ads. When YouTube rolls out a format Brave has not yet seen, it may display in your browser until Brave's maintainers add it to the filter lists. This usually takes days or weeks, not months. If you notice an ad format appearing consistently in Brave, you can report it to the Brave team, and they will add it to the blocklist.

Brave on different devices and platforms

Brave is available as a desktop browser for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and as a mobile browser for iPhone and Android. Ad blocking works the same way on all of these platforms — YouTube ads are blocked without any extra steps. If you use Brave on your phone and Brave on your computer, you get ad blocking on both.

If you use a different browser on some devices (like Safari on iPhone or Chrome on Android), ads will still play on those devices because only Brave blocks them. Switching to Brave across all your devices is the only way to block YouTube ads everywhere you watch.

Why YouTube may restrict Brave users in the future

YouTube's terms of service prohibit ad blocking, but the company has not yet blocked users who run ad blockers. However, YouTube has publicly stated that it wants to reduce ad blocking and may eventually restrict access for users who block ads. This could mean showing a message that says you must disable your ad blocker to continue watching, or it could mean blocking Brave users outright.

If YouTube does restrict Brave users, you would have three options: disable Brave's ad blocking for YouTube, switch to YouTube Premium, or use a different video platform. For now, Brave works normally on YouTube, but this is not may provide to remain true forever.

Brave versus YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium removes all ads from YouTube, including mid-roll ads and ads on videos you have already started watching. It also lets you download videos to watch offline and play videos with the screen off. The trade-off is the monthly cost: $13.99 per month, or $139.99 per year if you pay annually.

Brave is free and removes most ads, but it does not give you offline downloads or background play. If you watch YouTube heavily and want a may provide ad-free experience, YouTube Premium is the only option that YouTube officially supports. If you watch casually and do not mind the occasional in-video ad, Brave is a free alternative that works well enough.

How to check if Brave is blocking ads on YouTube

Open any YouTube video in Brave and look at the Brave icon in the address bar (it looks like a lion's head). Click it, and a panel will appear showing how many trackers and ads Brave blocked on that page. The number updates as you watch — you will see it increase as ads are blocked.

If you see zero blocked items, it does not necessarily mean ads are playing. It means Brave did not detect any ad requests on that particular page. Some videos may have fewer ads than others, or YouTube may have served the ad in a way Brave did not recognize. If you see ads playing and the counter shows zero blocks, you can report it to Brave's support team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will YouTube ban me for using Brave?

YouTube has not banned users for running ad blockers, including Brave. However, YouTube's terms of service technically prohibit ad blocking, so the company could restrict access in the future. For now, using Brave on YouTube is safe and does not violate any rules that YouTube actively enforces.

Does Brave block ads on YouTube TV or YouTube Music?

Brave blocks ads on YouTube TV and YouTube Music the same way it blocks ads on the main YouTube site. However, YouTube TV is a paid subscription service ($73.99 per month) that includes ads unless you pay extra for an ad-free tier, so blocking ads does not change your subscription cost.

Can I use Brave with other ad blockers at the same time?

You can, but it is not necessary. Brave's built-in ad blocking is already very effective, and adding another ad blocker extension may cause videos to load slowly or behave unpredictably. Stick with Brave's native blocking unless you have a specific reason to add another tool.

What if ads still play even though Brave is installed?

Check that you are actually using Brave — some people install it but continue using their old browser by default. Open YouTube in Brave specifically and watch for a few minutes. If ads still appear, click the Brave shield icon in the address bar to confirm the browser is active. If ads persist after that, report the ad format to Brave's support team so they can add it to the blocklist.

Does blocking ads on YouTube hurt creators?

Yes, creators earn money from YouTube ads, and blocking ads reduces their revenue. If you watch creators whose work you value, consider turning off Brave's ad blocking for their channel, using YouTube Premium (which pays creators from subscription fees), or supporting them through other means like Patreon or channel memberships.