Piped — Privacy-Friendly YouTube Frontend

Introduction

Piped is a privacy-respecting alternative frontend for YouTube built with Vue.js and backed by a Java API server. It proxies video streams, removes ads, and strips Google tracking while offering features like SponsorBlock integration and DeArrow support. Self-hosting gives you full control over your viewing data.

What Piped Does

• Streams YouTube videos without ads or Google tracking scripts
• Provides subscription management without a Google account
• Integrates SponsorBlock to skip sponsored segments automatically
• Supports playlists, comments, and channel browsing
• Proxies video and audio streams through your own server

Architecture Overview

Piped consists of three components: a Vue.js frontend, a Java backend (Piped-Backend) using the ActiveJ framework, and a proxy service for streaming media. The backend extracts video metadata using NewPipe Extractor and serves it via a REST API. The proxy handles bandwidth-intensive video streaming. All components are orchestrated with Docker Compose behind a reverse proxy.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy all three services using the official Piped-Docker repository
• Configure your domain and TLS certificates in the environment file
• Set up Nginx or Caddy as a reverse proxy for the frontend and API
• Tune proxy cache settings to reduce bandwidth to YouTube servers
• Enable federation to connect multiple Piped instances

Key Features

• No Google account required for subscriptions and playlists
• SponsorBlock and DeArrow integration built into the player
• Supports audio-only mode for music listening
• Responsive PWA interface that works on mobile browsers
• RSS feed generation for channels and playlists

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Invidious — Ruby-based alternative; different architecture and community
• FreeTube — desktop-only app; not self-hosted in a browser
• NewPipe — Android-only; no web interface
• YouTube ReVanced — modded app; requires a Google account

FAQ

Q: Is Piped legal to self-host? A: Piped accesses publicly available YouTube data. Self-hosting for personal use is a common practice, but review your jurisdiction's regulations.

Q: How much bandwidth does a Piped instance use? A: Bandwidth depends on usage. Each proxied video stream consumes bandwidth equivalent to the video quality selected. Caching can reduce repeat requests.

Q: Can I import my YouTube subscriptions? A: Yes. Piped supports importing subscriptions from Google Takeout, NewPipe, and other Piped instances via OPML or JSON.

Q: Does Piped support live streams? A: Yes. Live stream playback is supported through the same proxy infrastructure used for regular videos.

Sources

• https://github.com/TeamPiped/Piped
• https://docs.piped.video
• https://piped.video