For years, YouTube users have sought ways to enhance their viewing experience beyond what the platform offers for free. YouTube Vanced APK and YouTube Premium emerged as two primary solutions, each catering to different types of users.

While YouTube Premium is the official paid subscription offered by Google, YouTube Vanced was a third-party modded version of the app that provided many of the same features at no cost. But what truly set them apart?

This article explores the key differences between YouTube Vanced and YouTube Premium, helping users understand what made Vanced so popular and why Premium remains the only official option today.

1. Ad-Free Experience

One of the main reasons users turned to YouTube Vanced was its ability to block ads entirely, providing an uninterrupted experience without requiring payment. On the other hand, YouTube Premium offers the same ad-free experience but as a paid subscription.

Key Differences:

• YouTube Vanced: Completely removed all ads for free without requiring an official YouTube subscription.
• YouTube Premium: Requires a monthly fee ($11.99 in the U.S.) to remove ads legally and support creators.
• YouTube Vanced offered ad-blocking without restrictions, whereas Premium showed sponsored content in some videos.

For users who didn’t want to pay but still wanted an ad-free experience, Vanced was the obvious choice, though it operated in a legal grey area.

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2. Background Playback & Picture-in-Picture Mode

Another significant feature missing from YouTube’s free version is background playback, which allows videos to continue playing even when switching apps or when the phone screen is off.

Key Differences:

• YouTube Vanced: Provided free background playback and picture-in-picture mode (PiP), allowing users to multitask.
• YouTube Premium: Officially offers background playback but only through a paid subscription.
• PiP mode in YouTube Vanced worked system-wide, while YouTube Premium restricts this feature in some regions.

Users who enjoyed listening to music or podcasts on YouTube without needing the screen on found Vanced to be a superior alternative since it provided background playback at no cost.

3. SponsorBlock and Additional Features

SponsorBlock is a community-driven feature that automatically allows users to skip sponsored segments inside videos. YouTube Vanced integrated SponsorBlock, making it easy to skip annoying in-video promotions.

Key Differences:

• YouTube Vanced: Allowed users to automatically skip sponsored segments in videos with the help of SponsorBlock.
• YouTube Premium: This does not allow skipping sponsored content inside videos.
• Vanced also included customisable themes, swipe controls for volume/brightness, and forced HDR.

For those who wanted complete control over their viewing experience, YouTube Vanced offered customisation that YouTube Premium did not.

4. Video Downloading & Offline Mode

Downloading videos for offline playback is another feature that YouTube locks behind its Premium subscription. However, YouTube Vanced provided workarounds.

Key Differences:

• YouTube Vanced: Did not have native video downloading but supported integration with third-party downloaders.
• YouTube Premium: Allows official downloading of videos for offline playback but with restrictions (e.g., limited availability in certain regions, expiration after 30 days).
• Advanced users could use other tools for unlimited downloads, while Premium users had to abide by YouTube’s policies.

For users who wanted to save videos for long-term offline use, Vanced provided more flexibility, though it required external tools.

5. Legal & Ethical Considerations

While YouTube Premium is an official product backed by Google, YouTube Vanced operated in a legal grey area before it was discontinued due to legal pressure.

Key Differences:

• YouTube Premium: A legitimate service that compensates creators and complies with Google’s policies.
• YouTube Vanced: A third-party mod that bypassed ads and monetisation, leading to potential copyright and revenue concerns.

Users who care about supporting creators and staying within legal boundaries opted for YouTube Premium, while those prioritising a free experience preferred Vanced despite its unofficial nature.

6. Availability & Updates

Since YouTube Vanced was not an official app, users had to download it manually via APKs, and updates were not guaranteed.

Key Differences:

• YouTube Premium: Regularly updated by Google with new features and bug fixes.
• YouTube Vanced: Required manual installation, and updates were inconsistent.
• Vanced was eventually discontinued, while Premium remains widely available across platforms.

YouTube Premium was the more reliable option for users who preferred a hassle-free and regularly updated experience.

Conclusion: Which One Was Better?

The answer depends on what users value most:

• YouTube Premium was the clear choice if you wanted a legal, hassle-free, and creator-friendly experience.
• If you prioritised free features, ad-free viewing, background playback, and advanced customisations, YouTube Vanced was unmatched—until its discontinuation.

Despite YouTube Vanced’s shutdown, its influence remains strong. Many users continue to seek alternatives like Revanced and other third-party mods that replicate its features.

However, YouTube Premium remains the only official and sustainable way to enjoy YouTube ad-free while supporting the platform’s creators.

Ultimately, whether you were a Vanced loyalist or a YouTube Premium subscriber, both services offered valuable features—one within Google’s ecosystem and the other pushing the boundaries of user customisation.

As YouTube continues evolving, users will keep searching for the best way to enjoy their content, whether through official means or creative workarounds.