FocusTube Best distraction-free YouTube extensions
The best distraction-free YouTube extensions
A handful of browser extensions can strip the clutter out of YouTube — the feed, the recommendations, the comments, the Shorts. Here’s an honest look at the three most popular options, what makes each one different, and how to pick. The short version: the free tools are genuinely good, and FocusTube is the one to choose when willpower alone hasn’t been enough.
The three tools at a glance
| Feature | FocusTube | Unhook | DF Tube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | One-time, after a 7-day free trial | Free | Free |
| Hides feed, recommendations and comments | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setup | One click, opinionated | Many granular toggles | A few toggles |
| Shorts-free mode | Yes, blocks all Shorts | Yes, by toggle | Check the listing |
| Focus Lock timer you can’t switch off | Yes | No | No |
| Runs locally, no tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paid support and ongoing updates | Yes | Community | Community |
Feature sets change — always check each extension’s current Chrome Web Store listing for the latest. This comparison reflects the general positioning of each tool in 2026.
Unhook: free and endlessly configurable
Unhook (Hide YouTube Recommendations) is a free, well-loved extension with a long list of toggles: hide the home feed, sidebar, related videos, end screens, comments, Shorts, and more — each switch independent. If you enjoy dialling in exactly what shows and what doesn’t, it’s excellent and costs nothing. The flip side of all that control is that it’s on you to configure it, and on you to keep it on when you’re tempted to peek.
DF Tube: simple and free
DF Tube (Distraction Free for YouTube) is another free option that hides the main distractions — the feed, sidebar suggestions, and comments — with a simple set of switches. It’s a solid, no-cost way to calm YouTube down if you just want the basics.
FocusTube: for when willpower isn’t enough
FocusTube takes a different bet. Instead of handing you dozens of toggles, it makes the opinionated choices for you: one click hides the feed, recommendations, comments, and end-screen overlays, and a single switch turns on Shorts-free mode.
Its real differentiator is Focus Lock — set a timer for 15, 30, 60 minutes or a custom length, and distraction-free mode cannot be turned off until it ends. That removes the one weakness every toggle-based blocker shares: the “let me just quickly turn it off” moment. It’s a paid, supported product, so it stays updated as YouTube changes, and there’s a real person to email when something breaks.
So which should you pick?
- Want it free and love to tinker? Use Unhook — the most configurable free option.
- Want free and basic? DF Tube does the job.
- Already tried a free blocker and still get pulled back in? That’s exactly who FocusTube is for — the Focus Lock timer and zero-setup design take the decision out of your hands, and you get support and updates for the one-time price.
Try the locked-in version of YouTube
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Add to ChromeCommon questions
What is the best distraction-free YouTube extension?
It depends on what you want. Unhook and DF Tube are free and hide the feed, recommendations, and comments with lots of toggles. FocusTube is a paid, opinionated option that works in one click and adds a Focus Lock timer you can’t switch off mid-session, plus Shorts-free mode and ongoing support.
Is FocusTube better than Unhook?
Unhook is free and highly configurable, which is great if you like fine-grained control. FocusTube trades configuration for simplicity and adds a commitment feature — Focus Lock — that keeps distraction-free mode on for a set time so you can’t cave. Choose Unhook to save money and tinker; choose FocusTube for a locked-in, zero-setup focus session with support.
Are there free alternatives to FocusTube?
Yes. Unhook (Hide YouTube Recommendations) and DF Tube (Distraction Free for YouTube) are both free and hide most of YouTube’s distracting elements. FocusTube is paid because it’s an opinionated, one-click product with a Focus Lock commitment timer and active support and updates.