NewPipe review
A capable free Android media app for streaming, downloads, and background audio.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
NewPipe is a free, open-source media streaming application for Android users who want to access video and audio services without proprietary Google APIs. It supports YouTube, YouTube Music, PeerTube, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and media.ccc.de. The app is suited to individual users and small teams seeking mobile playback, background listening, subscriptions, local playlists, downloads, and live-stream viewing without requiring an account for supported services. Playback reaches up to 4K, while subtitle and closed-caption display is included.
Its strongest area is the combination of playback controls and local media features. Users can resize the popup player, continue audio in the background, save videos, audio, and subtitles, subscribe to channels, create custom feeds, manage local playlists and bookmarks, and control watch history locally. The listed format support includes MPEG-4, 3GPP, WebM, M4A, MP3, MP2, Opus, Ogg, AIFF, WAV, FLAC, and ALAC. Distribution through F-Droid repositories and GitHub releases also fits users who prefer open-source Android software outside proprietary Google APIs.
NewPipe is a focused Android service-access and playback app rather than an all-around video player. Offline playback requires an external video player, so users seeking a self-contained offline viewing workflow may prefer another option. The project README identifies the app as beta software, and documentation is the listed support channel. That makes NewPipe a sensible choice for Android users who value open-source access, background audio, downloads, and local controls across supported services. It is less suitable for users who need iOS or desktop support, broad platform coverage, or an integrated offline player.
NewPipe pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Streams video at resolutions up to 4K
- Supports background audio, popup playback, and subtitles
- Offers downloads, feeds, playlists, and local watch history
- Where it doesn't
- Available only on Android
- Offline playback requires an external video player
- The project identifies the app as beta software
NewPipe fact sheet, pricing and score →
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