# Vinegar - Tube Cleaner — Better video player

> Safari extension to replace YouTube player with HTML5, removing ads and enabling background playback. (iPhone/iPad app by And a Dinosaur.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vinegar-tube-cleaner/id1591303229 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [And a Dinosaur](https://appshunter.io/developer/475577301)
- Category: Utilities, Photo & Video
- Price: $1.99
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 756 App Store ratings · 932 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 9 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2021-11-06
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vinegar-tube-cleaner/id1591303229/reviews.md

## What is Vinegar?

Vinegar is a Safari extension that replaces the YouTube player with a minimal HTML video tag.

It removes ads, restores picture-in-picture, and allows videos to play in the background when set to audio-only quality.

Note: The phrase 'can read and alter webpages' in the permissions section is just an unfortunate choice of words. Vinegar needs access to the webpage to find the YouTube player and replace it. It's not doing anything creepy!

(Also, do check out Vinegar's companion app, Baking Soda. It's essentially a less powerful version of Vinegar, but it works on all websites except YouTube.)

## Key features

- Replaces YouTube player with HTML5
- Removes ads
- Restores picture-in-picture
- Background audio playback
- Minimal interface

## Chart rankings

- #34 in Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

## What do users think of Vinegar?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Works as advertised
- 🚀 Fixes YouTube
- 💡 Useful for audiobooks
- 👍 Quality of life improvement
- 👍 Essential extension
- 👍 Awesome when it works
- 👍 Invaluable
- 👍 Awesome app
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Lovely when it works
- 👍 Wonderful app

**Cons**

- 🐛 Video quality issues
- 🐛 Buggy and inconsistent
- 🐛 Breaks functionality
- 🐛 Doesn't work with VPNs
- 🐛 Doesn't work with other extensions
- 🐛 Doesn't work on iPhone
- 🐛 Frequent updates cause disruption
- 🐛 Doesn't work as expected

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Videos default to mute audio
- Doesn't work with AirPlay
- Playback issues when switching apps or rotating device
- Toolbar buttons not working
- Video player crashes when rotating device
- Inconsistent video quality selection
- Doesn't update video history
- Doesn't remember playback speed settings

**Most requested features**

- Add playback speed options
- Add support for chapters
- Add option to disable ad blocker
- Add option to disable extension on certain sites
- Add support for higher resolutions and HDR
- Add support for Chromecast
- Add keyboard shortcuts for navigation
- Add option to always start in theater mode
- Add option to default to highest available quality

## Recent user reviews (10 of 932)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vinegar-tube-cleaner/id1591303229/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Do not buy awful don’t waste money on this trash

*2026-07-30*

So terrible the audio refreshes automatically to half or no volume videos fully go blank and its just overall awful

### 2/5 — It keeps crashing

*2026-07-27*

That’s it keeps crashing, not all time but a lot.

### 5/5 — fix error plz...

*2026-07-22*

fix error plz...

### 4/5 — Great app but has recurring bugs

*2026-07-14*

It works well for picture in picture, and blocking ads. Unfortunately there is a bug that always turns on subtitles for videos. It was mentioned in the latest update but it’s still a problem for me. Very frustrating to have to turn off the subtitles again every single time I open a video. Hopefully the devs can figure out a fix soon.

### 3/5 — Les sous-titres se réactivent seuls tout le temps

*2026-07-08*

Bien qu’ayant vérifié dans mes paramètres YouTube que les sous-titres ne sont pas activés automatiquement par défaut, et que cela fonctionne effectivement comme prévu avec le lecteur standard de YouTube, avec Vinegar activé, j’ai très souvent les sous-titres qui s’activent au lancement de la vidéo, sans que je les aient activées moi même, et même si je les avais désactivés sur une précédente vidéo.

### 1/5 — No longer working

*2026-07-07, version 3.4.6*

Worked well for years but now no longer functions for YouTube

### 1/5 — Disparition de la fonction Audio

*2026-07-04*

Je n’ai plus la fonction Audio sur YouTube, elle a disparu au fil des versions.

### 5/5 — Disable Adblock for best experience

*2026-07-04*

Works great! Just make sure to disable your ad blocker. They seem to clash if both enabled.

### 5/5 — Cannot use Safari without it

*2026-07-02, version 3.4.6*

The fizzy water bundle makes the internet tolerable. Thank you. Worth every single penny.

### 3/5 — Great When It Works :(

*2026-06-29, version 3.4.6*

I’ve used the app a long time and only recently the video will start playing but the controls won’t show up. You can’t make the video full screen or skip to a different part of the video. Wish this app would receive an update, Safari is awful to use without it.

## Frequently asked questions about Vinegar

### What does Vinegar do?

Vinegar is a Safari extension that replaces the default YouTube player with a simple HTML video tag. This allows for a cleaner viewing experience, removing ads and enabling features like picture-in-picture and background audio playback.

### What are the key features of Vinegar?

Key features include replacing the YouTube player with a minimal HTML tag, removing advertisements, restoring picture-in-picture functionality, and allowing videos to play in the background when set to audio-only quality.

### How much does Vinegar cost?

Vinegar is a paid application. The provided data indicates it is not free and does not have in-app purchases or ads, suggesting a one-time purchase model.

### What devices is Vinegar compatible with?

Vinegar is a Safari extension, meaning it is designed to work within the Safari browser on Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

### What are common use cases for Vinegar?

Common use cases include watching YouTube videos without ads, multitasking by using picture-in-picture for other apps, and listening to YouTube content like podcasts or music in the background while using other applications.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.5.2 — 2026-08-15

Vinegar Changelog:

- No changes.

Vinegar Classic Changelog:

- Videos opened from Google search results should play normally now.

### 3.5.1 — 2026-08-14

Vinegar Changelog:

- No changes.

Vinegar Classic Changelog:

- Improved the reliability of Fallback Mode.

### 3.5.0 — 2026-08-14

Vinegar Changelog:

- No changes.

Vinegar Classic Changelog:

- Restored video playback.
- Restored AirPlay support.
- Restored Picture in Picture support.
- Restored audio-only background playback.
- Reduced how often videos enter fallback mode.
- Restored original audio playback for videos with AI-dubbed tracks.

### 3.4.7 — 2026-08-02

Vinegar Changelog:
- (iPhone-only) Fixed the "Autoplay Next Video" setting.

Vinegar Classic Changelog:
- (iPhone-only) Fixed the "Autoplay Next Video" setting.

### 3.4.6 — 2026-06-17

Vinegar Changelog:
- Fixed an issue where captions could be unexpectedly enabled.
- Added an "Always show subtitles" option in the extension settings.
- Fixed clicking the Shorts tab not disabling Vinegar.
- Fixed the Shorts feed page not loading.
- Fixed embed player controls being unclickable.
- Fixed embed video title not hiding during playback.

Vinegar Classic Changelog:
- Fixed an issue where captions could be unexpectedly enabled.
- Added an "Always show subtitles" option in the extension settings.
- Fixed clicking the Shorts tab not disabling Vinegar.
- Fixed the Shorts feed page not loading.
- Fixed embed player controls being unclickable.
- Fixed embed video title not hiding during playback.

## Apps similar to Vinegar

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [CleanMy®Phone: Cleanup Storage](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cleanmyphone-cleanup-storage/id1277110040) | 4.6 (22,697) | Free | Utilities |
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| [Phone Cleaner for iPhone, iPad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phone-cleaner-for-iphone-ipad/id1343754771) | 4.5 (21,585) | Free | Utilities |
| [Cleaner Neat: Clean Up Storage](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cleaner-neat-clean-up-storage/id1463756032) | 4.6 (113,613) | Free | Utilities |
| [Boost Cleaner - Clean Up Smart](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boost-cleaner-clean-up-smart/id1475887456) | 4.5 (67,113) | Free | Utilities |

## More apps by And a Dinosaur

- [Web Inspector](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/web-inspector/id1584825745)
- [AMP Shockwave](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amp-shockwave/id1587707585)
- [ActiveTab](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activetab/id1588852241)
- [Baking Soda - Tube Cleaner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baking-soda-tube-cleaner/id1601151613)
- [Makeover - Custom CSS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makeover-custom-css/id1602361167)

All apps by And a Dinosaur: https://appshunter.io/developer/475577301

## Related topics

[vinegar](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/vinegar)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*