Comparison

Proton Drive vs Control Panel for YouTube

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Proton Drive

Securely store and back up your files and photos with end-to-end encryption. Access your content across devices, share securely with password protection, and enjoy peace of mind with Swiss privacy laws. Offers free storage with upgrade options.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted storage
  • Automatic photo and video backup
  • Secure link sharing with passwords
  • PIN/biometric protection
  • Offline file access
  • File version history
Features
Read full description

Proton Drive provides private and secure storage for your files and photos. With Proton Drive you can protect important documents, automatically back up cherished memories, and access your content across devices. All Proton Drive accounts come with 5 GB of free storage and you can upgrade to up to 1 TB of storage at any time. Trusted by over 100 million users, Proton Drive gives you an end-to-end encrypted vault where only you—and the people you choose—can access your files and photos. Proton Drive features: - Secure storage - Get 5 GB of free encrypted cloud storage with no file size limits. - Share content using secure links with password and expiration settings. - Keep your files and photos safe with PIN or biometric protection. - Access important files and photos even if your device is lost or damaged. Easy to use - Automatically back up photos and videos in their original quality. - Securely organize your cherished memories into albums. - Rename, move, and delete your personal files securely within the app. - Create, edit and collaborate on docs. - View your important files and memories – even when offline. - Restore files with version history. Advanced privacy - Stay private with end-to-end encryption – even Proton can’t view your content. - Secure your metadata, including filenames, sizes, and modification dates. - Protect your content with Swiss privacy laws, the strongest in the world. - Trust in our open-source code that is public and verified by experts. Secure up to 5 GB of free storage for your personal files, photos, and videos with Proton Drive.  Stay ahead with our releases and updates by connecting with us! - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/protonprivacy - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protonprivacy/ - X/Twitter: https://x.com/ProtonDrive - Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonDrive/ Terms of Service: https://proton.me/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://proton.me/legal/privacy

About

Control Panel for YouTube

Enhance your viewing experience by customizing the interface, blocking unwanted content, and restoring classic features. This app offers granular control over ads, video player elements, and various sections of the platform, available on both desktop and mobile.

Highlights
  • Block ads and sponsored videos
  • Restore classic YouTube features
  • Customize video player UI
  • Hide suggested sections and videos
  • Disable autoplay and ambient mode
  • Allow background playback on mobile
  • Hide Shorts and redirect them
Features
Read full description

Ads: • Block ads • Hide Sponsored videos & promos • Hide Merch, Offers etc. (desktop version) YouTube experiments: • Restore Subscriptions link in sidebar (desktop version) • Restore order of sidebar items (desktop version) • Restore small thumbnails in Related (desktop version) • Restore "Upload date" search filter (desktop version) New video player UI: • Disable new progress bar and controls (desktop version) - Note: this will stop working when YouTube removes the old player UI • Hide new full screen controls • Hide "More videos" in full screen • Always use compact Play button (desktop version) • Remove background from controls (desktop version) • Restore Miniplayer button (desktop version) • Restore corner click to toggle full screen (desktop version) • Hide full screen title (desktop version) • Hide full screen like/dislike buttons (desktop version) Annoyances: • Hide AI summaries • Remove pink gradient from progress bars • Hide information panels • Hide Premium upsells • Disable video previews (desktop version) • Disable themed hover effects (desktop version) • Automatically pause channel trailers (desktop version) • Allow background playback (mobile version) • Hide Open App links (mobile version) Video lists: • Hide suggested sections • Hide Live videos • Hide Streamed videos • Hide Mixes • Hide Playlists • Hide Movies and TV • Hide Upcoming videos • Hide Members only videos • Hide Collaborations in Subscriptions • Hide Auto-dubbed videos in Related • Hide watched videos • Hide hidden videos - Hides the "Undo" button after 5 seconds • Hide channels - Adds "Hide channel" to video menus • Disable Home feed • Search thumbnail size (desktop version) • Minimum grid items per row (desktop version) • Hide Posts in Home (mobile version) Video pages: • Disable Autoplay • Disable Ambient mode • Hide Related videos • Hide the Next button • Hide channel watermark • Hide Share/Thanks/Clip etc. • Hide Ask button • Hide video metadata • Hide Comments • Always use theater mode (desktop version) • Full size theater mode (desktop version) • Disable enlarged UI in theater mode (desktop version) • Always use original audio (desktop version) • Hide video end cards (desktop version) • Hide video endscreen content (desktop version) • Hide Premium Jump ahead button (desktop version) • Hide Chat (desktop version) • Add Take snapshot to video menu (JPEG / PNG) (desktop version) • Make Transcript downloadable (desktop version) Shorts: • Hide Shorts • Redirect Shorts to the normal player • Hide suggested actions • Hide link to related Short by the same channel • Always show progress bar • Stop Shorts looping • Hide Remix button (desktop version) • Hide Shorts metadata until hover (desktop version) • Minimum Shorts per row (desktop version) UI tweaks: • Show full video titles • Use square corners for thumbnails and videos • Hide categories in Home • Hide channel banner images • Hide Search with your voice • Enforce theme (desktop version) • Link YouTube logo to Subscriptions (desktop version) • Tidy Guide sidebar (desktop version) • Hide "Latest" bar in Subscriptions (desktop version) • Use grid view for Subscriptions & Search (portrait only) (mobile version) • Hide Explore button in Home (mobile version) • Hide channel list in Subscriptions (mobile version) Embedded videos: • Hide Share button • Hide pause overlay

Screenshots

Proton Drive4 screens
Control Panel for YouTube4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Proton Drive at Free against Control Panel for YouTube's $3.99. Proton Drive also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 9). Control Panel for YouTube's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and review sentiment (70% vs 37%). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Proton Drive is free to download; Control Panel for YouTube costs $3.99 up front. Proton Drive sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Control Panel for YouTube asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Proton Drive holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton Drive has 1.3K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 37% of Proton Drive's written reviews are positive against 70% of Control Panel for YouTube's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Proton Drive ships an update fortnightly, Control Panel for YouTube every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Proton Drive versus Control Panel for YouTube: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProton DriveControl Panel for YouTube
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating4.1 (1.3K ratings) — better3.7 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews37.0% of reviews69.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K — better9
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size235 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProton AGJ BUCHANAN & L.J BUCHANAN

Customer experience

Proton Drive

All ratings1,188 ratings
Positive74.3%
Neutral8.8%
Negative16.8%
Written reviews905 reviews
Positive37.0%
Neutral21.9%
Negative41.1%

Control Panel for YouTube

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral22.2%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive69.7%
Neutral12.1%
Negative18.2%

Bugs and requests

Proton Drive

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and errors
  • Inconsistent file syncing across devices
  • Unable to access files uploaded from desktop
  • Issues with offline file access

Requested features

4 requests
  • Automatic photo/video backup
  • Ability to edit documents within the app
  • Seamless integration with other apps for file sharing
  • Linux desktop client

Control Panel for YouTube

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Proton Drive

Subscriptions7
  • Drive Lite 1 month$0.991 Month
  • Drive Plus 1 month$4.991 Month
  • Drive Plus 1 TB (1 month)$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Proton Unlimited 1 month$14.991 Month
  • Drive Plus 1 year$47.901 Year
  • Drive Plus 1 TB (1 year)$95.991 Year
  • Proton Unlimited 1 year$119.001 Year
One-time2
  • Drive Plus$59.99
  • Proton Unlimited$149.99
None

Control Panel for YouTube

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Proton Drive free?
Proton Drive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Control Panel for YouTube free?
Control Panel for YouTube costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Proton Drive or Control Panel for YouTube?
Proton Drive is rated higher. Proton Drive averages 4.1 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Control Panel for YouTube averages 3.7 from 9 ratings.
Do Proton Drive or Control Panel for YouTube have ads?
Neither Proton Drive nor Control Panel for YouTube shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Proton Drive or Control Panel for YouTube?
Proton Drive ships an update fortnightly, and Control Panel for YouTube every 4 days. Most recently, Proton Drive was updated on October 26, 2026 and Control Panel for YouTube on October 25, 2026.

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