Reviews for PocketTube: Youtube Subscription Manager
PocketTube: Youtube Subscription Manager by Dima Nabok
Review by Tom
Rated 3 out of 5
by Tom, 3 years agoThe idea is great, but the actual functioning is poor because it breaks some behaviors in YouTube and I had to uninstall this extension because of it.
1. When doing a search, the results page sometimes gets stuck refreshing the results, basically the results are caught in a loop of refreshing over and over so you can't click on anything.
2. When scrolling videos, YouTube uses lazy loading, but with this extension enabled, the videos do not load and it's just blank, therefore video results beyond the page break fail to load.
3. There are glitches when loading your main subscription feed page, things like shorts showing up then disappearing, despite what option you have selected. In my usage, I have shorts disabled, however they continue to show up sometimes on page loads.
4. The actual loading time of pages on YouTube is noticeably slower, this is most likely due to this extension using additional resources and causing it to lag.
5. Not the extensions fault but a byproduct is this will make your YouTube mobile app experience worse because your subscriptions are now all together, so if you use this extension to subscribe and be able to organize them where you wouldn't otherwise subscribe, then your lists are useless on mobile.
6. I don't appreciate the advertising for your extension upgrades. Yes, we understand you'd like to make revenue but let users show/hide these options and once they make their choice do not advertise this again. IF users want to upgrade, they can do so later on their own terms.
Again, it's a good idea but hopefully YouTube will adopt collections natively (as they have done beta testing with select users) and this will then be able to be used on your account across all platforms and devices.
The main feature I use is the subscription categories and the ability to hide shorts, once YouTube adopts this it will be great. Hopefully this extension will inspire YouTube to release collections to all users and feed options such as hiding shorts.
1. When doing a search, the results page sometimes gets stuck refreshing the results, basically the results are caught in a loop of refreshing over and over so you can't click on anything.
2. When scrolling videos, YouTube uses lazy loading, but with this extension enabled, the videos do not load and it's just blank, therefore video results beyond the page break fail to load.
3. There are glitches when loading your main subscription feed page, things like shorts showing up then disappearing, despite what option you have selected. In my usage, I have shorts disabled, however they continue to show up sometimes on page loads.
4. The actual loading time of pages on YouTube is noticeably slower, this is most likely due to this extension using additional resources and causing it to lag.
5. Not the extensions fault but a byproduct is this will make your YouTube mobile app experience worse because your subscriptions are now all together, so if you use this extension to subscribe and be able to organize them where you wouldn't otherwise subscribe, then your lists are useless on mobile.
6. I don't appreciate the advertising for your extension upgrades. Yes, we understand you'd like to make revenue but let users show/hide these options and once they make their choice do not advertise this again. IF users want to upgrade, they can do so later on their own terms.
Again, it's a good idea but hopefully YouTube will adopt collections natively (as they have done beta testing with select users) and this will then be able to be used on your account across all platforms and devices.
The main feature I use is the subscription categories and the ability to hide shorts, once YouTube adopts this it will be great. Hopefully this extension will inspire YouTube to release collections to all users and feed options such as hiding shorts.
Developer response
posted 3 years ago1-2. I can't reproduce it. Try to disable other extensions, I think you have a conflict with something.
3. It's expected behavior because it uploads all pages and next hides videos by filters. If you want to use it without disappearing(seamless experience), you should use feed mode https://youtu.be/r4iX53Qg2sE?t=233
4. It takes some time, but it's insignificant, and no one complains. Again I think it's related to conflict with something another extension.
5. It doesn't make it worse because PocketTube has Android and iOS, you can find it in the official store.
6. I want my users to know about every extension upgrade, what it's, and how to use it. I'm not going to make a useless update that no one use. It's part of the extension, and every update has free options. Also, you have a close button, so why not close it and just a little appreciate the work behind the extension? But it's really stupid to use my extension and don't see special videos for updates. Every update takes time to implement and produce tutorial videos.
PocketTube is not only about the collection. It has a bunch of different functions like Deck, filters, sorts, mark as watched, and more which you can on my YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PocketTubeHQ/videos
I have been developing the extension for over 6 years and would say unfortunately only ads revenue inspires YouTube to implement features.
3. It's expected behavior because it uploads all pages and next hides videos by filters. If you want to use it without disappearing(seamless experience), you should use feed mode https://youtu.be/r4iX53Qg2sE?t=233
4. It takes some time, but it's insignificant, and no one complains. Again I think it's related to conflict with something another extension.
5. It doesn't make it worse because PocketTube has Android and iOS, you can find it in the official store.
6. I want my users to know about every extension upgrade, what it's, and how to use it. I'm not going to make a useless update that no one use. It's part of the extension, and every update has free options. Also, you have a close button, so why not close it and just a little appreciate the work behind the extension? But it's really stupid to use my extension and don't see special videos for updates. Every update takes time to implement and produce tutorial videos.
PocketTube is not only about the collection. It has a bunch of different functions like Deck, filters, sorts, mark as watched, and more which you can on my YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PocketTubeHQ/videos
I have been developing the extension for over 6 years and would say unfortunately only ads revenue inspires YouTube to implement features.
638 reviews
- Rated 5 out of 5by Firefox user 18861090, 2 days ago
- Rated 5 out of 5by Sieloo, 3 days ago
- Rated 4 out of 5by Lou, 4 days agoGreat tool, used it to bulk unsubscribe from a ton of channels. Finally cleaned up my Youtube. Is a little laggy tho.
- Rated 5 out of 5by ValiantAMM, 6 days ago
- Rated 5 out of 5by MN, 12 days agoSuddenly not allowing me to filter my subscription feed. When I deselect "All" and select a specific group, my feed simply doesn't update, despite page refreshes, browser restarts, computer reboots.
Edit: I am unable to update from 17.0.0 automatically via Firefox (143.0, the most recent available to me). If I uninstall/reinstall the extension in hopes of forcing the latest version, will I lose all my user data?
Edit the second: All good now! Fresh extension reinstall, 17.6.12 running smoothly. Automatic updates turned on, as before—fingers crossed that sticks. Sorry for the bother! Given YT's growing encrappification, this addon's a total lifesaver.Developer response
posted 12 days agoIt looks like you're using an outdated version. Please use the latest 17.6.12
Edit: Yes, you should make a backup before removing. Click on extension icon -> backup -> export, save the file, and import it after reinstall.
In general, Firefox extensions are updated automatically, maybe you have some lock on the browser side. - Rated 3 out of 5by klear6, 14 days ago(I'm reviewing the original original original android release. Which I helped test and bugshoot. And spent a lot of time figuring out how to make child friendly playlists for my toddlers with autism, in conjunction with a screen overlay app. It was not easy while that app was rough. But it had potential. I am in a big hurry so i apologize, but I needed to write something related?) Please tell me. Are you asking for a subscription for this extension? Or a one time payment?
-----
that still didn't answer my question about it being a subscription or a one time payment that everyone in the reviews list for the extension is actually talking about. personally I'd appreciate both being free but if it's your main income (what else do you develop btw) then that's different. it still seems backwards to charge for an extension and not charge for the app. ???Developer response
posted 14 days agoIt seems you mixed up the store, it's a Firefox version, not an Android version. Our app is available on Google Play for free.
----
If you are referring to the Firefox extension, it has paid features for 3$/mon, but you can also use it for free. The Android app is completely free, because it has a restricted set of features and extension paid features are not available on the app, and mostly not possible to implement because a YouTube's restrictions.
I'm also developing "Snipo" and "YouTube to NotebookLM" extensions, which are available in the store. - Rated 5 out of 5by Firefox user 19473713, 15 days agoThis extension is truly amazing and has literally taken my YouTube content management and whole experience to a whole new level. I recommend it to everyone.
Unfortunately, I've recently encountered a problem: when I click on the icon next to my subscription groups to see “my subscriptions feed,” the YouTube page refreshes and I can't do anything about it. I have to go to each channel separately if I want to watch something. Will this be fixed soon? (this does not affect my 5-star rating!)Developer response
posted 15 days agoUPD: I had another similar request, try to disable "Hide Subscriptions" on the Unhook extension, it seems to be the reason for the behavior.
It's weird. Do you see the behavior in every group or in a specific group?
Could you please send me your backup file? Click on the extension icon -> open backup tab -> click export and send the file to me on [email protected] - Rated 5 out of 5by Milan, 18 days ago
- Rated 5 out of 5by Firefox user 19457472, 19 days agoThis extension has become essential to my youtube viewing. Being able to categorise my favourites saves me so much time. I have my music, my games, my speedruns, my art videos, all in separate categories. So I can see what I need without having to visually sort them myself.
Speedrun channels can drop 20+ videos in one go, so I have them in an excluded list by default. This means they don't show up in my subscriptions unless I actively turn them on. I'm still subscribed, this just gives me even more freedom in how my sub page looks.Developer response
posted 18 days agoThanks so much! So glad PocketTube has been helpful to you, and really appreciate this awesome feedback! - Rated 2 out of 5by Kougeru, 19 days ago
- Rated 4 out of 5by slm-ff, 24 days agoso beneficial but recently when watch my subscritions as playlist which my morning habit, i press play all button but i find this message This video isn't available anymore, its since last 3 days.
Developer response
posted 24 days agoUPD: the new version is available
YouTube has introduced a new design on the page. It's supported by the 17.5.8 version on the extension side, but it's under review on the Firefox store. It takes from several days to a week to approve. - Rated 4 out of 5by anhmai1992, 25 days agocan not filter subscriptions feed anymore, i tried youtube with private tab, turned off all other addons, but still the same
Developer response
posted 25 days agoUPD: the new version is available
YouTube has introduced a new design on the page. It's supported by the 17.5.7 version on the extension side, but it's under review on the Firefox store. It takes from several days to a week to approve. Developer response
posted a month agoUPD: the new version 17.5.0 is available
It is a YouTube update. They added a new arrow near the default Subscription block, and it leads to an issue with displaying the count of new videos on our block.
I've prepared an update to support the new view! It's on review in the Firefox store and takes up to several days to approve. I'll let you know when it's available!- Rated 3 out of 5by MM, 2 months agoAt least make the paywall a one time purchase and not a subscription.
Edit: Moving chosen selected videos to another playlist is an essential part of this add-on. I understand some features being paywalled, but I think this one is too important to be.Developer response
posted 2 months agoThe most features are free as you can see in our tutorial. If you want to use our extended features, you should become a patron. It takes time to update the extension every time YouTube changes internally.
Furthermore, the decision to keep some features for the Patreon version of PocketTube was made to ensure the long-term feasibility of the free version. - Rated 5 out of 5by deigue, 2 months ago
- Rated 4 out of 5by simon, 2 months ago
- Rated 5 out of 5by Firefox user 14921609, 2 months ago
- Rated 5 out of 5by Firefox user 14734836, 3 months ago
- Rated 4 out of 5by OzuTouch, 3 months ago
- Rated 5 out of 5by Chokham, 3 months ago
- Rated 1 out of 5by Anonymous, 3 months agoNo, I don't wanna subscribe to anything. And, I never will. I f*ckin hate those upsell popups..
They are not "optional" just because you can close them, if they were truly optional then there should be an option to turn them off, permanently.
When I first started using this extension, all I wanted was a way to organize my subscribed channels. No more, no less. Over time, it's become bloated with features I'll never use.
I give up, I'm uninstalling this.Developer response
posted 3 months agoSorry to hear that. If the pop-up isn’t helpful to you, you can simply close it. Many users have actually found it useful and appreciated it. There’s no need to leave an unfair review over something optional. But if it’s not for you, feel free to uninstall.
Furthermore, the decision to keep some features for the Patreon version of PocketTube was made to ensure the long-term feasibility of the free version. - Rated 2 out of 5by Kayhen, 3 months agoMark as watched does not work properly, clicking several videos and refreshing does not mark them as watched, since these are shown with the watched filter option disabled
Response to the below this occurs with all the extensions disabled. Just tried it.Developer response
posted 3 months agoI can't reproduce it, it's working. Try to disable other extensions, perhaps you have a conflict with something. - Rated 5 out of 5by Firefox user 13073276, 3 months ago
- Rated 5 out of 5by thozla, 3 months ago