Twitch is the go-to platform for all live-streaming content. Once it was just gaming, but now, there’s whole bunch of genres like Art, Music, and even “irl” content of people live streaming their daily activities. The platform surely caters to a whole bunch of creators as well as viewers. But with its popularity came the ads.
Pre-roll ads, mid-roll interruptions, and on-screen banners can worsen your watching experience. And when it comes to live-stream content, you don’t wanna be missing out on any of the action.
Now Twitch is not as difficult when it comes to blocking ads, infact they’re a very simple hack to get rid of twitch ads and we will start with that. However, ad blockers in general struggle with Twitch a lot. And that is why we’re going to talk about a bunch of different ways to block Twitch ads.
Block Twitch Ads with NordVPN (the easy way)
Fun fact, Twitch ads are not everywhere. I mean, the ads only show up in some regions, while there are no ads in many other places. So the easiest way to block Twitch Ads is to just move to another country. I’m sorry. I know that’s an overused VPN joke. But yeah, here’s how you do it.
- Install NordVPN.
- Purchase a subscription with up to 70% off.
- Choose one of the following countries: Poland, Germany, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ukraine, and Romania (preferably the one closest to you)
- And enjoy ad-free Twitch.
We recommend NordVPN because it also comes with a built-in ad blocker. So, if you have that turned on, you can choose any country and it will still block twitch ads.
Why Should You Block Twitch Ads?
You should block Twitch ads because they’re frustrating. But if that is not enough, there are a bunch of other reasons why you should be blocking ads on Twitch.
- Twitch ads can interrupt the stream at the most inconvenient times. And because it is a live stream, it means viewers can miss key moments. While twitch has play pause, it doesnt pickup where you left off as the stream keeps going.
- Twitch has recently ramped up its ad frequency, which makes it difficult to enjoy long streams.
- Twitch ads are often unskippable, which makes things worse. Moreover, users have reported that most of these are unrelated to the viewer’s interest, making it a bad investment for advertisers too.
- With ads frequently running for 30 seconds or longer, these interruptions add up over time, significantly eating into viewing time during long streams.
- While many viewers want to support their favourite streamers, ads don’t always directly benefit them. Subscribing to the channel or donating through alternative means (e.g. Twitch Subscriptions and Patron) can provide direct support without the hassle of ads.
Block Twitch Ads with Ad Blockers
Ad blockers don’t always work on Twitch because Twitch keeps changing the platform to prevent ad blockers from working. And while most ad blockers are well motivated to update their platform to support YouTube ad blocking, the same cannot be said about Twitch. But here are a few ad blockers that work.
- AdGuard: AdGuard includes filters and blocklists that get rid of Twitch ads very easily. You can purchase it with a 30% discount using our link and code: CHECKADBLOCK30.
- Stands AdBlocker: Stands AdBlocker specifically targets streaming sites with video ads like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch.
- uBlock Origin: While uBlock Origin cannot directly block Twitch video ads, it supports custom scripts. This means, that you can add your own scripts to block Twitch ads. You will find a detailed guide to that later in the article.
Twitch is one of those sites that is actually hard to block ads on. So, ad blockers often do not work there.
Block Twitch ads using an alternative player
There is an extension for both Chrome and Firefox, that replaces the Twitch player for an alternative one. It blocks ads, among other features. Such as:
- Instant replay: This feature plays the last few minutes of the live broadcast, with increased or reduced speed.
- Audio only: In this mode, the player only loads the audio, which is great for music listening. It also saves bandwidth.
- Use another player: It allows you to continue viewing the broadcast in another player like VLC.
- Smooth streaming: Quality can be adjusted based on internet speed, which leads to fewer stutters and buffers.
There are also other features. Overall, this extension provides some quality of life improvement to Twitch and definitely worth considering.
Block Twitch ads using an external streaming platform
There are platforms that let you watch multiple Twitch streams simultaneously without ads. MULTISTRE.AM is one of those. Here’s how it works:
- Go to Twitch
- Copy the username of the creator you want to watch
- Go to multistre.am and paste the user name
This platform also lets you view and participate in the live chat. And of course paste multiple usernames for simultaneous streaming.
Block Twitch ads using external proxies
This method can get a bit complicated so we will only share the easy way. There’s an extension for both Chrome and Firefox. It’s called Purple ad blocker. It only works on Twitch. It uses server side signature and local m3u8 manipulation. In simpler words, it uses an external proxy in an ad-free country. The video requests are sent through this proxy to retrieve an ad-free, full quality stream.
Block Twitch ads using a custom script on uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin allows users to add custom scripts that help block ads. Here’s how you can do it.
- Install uBlock Origin on Firefox or any chromium-based browser other than Chrome (e.g., Edge, Opera, Vivaldi).
- Click on the three-gear icon on uBlock Origin extension to go to settings.
- Go to the “my filters” tab.
- Add the following text and click apply changes: twitch.tv##+js(twitch-videoad)
- Go back to the “settings” tab, scroll down and tick the “I am an advanced user” box.
- Then click on the three gears icon that appeared next to the option.
- Scroll down to “userResourcesLocation” and replace the “unset” text with https://github.com/pixeltris/TwitchAdSolutions/blob/master/vaft/vaft-ublock-origin.js
- Then add a space paste https://github.com/pixeltris/TwitchAdSolutions/blob/master/vaft/vaft.user.js
- Click on “Apply changes” and turn on the ad blocker.
This method will block the ads and replace the ad segments with a slightly lower-quality of the livestream.
Block Twitch ads with Amazon Prime
Do this only if you already have an Amazon Prime or Prime Video or Prime Gaming membership. These memberships come with one free Twitch channel subscription. If you subscribe to a Twitch channel, you won’t see any ads on that channel.
Block Twitch ads by subscribing
Twitch subscriptions allow viewers to pay to support a channel. You can pay a minimum of $4.99 per month as a one-time or recurring purchase to subscribe to a channel. As long as your subscription is active, you will not see any ads on that channel.
Block Twitch ads by paying for Twitch Turbo
Twitch Turbo is the platform’s version of YouTube Premium. When you subscribe to it, it completely rids you of pre-rolls, mid-rolls, display ads and any other forms of ads. If you’re a frequent Twitch user, it is worth considering.
Is Twitch Turbo Worth It?
Tired of ads interrupting your favourite streams? Twitch Turbo might be the answer. For $11.99 USD in most regions (or as low as $5 in some), you get an ad-free stream with a few extra perks. But is it worth it?
The best part of Twitch Turbo is the ad free viewing. Unlike ad blockers which can be unreliable and often get bypassed by Twitch, Turbo guarantees no pre-roll, mid-roll or display ads ever. That alone is a big deal for regular viewers who want a smooth streaming experience.
Turbo also comes with customisation perks, like the ability to change your username colour in chat and a custom Turbo chat badge so others know you’re a supporter of the platform. These add a bit of personalisation and exclusivity to your Twitch presence.
For content creators or those who like to rewatch streams, Turbo gives you extended broadcast storage, increasing the storage period from 14 days to 60 days. Perfect for catching up on missed content or saving highlights.
$11.99 might seem pricey compared to other services but the regional pricing can make it a lot more affordable. In some regions the price is much lower, sometimes as low as $5 or less. If you live in a region with discounted rates or share costs through family plans, Turbo becomes a lot more valuable.
Turbo is worth it if you’re a frequent viewer who wants ad free streams and extra customisation perks. For casual users though it might be better to look into other options like VPNs or ad blockers to enhance your Twitch experience without the recurring cost.
Wrapping Up
Twitch ads are surprisingly harder to block compared to YouTube ads. But there are also plenty of options and workaround that can get you going. From free options like external players, custom scripts to paid solutions like VPNs and Prime, we’ve tried to cover everything. With a little effort, you can create a smooth, frustration-free experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ad blockers work on Twitch?
Ad blockers can block some ads on Twitch, like on-page banners, but they often struggle with pre-roll and mid-roll video ads. Twitch frequently updates its platform to bypass ad-blocking tools, making them less reliable without additional customisation. AdGuard Extra and Stands AdBlocker are good solutions that work right now.
Does subscribing to a Twitch channel block ads?
Yes, subscribing to a Twitch channel removes ads from that streamer’s content. However, this won’t block ads on other streams or the Twitch homepage.
What’s the difference between Twitch Turbo and subscribing to a channel?
Twitch Turbo removes ads platform-wide, covering all streams and the Twitch homepage. Subscribing to a channel removes ads only for that specific channel while also directly supporting the creator.
Is blocking Twitch ads illegal?
No, blocking Twitch ads is not illegal. However, it may violate Twitch’s Terms of Service, which could lead to limited functionality or account issues if detected.
Will using an ad blocker affect stream quality?
Sometimes. Ad blockers or custom scripts can cause slight buffering or lower-quality streams during ad segments. VPNs may also lead to slower speeds if connected to distant servers.
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