Comparison
SmartTube vs TizenTube: Which One Do You Need?
How SmartTube and TizenTube differ, and why your TV's operating system — not personal preference — decides which one you can actually use.
SmartTube and TizenTube are often mentioned in the same breath because they solve the same basic problem: the official YouTube app on a TV is limited, and both projects replace or modify it with something more capable. Beyond that, though, they're not really competitors. They're built for two different operating systems that don't overlap, so in practice most people don't get to choose between them — their TV already made the choice.
This page compares what each one does and, more importantly, helps you figure out which one (if either) actually applies to your setup.
There's also TizenTube Cobalt
TizenTube's own author maintains a separate, related project called TizenTube Cobalt, built for Android TV, Google TV, and some Fire TV devices rather than Samsung Tizen. It's a different codebase from SmartTube that takes a similar approach to TizenTube. This page compares SmartTube and the original, Tizen-only TizenTube — see the TizenTube Cobalt guide if you want to compare it too.
Quick answer
If your TV runs Android TV or Google TV (common on Sony, TCL, Hisense, Chromecast with Google TV, and NVIDIA Shield), SmartTube is the option that can run on it. If you have a Samsung Tizen TV, SmartTube won't install at all — TizenTube is the project built for that platform instead. There's no scenario where both are viable choices for the same device; check your TV's operating system first, and that answers the question for you.
At a glance
| SmartTube | TizenTube | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Android TV, Google TV; also Fire TV devices released before October 2025 (newer VegaOS-based Fire TV devices aren't compatible) | Samsung Tizen smart TVs only |
| What it is | A standalone, independently built YouTube client app | A standalone app that loads a modified YouTube TV experience (an older release ran as a module inside a separate project, TizenBrew, instead) |
| Cost | Free, open source | Free, open source |
| Install method | Sideload an APK file, outside the Play Store | Enable Tizen developer mode and install it via the TizenBrew Installer tool's "Install From GitHub" option (this doesn't install TizenBrew itself) |
| Setup difficulty | Moderate — familiar to anyone who has sideloaded an Android app before | Higher — involves developer mode, IP-based device pairing, and Tizen-specific tools |
| Source | github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube | github.com/reisxd/TizenTube |
| General feature focus | Custom interface, content filtering options, playback controls | Ad blocking, SponsorBlock support, and interface tweaks on top of the YouTube TV experience it loads |
| Typical limitation | Not distributed through an app store; long-term support depends on volunteer maintenance | Tied to Samsung's Tizen updates, which can occasionally break the modification until it's patched |
Compatibility
| Platform | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Android TV | Supported | Primary supported platform. Installed as a sideloaded app on Android TV / Google TV devices. |
| Android | Unsupported | The project's own documentation states phones and tablets are not supported — it technically runs on them, but with no official support and no phone-oriented interface. |
| Samsung TV | Unsupported | Samsung's Tizen TVs do not run Android apps, so SmartTube cannot be installed directly. |
| Fire TV | Partial | Supported on Fire TV devices released before October 2025. Newer devices (starting with Fire TV Stick 4K Select) run Amazon's own VegaOS instead of Android and are not compatible. |
| Firefox | Unsupported | SmartTube is a native Android app, not a browser extension, so it has no Firefox equivalent. |
| Platform | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung TV | Supported | Built specifically for Samsung's Tizen-based smart TVs. The current release installs as a standalone app; an older release ran as a TizenBrew module instead. |
| Android | Unsupported | TizenTube is built for Samsung's Tizen platform and has no Android counterpart. See TizenTube Cobalt for the Android-based equivalent. |
| Android TV | Unsupported | Android TV devices do not run Tizen, so TizenTube itself does not apply here. TizenTube Cobalt is the separate project built for Android TV and Google TV. |
| Fire TV | Unsupported | Fire TV does not run Tizen. TizenTube Cobalt is the related project that targets Fire TV instead. |
| Firefox | Unsupported | TizenTube is a TV app, not a browser extension. |
Notice how little these two tables overlap. SmartTube is an Android application, full stop — it depends on the Android runtime, which Tizen doesn't have. Notice how little these two tables overlap. SmartTube is an Android application, full stop — it depends on the Android runtime, which Tizen doesn't have. TizenTube is a standalone Tizen application built specifically for Samsung TVs, so it isn't an Android app that can run on Android TV either. Neither project can be sideloaded or adapted to run on the other platform; the underlying operating systems use different application environments.
Figuring out which platform you have
If you're not sure what your TV runs, a few quick ways to check:
- Samsung TVs almost always run Tizen. If the box or manual says "Samsung Smart TV" without mentioning Android or Google TV, it's Tizen.
- Android TV / Google TV devices usually say so explicitly in settings (look for "Android TV OS" or "Google TV" under About or Device Preferences), and the Google Play Store is present as the main app store.
- Streaming boxes and sticks like Chromecast with Google TV, NVIDIA Shield, and many Sony and TCL TVs run Android TV. Amazon's Fire TV devices released before October 2025 run Fire OS, a distant Android fork, and SmartTube can often be sideloaded there — but newer Fire TV devices run Amazon's own VegaOS, which isn't Android-based at all and isn't compatible with either project.
- If you genuinely can't tell, the Play Store's presence (or absence) is usually the fastest signal: no Play Store generally means it isn't Android TV.
Setup complexity, compared honestly
Neither installation process is what most people would call simple, but they differ in kind, not just degree.
SmartTube setup follows a pattern familiar to anyone who has sideloaded Android apps before: download the APK from the official GitHub releases page, enable installation from unknown sources, and install it directly or push it from a computer using a companion tool. It's a well-documented process with a large user base that's ironed out most of the rough edges.
TizenTube setup is generally considered more technical. It involves switching the TV into developer mode, connecting to it from a computer using the TizenBrew Installer tool, and installing TizenTube as a standalone app through that tool's "Install From GitHub" option — rather than a simple file transfer. It's the kind of process that benefits from following the project's current instructions closely, since Samsung's developer tools and menus shift between firmware versions.
In both cases, exact steps change over time as the projects and the underlying platforms update, so the official repository — not a general walkthrough — is the source to follow for the version you're installing.
Which one should you use
There isn't really a choice to make here beyond identifying your hardware:
- Android TV, Google TV, or an Android-based Fire TV (released before October 2025) → SmartTube is the project built for you, alongside TizenTube Cobalt as a related alternative.
- Samsung Tizen TV → TizenTube is the one that can run on your set.
- A newer, VegaOS-based Fire TV device → neither SmartTube nor TizenTube Cobalt is compatible, since VegaOS doesn't run Android apps.
- Neither platform — for example, LG's webOS or a TV with no sideloading path — and neither project has a version for you today. In that case, the official YouTube app, possibly paired with YouTube Premium, remains the practical fallback.
Whichever applies, take a look at the general compatibility overview before committing time to setup — it's worth confirming your specific device and firmware version are still supported, since both projects are maintained by small independent teams and coverage can shift.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use SmartTube and TizenTube on the same TV?
No — they target different operating systems (Android TV/Google TV vs. Samsung Tizen), and a single TV runs only one of those systems. You'll only ever be able to install the one that matches your platform.
Which one is easier to set up?
SmartTube's sideloading process is generally considered more familiar and less involved than TizenTube's, which requires enabling Tizen developer mode and using Samsung's developer tooling. Neither is a one-click install.
How do I check whether my TV runs Tizen or Android TV / Google TV?
Samsung's own smart TVs run Tizen, not Android TV or Google TV — Samsung doesn't sell Google TV-branded televisions. To confirm either way, check your TV's system settings (usually under About or Device Preferences): Tizen TVs won't mention Android or Google TV, while Android TV / Google TV devices explicitly show that branding and include the Google Play Store.
Do either of these work on LG or other smart TV brands?
Not directly. SmartTube needs Android TV/Google TV, and TizenTube is built specifically around Samsung's Tizen platform, so neither targets LG's webOS or other manufacturers' operating systems.
Official source
For the most accurate and current information, check the project's own website, repository, or documentation.
Visit official source: SmartTube on GitHub (github.com)(opens the SmartTube on GitHub website in a new tab)Official source
For the most accurate and current information, check the project's own website, repository, or documentation.
Visit official source: TizenTube on GitHub (github.com)(opens the TizenTube on GitHub website in a new tab)Related guides
- SmartTube: A YouTube Client for Android TVWhat SmartTube is, which devices it runs on, how setup generally works, and where it falls short.
- TizenTube: Installing the Standalone App on Samsung TVsWhat TizenTube is, how to install the current standalone version on Samsung TVs, and how it differs from the older TizenBrew module approach.
- CompatibilityA quick reference for which solutions currently work on which devices. Compatibility can change as apps, TVs, and YouTube itself are updated — treat this as a general guide, not a guarantee, and check each solution's own guide for details.