DeArrow vs SponsorBlock
They are not rivals. The same author made both, and DeArrow is built on SponsorBlock's code. DeArrow replaces clickbait YouTube titles and thumbnails with accurate ones. SponsorBlock skips sponsor reads and similar segments inside videos. If you have both annoyances, run both. Neither blocks YouTube's own ads.
DeArrow vs SponsorBlock at a glance
| Feature | DeArrow | SponsorBlock |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Better titles and thumbnails in your feed | Skips sponsor segments inside the video |
| Where you notice it | Before you click | While you watch |
| Also covers | Titles and thumbnails | Intros, outros and subscription reminders |
| Relationship | Built on SponsorBlock's base. Shares a library | The base project |
| Source of data | Titles and thumbnails submitted by the community | Segments submitted by the community |
| When nobody has submitted | Shows the original title in the case you choose, a screenshot thumbnail, and a show-original button | Nothing to skip, which is common on new videos |
| Status | README says it is in beta | Stable releases |
| Latest release we saw | 2.3.10 (13 July 2026) | 6.1.7 (13 July 2026) |
| Licence | Open source (GPLv3) | Open source (GPL v3 or later) |
| Manifest V3 | Yes | Yes |
| Paid option | Yes. A licence option exists. We did not read what it unlocks or what it costs | None found |
| Browsers | Chrome and Chromium, Firefox, Safari, Android via GitHub steps | Chrome and Chromium, Firefox, Edge, Android, Safari |
| Best for | Clickbait titles and thumbnails | Sponsor reads inside videos |
Should I use DeArrow, SponsorBlock, or both?
Use both if you have both annoyances. They do different jobs. DeArrow works on the feed, before you click. SponsorBlock works inside the video, after you click. They are separate extensions from the same author, with shared code. DeArrow even uses SponsorBlock data to avoid thumbnails taken from sponsored segments. Neither is a replacement for the other.
What does DeArrow do that SponsorBlock does not?
DeArrow changes what you see before you click. It swaps clickbait titles and thumbnails for community-submitted ones, with the stated goal of accurate titles and less sensationalism. If nobody has submitted anything for a video, it can format the original title in a case you pick and use a screenshot from the video as the thumbnail.
What does SponsorBlock do that DeArrow does not?
SponsorBlock skips parts of a video. Community members mark sponsor reads, and also intros, outros and subscription reminders. Your player jumps past them. On a new video nobody has marked yet, there is nothing to skip. SponsorBlock does not touch titles or thumbnails, and it is not a classic ad blocker: it does not block YouTube's own ads.
Do they collect data?
Both talk to the author's servers while you use YouTube. DeArrow fetches submitted titles and thumbnails from a backend, and its thumbnail service caches thumbnails for later requests. SponsorBlock looks up segments by sending only the first 4 characters of a hashed video ID. We did not read DeArrow's privacy policy, so we make no claim on it.
Are they safe to run together?
Nothing we read says they conflict with each other. They are built to sit side by side. One known clash is with YouTube Anti Translate: DeArrow's README says to turn off the untranslate options in DeArrow if you also run that extension. Both are Manifest V3, open source, and had releases in July 2026.
Good to know
Tip: pick by annoyance. If sponsor reads bother you, start with SponsorBlock, which has no paid option we found. Add DeArrow when clickbait in your feed bothers you. Limit of this page: DeArrow is in beta, and we did not read its privacy policy or what its paid licence unlocks. Neither one blocks YouTube's own ads.
FAQ
Is DeArrow free?
It has an optional paid licence. We did not read what it unlocks or what it costs, so check the DeArrow site before you decide.
Do I need SponsorBlock to use DeArrow?
No. They are separate extensions. DeArrow is built on SponsorBlock's base and shares a library, but you can install either one alone.
Does SponsorBlock block YouTube ads?
No. It skips community-marked segments inside videos. For ads, see our ad blockers.
Read more
Both are third-party extensions, not built by Xplorekit. We link to the official Chrome Web Store listings. We don't show ratings or user counts because we can't verify them.