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DeArrow

An open-source extension that swaps clickbait YouTube titles and thumbnails for accurate ones.

Reviewed by Xplorekit's independent developer · Last checked · How we choose

Add to Chrome Open source · Chrome Web Store · Source on GitHub

Why it's a strong pick

DeArrow goes after one clear problem: sensational titles and thumbnails. It is open source under GPLv3, and its code is public on GitHub. It uses Manifest V3, Chrome's current extension format. It is built on the base of SponsorBlock by the same author, and its latest release came in July 2026. The README calls it "currently in beta".

What it does

DeArrow shows better titles and thumbnails on YouTube. People submit and vote on them. Where nobody has, DeArrow formats the original title to the case you choose and uses a screenshot from a point in the video as the thumbnail. A "show original" button appears wherever something was changed.

Key features

  • Crowdsourced titles and thumbnails. Users submit them and vote.
  • Fallbacks. With no submission, it formats the original title and uses a video frame as the thumbnail. You can set the original thumbnail as the default.
  • Show original. A button lets you see what YouTube had.
  • Fast thumbnails. They come from a cache service or are made in your browser, whichever is faster.
  • Open source. The code is public under GPLv3.

Who it's for

DeArrow is for people who are tired of clickbait titles and thumbnails on YouTube and want a calmer feed. It is open source, and the README also points to an optional paid license. We could not read its price, so check the developer's page if that matters to you.

What permissions does DeArrow ask for?

Its manifest asks for storage, unlimitedStorage, alarms and scripting. It also asks for access to the developer's servers (sponsor.ajay.app, dearrow-thumb.ajay.app and dearrow.ajay.app) and to YouTube, including embedded videos. The base manifest also has an optional permissions list that we did not read in full. Read the install prompt before you add it.

Does DeArrow collect my data?

We could not read the developer's privacy policy when we checked; read it before installing. The README says DeArrow fetches submissions from a backend and thumbnails from a cache service. That means it talks to the developer's servers while you browse YouTube.

What happens when no one has submitted a title?

DeArrow falls back to a cleaned-up version of the original. It formats the title to the case you pick and uses a screenshot from a timestamp as the thumbnail. You can change this in the settings, including keeping the original thumbnail as the default.

Can I use it with YouTube Anti Translate?

Yes, with two settings changed. The Anti Translate README says to turn off its "Untranslate titles" and "Untranslate video thumbnails" options, and to turn on "Default to Original Video Information" in DeArrow. This stops the two from fighting over the same titles. See YouTube Anti Translate.

FAQ

Is DeArrow free? The code is open source under GPLv3. The README also links to an optional paid license, and we could not read its price.

Can I see the original title? Yes. A "show original" button appears where DeArrow changed something.

Is it finished? The README says the project is currently in beta.

Good to know

DeArrow needs its backend and thumbnail cache servers to show crowdsourced titles, and the project is in beta. If a title looks wrong, use "show original" and compare. Pair it with a tool for the YouTube side you care about, such as the other picks in our YouTube tools guide.

Other YouTube tools to compare

DeArrow is one of 4 picks in our YouTube tools guide:

Compare: DeArrow vs SponsorBlock

This is a third-party extension, not built or maintained by Xplorekit. We link to the official Chrome Web Store listing — install and permissions are entirely between you and the extension's own publisher.