How to watch Twitch without ads (4 methods to watch Twitch without commercials)
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Twitch Turbo at $11.99/month remains the most reliable ad-free solution, while VPN and browser-based approaches offer cheaper alternatives that are just as effective, with the additional benefit of increased privacy and security. Understanding Twitch's Server-Side Ad Insertion technology is important so that you can set realistic expectations about any ad-blocking method.
Twitch's advertising landscape has dramatically shifted in recent years, with substantial price increases for official ad-free options and advanced technical measures that make traditional ad-blocking less effective. However, several legitimate methods still exist for users seeking an ad-free viewing experience without violating Twitch's Terms of Service.
Methods to watch Twitch without ads
You have a few options for streaming Twitch without ads:
- Official subscription services – use subscription services to get rid of ads on Twitch (Twitch Turbo, channel subscriptions, Amazon Prime Gaming)
- Browser-based solutions – use browsers and blocking features to block banner ads
- VPN – use a VPN to connect to a country that doesn’t have ads on Twitch
1. Official subscription services
The only way to completely remove ads from Twitch is to pay for an official subscription, such as Twitch Turbo, specific channels, and Amazon Prime.
Twitch Turbo ($11.99/month)
Twitch Turbo provides complete ad removal across the entire platform for $11.99/month (up from $8.99 previously). This subscription eliminates all video and banner ads and provides additional perks like extended VOD storage and custom chat colors. It works at the server level, so ads are never included in your video stream, making it 99% effective.
Channel subscriptions ($4.99+ per month)
Channel subscriptions remove ads only for specific streamers you subscribe to. Pricing starts at $4.99/month on desktop ($7.99 on mobile) for Tier 1, with higher tiers ($9.99, $24.99) offering additional perks but the same ad-blocking benefits. This works best if you primarily watch 1-2 streamers.
Amazon Prime Gaming
Amazon Prime members get one free Tier 1 subscription monthly, which removes ads from a single channel of your choice. This provides ad-free viewing for one streamer while supporting them financially.
2. Watching Twitch with VPN
Certain geographic regions display fewer ads due to lower advertiser demand or stricter regulations. Countries including Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Argentina, and Costa Rica often show significantly reduced ad frequency.
What countries don't show ads on Twitch?
In my tests, I was able to stream Twitch without ads while connected to servers in the following countries.
Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Costa Rica, Argentina, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Denmark, Italy.
How to watch Twitch without ads with VPN
Follow the quick steps below to watch Twitch without ads with a VPN:
- Subscribe to a reputable VPN with servers available worldwide. I recommend NordVPN, now 76% OFF
- Download and install the VPN app on your chosen device
- Connect to a server in a country that doesn’t show ads on Twitch, such as Poland
- Clear browser cookies and restart your browser
- Go to Twitch and start watching ad-free
Note: Not all VPNs will allow you to watch Twitch without ads. Make sure you choose one of the best VPNs with a large server network in multiple countries, reliable connections, and fast speeds.
3. Browser-based solutions
Some browsers, like Brave and Firefox, offer ad-blocking in their settings.
Brave Browser
Brave's built-in Shields technology blocks traditional web advertisements and tracking scripts through DNS-level filtering and content blocking.
While Server-Side Ad Insertion limits its effectiveness against video ads, Brave successfully removes banner advertisements, homepage promotions, and sidebar content.
Effectiveness:
- Video ads: 20-30% reduction due to SSAI limitations
- Banner/display ads: 90%+ blocking success
- Homepage clutter: significant reduction
- Privacy benefits: enhanced tracking protection
Setup. Simply download Brave Browser and navigate to Twitch. Shields are enabled by default, though you can adjust settings under the shield icon in the address bar.
Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection
Firefox's privacy-focused approach blocks advertisers' tracking mechanisms and some display advertisements. Like Brave, it struggles with Twitch's embedded video ads but handles peripheral advertising content. However, note that it might not always work.
Configuration steps:
- Go to Settings and then Privacy & Security
-
Select Strict tracking protection
- Consider adding the uBlock Origin extension for enhanced blocking
- Go to Twitch and start watching
Results. The results are similar to Brave with a 20-30% video ad reduction and strong display ad blocking. The combination works best when accessing Twitch through Firefox rather than dedicated apps.
Blocking Twitch ads on different devices
The best option to block ads on Twitch will depend on the type of device you plan to watch it on.
Desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux)
For desktop viewing, browser-based solutions combined with a VPN provide the best results. Use Brave Browser or Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection and consider connecting through a VPN to regions with minimal ads for optimal effectiveness. Avoid the desktop Twitch app since it bypasses browser-level blocking entirely. This approach typically achieves a 30-50% ad reduction when combining browser blocking with geographic optimization.
Mobile devices
iOS (iPhone/iPad). Mobile ad-blocking faces significant limitations due to app and platform restrictions. The official Twitch iOS app cannot be modified for ad-blocking due to Apple's sandboxing architecture. So, for best results, use a VPN, connect to a country with fewer ads, and then access Twitch through Safari browser rather than the official app – the VPN might not work with the app. Your other option – but with limited effectiveness (10-20% video ad reduction) – is to install content blockers like AdGuard or 1Blocker from the App Store and then enable content blockers in Settings > Safari.
Android. Android provides more flexibility for ad-blocking approaches. Just like with iOS, you can use a VPN, connect to a region with no or minimal ads, and then access Twitch through the browser rather than its app. Alternative options include Firefox Mobile browser with the uBlock Origin extension, Brave Mobile (built-in blocking), Samsung Internet with AdBlock Plus, or Opera Mobile with integrated ad blocking. This approach achieves similar results to desktop browser methods (20-30% video ad reduction) with stronger display ad blocking.
Smart TVs
Smart TV platforms have varying limitations for ad-blocking. Samsung Smart TV and LG WebOS both run official Twitch apps that display all advertisements, with browser apps (when available) providing only limited blocking capabilities. Android TV and Google TV offer more flexibility by allowing installation of alternative browsers like Firefox, though casting from devices with ad-blocking configured often works better. Amazon Fire TV's official Twitch app displays full advertising, and while sideloading browsers is possible, it's complex and unreliable. For most smart TV users, the most effective approach is casting from a mobile device or computer that has ad-blocking enabled.
Gaming consoles
Gaming consoles present the most limited options for ad-blocking due to their locked-down systems. PlayStation 5 runs an official Twitch app that shows all ads, and the PS5 browser has limited access without extension support. The best approach is to use the PS5's media remote to cast from a phone or tablet with ad-blocking enabled. Xbox Series X/S includes Microsoft Edge browser but with limited extension support, while the official Twitch app displays standard advertising. Casting from a Windows PC with browser-based blocking provides better results. Nintendo Switch offers no browser access for Twitch and only supports the official app with full advertising. For all gaming consoles, casting from a mobile device with ad-blocking represents the most effective solution.
Technical limitations of ad-blocking on Twitch
Twitch's implementation of Server-Side Ad Insertion fundamentally changed how advertisements are delivered by embedding them directly into video streams on the server side.
How SSAI works. Server-Side Ad Insertion operates by processing live streams on Twitch's servers in real time, where algorithms determine which advertisements to insert based on user data, location, and advertiser targeting. These ads are then seamlessly woven into the video content at the server level, with the combined content and ads delivered as a single unified video file. The ad video quality is matched to the main content's bitrate and resolution, making it extremely difficult for client-side software to distinguish between actual stream content and advertisements.
Why traditional ad-blockers fail:
- No separate domains. Ads come from the same servers as content.
- Identical protocols. Same video delivery method for ads and content.
- Real-time integration. Ads are inserted dynamically, not loaded from predictable sources.
- Quality consistency. Video bitrate and resolution remain constant between content and ads.
Conclusion
The most reliable approach to ad-free Twitch viewing in 2025 combines understanding technical limitations with strategic use of available tools. While Twitch Turbo at $11.99/month provides guaranteed results, budget-conscious users can achieve at least a 50% ad reduction by combining browser-based blocking with a VPN. Browser blocking is free, while VPNs usually cost only a couple of dollars a month, with the added benefit of complete privacy and security online.
Key takeaways:
- Official subscriptions remain the only 99% effective solution
- Browser-based methods work better than mobile apps due to technical constraints
- Geographic considerations can significantly impact ad frequency
- Server-Side Ad Insertion technology limits all client-side blocking approaches
- Combining multiple methods yields better results than relying on any single approach
The evolving nature of Twitch's ad delivery systems means the effectiveness of alternative methods may change over time. Users should expect that only official paid options provide consistent, long-term ad-free viewing experiences while supporting the platform and content creators.
FAQ
Does VPN make streaming on Twitch quality worse?
Whether a VPN makes Twitch streaming quality worse depends on how far away its servers are. For example, NordVPN and Surfshark, our best VPNs for streaming, have large server networks worldwide. As a result, they retained around 90% of the original speeds in our tests. This is impressive, as you’re unlikely to notice the 10% reduction.
