FocusTube vs Unhook

Unhook removes YouTube UI elements like recommendations, comments, and Shorts. FocusTube goes further: it classifies every video against your goals and nudges you before you waste time.

Feature comparison based on publicly available information. Last updated June 2026.

FeatureFocusTubeUnhook
AI video classification by your goals-
Personalised nudges before blocking-
Focus score and watch time dashboard-
Block specific channels-
Hide homepage recommendations
Hide sidebar recommendations
Hide Shorts
Hide comments-
Hide end cards and annotations-
Daily time limits-
Focus windows (schedule allowed hours)-
Search limits-
Understands what you are trying to learn-
Free tier14-day trial

When to use Unhook

Unhook is a good fit if your main problem is the YouTube interface itself. It hides recommendations, comments, Shorts thumbnails, and other UI elements that pull your attention. It is free and lightweight. If removing visual clutter is enough to keep you focused, Unhook does the job well.

When to use FocusTube

FocusTube is built for the deeper problem: you know what you should be watching, but you keep drifting anyway. Instead of just hiding UI elements, FocusTube classifies every video against your goals and intervenes with escalating nudges when you start spiralling. It tracks your watch patterns, blocks specific channels, limits your searches, and gives you a dashboard to see where your time actually goes. If hiding the feed is not enough to keep you on track, FocusTube adds the accountability layer.

The key difference

Unhook is a UI filter. FocusTube is a behaviour change tool. Unhook removes distractions from the page. FocusTube understands what you are watching and whether it matches your goals, then acts on that understanding.

Try FocusTube free for 14 days

No credit card required. See the difference AI classification makes.