Watching Twitch is one of the best ways to chill after a long day, watch your favorite streamers, or discover new games. But let’s be honest—sometimes the default Twitch player isn’t exactly smooth. Buffering, ads, a clunky interface—it can all get annoying. Thankfully, there are better ways to enjoy Twitch right from your Chrome browser.
TLDR: Best Alternate Twitch Players for Chrome
If Twitch’s default experience bugs you, you’re not alone. There are awesome Chrome extensions that improve video playback, hide ads, and offer extra features. Try options like Alternate Player for Twitch or BetterTTV for smoother performance and fun extras. They’re free, easy to use, and make watching streams way more fun.
Why Use an Alternate Twitch Player?
Here’s the thing. The Twitch player that comes out of the box does the job, but it’s far from perfect. Some common problems include:
- Random buffering even on good internet
- Unskippable ads
- No real customization options
- Hard to control video quality manually
This is where alternate players come in. They fix what Twitch missed. Let’s take a look at the best ones available for Chrome!
1. Alternate Player for Twitch.tv (aka Twitchls)
This is one of the most popular and simple solutions. It literally replaces the standard Twitch video player with a custom one. It loads faster, gives you more control, and yes—best of all—reduces ads (though not always 100%).
Top features:
- Choose from multiple video quality options manually
- Blocks most video ads
- Supports chat directly with the Twitch account
- Allows volume control with the mouse wheel!
Just install the Alternate Player for Twitch.tv Chrome extension and hit play on any stream. The custom player will kick in automatically.
2. BetterTTV
Next up is BetterTTV, often called “BTTV” by streamers and fans alike. It focuses more on the chat experience, but it also adds features that improve how you watch streams. It doesn’t replace the player, but it makes watching way smoother.
Cool features include:
- Dark mode and visual customization
- Expands emotes like OMEGALUL and PepeLaugh
- Hides annoying elements like auto-play lists and auto-hosts
- Disables Twitch’s auto quality switching—which is seriously helpful!
BTTV is great if you still want to *use* the original Twitch player but with some smart upgrades.
3. Twitch Adblock Plus
This is a more aggressive tool. It doesn’t actually change the player, but it’s worth mentioning because it helps manage one of Twitch’s biggest annoyances: ads.
Main perk: It blocks pre-roll and mid-roll ads that play during Twitch streams. Say goodbye to seeing the same finance commercial every 5 minutes.
Pair this with another alternate player and BOOM—ad-free bliss.
4. TTV LOL PRO
This Chrome extension is a newer take on ad-blocking and player enhancement. It’s open source, lightweight, and works smoothly with Twitch’s ever-changing ad system.
What makes it cool:
- Removes both banner and video ads
- Doesn’t affect chat, quality, or Twitch Prime benefits
- Loads streams faster using Twitch’s public API
It’s almost like having a “premium” Twitch experience—without paying a cent.
5. Twitch Theater Mode Plus
Love that sweet theater mode? This extension enhances it even further.
Includes:
- Resizable player window in theater mode
- Custom opacity for chat
- Cleaner interface with fewer distractions
It’s a great extension if you watch streams while multitasking or want to remove visual clutter while keeping chat visible.
How to Install These Twitch Player Extensions
Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick and simple guide:
- Open Chrome
- Go to the Chrome Web Store
- Search for the extension (e.g., “Alternate Player for Twitch.tv”)
- Click “Add to Chrome”
- Refresh Twitch, and enjoy the difference!
Most extensions also have options. Right-click the icon in the toolbar and explore settings to make it your own.
Bonus Tip: Combine Extensions!
Want the ultimate Twitch experience? Don’t just use one. You can combine several extensions to get the best of each:
- Use ‘Alternate Player for Twitch.tv’ for better playback
- Use ‘BetterTTV’ for chat emotes and customization
- Use ‘TTV LOL PRO’ for ad-blocking
Together, they make Twitch feel brand new. Just be sure not to use two video player extensions at once, as they might clash.
The Downside? Not Much…
Honestly, most of these are pretty user-friendly and reliable. That said, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- Some ads might still sneak through now and then
- Extensions need updating—Twitch changes its code a lot
- Not officially supported by Twitch (so bugs happen sometimes)
Still, if you’re not satisfied with how Twitch performs out-of-the-box, these tools are your secret weapon.
Final Thoughts
Twitch is a fun place. Watching shouldn’t be a pain. Chrome users have tons of cool tools to make their viewing smoother, cleaner, and ad-free (mostly).
Whether you want a fully new player or just a better chat, there’s something on this list for you. Spend a few minutes setting it up—you’ll thank yourself later every time you hit that “go live” button or jump on to watch your favorite streamer.
Enjoy Twitch like a pro!