Launched a free SaaS that blocks YouTube distractions - 0$ MRR but 500,000+ videos blocked

I built Clify, a YouTube content blocker that automatically removes Shorts and blocks videos with keywords in 35+ languages.

The "business model": There isn't one. It's completely free and open source. MIT licensed.

Why no monetization?

1. I built this for myself first

2. Privacy is non-negotiable (no tracking = no ad revenue)

3. Digital wellness shouldn't be a luxury

4. Some things can just... exist to help people

The numbers after 6 months:

- 5,000+ monthly active users

- 500,000+ videos blocked

- 40+ languages supported

- 350+ GitHub stars

- Server costs: ~$20/month (I pay it happily)

What users love:

- "I got back 2 hours of my day"

- "Finally blocks content in my language (Bengali/Hindi/Arabic)"

- "The dashboard shows me exactly what I've avoided"

What's next:

- Firefox support (Q3 2026)

- Optional encrypted cloud sync

- Community blocklists

Would you use a free tool like this? What features would make it indispensable?

Not everything needs to make money. Some projects just need to help people. ❤️

Ask me anything about building open source, handling 40+ languages, or why I chose manual install over Chrome Web Store!

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