What Is Spot SponsorBlock?

Updated

Spot SponsorBlock is an open-source, crowdsourced browser extension that skips sponsor segments in Spotify podcasts. It uses the SponsorBlock API to identify and automatically skip known sponsor breaks, and it works best alongside Spotify Premium. If you listen to podcasts on Spotify and want to avoid manually fast-forwarding through ads, this tool is designed for that task.

How It Works

The extension relies on two things: community submissions and the SponsorBlock API.

  • Users submit sponsor timestamps. When you hear a sponsor segment, you mark it from the extension. That information is contributed to the shared database.
  • The extension skips known segments automatically. It queries the SponsorBlock API using what the project describes as a privacy-preserving query system, then jumps past the sponsor when playback reaches it.
  • The database is open. The source code is fully open, and the database can be downloaded by anyone. The project states it wants to keep things as open as possible.

This is the same crowdsourced model behind SponsorBlock for YouTube, and Spot SponsorBlock is described as a fork of that extension.

What It Can Skip

Sponsor segments are the primary target, but the extension supports other categories:

Category What it covers
Sponsors Paid sponsor reads within the podcast
Intros Opening segments
Outros Closing segments
Self-promotions The host promoting their own content or products
Highlights Jumping to a specific point in the episode

So it is not limited to ads — you can also use it to skip repetitive intros and outros or jump straight to a highlight.

Requirements and Setup

  • A browser extension. Spot SponsorBlock is installed as a browser extension, so you need a supported browser.
  • Spotify playback. It operates on Spotify podcasts, and the project notes it works best alongside Spotify Premium.
  • Download. The site provides a Download section as the entry point for getting the extension.

Openness, Privacy, and Community

  • Open source. The code is fully open, with the original code and a forked version both linked from the site.
  • Open database. Anyone can download the database, and the project documents a public API you can view, plus instructions for hosting a mirror.
  • Privacy-preserving queries. The extension uses a query system designed to avoid exposing what you are listening to when checking for known segments.
  • Community channels. There is a Discord and Matrix for discussion, along with community tools and documentation on how it works.
  • Server status. You can check status.sponsor.ajay.app for server status.

When to Use It

Spot SponsorBlock fits if you:

  • Listen to podcasts through Spotify in a browser
  • Want sponsor segments skipped without manual seeking
  • Are comfortable relying on a crowdsourced database, which depends on other users submitting timestamps
  • Value an open-source tool with a downloadable database and public API

It is less useful if you listen to podcasts outside Spotify, since the extension is built specifically for Spotify podcast playback.

Credits and Related Projects

The site credits Ajay Ramachandran for building the site, with the website rewritten by Jeremy Plsek. The extension is forked from SponsorBlock, with thanks to Ajay for help during development. There is also a separate SponsorBlock for YouTube if you want the same behavior on YouTube.