When YouTube removed public dislike counts, it eliminated a critical signal that viewers and creators used to evaluate content quality. Return YouTube Dislike, built by community developer Dmitry Selivanov, has restored this information for over 20 million users through a browser extension with an open-source API.
Restores Dislike Count. Shows the dislike count directly under YouTube videos — exactly where it used to appear before YouTube removed it in 2021.
Archived + Estimated Data. Uses a combination of archived data from before the removal and statistical extrapolation from extension user ratings to estimate current dislike counts.
20 Million+ Users. One of the most widely adopted browser extensions for YouTube — ensuring a large data pool for accurate estimates.
Chrome, Firefox & Edge. Available as an extension for all major browsers — install once and the data appears automatically on every YouTube video.
Open Source API. The Return YouTube Dislike API is publicly available for developers to integrate dislike data into their own tools and applications.
Privacy Friendly. Minimal permissions, open source code — you can review exactly what data the extension collects and sends.
Real-Time Updates. As more extension users rate videos, the estimated dislike count is updated and refined continuously.
Who Is It For?
YouTube viewers and content creators who want to see dislike counts on YouTube videos — a metric Google removed from public view in 2021. Useful for creators doing competitive research or viewers assessing content quality before watching.
If you are not regularly using YouTube for research or audience feedback, this browser extension adds limited value to your workflow. It is a specific, niche tool for a specific YouTube metric.
Best Niches:
Pros and Cons
- ✅ Restores dislike count visibility using community-sourced data
- ✅ Free browser extension — no account required
- ✅ Provides a quality signal missing from YouTube's native interface
- ✅ Works across Chrome, Firefox, and other major browsers
- ❌ Dislike data is estimated — not the original YouTube data, which was removed
- ❌ Accuracy decreases for older videos with less community data
- ❌ Requires browser extension installation
Pricing
Return YouTube Dislike is completely free and open-source.
Summary
Return YouTube Dislike is a small but genuinely useful browser extension for creators and viewers who want dislike data back. The estimates are imperfect but directionally useful for identifying controversial or poorly received content. A worthwhile free install for anyone who researches YouTube content regularly.