Return YouTube Dislike Review — Restores Dislike Counts on YouTube Videos
Return YouTube Dislike restores the dislike count that YouTube removed from public view in November 2021. The numbers are estimated using data collected before the API was restricted, combined with ongoing user-contributed data from the extension's install base. It is not exact — but it gives a usable signal where previously there was nothing.
Install on Chrome Web Store →Key Features
The extension displays an estimated dislike count below every YouTube video alongside the existing like count. The estimate is calculated from archived data collected before YouTube restricted the public dislike API in December 2021, updated with data from users who have the extension installed.
The like-to-dislike ratio is displayed visually, making it quick to gauge overall audience reception at a glance. For creators evaluating whether a competitor's video format is working, the ratio tells a different story than likes alone.
The extension works on YouTube Studio as well as the main YouTube frontend — so creators can see dislike data on their own uploads from the analytics dashboard view.
Data updates as users with the extension interact with videos. The more widely installed the extension becomes, the more accurate the estimates get, as user interactions are anonymously contributed to the dataset.
Who Is It For
Any creator who uses YouTube for research — studying competitor videos, evaluating which formats audiences respond to, and checking their own videos for hidden negative reception signals — will get immediate value. The dislike count context is something YouTube's current interface simply does not provide.
If you only use YouTube for entertainment and never study performance data, this extension adds no practical value. Also worth noting for those who want precision: this is estimated data, not the exact figures YouTube has. For some use cases the approximation is enough; for others it may not be.
Pros and Cons
- ✅ Free with no limitations or account required
- ✅ Immediately adds context that YouTube's interface removes
- ✅ Works on your own videos in YouTube Studio
- ❌ Dislike counts are estimates, not exact figures — accuracy varies by video age and popularity
- ❌ Older videos with less data from the extension's user base have less accurate estimates
Pricing
Return YouTube Dislike is completely free. No credit system, no paid tier, no account needed. It is maintained as an open-source project with contributions from the developer community.
Summary
Worth installing for any creator who actively uses YouTube for research or monitors their own video performance. The dislike data provides context that YouTube's current UI deliberately withholds — and even approximate numbers are more useful than nothing. The free price makes this a no-cost upgrade to your YouTube viewing experience.