Title: Better YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube videos, shorts, playlists Author: Phi Phan Published: November 23, 2022 Last modified: January 12, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/better-youtube-embed-block/assets/icon.svg?rev=3437436) # Better YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube videos, shorts, playlists By [Phi Phan](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mr2p/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block.1.1.4.zip) * [Details](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/#description) * [Reviews](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/#reviews) * [Installation](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/#installation) * [Development](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/) ## Description The default embed block for YouTube videos sucks. It slows down your site. The more videos on the page the more it slow. This single-block plugin fixes that. Why this block is better than the default one: * Instead of loading the entire iframe, only the video thumbnail is loaded, resulting in significant performance improvements * Ability to play multiple different videos as a custom playlist or input a playlist ID to play the whole playlist * Ability to use a custom image as the video thumbnail * Ability to set a custom aspect ratio value for displaying any kind of YouTube videos * Ability to loop continuously once it finishes playing * Ability to show related videos from the same channel as the initial video * Automatically load the video title as the caption * The same UI as the default core/embed, and you can use the video title as the caption of the block with one click * It can be transformed from/to the core embed block. * Automatically convert all default core embed YouTube blocks to this block with one line of code. This plugin also provides a PHP API for developers to render a YouTube video URL as this block; or to automatically transform core/embed YouTube videos into this block. The simplest example is: ``` better_youtube_embed_block_render_block( ['url' => 'https://youtu.be/paSXmpHU9K4'] ); ``` The example with all the parameters is: ``` better_youtube_embed_block_render_block( [ 'url' => 'https://youtu.be/paSXmpHU9K4', 'aspectRatio' => '16/9', 'isMaxResThumbnail' => false, 'thumbnailFormat' => 'jpg', 'caption' => 'My awesome video', 'customThumbnail' => 'https://example.com/bg.jpg', 'settings' => ['loop' => 1, 'rel' => 0], 'echo' => false, ] ); ``` To automatically transform all core/embed YouTube videos on your site to this block, you need to put the following code to the wp-config.php file or your theme/plugin: ``` define('BYEB_SPEED_UP_YOUTUBE_VIDEOS', true); ``` or ``` add_filter( 'byeb_speed_up_youtube_videos', '__return_true' ); ``` On iOS, browsers like Safari and Chrome require two clicks to play videos. If you want to allow users to play videos with a single click, you need to add the following code to the wp-config.php file or your theme/plugin: ``` define('BYEB_FORCE_IFRAME_ON_UNSUPPORTED_BROWSERS', true); ``` Please check out this [page](https://contentblocksbuilder.com/video-tutorials/?utm_source=wp.org&utm_campaign=readme&utm_medium=link&utm_content=BYEB) to see how fast it helps. The page contains around 30 embedded YouTube videos but they don’t slow down the page. If this plugin is useful for you, please do a quick review and [rate it](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/#new-post) on WordPress.org to help us spread the word. I would very much appreciate it. Please check out my other plugins if you’re interested: * **[Content Blocks Builder](https://wordpress.org/plugins/content-blocks-builder)**– This plugin turns the Block Editor into a powerful page builder by allowing you to create blocks, variations, and patterns directly in the Block Editor without needing a code editor. * **[Meta Field Block](https://wordpress.org/plugins/display-a-meta-field-as-block)**– A block to display custom fields as blocks on the front end. It supports custom fields for posts, terms, users, and setting fields. It can also be used in the Query Loop block. * **[SVG Block](https://wordpress.org/plugins/svg-block)** – A block to display SVG images as blocks. Useful for images, icons, dividers, and buttons. It allows you to upload SVG images and load them into the icon library. * **[Icon separator](https://wordpress.org/plugins/icon-separator)** – A tiny block just like the core/separator block but with the ability to add an icon. * **[Breadcrumb Block](https://wordpress.org/plugins/breadcrumb-block)** – A simple breadcrumb trail block that supports JSON-LD structured data and is compatible with WooCommerce. * **[Block Enhancements](https://wordpress.org/plugins/block-enhancements)** – Adds practical features to blocks like icons, box shadows, transforms, etc. * **[Counting Number Block](https://wordpress.org/plugins/counting-number-block)**– A block to display numbers with a counting effect The plugin is developed using @wordpress/create-block. ## Screenshots * [[ * Block edit screen * [[ * Block settings ## Blocks This plugin provides 1 block. * Better YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube video, short, playlist Embed YouTube videos without slowing down your site. ## Installation 1. Upload the plugin files to the `/wp-content/plugins` directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly. 2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ screen in WordPress ## FAQ ### What problem does this plugin solve? It provides a better solution to embed YouTube videos than the default one. ### Who needs this plugin? Anyone can use this plugin. ## Reviews ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93f53ef1a265aaff43f39c144a18cdefaba71dddf8a45061b795287b42d7c370? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[The best! The Super Best!!!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-best-the-super-best/)󠁿 [madinfinity](https://profiles.wordpress.org/madinfinity/) November 28, 2025 1 reply default embed block for YouTube videos sucks YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube videos, shorts, playlists – Cool plugin ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/604060fa77a339c3a675b0d283e452f3c1c0583ab0ce89e22e1b711c6d1012a5? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Very useful](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/very-useful-3655/)󠁿 [lineinthesand](https://profiles.wordpress.org/lineinthesand/) August 17, 2025 1 reply Very easy to use and the php api function to add a block is great. I use it via a custom shortcode. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a98973191d0ca14a00e5c0fa86a2cc32000d9e5a348b473017616a72eff0b210? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[The best support!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-best-support-71/)󠁿 [Daniel Świderski](https://profiles.wordpress.org/swider8814/) May 23, 2025 1 reply The plugin is great (lightweight and fast) but the quick support is just the best. Thanks! ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b2630f1635f046600af04302e27abeafd14f91d0e121e157288d6189c02214cf? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Simple and effective](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/simple-and-effective-1622/)󠁿 [efrap](https://profiles.wordpress.org/efrap/) March 23, 2025 1 reply This one is essential if you have YouTube videos on your block site. Super simple and effective. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bbad050406e6bc1c0c0170162abd7355b034f4d18d6469a1b0e9969decbb6928? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Excellent plugin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/excellent-plugin-9497/)󠁿 [andrearossonero](https://profiles.wordpress.org/andrearossonero/) March 4, 2025 1 reply I’ve tried 10+ similar plugins to do similar things for youtube videos, but to put it simply, by far and large this was the best one. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b809cf561c7c773892ba5e5c88a31e99a04ef9a06718253b2a8c1cf5fb2c1bea? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[OMG !](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/omg-36/)󠁿 [revixi5](https://profiles.wordpress.org/revixi5/) November 26, 2024 1 reply Your plugin is a little gem. You’re a genius. Thanks a lot. [ Read all 16 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/) ## Contributors & Developers “Better YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube videos, shorts, playlists” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Phi Phan ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mr2p/) “Better YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube videos, shorts, playlists” has been translated into 3 locales. Thank you to [the translators](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/contributors) for their contributions. [Translate “Better YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube videos, shorts, playlists” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/better-youtube-embed-block) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/better-youtube-embed-block/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/better-youtube-embed-block/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/better-youtube-embed-block/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/better-youtube-embed-block/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.1.4 _Release Date – 06 January 2026_ * Added – Block binding support for the url and caption attributes. * Improved – Handling of the frontend script when hosts or cache plugins defer or delay it. #### 1.1.3 _Release Date – 21 July 2025_ * Added – Support for loading WebP thumbnails to reduce file size. #### 1.1.2 _Release Date – 06 January 2025_ * Fixed – The captions of old YouTube videos are not converted to this block when automatically transforming core/embed to this block. * Updated – Requires at least WordPress version 6.5 #### 1.1.1 _Release Date – 09 November 2024_ * Fixed – a CSS conflict between the play button and button styles in some themes #### 1.1.0 _Release Date – 23 August 2024_ * Added – Play multiple videos or the whole playlist * Added – Loop continuously once it finishes playing * Added – Show related videos from the same channel * Added – Allow rendering embeded frame when browsers require click two times to play videos * Updated – Requires at least WordPress version 6.3 #### 1.0.5 _Release Date – 15 June 2024_ * Added – Support custom thumbnail for videos * Added – Allow editing media settings in the contentOnly mode * Updated – Change the ‘Requires at least’ to 6.0 * Added – Support clientNavigation interactivity #### 1.0.4 _Release Date – 23 February 2024_ * Added – Add a PHP API for developers to render a YouTube video URL as this block * Added – A new option to load high-resolution image * Added – Add the ability to render all core/embed for YouTube videos as this block #### 1.0.3 _Release Date – 05 January 2024_ * Added – Custom aspect ratio * Added – Margin support feature #### 1.0.2 _Release Date – 11 August 2023_ * DEV – Update to apiVersion 3 * DEV – Change i18 texts for translation #### 1.0.1 _Release Date – 21 April 2023_ * DEV – Add keywords to the block #### 1.0.0 * Release Date – 23 November 2022* ## Meta * Version **1.1.4** * Last updated **3 months ago** * Active installations **6,000+** * WordPress version ** 6.9 or higher ** * Tested up to **6.9.4** * PHP version ** 7.0 or higher ** * Languages * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/), [Korean](https://ko.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/), [Spanish (Chile)](https://cl.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/), and [Spanish (Spain)](https://es.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/). * [Translate into your language](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/better-youtube-embed-block) * Tags * [block](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/block/)[embed](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/embed/) [gutenberg](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/gutenberg/)[video](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/video/) [youtube](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/youtube/) * [Advanced View](https://li.wordpress.org/plugins/better-youtube-embed-block/advanced/) ## Ratings 5 out of 5 stars. * [ 16 5-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/?filter=5) * [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/?filter=4) * [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/?filter=3) * [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/?filter=2) * [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/?filter=1) [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Phi Phan ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/mr2p/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block/) ## Donate Would you like to support the advancement of this plugin? [ Donate to this plugin ](https://boldblocks.net/?utm_source=wp.org&utm_campaign=readme&utm_medium=link&utm_content=BYEB+Donate)