- Starting price
- $7.99/month
- Free tier
- No
- Platforms
- Google Chrome · Windows · macOS · Chromebook · HDMI to TV
- Developer
- ClearPlay Inc.
- Launched
- 1998
- Updated
- Aug 9, 2026
The verdict
ClearPlay gives families unusually granular control without replacing the movie: choose categories, then let the Chrome extension mute or skip matching moments in supported titles. The $7.99 fee is reasonable, but it sits on top of ad-free streaming plans, works primarily through a computer and Google Chrome, and cannot filter every title or survive every platform change instantly. Use the 30-day trial on the exact services, devices, shows, audio setup, and categories your household cares about, and never assume a filter is perfect.
Try ClearPlay ↗Opens clearplay.com
ClearPlay is a family media-filtering company with roots in DVD filtering and a current product centered on a Google Chrome extension. A household keeps its own authorized streaming subscription or rental, signs into that provider in the browser, chooses a supported title with a ClearPlay filter, and selects unwanted categories. The extension changes playback in real time—muting language or skipping visual and narrative segments—without ClearPlay distributing a new edited copy of the movie. The Chrome Web Store currently shows 60,000 users, a 3.7 rating from 70 reviews, version 1.11.18, and an update dated July 28, 2026.
The four high-level controls are sex and nudity, violence, language, and substance abuse, with more detailed subcategories available inside a filter. All filtering begins enabled, and the viewer can deliberately keep selected content rather than accepting one publisher-defined edit. The live service status lists movies across the Prime Video Store, Amazon Prime, Apple TV Channel, HBO Max Channel, Paramount+ Channel, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, and Netflix, with television availability varying. Users can request popular missing titles, but a request is not a delivery promise.
Membership is currently advertised with a 30-day free trial, then $7.99 monthly or $79.99 annually. ClearPlay does not include Netflix, Disney+, Prime, Max, Apple TV+, Paramount+, rentals, or purchases; those remain separate. Compatibility frequently requires the ad-free or premium version of a streaming plan because ad insertion changes timing. The support table, not a provider logo on a landing page, controls. For example, ad-supported Netflix and Max are not supported, and Amazon Prime filtering requires its separate ad-free option.
We reviewed the current plan, Chrome listing, setup, compatibility, device, category, status, troubleshooting, privacy, and terms pages. We did not subscribe, install the extension, watch an entire filtered title, test every service, validate every category decision, or inspect extension traffic. Streaming platforms change code and edits without coordinating with ClearPlay, so availability and timing are inherently per-title and per-day. The review describes the current service and its failure modes, not a guarantee that an objectionable moment will always be removed.
✓ The good
- Viewer-controlled categories - households decide what to mute or skip rather than accepting one universal edit
- Broad major-service reach - current support spans several leading streaming ecosystems
- Legal playback design - filtering operates on an authorized stream without distributing a replacement copy
- Reasonable membership price - $7.99 monthly or $79.99 annually is below many content subscriptions
- Long free trial - 30 days allows several services and difficult titles to be tested
- Active maintenance - the Chrome extension and status documentation were updated in 2026
- Safety checks - a changed-title warning can disable a stale filter instead of knowingly applying wrong timings
- Request process - members can signal demand for a missing movie or episode
✗ Watch out
- Computer-and-Chrome workflow - native smart-TV, Roku, Fire TV, game console, and mobile viewing are not the ordinary supported path
- Requires separate content access - the real cost includes subscriptions, ad-free upgrades, rentals, and purchases
- Catalog is selective - a service can be supported while a particular title or episode has no filter
- Filters can be wrong - late mutes, early skips, changed cuts, or human judgment errors can expose or remove content
- Ad-supported plans often fail - inserted advertising changes playback and timing needed for filtering
- Playback quality tradeoffs - browser streaming may lose 4K, Atmos, or the convenience of native apps
- External audio support stops at the computer - soundbars, Bluetooth, receivers, and casting can complicate reliable muting
- Personal-household license - terms prohibit commercial use and sharing access outside the immediate household
Best for
- Families who want configurable filtering rather than title-level blocking
- Households comfortable playing video on a computer or connecting it to a television by HDMI
- Viewers already paying for compatible ad-free streaming plans
- Parents willing to verify the filter and supervise age-appropriate choices
- People who prefer retaining a story while removing selected language or scenes
Avoid if
- Your household watches almost entirely through native smart-TV, Roku, Fire TV, console, or mobile apps
- You require a guarantee that no objectionable frame, word, or theme will remain
- You use only ad-supported streaming tiers
- You expect ClearPlay to include movies or replace streaming subscriptions
- Your viewing setup depends on 4K, Dolby Atmos, wireless casting, or complex external audio with full vendor support
What ClearPlay is
ClearPlay is a synchronized playback-control layer. Its proprietary filters contain timestamps and categories for specific versions of movies or episodes. The extension watches playback on a supported provider and mutes audio or seeks past video based on the household’s selections. It does not rate the whole title, host a censored copy, or change the source file permanently.
That design preserves choice and legal access, but it is technically fragile by nature. A streaming provider can change a cut, player timer, DRM behavior, advertising, or page code. ClearPlay monitors and updates filters, yet there can be a gap between a provider change and a repaired filter. The product should be treated as a useful preference tool, not a child-safety guarantee.
Why families choose ClearPlay: control the categories inside a title, not only whether it plays
Traditional parental controls block by maturity rating or profile. A parent who accepts action violence but wants to remove sexual content, or tolerates mild words but not graphic profanity, gets little help. ClearPlay’s category and subcategory controls let that household construct its own playback preference while retaining the licensed story.
The closest comparison is VidAngel, another subscription filter layered over content the household can legally access. The practical differences move constantly with streaming-service support, device path, catalog, TV episodes, filter depth, and pricing. Trial both on the same titles. A large logo list is less informative than whether tonight’s exact version plays smoothly on the family’s actual screen.
Custom filters: granular choices still require parental judgment
Before playback, ClearPlay shows controls for sex and nudity, violence, language, and substance abuse, with all filtering initially on. The viewer can turn selected items off to keep them. Audio events can be muted while visual or longer events can be skipped, preserving more of the title than a single pre-edited cut.
A content taxonomy cannot decide developmental readiness or a family’s values. Removing visible violence does not remove threat, grief, fear, or plot consequences; skipping a sexual scene may leave dialogue or themes; muting a word does not change the surrounding hostility. Read independent content information, watch with children when appropriate, and discuss the story. Filtering is a tool for selective playback, not a substitute for choosing well.
Service, plan, and device compatibility: the matrix is part of the product
The setup requires an active ClearPlay account, a supported stream or owned Amazon title, a computer, current Google Chrome, and the extension. ClearPlay recommends a Mac or PC and an HDMI connection for television viewing. Other Chromium browsers may work, but official troubleshooting focuses on Chrome. Native streaming apps do not use the extension.
Check the living supported-subscriptions and status pages before changing a streaming plan. Ad tiers are commonly unsupported; individual Amazon channels have separate rules; movies and TV can differ; and a title can be disabled temporarily after a provider changes it. Browser paths may limit resolution and audio compared with native hardware. External speakers, soundbars, receivers, Bluetooth, AirPlay, casting, and wireless mirroring add failure points outside normal support.
Timing, privacy, and extension trust: a good safeguard should fail visibly
Late or early events can occur when browser, platform, or title timing changes. ClearPlay documents refresh and hard-refresh steps and invites timestamped reports. A final safety check can display “Change in Show Detected” and disable the filter until the team updates it, targeting roughly 24 hours without guaranteeing that turnaround. Disney+ may briefly pause to ensure a skipped segment is fully passed.
The Chrome listing discloses handling personally identifiable, payment, and authentication information. The privacy policy covers account, transaction, device, usage, cookies, service providers, and communications. Because an extension interacts with logged-in streaming pages, use the official publisher listing, review requested permissions, update promptly, remove unused access, and use a unique password. ClearPlay’s terms also impose arbitration, a class-action waiver, personal noncommercial use, automatic renewal, and dependence on third-party platforms.
Pricing
Free trial
30 days
A payment method may be required and the trial converts automatically unless cancelled. Test each service, one movie and episode, mute and skip categories, subtitle sync, HDMI, external audio, and cancellation.
Monthly membership
$7.99/month
Renews monthly in advance and can be cancelled for future periods. Monthly fees are generally nonrefundable. It includes filtering access, not the underlying movie or streaming service.
Annual membership
$79.99/year
Saves about $15.89 compared with twelve monthly payments. Prepaid memberships auto-renew; current terms allow a full refund request within 30 days of the prepaid period, then generally become nonrefundable.
Streaming access
Separate
Netflix, Prime, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+, Paramount+, rentals, purchases, and required ad-free upgrades are paid to their providers. ClearPlay neither supplies nor licenses the content.
TV setup
Potential hardware cost
A household may use an existing computer and HDMI cable or dedicate a laptop. ClearPlay support is centered on browser playback and stops before many external audio or wireless-display components.
The annual plan is equivalent to about $6.67 per month and saves roughly 16.6% versus $95.88 for twelve monthly payments. Monthly remains the safer first choice after the trial because streaming compatibility and household viewing habits can change.
The larger expense is compatible content. A household may need ad-free Netflix, Disney+, Max, Prime’s ad-free option, channel upgrades, rentals, or purchases. Compare the full bundle with a curated family streaming catalog, library discs, or simply renting fewer titles.
The 30-day trial automatically becomes paid under the current terms if not cancelled. Set a reminder before the conversion date, verify the account shows cancellation, and keep the confirmation. Monthly fees are nonrefundable except where law requires.
Annual subscriptions auto-renew. Current terms describe a 30-day refund window from the start of a prepaid membership, after which it is generally nonrefundable. Ask support before purchase if a promotion or checkout says something different.
ClearPlay may change future pricing with notice. Streaming providers also change their own plans and technical behavior. Reassess the total family stack each year rather than treating the filtering fee in isolation.
Where ClearPlay falls behind
Living-room convenience. A supported native app for common television platforms would be far easier than routing a Chrome computer through HDMI, though legal and technical constraints are real.
Guaranteed coverage. Users must check provider, subscription tier, title, episode, and current status; popular unsupported titles weaken the promise implied by provider logos.
Playback fidelity. Browser resolution, audio limitations, visible pauses, and external-device boundaries can trade presentation quality for filtering control.
Public filter detail. Previewable event counts and category notes before starting a title would help parents understand what remains without exposing proprietary timestamps.
Independent assurance. Extension security, permissions, platform data access, filter quality sampling, accessibility, and privacy would benefit from clearer public audits and metrics.
ClearPlay vs. VidAngel vs. parental controls vs. curated streaming
VidAngel is the closest active concept: pay for filtering and separately access supported content. Catalog, platform routes, categories, television support, and pricing differ, so test exact titles. ClearPlay’s Chrome-first method is understandable and broad but less couch-friendly than a polished television app.
Built-in parental controls block profiles, ratings, or entire titles and cost nothing extra. They are more reliable technically but much less granular. ClearPlay serves the family that wants to watch a particular story while removing selected moments, not the family satisfied with preventing playback altogether.
Pure Flix, UP Faith & Family, Yippee, and other curated catalogs include their own content for the subscription price, but selection is smaller and centered on a content identity. ClearPlay lets a household adapt mainstream catalogs. A human review guide such as Common Sense Media helps choose titles but does not alter playback.
The bottom line
ClearPlay is a mature answer to a specific family preference: keep access to mainstream movies and shows while muting or skipping categories the household does not want. Its customizable filters, current major-service coverage, safety checks, active Chrome release, and $7.99 price make it credible. Its limitations are structural: the extension needs a computer and Chrome, streaming access costs extra, ad-free plans are often required, browser playback can sacrifice convenience or quality, catalog coverage is selective, and timing can fail. Use all 30 trial days with the real setup and remain ready to stop playback. If the household values granular control more than native-TV simplicity and understands filtering is not perfect supervision, ClearPlay is worth the subscription.
Alternatives to ClearPlay
VidAngelThe closest subscription filtering competitor, with a different supported-service and device workflow.Common Sense MediaDetailed parent-oriented content information that helps choose a title but does not alter playback.
Pure FlixA curated Christian catalog included with the subscription rather than filtering mainstream services.
UP Faith & FamilyFamily-oriented included streaming with native-device convenience and a smaller curated catalog.Built-in streaming profilesFree title- and rating-level controls that are simpler and more reliable but not scene-granular.Frequently asked questions
How much does ClearPlay cost?
The current offer is a 30-day trial followed by $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Streaming subscriptions, ad-free upgrades, rentals, and purchases are separate.
Which services work with ClearPlay?
Current documentation lists support across selected Amazon, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix, and Paramount+ paths. Provider, plan, movie versus television, individual title, and current status all matter. Check the live matrix.
Does ClearPlay work on a smart TV or Roku?
The supported route is a Mac, Windows PC, or compatible computer running Google Chrome. Many families connect the computer to a TV by HDMI. Native smart-TV, Roku, Fire TV, console, or phone apps do not ordinarily run the Chrome extension.
What content can it filter?
The four main categories are sex/nudity, violence, language, and substance abuse, with subcategory controls. A filter changes selected moments; it does not remove every mature theme or make every title appropriate for every child.
Will every filter be accurate?
No. Human categorization and changing stream timing can cause misses or awkward skips. ClearPlay can disable a changed filter and accepts timestamp reports. Parents should supervise and stop playback if needed.
Why do ad-free plans matter?
Inserted advertisements alter player timing and behavior, which can break synchronized mutes and skips. ClearPlay’s current compatibility table excludes many ad-supported tiers.
Can a church show filtered movies publicly?
ClearPlay’s membership terms are for personal, noncommercial household use and do not provide a public-performance license. A church needs separate exhibition rights and written permission for any filtering use beyond the household.
Sources & further reading
More Media Filtering Apps
GertrudeA rigorous Apple-family safety suite with a free iOS loophole blocker and unusually strict Mac allowlisting—powerful, candid, and demanding enough that privacy and setup cannot be afterthoughts.
PinwheelA flexible parent-managed first-phone system with approved apps, contact modes, schedules, text visibility, and GPS—more adaptable than a locked-down kids phone, but Android reliability, pricing conflicts, and invasive family data deserve a careful trial.
VersoVerso mutes mapped profanity, slurs, and blasphemy during Apple Music playback—a clever final layer for families, but two subscriptions and a much narrower safety promise than “clean music.”
Church Online PlatformLife.Church’s genuinely free hosted layer for turning a video stream into a scheduled, interactive ministry experience—remarkably capable at any price, but the church still owns video delivery, moderation, safeguarding, and user-data compliance.
BibleProjectA nonprofit studio that turned the entire Bible into animated explainers, free seminary-grade courses, and a deep-dive theology podcast - and somehow gave it all away.
SefariaA Jewish nonprofit quietly rebuilt the entire rabbinic library online - and serious Christian students of the Hebrew Bible keep showing up to use it.