Questions and answers
The short answers first: yes it's free, no it doesn't block ads (it hides them), and yes you keep paying your own services. The rest is below.
Is it really free?
Yes. Prism is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later. There is no paid tier, no trial, and no account. If Prism helps you and you want to support the people making it, there is a Support page, but everyone gets the same Prism either way.
Does Prism block ads?
No. Prism hides them. When an ad plays, Prism covers the picture with a nature photo and mutes the sound. The ad is still served and still plays underneath. Nothing is blocked from loading, nothing is clicked, and nothing is skipped. When the ad ends, the cover lifts and your show is back.
Do I still pay for my services?
Yes. Prism is a place to watch what you already pay for. You sign in to each service yourself, on the service's own page, and you keep paying them directly. Prism never sees a password.
Why nature?
Because an ad break is a good moment to look at something calm. Ads are built to grab you: loud, bright, and timed for the moment you were most into the show. A quiet photo of a lake asks nothing of you. The photos come from Wikimedia Commons, public domain or CC0, and are credited on the Credits page.
Does it break sites?
It shouldn't, and there are two safety nets if it ever does. Press Escape to lift every cover and restore the sound at once. If Prism covers something that isn't an ad, or misses one, use the report button so we can fix the rule. Prism only reads what a page shows and only covers what it detects. It doesn't change how a site works.
Is it legal to hide ads?
Prism covers the picture and mutes the sound on your own screen and your own speakers. It doesn't block the ad, skip it, or stop it from being served, and it doesn't touch a service's copy protection. You decide what your screen shows. Some services' terms of use say things about ads, so we keep Prism to covering, never blocking, and we've written down how Prism treats other people's services. This isn't legal advice.
Why Windows first?
Picture quality. Premium streaming services gate resolution on the copy protection a player supports. Prism for Windows uses Microsoft's own web view with hardware PlayReady, so services play at the quality your plan allows, up to 4K. Browsers on other platforms run software Widevine, and most services cap that at 720p. Windows was the one place Prism could do everything at full quality first.
Where is Mac, Linux, or Safari?
The browser extensions work today in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox on Mac and Linux, so the ad cover isn't Windows-only. The full Prism, with your services in one place, is Windows 11 first for the reason above. A Safari extension and a Mac app are both planned, after the extension is stable in the other three browsers. A Linux app is not planned yet.
How do I get a TMDB key?
Prism uses your own free TMDB key for titles, pictures, and ratings, so nothing goes through us. Make a free account at themoviedb.org, open Settings, then API, and request a key for personal use. In Prism, open the Prism menu, choose TMDB key, and paste it in. The key stays on your device and is sent to TMDB alone.