156.2k
Yt-dlp
A feature-rich command-line tool for downloading audio and video from YouTube and other sites.
⌨️
CLI👨💻
Development🏠
Self-Hosted🛠️
Tools
4 Open Source Alternatives to youtube-dl
There are 4 open-source alternatives to youtube-dl in this directory. The most popular is Yt-dlp with 156.2k GitHub stars, followed by Metube(13.2k stars). All are open source, free to use, and many can be self-hosted.
Quick comparison
| # | Tool | Stars | Language | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yt-dlp A feature-rich command-line tool for downloading audio and video from YouTube and other sites. | 156.2k | Python | The Unlicense |
| 2 | Metube Self-hosted YouTube downloader with a web UI for youtube-dl and yt-dlp, allowing users to easily download videos from YouTube. | 13.2k | Python | GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 |
| 3 | Streamlink Streamlink is a command-line utility that allows you to extract video streams from popular streaming services and pipe them directly into a video player of your choice. It is widely used for watching live or on-demand content outside a browser. | 11.4k | Python | BSD 2-Clause "Simplified" License |
| 4 | YouTube.js YouTube.js is a powerful JavaScript client for YouTube's private InnerTube API, enabling developers to interact programmatically with YouTube's internal features that aren't available via the official public API. | 4.6k | TypeScript | MIT License |
All open-source alternatives to youtube-dl
13.2k
Metube
Self-hosted YouTube downloader with a web UI for youtube-dl and yt-dlp, allowing users to easily download videos from YouTube.
🌐
Web🏠
Self-Hosted🛠️
Tools🌐
Web
11.4k
Streamlink
Streamlink is a command-line utility that allows you to extract video streams from popular streaming services and pipe them directly into a video player of your choice. It is widely used for watching live or on-demand content outside a browser.
⌨️
CLI🛠️
Tools🌐
Web
4.6k
YouTube.js
YouTube.js is a powerful JavaScript client for YouTube's private InnerTube API, enabling developers to interact programmatically with YouTube's internal features that aren't available via the official public API.
🔁
API🟡
JavaScript👨💻
Development
Frequently asked questions
What are the best open-source alternatives to youtube-dl?
The top three are Yt-dlp(156.2k stars), Metube(13.2k stars), Streamlink(11.4k stars). All are open source and free to use.
Are these alternatives to youtube-dl free?
Yes. Every tool listed here is open source and free to use in your own projects. Many can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, which means no subscription fees and full control over your data.
Can I self-host an alternative to youtube-dl?
Many of the alternatives listed are self-hostable. Each tool's page lists hosting details, system requirements, and licensing terms.
Stay Updated!
Get notified about new tools and updates to existing ones.