156.2k
CLI Development Self-Hosted Tools

Yt-dlp

A feature-rich command-line tool for downloading audio and video from YouTube and other sites.

Yt-dlp is built in Python, distributed under the The Unlicense, 156.2k GitHub stars from 100 contributors, latest release 2026.03.17.

When to use Yt-dlp

Yt-dlp is listed here as a CLI project. The directory calls out Supports a wide variety of video sites, Download playlists and individual videos, Format selection and video conversion as capabilities associated with it.

Other recorded traits for Yt-dlp include Subtitle and annotation downloading, Advanced post-processing options.

Besides CLI, this page also files Yt-dlp under Development, Self-Hosted, Tools.

Yt-dlp compared with

Records in this directory name youtube-dl, JDownloader, 4k Video Downloader as products people compare with Yt-dlp. That list is editorial metadata, not a claim that Yt-dlp replaces each of them.

Open-source projects that mention Yt-dlp are collected on a separate alternatives page.

What the Yt-dlp stats reflect

GitHub currently shows 156.2k GitHub stars, about 100 contributors, 12.8k forks, 2.5k open issues, latest tracked release 2026.03.17. Star and activity counts here are a snapshot used as a proxy for community adoption, not a quality score.

Stats refreshed

Language
Python
Latest Release
2026.03.17
License
The Unlicense

Our Newsletter

Get new CLI tools right in your inbox

Get short emails with useful cli projects, releases, and repos worth watching.

Key features of Yt-dlp

  • Supports a wide variety of video sites
  • Download playlists and individual videos
  • Format selection and video conversion
  • Subtitle and annotation downloading
  • Advanced post-processing options

Recorded alternatives to Yt-dlp

youtube-dl JDownloader 4k Video Downloader
See open-source alternatives to Yt-dlp

Yt-dlp on GitHub

Stars
156.2k
Contributors
100
Open Issues
2.5k
Forks
12.8k

Frequently asked questions

What is Yt-dlp?

A feature-rich command-line tool for downloading audio and video from YouTube and other sites. This directory highlights Supports a wide variety of video sites, Download playlists and individual videos, Format selection and video conversion.

Is Yt-dlp free to use?

Yt-dlp is published as open source under the The Unlicense. The directory lists Supports a wide variety of video sites, Download playlists and individual videos, Format selection and video conversion among its recorded capabilities.

What language is Yt-dlp written in, and what is the latest release?

Yt-dlp is written primarily in Python. The latest release tracked on this page is 2026.03.17.

How widely is Yt-dlp used on GitHub?

Yt-dlp has about 156.2k GitHub stars across about 100 contributors. It also has about 12.8k forks. Those counts are a snapshot of community attention, not a ranking of quality.

What do people compare Yt-dlp with?

This directory records youtube-dl, JDownloader, 4k Video Downloader as comparison points for Yt-dlp. A longer list of open-source projects that mention Yt-dlp is at https://www.open-source-tools.com/alternatives/yt-dlp.

Related tools