yt-dlp
Ugly, terminal-shaped, and still the downloader every prettier app quietly depends on.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-14
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Unlicense
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopclione-click install
- Installation
- Standalone Windows/macOS/Linux binary, pip/pipx, or an operating-system package manager
- Operational Setup
- It is a command-line program, and MP3 conversion or media merging requires FFmpeg; some sites also require browser cookies or a supported JavaScript runtime
- Where Your Data Lives
- Downloads, subtitles, thumbnails and optional metadata are ordinary files in the selected directory; preferences are plain configuration files
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It is more capable, but the command line, FFmpeg requirements, cookies, and extractor breakage are a major usability loss versus AudioFetcher's simple hosted form.
Replaces 1 paid app
up to $6/mo ($72/yr) in subscriptions
yt-dlp FAQ
Common questions
Is yt-dlp free and open source?+
yt-dlp is an open-source tool licensed under Unlicense that runs on local. Ugly, terminal-shaped, and still the downloader every prettier app quietly depends on.
What paid software does yt-dlp replace?+
yt-dlp serves as a free replacement for 1 paid SaaS application: AudioFetcher, saving up to $6/month ($72/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up yt-dlp?+
Installation: Standalone Windows/macOS/Linux binary, pip/pipx, or an operating-system package manager. Setup notes: It is a command-line program, and MP3 conversion or media merging requires FFmpeg; some sites also require browser cookies or a supported JavaScript runtime
What is the catch or trade-off with yt-dlp?+
It is more capable, but the command line, FFmpeg requirements, cookies, and extractor breakage are a major usability loss versus AudioFetcher's simple hosted form.