yt-dlp
A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader
What is it?
What it is
yt-dlp is a feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader with support for thousands of sites. The project is a fork of youtube-dl based on the now inactive youtube-dlc.
Why it exists
A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader
Who should use it
Teams building with Python who want an open-source, self-hosted option.
Who should avoid it
Teams that need a fully managed SaaS with enterprise SLAs out of the box.
How it works
A quick walkthrough in plain English
How yt-dlp works
Step 1 of 3
You interact with it
Open yt-dlp, send a request, or connect it to your stack.
Features
Advantages
- Open source (Unlicense)
- Active Python ecosystem
- Self-hosted deployment options
Disadvantages
- Requires operational ownership for self-hosted setups
- Community support varies by project maturity
Installation
native
# To update to nightly from stable executable/binary: yt-dlp --update-to nightly # To install nightly with pip: python -m pip install -U --pre "yt-dlp[default]"
FAQ
What is yt-dlp?
yt-dlp is an open-source project licensed under Unlicense.
What language is yt-dlp built with?
Primary language: Python.
Is it free to use?
Yes. Licensed under Unlicense. Check the license for commercial use.
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