Downie

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Downie

A curated collection of the 7 best self hosted alternatives to Downie.

Downie is a macOS application for downloading videos from many websites and saving them locally in various formats and qualities. It supports batch downloads, audio extraction, and integration with conversion tools.

Alternatives List

#1
MeTube

MeTube

A lightweight web interface for yt-dlp (youtube-dl fork) that manages queued downloads, playlists, and filename templates via Docker or local Python/Angular setup.

MeTube screenshot

MeTube is a web-based graphical interface that wraps the yt-dlp (youtube-dl fork) engine to manage video and audio downloads from YouTube and many other websites. It provides a queue, playlist support, configurable filename templates, and environment-driven configuration for containerized or local deployments.

Key Features

  • Web UI for adding and managing downloads, including playlists and per-item options.
  • Queue management with configurable concurrency limits and multiple download modes (sequential, concurrent, limited).
  • Filename and playlist output templating with separate audio/video download directories and postprocessing hooks.
  • Environment-variable configuration for download paths, concurrency, server host/port, URL prefix and HTTPS settings.
  • Support for passing yt-dlp options in JSON and loading options from a monitored file for dynamic changes.
  • Integrations and convenience helpers: browser extensions, bookmarklet, iOS shortcut and examples for reverse-proxy setups.

Use Cases

  • Run a local/private service to batch-download YouTube videos and playlists for offline viewing or archiving.
  • Centralize downloads (audio/video) from multiple sources to a network-mounted storage using a containerized deployment.
  • Provide a simple UI for non-technical users to queue and manage media downloads on a home server or NAS appliance.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Core download functionality depends on the underlying yt-dlp engine; frequent yt-dlp updates are required to keep compatibility with video sites.
  • Some sites or restricted/private content require browser cookies or authentication; users must supply appropriate cookie files or credentials for those cases.
  • MeTube itself is a download UI and relies on external tools (yt-dlp and optionally ffmpeg for custom postprocessing) for actual media fetching and transcoding; those tools must be present/updated when needed.

MeTube is a pragmatic, focused UI for managing yt-dlp workloads. It is designed for easy deployment with Docker or local builds (Node/Angular front end and a Python backend) and prioritizes straightforward configuration, playlist handling, and maintainability in environments where users regularly archive or batch-download web-hosted media.

12.2kstars
836forks
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#2
pyLoad

pyLoad

Self-hosted download manager with a web UI, link decryption, and plugin-based support for many one-click hosters and file sources.

pyLoad screenshot

pyLoad is a lightweight download manager designed to run on desktops, servers, and NAS devices, controlled primarily through a browser-based web interface. It focuses on automating downloads from many sources via a large, extensible plugin system.

Key Features

  • Web UI for adding, organizing, and monitoring downloads remotely
  • Plugin ecosystem for one-click hosters, decrypters, and add-ons
  • Support for premium account logins and hoster-specific workflows (via plugins)
  • Link decryption and container handling for supported formats (via plugins)
  • Headless operation suitable for servers and low-resource devices
  • REST API with an OpenAPI/Swagger specification for external integrations
  • Optional Click'N'Load-style integration for sending links from the browser

Use Cases

  • Centralized download box on a home server or NAS managed through a web UI
  • Automating downloads from supported file hosters and sources using plugins
  • Integrating downloads into other tools via the REST API

Limitations and Considerations

  • Hoster support and reliability depend heavily on plugins, which may require ongoing maintenance as websites change
  • Some features (captcha solving, SSL, enhanced web performance) may require optional dependencies or external services

pyLoad is a solid choice when you want a web-controlled download manager with broad hoster support and extensibility. Its API and plugin architecture make it especially suitable for unattended and integrated download workflows.

3.7kstars
738forks
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#3
YoutubeDL-Material

YoutubeDL-Material

Self-hosted web interface for managing video/audio downloads using youtube-dl, with a Material Design UI, queue management, and an optional public API.

YoutubeDL-Material is a self-hosted web application that provides a modern Material Design interface for downloading and managing video and audio via youtube-dl. It combines an Angular frontend with a Node.js backend and can run as a standard Node app or via Docker.

Key Features

  • Material Design web UI with light/dark themes
  • Download management for video/audio with progress and history
  • Server-side processing that can use common helpers such as FFmpeg
  • Optional MongoDB database backend for improved scaling over JSON-based storage
  • Public REST API with API key support (can be enabled in settings)
  • Docker and Docker Compose deployment support

Use Cases

  • Centralized media downloading tool for a home server or NAS
  • Managing larger download libraries with a database-backed catalog
  • Automating downloads or integrating with other tools through the public API

Limitations and Considerations

  • Functionality depends on external download tools (for example youtube-dl) and their ongoing compatibility with target sites
  • Some advanced post-processing features may require optional system dependencies (for example FFmpeg)

YoutubeDL-Material is well-suited for users who want a browser-based downloader with a clean UI, queue/history management, and optional API/database features for more advanced setups.

3.1kstars
327forks
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#4
ytdl-sub

ytdl-sub

CLI tool that orchestrates yt-dlp and FFmpeg with YAML presets to download, convert, tag, and organize media for Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi, Emby and music players.

ytdl-sub screenshot

ytdl-sub is a command-line tool that orchestrates yt-dlp to download media and prepare it for media servers and players. It uses a declarative YAML configuration and preset system to control what to download and how files and metadata are produced.

Key Features

  • Declarative subscriptions and presets written in YAML to describe channels, playlists, formats, and destination library layouts.
  • Wraps and runs yt-dlp for downloads and can remux/transcode using FFmpeg/ffprobe when needed.
  • Rich plugin system (audio_extract, chapters, subtitles, file_convert, embed_thumbnail, music_tags, nfo_tags, video_tags, etc.) to control metadata, tagging, thumbnails, and post-processing.
  • Presets for media server targets and media types (Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, Kodi, music players) to produce naming, NFO files, and metadata formats those servers expect.
  • Scripting and template functions for conditional filtering, custom variables, and fine-grained automation of downloads.
  • Docker images provided (headless and GUI/code-server variant) plus a standalone executable and PyPI package; recommended deployment via Docker Compose or cron for automation.

Use Cases

  • Archive YouTube channels or playlists as TV shows or seasons for Plex/Jellyfin/Emby with server-compatible metadata.
  • Build and tag local music/video libraries (music videos, concerts, SoundCloud/Bandcamp imports) with embedded tags and external NFOs.
  • Automate periodic downloads via scheduled runs (cron/container) to keep a local media library in sync.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Requires external dependencies: Python 3.10+ and FFmpeg/ffprobe; these are mandatory for post-processing and packaging tasks.
  • CLI-first tool aimed at power users; configuration is flexible but has a steeper learning curve than polished web-UIs.
  • Relies on yt-dlp for site extractor correctness; changes to source sites may require updating yt-dlp and the tool's dependencies.

ytdl-sub is focused on providing flexible, reproducible control over media download and metadata generation rather than a one-click consumer UI. It is well-suited for users who need precise filename/metadata control and integration with media servers.

2.7kstars
96forks
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#5
HomeTube

HomeTube

Self-hosted web interface to download videos and playlists via yt-dlp, process them, and auto-organize into Plex/Jellyfin-ready folders.

HomeTube is a self-hosted web app that helps you download single videos or playlists from many supported sites and organize them into a media-server-friendly library structure. It is designed for homelabs where downloads should land directly in folders scanned by Plex, Jellyfin, or similar tools.

Key Features

  • Web-based UI to download individual videos and playlists
  • Playlist synchronization with ID-based tracking to handle renames and reordering
  • Automatic organization and configurable destination folder structures
  • SponsorBlock integration to skip or mark sponsor/ads segments on supported sources
  • Cookie-based authentication support for improved reliability and access to restricted content
  • Advanced processing options such as clipping, format conversion, subtitle embedding, and audio extraction
  • Quality selection strategies with modern codec prioritization and fallback profiles
  • Support for custom yt-dlp arguments and network options (for example proxies and rate limits)

Use Cases

  • Build a personal, curated offline video library managed by Plex or Jellyfin
  • Keep educational or reference playlists mirrored locally with incremental updates
  • Download and post-process videos (clip, convert, add subtitles) for archiving or playback

Limitations and Considerations

  • Download reliability and available formats depend on upstream platforms and often require cookies for best results
  • Sponsor skipping/marking depends on community-provided SponsorBlock segments and is primarily effective for YouTube

HomeTube is a practical tool for homelabs that want a simple UI on top of yt-dlp with strong library organization and playlist tracking. It fits well when you want downloads to be automatically placed and named for seamless media server ingestion.

591stars
23forks
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#6
ydl_api_ng

ydl_api_ng

Self-hosted HTTP API wrapping yt-dlp for automated video/audio downloads, presets, queue management, hooks and scheduled recordings.

ydl_api_ng is a Python-based HTTP API that exposes yt-dlp functionality for automated downloading and processing of online media. It provides preset-driven configurations, a queue system, optional Redis-backed scheduling, and browser integration via a userscript.

Key Features

  • REST API to enqueue and manage downloads with preset parameter files
  • Full compatibility with yt-dlp options through a flexible parameter system
  • Presets and parameter metadata files generated for easy customization
  • Queue management with optional Redis backend for worker coordination
  • Programmation (scheduling) system for recurring or timed recordings (requires Redis)
  • Hooks for progress and postprocessing to run custom Python scripts during downloads
  • Docker and docker-compose support plus a systemd service file for non-container deployments
  • Browser userscript to trigger downloads from visited pages and integrate presets
  • Configurable UID/GID for filesystem permissions and volume mappings for downloads, params and logs

Use Cases

  • Archive channels, playlists, or livestreams on a schedule for media preservation
  • Provide an internal API for on-demand media downloads and format extraction for other services
  • Integrate browser-based download buttons for team members via the provided userscript

Limitations and Considerations

  • Scheduling/programmation features require Redis to be enabled; without Redis scheduling is not available
  • Precise start times for scheduled jobs have a small known timing drift (about -1 minute tolerance)
  • Many postprocessing features depend on external tools (for example, ffmpeg) and a compatible yt-dlp installation
  • User management is disabled by default; enabling token-based access requires additional configuration

ydl_api_ng is suited for self-hosted environments where automated, configurable media acquisition is required. It emphasizes scriptable presets, extensibility via hooks, and production-ready deployment options via Docker or systemd.

226stars
26forks
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#7
MusicService

MusicService

Downloads music from YouTube and other providers, converts to high-quality MP3 with cover art, and uploads to WebDAV-compatible cloud storage like Nextcloud. Dockerized.

MusicService screenshot

MusicService is a Dockerized microservice that synchronizes YouTube playlists and other supported providers with cloud storage by downloading videos, converting them to MP3, adding cover art, and uploading via WebDAV. It runs as a container with a simple web UI and can monitor playlists for new tracks automatically.

Key Features

  • Downloads audio/video from a wide range of sites using youtube-dl/yt-dlp backends
  • Monitors playlists and channels for new items and queues downloads automatically
  • Converts video files to high-quality MP3 using ffmpeg and embeds cover art and basic metadata
  • Uploads resulting MP3s to any WebDAV-compatible cloud storage (Nextcloud, ownCloud, etc.)
  • Tracks already-downloaded songs to avoid duplicates and unnecessary downloads
  • Runs as a Docker container with a web UI (default port 5678) and provided Docker Compose setup

Use Cases

  • Maintain a personal MP3 music library in Nextcloud by automatically syncing selected YouTube playlists
  • Archive and backup favorite mixes or artist uploads to a private cloud drive
  • Automate scheduled or continuous ingestion of new tracks for a home media collection

Limitations and Considerations

  • Functionality depends on upstream downloader and ffmpeg; changes to provider sites can temporarily break downloads
  • Intended for personal/home use; not a scalable enterprise ingestion pipeline
  • Requires a WebDAV-capable storage endpoint and a host capable of running Docker containers

MusicService is a focused tool for automating the download, conversion, and storage of online music sources into a managed MP3 collection on WebDAV storage. It is lightweight to deploy via Docker and is useful for home servers and personal media management.

50stars
6forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running