Ninja Download Manager

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Ninja Download Manager

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to Ninja Download Manager.

A desktop download manager and accelerator for Windows and macOS that speeds file transfers using segmented connections, provides pause/resume, scheduling, browser integration and media download handling.

Alternatives List

#1
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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#2
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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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