Cobalt

Cobalt is a web-based media downloader designed to fetch files from publicly accessible content on supported social platforms. It provides a simple paste-a-link workflow via a clean web UI and also exposes an API for integrations.

Key Features

• Download publicly accessible media by URL (video and audio, depending on the source)
• Web UI plus a dedicated API service (monorepo includes frontend and backend)
• No ads or tracking, with a minimal, fast user experience
• Proxy-style streaming approach and no server-side content caching by default
• Instance configuration via environment variables, suited for self-hosted deployments

Use Cases

• Save personal copies of public videos or audio for offline viewing/listening
• Provide a simple internal “download by link” tool for a team or household
• Integrate media fetching into other tools via the API (automation or archival workflows)

Limitations and Considerations

• Intended for downloading only free, publicly accessible content; access-controlled or paid content is not supported
• Platform compatibility can change as third-party sites update their behavior

Cobalt is a focused, low-friction downloader that pairs a straightforward web interface with an API for programmatic use. It is best suited for users who want a fast, privacy-respecting way to save public media without unnecessary complexity.