EZDown is a free, open-source Windows desktop media downloader with a Chrome or Edge browser extension. It uses yt-dlp to retrieve video and audio from thousands of supported websites, including YouTube, and outputs MP4 files. The extension detects watch pages, places a download button beside compatible native players, and sends requests to the desktop application. FFmpeg merges downloaded audio and video streams. The Electron app supports background execution, system-tray integration, and an onboarding wizard for preferences. EZDown also describes an audio-streaming backend with dynamic port discovery for low-latency playback. A local Node.js and Express API handles downloading and streaming. Windows is the supported packaging target, with a standalone .exe installer containing the extension, yt-dlp.exe, and ffmpeg.exe. Loading the unpacked extension requires browser developer mode. Source use requires Windows, Node.js, and npm; Node.js 18 or higher is recommended. Playlist downloads are listed as unavailable in the product details.
Who it is for
EZDown suits Windows users who want a free, open-source downloader with browser integration. It also fits users comfortable loading an unpacked Chrome or Edge extension and running local Node.js-based components.
What is good
- Free and open-source
- Supports thousands of yt-dlp websites
- Chrome and Edge extension integration
- FFmpeg merges audio and video streams
- Windows standalone installer is described
What to know first
- Windows is the currently supported packaging target
- Playlist downloads are listed as unavailable
- Supported websites may change behavior
- Source setup requires Node.js, npm, and Windows
Verdict
EZDown combines a Windows downloader with browser controls, yt-dlp extraction, and FFmpeg processing. Its free open-source model and local API are useful for compatible Windows setups, while platform and playlist limits should be noted.
Compared on video downloaders
- Supported sources
- Thousands of websites supported by yt-dlp, including YouTube
- Output formats
- mp4
- Playlist downloads
- No
- Device platforms
- Windows desktop; Chrome and Edge browsers
