Freedom251 › Video Downloaders
Open Video Downloader
What Open Video Downloader is
Open Video Downloader is a free desktop application for downloading videos, audio, subtitles, and metadata from supported websites. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and provides a graphical interface for yt-dlp to retrieve media information and start downloads. The project lists YouTube and more than 1,000 other services as supported sources. You can save complete videos or extract audio, choose resolution and frame rate, and select MP4 or MKV output. Playlist, subtitle, and batch downloads are supported, with up to 32 parallel downloads advertised. Download locations and filenames can use presets or custom templates. Browser cookie files, basic authentication, and video passwords are available for sources that require them. The app and yt-dlp update automatically, except that the Microsoft Store version does not automatically update yt-dlp and may receive updates later. Downloads are offered through GitHub Releases, Microsoft Store, Homebrew, and WinGet.
Who it suits
It suits people who want a graphical alternative to command-line downloading across Linux, macOS, or Windows. It is also useful for playlist, subtitle, audio-extraction, and batch-download tasks.
What it does well
- Free desktop app
- Supports 1,000+ services
- Playlist and batch downloads
- Up to 32 parallel downloads
- MP4 and MKV output
What to know first
- Microsoft Store yt-dlp updates are not automatic
- Users must follow applicable laws and platform terms
- Older 1.x and 2.x releases lack security updates
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Open Video Downloader | Desktop app · downloads from supported websites | Free |
As jely2002.github.io lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Open Video Downloader combines broad source support with format, playlist, subtitle, and batch options. Check the Microsoft Store update limitation and keep to supported 3.x releases for security fixes.
Facts from Open Video Downloader's own pages
- Authentication
- The app supports browser cookie files, basic authentication and video passwords. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Batch downloads
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Device platforms
- Windows; macOS; Linux · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Distribution
- The project lists GitHub Releases, Microsoft Store, Homebrew on Mac and WinGet on Windows as download channels. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Download engine
- The app provides an interface around yt-dlp and communicates with it to fetch information and start downloads. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- License and use
- The project is distributed under the AGPL-3.0 license and says users are responsible for following applicable laws and platform terms. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Media options
- Users can download full videos or extract audio, and automatically save available subtitles and metadata. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- MP4; MKV · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Parallel downloads
- The project site advertises up to 32 parallel downloads. · jely2002.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The app is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, with installers or packages for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs and multiple Linux architectures and distributions. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Playlists and output
- The app supports downloading entire playlists and setting the download location and filenames with presets or custom templates. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Playlist downloads
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- A cross-platform desktop app for downloading videos, audio, subtitles and metadata from supported websites. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Quality and formats
- Users can choose resolution, frame rate and output formats such as MP4 or MKV. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks users to report suspected vulnerabilities privately through GitHub Security or by email, and says maintainers will try to acknowledge reports within 7 days. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Security support
- Security fixes are currently provided for supported 3.x releases; 1.x and 2.x no longer receive security updates. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Subtitle downloads
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Support and audience
- The project provides wiki help pages and says the app offers an easy-to-use interface for people who do not want to use the command line. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported sites
- The project site says it can download from 1000+ services. · jely2002.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported sources
- YouTube; 1000+ services · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Updates
- The app and yt-dlp update automatically; the Microsoft Store version does not support automatic yt-dlp updates and its updates may arrive later. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Open Video Downloader stands on Freedom251
- Video Downloaders#39 of 135