Freedom251 › Video Downloaders
youtube-dl
What youtube-dl is
youtube-dl is a free command-line program for downloading videos from YouTube and other supported sites. The project lists YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Facebook, SoundCloud, and many additional extractors. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with installation through Unix downloads, a Windows executable, pip, Homebrew, or MacPorts. Downloads can use 3gp, aac, flv, m4a, mp3, mp4, ogg, wav, and webm formats. Playlist, subtitle, and batch downloads are supported. By default, youtube-dl seeks the best available quality, while users can select formats explicitly. Controls include playlist filtering, rate limits, retries, fragment handling, and external downloaders such as aria2c, ffmpeg, wget, and curl. Output templates can use video metadata for filenames and directories. Other details include Python requirements for non-Windows installations, embedding instructions for Python programs, and SHA256 and GPG verification guidance. The project lists release 2021.12.17 and public-domain licensing.
Who it suits
youtube-dl suits users who prefer command-line downloads across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is useful when playlist, subtitle, batch, format, and download-control options are needed.
What it does well
- Supports many listed video and audio sites
- Downloads playlists, subtitles, and batches
- Offers audio and video output formats
- Provides rate, retry, and fragment controls
- Public-domain software with no paid tiers
What to know first
- Requires Python except for Windows executable
- Command-line interface may need technical familiarity
- Listed release is 2021.12.17
- Source support depends on published extractors
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| youtube-dl | No paid tiers or usage limits stated | Free |
As ytdl-org.github.io lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
youtube-dl provides broad command-line download controls and multiple output formats at no cost. Its installation and Python requirements, plus the listed release date, are important considerations before use.
Facts from youtube-dl's own pages
- Batch downloads
- Yes · ytdl-org.github.io, 21 Sept 2026
- Device platforms
- Windows,macOS,Linux · ytdl-org.github.io, 21 Sept 2026
- Download controls
- Options include rate limits, retries, fragment handling, and external downloaders such as aria2c, ffmpeg, wget, and curl. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Embedding
- The README includes instructions for embedding youtube-dl in other Python programs. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- File naming
- Output templates can use video metadata to name files and create directory paths. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · ytdl-org.github.io, 21 Sept 2026
- Installation
- Installation options include Unix command-line downloads, a Windows executable, pip, Homebrew, and MacPorts. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Integrity checks
- The download page provides SHA256 checksums and instructions for verifying signatures with GPG. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The project says it is released to the public domain and may be modified, redistributed, or used freely. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- 3gp,aac,flv,m4a,mp3,mp4,ogg,wav,webm · ytdl-org.github.io, 21 Sept 2026
- Platform support
- The program is not platform specific and the project says it should work on Unix, Windows, and macOS. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Playlist controls
- Options include selecting playlist items, choosing whether to download a playlist, and filtering video selection. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Playlist downloads
- Yes · ytdl-org.github.io, 21 Sept 2026
- Project team
- The About page lists Remita Amine as a core developer and names Ricardo Garcia Gonzalez as the original author. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- youtube-dl is a command-line program for downloading videos from YouTube and other supported sites. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Release
- The download page lists version 2021.12.17 as its release and provides its download files. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Runtime
- The program requires Python 2.6, 2.7, or 3.2+ except for the Windows executable, which includes Python. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Subtitle downloads
- Yes · ytdl-org.github.io, 21 Sept 2026
- Support
- The project homepage directs users to its support page and lists an IRC channel for contact. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported sites
- The project publishes an alphabetical list of supported site extractors. · ytdl-org.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported sources
- YouTube,Vimeo,Dailymotion,Facebook,SoundCloud,and many other listed sites · ytdl-org.github.io, 21 Sept 2026
- Video quality
- By default, youtube-dl tries to download the best available quality, and users can select formats explicitly. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where youtube-dl stands on Freedom251
- Video Downloaders#27 of 135