Side by side
Catalyst vs Video Downloader by blackdown
Both stand on video downloaders. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose Catalyst if you want a free, open-source desktop downloader with bulk queues, several output choices, and local processing. The main reason to look elsewhere is availability: its download page says releases are not available yet and the first alpha is still coming soon.
Visit Catalyst Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Video Downloader by blackdown offers GUI and CLI workflows across three desktop platforms, with browser-assisted detection and saved sessions. Check the external dependency requirements and sequential queue behavior before using it.
Visit Video Downloader by blackdownThe facts
| Catalyst | Video Downloader by blackdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 1 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | catalyst.tachyon-studios.com | github.com |
| On video downloaders | #21 of 136 | #85 of 136 |
Catalyst: what it does well
- Supports more than 1,800 sites through yt-dlp.
- Queues bulk URLs and lets users reorder downloads.
- Offers video, audio, codec, and resolution choices.
- Searchable history supports redownloading past items.
- Processes downloads locally without an account.
What to know first
- The download page says no releases are available yet.
- The first alpha is described as coming soon.
- The Windows binary is unsigned and may trigger SmartScreen.
Video Downloader by blackdown: what it does well
- Free and MIT-licensed
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Batch files and download queue
- Browser network scanning
- Authenticated-site session cookies
What to know first
- Queue processes one download at a time
- Windows detection needs unbundled Playwright
- Other setups require yt-dlp and ffmpeg
- Output format listed as MP4
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