MeTube

MeTube is a free media downloader for YouTube and dozens of other sites supported through yt-dlp. It supports video downloads up to 4K, as well as playlists and batch downloads, so it can handle multiple items in one workflow. Subtitle downloads are available too. Output choices include MP4, M4A, MP3, Opus, WAV, and FLAC, along with subtitle and text formats such as SRT, TXT, VTT, TTML, SBV, SCC, and DFXP. JPG is also listed as an output format. MeTube is available on the web, Android, iOS, and as a Chrome extension. The listed mix of video, audio, subtitle, text, and image outputs gives users several ways to save supported media. Its free plan and support for playlists and batches may be useful to people who want to download more than single video files from the services it supports.

MeTube covers video, audio, subtitles, and several other output formats, with playlist and batch support. Its listed reach beyond YouTube depends on yt-dlp-supported sites.

MeTube suits people who want to save videos, playlists, subtitles, or other listed media formats from YouTube and supported yt-dlp sites. It is available across web, mobile, and Chrome extension platforms.

MeTube is a free, self-hosted downloader built around yt-dlp. It suits people who want to send media links to a server they control and adjust how each download is saved. Its range is appealing, provided you can manage the server and secure access to it.

Overview

MeTube handles videos, audio, subtitles, and thumbnails from individual videos, playlists, or channels. YouTube is supported, and yt-dlp brings support for dozens of other sites; plugins can extend that reach, with Invidious and Piped among the examples. Channel and playlist subscriptions can queue new uploads, making MeTube useful for following chosen sources as they publish.

Its job ends when a file is written to your server. There are no built-in tools for tagging or organizing a media library, so users who want a finished catalog will need another tool for that work. The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0.

Key features

Per-download controls let users choose quality, format, and destination folder. Server-wide yt-dlp options and presets provide more control for recurring jobs. Video quality goes up to 4K, and output options include MP4, M4A, MP3, Opus, WAV, FLAC, subtitle formats, and JPG thumbnails. Playlist, batch, and subtitle downloads broaden its usefulness beyond saving a single video.

Docker and Docker Compose quick starts make deployment a natural fit for people already running containers, and the project images support amd64 and arm64. The default limit is three concurrent downloads, so further jobs wait their turn. Integrations help move links into the server: the maker documents Chrome and Firefox extensions, bookmarklets, an iOS Shortcut, Android share-menu apps, and a Raycast extension. Other apps can submit downloads through a JSON POST to /add, while GET /formats returns accepted options.

Security requires deliberate setup. MeTube has no authentication by design and is intended for a trusted network or an authenticating reverse proxy. It refuses cross-origin requests when CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS is empty; when allowing origins, the maker advises naming them instead of using a wildcard. Private and internal addresses are blocked by default to reduce SSRF risk, but enabling ALLOW_PRIVATE_ADDRESSES disables that protection. Built-in HTTPS and documented NGINX, Apache, Caddy, and swag reverse-proxy configurations give administrators options for securing deployment.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and is self-hosted. MeTube has no paid plans, so all users get the same product without a subscription or trial. The trade-off is that hosting and securing the service are the user's responsibility.

Platforms

MeTube is self-hosted and accessed through a web interface, with Android and iOS integrations and a Chrome extension. The project also documents Firefox extensions, bookmarklets, an iOS Shortcut, Android share-menu apps, and Raycast support for sending links. Docker images support amd64 and arm64.

Who it's for

MeTube is best for technically comfortable users who want configurable, multi-source downloads routed to a server they control. It is a strong fit for recurring playlist or channel downloads, batch jobs, and varied output formats. It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a hosted service, built-in account security, or media-library organization without managing separate tools.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free self-hosting with no paid tier, plus video quality up to 4K and a wide range of audio, subtitle, and thumbnail formats.
• Pros: Playlist and channel subscriptions can queue new uploads, while batch downloads and per-job quality, format, and folder controls suit varied workflows.
• Pros: Browser, phone, and app integrations make it possible to send links from several kinds of devices and software.
• Cons: No built-in authentication means users must keep it on a trusted network or put it behind an authenticating reverse proxy.
• Cons: MeTube stops at writing files, so tagging and library organization require separate software.
• Cons: Only three downloads run concurrently by default; extra jobs wait in the queue.

Alternatives

Choose 4K Video Downloader+ if you prefer an app with a permanent free Starter plan, a free trial, and Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows support. YTDLnis is a free, open-source Android option for users who want a phone app described as ad-free. SSvid may suit users who want a no-signup option across Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with its free plan capped at five downloads per day. DownSnap is another free option across Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, with no download limits or signup required.

Ghost Downloader is a free, open-source alternative for Android, browser extension, Linux, macOS, and Windows. iTubeGo offers Android, macOS, web, and Windows versions, with phone plans available by week, month, or year. Seal Plus is a free, open-source Android alternative for Android 7.0 or higher. RealDownloader may fit users who want one-click downloads up to 720p on Android, iOS, or Windows, with an Express plan listed at $24.99 a month for downloads up to 8K and YouTube playlist downloads. Browse more options in Video Downloaders.

Verdict

MeTube is a compelling free choice for people comfortable running and securing a server: it combines broad yt-dlp support with configurable downloads, subscriptions, and useful link-sending integrations. Look elsewhere if you want authentication and library management built in, or would rather install a conventional app than maintain a self-hosted service.