MeTube

MeTube is a free, self-hosted downloader built around yt-dlp. It is best for people who want downloads delivered to a server they control, with choices over format, quality, and destination. Choose it for that control and broad source support; choose something else if you need built-in authentication or media-library tools.

Overview

MeTube handles videos, audio, subtitles, and thumbnails from individual links, playlists, or entire channels. It supports YouTube and dozens of other sites through yt-dlp, with plugins such as those for Invidious and Piped extending the links it can accept. Subscriptions can queue new uploads from channels and playlists, making it useful for recurring collection rather than only occasional downloads.

Its job ends once a file is written to the server. There are no built-in tagging or library-organization tools, so people maintaining a browsable media collection will need a separate application.

Key features

Each download can specify its quality, format, and folder; server-wide yt-dlp options and presets reduce repeated configuration. Video quality goes up to 4K. Output choices cover MP4, M4A, MP3, Opus, WAV, FLAC, JPG thumbnails, and subtitle formats including SRT, TXT, VTT, TTML, SBV, SCC, and DFXP. Batch, playlist, and subtitle downloads make it more flexible than a single-link grabber.

Docker and Docker Compose quick starts, with images for amd64 and arm64, suit people already comfortable operating a server. The default limit is three concurrent downloads; additional jobs wait, which keeps activity bounded but can slow a large queue.

Browser extensions, bookmarklets, an iOS Shortcut, Android share-menu apps, and a Raycast extension can send links to MeTube. Integrations can also submit a download with a JSON POST to /add, while GET /formats returns accepted options. This makes it possible to route links from different devices and tools into one server rather than download locally on each device.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and is self-hosted; there are no paid plans. That suits users willing to run and maintain their own server, but it is not a hosted service with a provider handling deployment. There is no free trial, since the plan is free.

Platforms

MeTube runs as a self-hosted web application, with integrations for Android, iOS, and Chrome. Its Docker images support amd64 and arm64. Firefox extensions and the other link-submission options broaden how users can send downloads, but the files are written to the server rather than a device-specific library.

Who it's for

MeTube fits self-hosters who want a configurable destination for media downloads across devices, especially those who value playlists, channel subscriptions, subtitles, or batch jobs. It is a poor fit for anyone who cannot secure and maintain a server, expects authentication built into the application, or wants downloads automatically tagged and organized into a library.

Security needs deliberate setup: MeTube has no authentication by design and is intended for a trusted network or an authenticating reverse proxy. It supports built-in HTTPS and documents proxy configurations for NGINX, Apache, Caddy, and swag. Private and internal URL addresses are blocked by default; enabling ALLOW_PRIVATE_ADDRESSES disables that SSRF protection. Cross-origin requests are refused when CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS is empty, and named allowed origins are preferable to a wildcard. The project supports only its latest continuously released version; security reports should be sent privately, while questions and bug reports go to Discussions and Issues.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free self-hosting with no paid tier, broad yt-dlp source support, and per-download quality, format, and folder controls.

Pros: Subscriptions, batch jobs, and integrations let users funnel recurring and one-off links into a server they control.

Cons: No built-in authentication means deployment on an untrusted network requires an authenticating reverse proxy.

Cons: The product stops at writing files; tagging and library organization require separate software.

Cons: Three concurrent downloads by default means larger queues wait their turn.

Alternatives

Video Downloaders is the broader category for comparing other choices. Pick yt-dlp instead if you want the free underlying command-line downloader and do not need MeTube's web interface. 4K Video Downloader+ is a freemium option with a free trial and Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms; consider it if those platforms or a trial matter more than self-hosting. DownSnap offers free downloads without limits or signup across Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, for readers who prefer that platform mix.

SSvid has a free tier capped at five downloads per day, so it is an option for lighter use. yt-dlp app is a free, open-source desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux with no telemetry or tracking, a better fit for those who want a local desktop application. NeoDLP, OmniGet, and Yalla Video are other alternatives to consider.

Verdict

Choose MeTube if you want a free, self-hosted way to send links from multiple devices into a configurable yt-dlp download queue. Its breadth and server-side controls are the draw; the lack of built-in authentication and post-download organization are the reasons to look elsewhere unless you can secure the deployment and manage your library separately.