MeTube
A self-hosted web UI for yt-dlp to download videos, audio, and playlists from YouTube and dozens of other sites.
What is MeTube?
MeTube is a self-hosted web application that serves as a graphical user interface for the yt-dlp command-line video downloader. It allows users to download videos, audio, subtitles, and thumbnails from YouTube and dozens of other supported websites through a browser-based dashboard. The project solves the problem of managing complex yt-dlp commands by providing an accessible, configurable web UI for both one-off downloads and automated subscriptions.
Users who want to download media from various websites for offline viewing, archiving, or personal use, and prefer a self-hosted, privacy-focused solution over online download services. It's particularly useful for those who manage large collections, subscribe to channels, or need advanced download customization.
Developers choose MeTube because it combines the extensive site support and flexibility of yt-dlp with the convenience of a modern web interface. Its self-hosted nature ensures privacy and control, while features like subscription management, configurable presets, and browser integration streamline the download workflow beyond what command-line tools offer alone.
Overview
Self-hosted video downloader for YouTube and other sites (web UI for youtube-dl / yt-dlp)
Use Cases
Best For
- Downloading YouTube videos and playlists for offline viewing
- Archiving video content from various supported websites
- Automatically downloading new uploads from subscribed channels
- Managing media downloads through a centralized web dashboard
- Extracting audio tracks from videos in multiple formats
- Using advanced yt-dlp options without command-line expertise
Not Ideal For
- Environments requiring multi-user access controls or audit logs
- Use cases needing immediate media streaming without downloading
- Teams wanting a zero-maintenance, cloud-hosted download service
- Projects where security policies prohibit arbitrary command execution via web UI
Pros & Cons
Pros
Provides a graphical interface that makes yt-dlp's complex command-line options accessible through a browser, as shown in the customizable download options and presets system.
Automatically checks for new uploads from channels and playlists, queuing them for download based on configurable intervals, reducing manual effort.
Includes extensions for Chrome and Firefox, an iOS shortcut, and bookmarklets for sending URLs directly from the browser to the MeTube instance.
Allows detailed control over file naming and organization using yt-dlp's output template system, with separate templates for playlists and channels.
Cons
Enabling per-download yt-dlp option overrides can allow arbitrary command execution inside the container, as warned in the README, making it unsuitable for untrusted environments.
Relies on yt-dlp for site compatibility, requiring regular container updates to avoid breakages, and the README recommends using watchtower for automation.
Lacks native user authentication or role-based permissions, designed for single-user or trusted network access, which limits its use in shared or secure setups.
Setting up yt-dlp options requires translating command-line flags to JSON and understanding the API, which can be challenging without technical expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
SeerrOpen-source media request and discovery manager for Jellyfin, Plex, and Emby.
PinchflatYour next YouTube media manager
HeadphonesAutomatic music downloader for SABnzbd
tubesyncSyncs YouTube channels and playlists to a locally hosted media server
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