yt-dlp
yt-dlp is a free, open-source command-line downloader and converter for Windows, macOS and Linux. A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader. It has 196,232 GitHub stars and is released under the Unlicense license, and people use it instead of 4K Video Downloader.
- Official
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
- Command line
- Downloaders & converters
- Actively maintained
About yt-dlp
yt-dlp is a feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader with support for thousands of sites. The project is a fork of youtube-dl based on the now inactive youtube-dlc.
Replaces
Commercial software people commonly use yt-dlp instead of.
- 4K Video Downloader
Use it as a free YouTube downloader.
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What is yt-dlp?
yt-dlp is a free, open-source command-line downloader and converter for Windows, macOS and Linux. A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader. It has 196,232 GitHub stars and is released under the Unlicense license, and people use it instead of 4K Video Downloader.
Is yt-dlp free and open source?
Yes. yt-dlp's source code is public on GitHub under the Unlicense license, which is OSI-approved or FSF-free, so you can use, copy and change it for free.
How do I install yt-dlp?
Download the installer for Windows, macOS and Linux from its GitHub Releases page (latest: 2026.08.19) or the project website.
Can yt-dlp replace 4K Video Downloader?
yt-dlp is commonly used as a free alternative to 4K Video Downloader. Features differ, so check that it opens the file formats and covers the workflows you rely on before switching.