What is youtube-dl-server?

youtube-dl-server is a self-hosted web application that provides a simple web UI and REST API for downloading videos from YouTube and other supported sites using yt-dlp or youtube-dl as the backend. It features a web interface for queuing downloads, a REST API for programmatic access, download profiles for common format combinations, scheduled downloads for live events and premieres, job history with logs, and Docker-based deployment. The server stores download metadata in a SQLite database and outputs files to a configured directory. It is a fork of manbearwiz/youtube-dl-server with added features like profiles, aliases, and scheduling.

Should you self-host youtube-dl-server?

youtube-dl-server scores 47/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #31 of 45 in Download Management. It has 319 GitHub stars.

There was no stable release in the past 12 months, so check the repository's recent activity before you rely on it.

Setup is easy: most people get it running in one sitting. An official Docker image is available. It is MIT-licensed and written mostly in Python.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is cobalt (83/100, 45 586 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See youtube-dl-server vs cobalt side by side.

Features

Bookmarklet Support
Download profiles
Format Selection
Job history and management
Multiple download backends
Option aliases
REST API
Scheduled Downloads
Web UI

How to configure youtube-dl-server

debugFalseEnable debug mode
Enable debug mode
default_formatvideo/bestDefault format pre-selected in the UI
Default format pre-selected in the UI
download_workers_count2Number of parallel download worker threads
Number of parallel download worker threads
forwarded_allow_ipsNoneComma-separated list of IPs to trust proxy headers from (passed to uvicorn)
Comma-separated list of IPs to trust proxy headers from (passed to uvicorn)
host0.0.0.0IP to bind to
IP to bind to
max_log_entries100Maximum number of job history entries to keep
Maximum number of job history entries to keep
metadata_db_path/youtube-dl/.ydl-metadata.dbPath to the SQLite job database
Path to the SQLite job database
output_playlist/youtube-dl/%(playlist_title)s [%(playlist_id)s]/%(title)s.%(ext)sOutput template for playlists and multi-URL jobs
Output template for playlists and multi-URL jobs
port8080Port to listen on
Port to listen on
proxy_headersTrueTrust X-Forwarded-Proto, X-Forwarded-For, X-Forwarded-Port headers (passed to uvicorn)
Trust X-Forwarded-Proto, X-Forwarded-For, X-Forwarded-Port headers (passed to uvicorn)
schedule_check_interval60Seconds between checks for scheduled jobs that have become due
Seconds between checks for scheduled jobs that have become due
schedule_max_attempts24Maximum number of times a job may be rescheduled before it is failed
Maximum number of times a job may be rescheduled before it is failed
schedule_upcomingTruePark upcoming live events and premieres in the Scheduled status until their start time instead of failing them
Park upcoming live events and premieres in the Scheduled status until their start time instead of failing them
site_titleOptional browser tab title, navbar brand, and main-page heading
Optional browser tab title, navbar brand, and main-page heading
YDL_CONFIG_PATHAlternate configuration path or file path
Alternate configuration path or file path
YDLS_RELEASE_DATERelease date string shown in the server info endpoint
Release date string shown in the server info endpoint
YDLS_VERSIONVersion string shown in the server info endpoint
Version string shown in the server info endpoint
YOUTUBE_DLThe yt-dlp/youtube-dl module to use (yt-dlp, youtube-dl)
The yt-dlp/youtube-dl module to use (yt-dlp, youtube-dl)
values: yt-dlp, youtube-dl