Earlier, I wrote about yt-dlp, the powerful command-line tool for downloading videos from hundreds of websites, which is an incredible tool that many Linux users have come to rely on, but let’s be honest, not everyone loves working exclusively in the terminal, and sometimes you just want a quick, visual way to download videos without typing commands.
Enter ytDownloader: a modern graphical interface that brings the power of yt-dlp to your desktop with a user-friendly design.
From yt-dlp to ytDownloader: Why the GUI
If you read my previous article on yt-dlp, you know it’s an amazing tool to download videos with commands like:
yt-dlp -f best "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"
It works brilliantly, but it requires remembering syntax, quality codes, and format options. ytDownloader takes that same powerful yt-dlp engine and wraps it in a clean, intuitive interface where everything is just a few clicks away.
What is ytDownloader?
ytDownloader is a free, open-source desktop application built on Electron that uses yt-dlp as its download engine. It supports the same hundreds of websites that yt-dlp does – YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Vimeo, and many more.
The beauty is that you get all the power of yt-dlp without needing to reference documentation or remember command flags.
Key Features
- Supports hundreds of sites including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and so on.
- Multiple themes.
- Video Compressor with Hardware Acceleration.
- Advanced options like Range Selection, Subtitles.
- Download playlists.
- Available on Linux, Windows & macOS.
- Fast download speeds.
- And of course no trackers or ads.
Installing ytDownloader on Linux
You have three installation options, but I recommend Flatpak for most Linux users.
Option 1: Flatpak (Recommended)
First, ensure Flatpak is installed:
# Ubuntu/Debian sudo apt install flatpak # Fedora sudo dnf install flatpak # Arch Linux sudo pacman -S flatpak
Add Flathub repository if not already added:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
Install ytDownloader and launch it.
flatpak install flathub io.github.aandrew_me.ytdn flatpak run io.github.aandrew_me.ytdn
Option 2: AppImage
Download the latest AppImage from the releases page and make it executable, and run:
cd ~/Downloads chmod +x ytDownloader-*.AppImage ./ytDownloader-*.AppImage
Option 3: Snap
One simple command:
sudo snap install ytdownloader
How to Use ytDownloader in Linux
To download a video, copy the video URL from your browser and paste it into the input field. Then, choose your preferred quality (1080p, 720p, etc.), select the format (MP4 for video or MP3 for audio), and click the Download button.
To download audio only, paste the video URL, select an audio format such as MP3 or M4A, choose your preferred quality, and start the extract.
To download an entire YouTube playlist, simply copy the playlist URL (you’ll notice ?list= in the link) and paste it into ytDownloader. Then, select your desired quality and format, and click Download, which will automatically download all the videos in the playlist one by one.
Updating ytDownloader
Keep your app updated for the best compatibility with websites:
# Flatpak flatpak update io.github.aandrew_me.ytdn # Snap sudo snap refresh ytdownloader # AppImage # The app will notify you when updates are available
Important: Remember, just because you can download something doesn’t mean you should. Respect copyright laws, creator rights, and platform terms of service. Use ytDownloader for content you have permission to download, like Creative Commons materials or your own uploads.
Final Thoughts
ytDownloader successfully bridges the gap between the power of yt-dlp and the accessibility of graphical interfaces. It’s not meant to replace yt-dlp for power users, but rather to complement them and make video downloading accessible to everyone.
If you’ve been using yt-dlp and love its capabilities, but sometimes wish for a simpler interface, give ytDownloader a try. If you’re new to downloading videos on Linux and found yt-dlp intimidating, ytDownloader is your perfect starting point.
Either way, you’re getting the same robust, reliable downloading engine that has made yt-dlp the go-to tool for video downloads.
