YouTube dl is a free open-source download manager which permits the download of audio and video file downloads from YouTube and over 1,000 other hosting sites. It is a secure and fast video downloader that allows the download of videos in different resolutions and formats. It is free and accessible almost anywhere in the world.
After being offline for a while, Youtube-dl users began looking for other websites like youtube-dl or best youtube-dl alternatives. Although it has returned, the search for a replacement for youtube-dl continues.
This page has one simple goal: to detail the best YTDL competitors available so that anyone looking for a site similar to youtube-dl gets a list of youtube video downloaders’ websites on which they can trust.
If that’s why you are here, stick around with me as I walk you through this article…
Can YouTube DL Download Non-YouTube Videos?
Yes, YouTube dl permits downloads from different sources such as Vimeo, Facebook, daily mail, and several other video platforms.
Is YouTube DL Illegal?
Downloading Youtube videos is considered illegal. Hence open source downloaders like Youtube Dl are in circulation to try and circumvent these restrictions.
How Do You Use YouTube DL?
In order to use YouTube DL,
- open the video on youtube or the streaming site then copy the URL of the video.
- Open the Cmd on windows, or terminal on macOS.
- Navigate to the folder where youtube-dl was downloaded
- Type youtube-dl followed by a space then paste the URL of the video
- Press Enter to run the command and start the download.
Do I Need FFmpeg for YouTube DL?
Youtube DL works on its own without any other extensions on most sites. In order to convert a video or audio, however, you’ll need FFmpeg or avconv.
How Do I Download Using YTDL?
After downloading and installing Youtube DL (YTDL) on your local directly. You can download with YTDL by doing the following
- open the video on youtube or the streaming site then copy the URL of the video.
- Open the Cmd on windows, or terminal on macOS.
- Navigate to the folder where youtube-dl was downloaded
- Type youtube-dl followed by a space then paste the URL of the video
- Press Enter to run the command and start the download.
Can YouTube DL Download 1080p?
Youtube DL can download audio up to 720p. However, you can download the 1080p and auto-merge with the highest possible audio.
What Happened to Youtube DL?
Youtube dl was taken down by GitHub after it was sued for pirating and violating DMCA issues. Their hosting provider, Uberspace has been in court for a long time now and has spent thousands of Euros in their legal defense, over this same issue.
However, after recently submitting a document file to GitHub, Github had to reinstate the project and reverse a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown to make the repository of youtube-dl available to the public. (Read in full)
So as it stands, Youtube-dl, one of the finest youtube video downloader platforms is back and can now be accessible from anywhere and at any time.
Is There an Alternative to YouTube DL?
There are several alternatives that you might consider if you think youtube DL is very stressful or not to your taste. Alternatives to YouTube DL include;
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Snappea

Snap pea is one very widely accepted and appreciated video downloader, especially for android users. It is one Youtube-dl alternative app you might consider especially on your android device. It helps you readily download videos and audio from YouTube and other popular streaming sites.
Snappea is totally free and extremely secure to use. You don’t need to download any application on your system to use it (that might harm your computer). Also, there is no need to log in, create your account, or enter credit card details.
Snappea is simple to use for video download. To begin, copy a media URL from another source (such as a YouTube video link). Next, go to Snappea’s official website and enter the URL of the YouTube video. Afterward, to download it on your device, choose the suitable video file format and resolution.
The youtube-dl alternative is available for all OS (operating systems); Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, and many others.
Features
- Fast Youtube downloads.
- Unlimited media download.
- HD downloads are allowed.
- Free to use.
Pros
- Multiple audio and video formats are allowed.
- Has mobile applications for both android and ios.
Cons
- Few bugs and occasional crashes.
- Cannot be downloaded on the play store or Apple store only from their website.
Visit sneppea
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Catch Video

Catch video is one of the Youtube dl alternatives. It is a web-based tool that helps users download videos from websites like Youtube and many other popular sites. It allows for downloading, converting, and quick editing of videos alike. To use you just visit the catch video website and paste the URL of the video you intend to download.
Features
- Works on almost any platform and browser.
- Allows downloading videos in different qualities and formats.
- It supports playlist download with a single click.
Pros
- It is free to use
- Add-ons for different browsers are also available
- Supports downloading videos and music alike
- Fast downloads
Cons
- It only supports a small number of websites.
- It has no mobile app for iPhones.
visit catchvideo
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Downvids

Downvids is effectively one of the other best Alternatives to youtube-dl. It can be assessed from almost any browser and device. Downvids.net is a web-based video/audio downloader that supports up to about 30 websites.
The site similar to youtube-dl, allows you to download and/or convert videos in several formats, including MP4, M4A, 3GP, and MP3 from several sites like Facebook, Pinterest, video, and many others.
When it comes to downloading videos, Downvids is pretty simple to use, since all you have to do is copy the shareable video URL, paste it into the provided box, and click the download button to have it downloaded immediately to your device storage.
Features
- Works on almost any platform and browser.
- Allows downloading videos in different qualities and formats.
- It has a lot of video mixing tools that offer video editing conversion.
- It has a browser extension that allows you to save video links instantly.
Pros
- It is free to use.
- Add-ons for different browsers are also available.
- Supports downloading videos and music alike.
- Fast downloads.
- It has an android app.
Cons
- It only supports a small number of websites.
- It has no mobile app for iPhone and Android.
- Annoying ads are a common sight.
visit downvids
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SnapTik

SnapTik is one very popular alternative for y2mate. It was mainly produced to allow downloading TikTok videos without a watermark. It also supports other websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SnapTik is one of the best YTDL alternatives out there. Good thing is that it is available on Playstore, unlike Vidmate.
Just like every other site and app like youtube DL listed in this article, The use of snaptik is quite easy as all you have to do is; Copy the video download link, open snaptik website, and paste the link into the box and click on download server 1. That’s it, you would have your TikTok video downloaded in your preferred format!
Features
- TikTok downloads are supported.
- Supports a wide range of video platforms.
- 1080p video download.
Pros
- It is free to use.
- Supports downloading videos from sites like TikTok, Instagram, and more.
- It is a smooth app.
Cons
- It features a lot of annoying ads and popups.
- It doesn’t support YouTube.
visit snaptik
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Youtube Vanced

Youtube Vanced is one of the online Youtube-dl replacements you might consider if you want to try something different. It allows users the privilege to download videos on their local storage from sites that normally allow only streaming like YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo, Dailymotion, etc.
Features
- It allows downloading playlists with just one single click.
- Allows downloading videos in different qualities and formats.
- It has a search box.
Pros
- It is free to use.
- Supports downloading HD videos.
- No registration.
Cons
- It has some annoying ad popups.
- It has no mobile app for both android and iPhone.
visit youtubevanced
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Savefrom net

SaveFrom.net is a Youtube dl alternatives which is a web-based video downloader that also has a browser extensions which can be installed on Google Chrome browsers for easy download of videos. It allows video from a wide majority of websites, Tiktok, youtube, Facebook, Dailymotion, and 40+ sites.
To access it you should visit en.savefrom.net then paste the URL of the video you wish to download in the textbox provided. (read more on Savefrom Net Alternatives)
Features
- Works on almost any platform and browser.
- Simple and easy-to-use interface.
- Allows downloading videos in different qualities and formats.
- Supports downloads from several websites.
- It has a browser extension that allows you to save video links instantly.
Pros
- It is free to use.
- Add-ons for different browsers are also available.
- Supports downloading videos and music alike.
- Fast downloads even in slow network conditions.
Cons
- The site is rigged with several ads and notification pop-ups that are not safe
- Doesn’t support the download of videos with more than 720p resolution.
visit savefromnet
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Video Grabber

Video grabber is one of the online Youtube dl replacement you might consider. It allows users the privilege to download videos in different formats such as MP4, FLV, 3GP, WMV, WEBM, MP3, etc. directly to their local storage from sites such as YouTube, Instagram, Dailymotion, etc that normally allow only streaming.
To use videograbber.net is easy, simply search for videos on the site and download or you can copy and Just paste the video link into the search box available on the site and click to download it. Not to forget that it also supports downloading HD videos.
Not only can it be used as a means to download video, but it can also serve as an all-in-one video editing platform for cloud-based video saving.
Features
- It has a search engine that allows searching for videos from different sources.
- Allows downloading videos in different qualities and formats.
- It has a video recorder that offers video editing and screen recording.
Pros
- It is free to use.
- Add-ons for different browsers are also available.
- Supports downloading HD videos.
- No registration.
Cons
- It does not support playlist downloading.
- It has no mobile app for both android and iPhone.
visit videograbber
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Yout.com

Yout.com is one alternative to youtube dl that helps you download videos and audios from youtube. Yout has a special quality that allows you to download videos directly. Just remove “ube” from the youtube URL of the video.
It also has an option to convert YouTube MP4 videos to MP3.
Features
- Supports multiple formats.
- Allows downloading videos in different qualities and formats.
Pros
- It is free to use.
- It has a pro version.
- Allows downloading part of videos.
- No registration.
Cons
- It does not support playlist downloading.
- It has no mobile app for both android and iPhone.
visit yout
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Conclusion on YTDL Alternatives
There you have it!! youtube-dl alternatives that you might consider especially in countries where y2mate has been banned. Whether it is on your mobile device, or you simply need a web-based solution you might consider the ones listed above.
If you know of any Alternative to youtube-dl that we didn’t mention, please feel free to mention them in the comment box below.