VidBee is a free, open-source desktop video and audio downloader that archives media from YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and 1000+ other platforms using yt-dlp, storing everything locally on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
What is VidBee?
VidBee is a desktop application that downloads videos, audio, and transcripts from over 1,000 websites (including YouTube, TikTok, Bilibili, Twitch, and Vimeo) for offline storage. It takes URLs (individual videos, playlists, channels, or RSS feeds) and outputs local MP4, MKV, MP3, or SRT subtitle files. The app runs on macOS, Windows 10+, and Linux (AppImage, Debian/Ubuntu). It is developed by nexmoe under an MIT license and hosted on GitHub with over 9,800 stars.
Key Features
- Queue & Batch Management — Add multiple videos, playlists, or full channels to a queue; pause, resume, and retry downloads from a clean desktop interface.
- RSS Auto-Download — Subscribe to any creator or playlist feed and automatically download new uploads in the background without manual intervention.
- High Resolution Support — Download video in HD 720p, 1080p, 4K, and 8K when the source provides those versions.
- Subtitle Extraction — Save YouTube subtitles in SRT format, choosing from over 50 languages alongside the video download.
- Playlist & Channel Archiving — Download entire YouTube playlists (including Watch Later and Liked videos), private playlists (with authenticated access), and search results.
- Proxy Integration — Configure a custom proxy when your network requires it, while respecting platform terms and access permissions.
- Protected Media Access — Use your own authenticated session to download private clips and playlists you have legitimate rights to save.
Who is it for?
- Personal archivists who want to back up videos from YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms before content is removed or changed — everything stays on their own device.
- AI workflow users who need local video, audio, or auto-extracted transcripts to feed into ChatGPT, Claude, or other assistants for summarization, Q&A, and analysis.
- Content researchers and teams who need to pull source material quickly and drop it into shared drives or editing suites for collaboration without delays.
- Casual downloaders who want a simple, ad-free desktop tool to grab a video in high quality without registration or account creation.
What can you do with VidBee?
- Automatic creator archiving: Subscribe to a YouTube channel or any RSS feed; VidBee auto-downloads new uploads in the background, building a local library.
- Subtitle-based analysis: Download YouTube videos together with SRT subtitles in your preferred language, then use the transcripts for translation, note-taking, or AI summarization.
- High-quality offline library: Download in 4K or 8K resolution for permanent offline viewing on any device, without relying on cloud storage or platform availability.
- Browser-integrated downloads: Use the optional browser script to add a download button directly on video websites, sending links to the desktop app with one click.
Pricing
VidBee is completely free. No registration, account, or payment is required. All features are included out of the box — there are no premium tiers or paywalls.
FAQ
Is VidBee really free and open source?
Yes. The source code is available on GitHub under the MIT license. The desktop app is free to download and use without any restrictions, ads, or account requirements.
Does VidBee work with DRM-protected content?
No. VidBee does not support DRM-protected content (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Disney+). It downloads only media that the source platform allows via standard streaming protocols.
