Open-Source DevOps · DialmasterOrg

Youtarr

Youtarr is a self-hosted Docker application that automatically downloads YouTube videos, organizes them with metadata, and syncs them to media servers like Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, and Kodi. It offers scheduling, playlist mirroring, in-app playback, and integrations with services like SponsorBlock and Discord.

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Source: GitHub — github.com/DialmasterOrg/Youtarr

1.4k

GitHub stars

Forks

TypeScript

Primary language

ISC

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	DialmasterOrg/Youtarr
Owner	DialmasterOrg
Primary language	TypeScript
License	ISC — OSI-approved
Stars	1.4k
Forks	56
Open issues	48
Latest release	v1.73.0 (2026-07-04)
Last updated	2026-07-08
Source	https://github.com/DialmasterOrg/Youtarr

What Youtarr is

TypeScript-based web application (ISC licensed) using Docker Compose for deployment, MariaDB for persistence, and yt-dlp for YouTube integration. Provides REST API with OpenAPI documentation, multi-library support via filesystem organization, and 86% test coverage on both backend and frontend.

Quickstart

Get the Youtarr source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/DialmasterOrg/Youtarr.git2cd Youtarr3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Personal video archival and offline access

Preserve YouTube content before deletion or privacy changes; access videos anytime without internet or ads. Ideal for curating educational, music, or niche-interest channels.

Family media server setup with content controls

Organize subscribed channels into separate libraries (e.g., __kids, __music) with per-video and per-channel content ratings for safe, curated viewing across multiple family members.

Automated media server content pipeline

Subscribe to channels, auto-download new videos on schedule, and mirror playlists as native Plex/Jellyfin playlists; REST API enables custom workflows and third-party automation.

Implementation considerations

Database choice (named volume vs. bind-mount) impacts reliability on virtualized filesystems; review Database Management docs for ARM/NAS deployments to avoid schema migration errors.
Fresh installs via ./start.sh use Docker named volumes; existing/plain docker compose up installs may use bind-mount storage—migration path documented but requires planning.
Authentication is built-in but configuration details and security hardening guidance should be reviewed in Authentication Setup docs before exposing to untrusted networks.
Metadata and playlist mirroring to Plex/Jellyfin/Emby requires media server API credentials and network access; test integration with your specific server version.
SponsorBlock integration and per-channel quality settings (360p–4K) must be configured per use case; no one-size-fits-all defaults stated.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

Bare-metal or direct Node.js deployment required — Youtarr runs exclusively via Docker Compose; no direct npm/Node deployment is supported. If your infrastructure cannot run Docker, this is not an option.
Zero operational overhead expected — Requires Docker setup, MariaDB management (with potential filesystem considerations on ARM/NAS), and ongoing credential maintenance. Not a click-and-forget solution.
Enterprise-grade SLA or official support needed — Community-supported project with Patreon funding model. No commercial SLA, guaranteed response times, or enterprise support contract available.
High-volume transcoding or real-time processing — Designed for download scheduling and metadata organization, not live streaming or massive parallel transcoding. Performance on under-resourced hardware unknown.

License & commercial use

ISC License (ISC) is an OSI-approved permissive open-source license. It permits commercial use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions (requires license and copyright notice in distributions).

ISC License permits commercial use. However, no explicit commercial support, SLA, indemnification, or warranty is provided by the project. Any commercial deployment should include internal support capability and testing. Consider Patreon support or engagement with the maintainer for priority fixes if mission-critical.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Strong
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Moderate
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

Built-in authentication with admin controls is mentioned; no details on encryption (in-transit, at-rest), credential storage, or hardening practices in excerpt. REST API and Discord webhooks require credential management; no mention of rate limiting, request validation, or injection protection. Self-hosted nature requires operator responsibility for network isolation, firewall rules, and secret rotation. Review Authentication Setup docs and operate behind a reverse proxy (HTTPS/TLS) in untrusted network contexts.

Alternatives to consider

Pinchflat

Similar independent project (arrived Jan 2024 vs. Youtarr May 2023) with comparable YouTube automation and media server sync. See official Youtarr comparison doc for feature parity on Plex integration, in-app playback, and API.

Tube Archivist

Alternative video archival tool with transcript search and advanced metadata; trade-offs on REST API, content ratings, and filename templating documented in Youtarr comparison.

yt-dlp (direct usage)

Lightweight, scriptable CLI tool (already used by Youtarr internally); suitable if you need only download capability and can manage scheduling/organization manually.

Software development agency

Build on Youtarr with DEV.co software developers

Start with the Installation Guide, review the Plex/Jellyfin setup docs, and join the Discord community for questions. Assess database and network requirements for your platform before deployment.

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Youtarr FAQ

Can I run Youtarr without Docker?

No. Youtarr runs exclusively via Docker Compose; direct npm/Node deployment is not supported.

Does Youtarr work without a media server (Plex, Jellyfin, etc.)?

Yes. Youtarr is fully functional standalone with in-app playback and web UI; media server integration is optional for synced playlists and metadata.

Is commercial use allowed?

Yes, ISC License permits commercial use. However, no commercial support or SLA is offered; you must provide your own operational support and assume liability.

Where can I get help or report bugs?

Use GitHub Issues for bug reports and feature requests, Discord Server for community support, or consider Patreon sponsorship for priority attention.

Software development & web development with DEV.co

DEV.co is a software development agency delivering custom software development services to companies building on open source. Our software developers and web developers design, integrate, and ship production systems — spanning web development, APIs, AI, data, and cloud. If Youtarr is part of your open-source devops roadmap, our team can implement, customize, migrate, and maintain it.

Ready to self-host your YouTube content?

Start with the Installation Guide, review the Plex/Jellyfin setup docs, and join the Discord community for questions. Assess database and network requirements for your platform before deployment.

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