What is HomeTube used for?

HomeTube is a self-hosted web app that downloads videos and playlists with yt-dlp and files them in media-server folders for Plex, Jellyfin and Emby. It is a good fit for building a Plex or Jellyfin library from online videos, keeping a local copy of followed playlists and managing downloads from a simple web UI.

Is HomeTube open source?

Yes. HomeTube is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at EgalitarianMonkey/hometube and is written mainly in Python.

Yes. HomeTube is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.

Can I self-host HomeTube?

Yes. HomeTube can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What are some alternatives to HomeTube?

Similar open-source tools in the Media & Streaming category include MeTube, TubeArchivist and DroppedNeedle. SaaS products in the same category include Channels DVR, Emby and Downlodr.

Is HomeTube actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to HomeTube was on 29 September 2026, and the latest release is v2.13.0, published on 22 September 2026. The project has 1.5k stars on GitHub.

HomeTube: open-source media & streaming

About HomeTube

HomeTube is a web interface for downloading single videos and playlists from YouTube and other platforms, and placing them into a folder structure that media servers such as Plex, Jellyfin and Emby can pick up automatically. It is built on yt-dlp and aimed at homelab users who want their favorite videos in a local library.

It focuses on quality and organization. Ads and sponsor segments are removed, quality selection follows a best-available strategy with manual override, and files are named and located to fit media server conventions. Playlists can be synchronized with resilient tracking so the local library stays aligned with the source, and the app can be reached over the network from other devices.

HomeTube runs in Docker, is written in Python and is licensed under AGPL-3.0. The developer is also building a broader engine called Content, which turns URLs and files into media, transcripts, summaries and translations, while HomeTube itself continues to be maintained. A browser-based trial with a free quota exists, and self-hosting is free, so it suits people who want hands-off media library building.

Key features

Single video and playlist downloads via yt-dlp
Sponsor and ad removal
Best-quality selection with manual override
Media server friendly naming and folders
Playlist synchronization
Docker deployment

Good fit for

→Building a Plex or Jellyfin library from online videos
→Keeping a local copy of followed playlists
→Managing downloads from a simple web UI

Built with: Python; Docker
Tags: video-downloader; yt-dlp; plex; jellyfin; homelab; self-hosted; docker; media-server; python

HomeTube: questions and answers

What is HomeTube used for?: HomeTube is a self-hosted web app that downloads videos and playlists with yt-dlp and files them in media-server folders for Plex, Jellyfin and Emby. It is a good fit for building a Plex or Jellyfin library from online videos, keeping a local copy of followed playlists and managing downloads from a simple web UI.
Is HomeTube open source?: Yes. HomeTube is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at EgalitarianMonkey/hometube and is written mainly in Python.
Is HomeTube free?: Yes. HomeTube is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.
Can I self-host HomeTube?: Yes. HomeTube can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What are some alternatives to HomeTube?: Similar open-source tools in the Media & Streaming category include MeTube, TubeArchivist and DroppedNeedle. SaaS products in the same category include Channels DVR, Emby and Downlodr.
Is HomeTube actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to HomeTube was on 29 September 2026, and the latest release is v2.13.0, published on 22 September 2026. The project has 1.5k stars on GitHub.