Tube Archivist is a free, open-source, self-hosted YouTube media server for downloading, indexing, and browsing channel subscriptions offline.
Tube Archivist is a free, open-source, self-hosted media server designed specifically to archive YouTube content. Rather than functioning as a general video host, it focuses on subscribing to channels, downloading new uploads automatically, and indexing every video's metadata so that an entire personal archive becomes searchable and easy to browse, even offline.
The project first launched in September 2021 and has grown into a widely used self-hosted tool with thousands of GitHub stars and dozens of community contributors. It is distributed under the GPL-3.0 open-source license and is typically deployed through Docker, often alongside Elasticsearch for search indexing and Redis for task queuing.
Tube Archivist appeals strongly to the digital-preservation and self-hosting communities, where users are concerned about videos, channels, or entire accounts disappearing from YouTube due to takedowns, account bans, or creators deleting their own content. By maintaining a local, fully indexed copy, users retain permanent access to content they care about.
At its core, Tube Archivist lets users subscribe to YouTube channels and automatically downloads new videos as they are published, using the widely trusted yt-dlp engine under the hood. Every downloaded video is indexed with its metadata, including title, description, thumbnail, comments, and available captions, making the entire archive fully searchable through Elasticsearch.
A built-in web player allows users to watch archived videos directly within Tube Archivist's interface, and the platform tracks viewing history so users can pick up where they left off. Browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome add a one-click archive button while browsing YouTube normally, streamlining the process of adding individual videos to the archive.
Tube Archivist integrates with popular self-hosted media servers, including Jellyfin and Plex, so archived videos can be organized and streamed through those familiar interfaces as well. The project also provides a documented API for automation and third-party integrations, along with active community support channels.
Tube Archivist's core software is entirely free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, with no feature restrictions, storage caps, or usage-based fees; costs are limited to whatever server and storage infrastructure a user chooses to run it on. The project also offers an optional paid membership through members.tubearchivist.com, which does not unlock additional core software features but provides perks such as real-time notifications and supports the ongoing development of the open-source project.
Tube Archivist is a free, open-source, self-hosted media server that lets you subscribe to YouTube channels, automatically download videos, and index them for offline search and playback.
Yes, the core software is completely free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. An optional paid membership adds perks like real-time notifications but is not required to use the software.
It uses the yt-dlp downloader engine to fetch new uploads from subscribed YouTube channels automatically.
Yes, Tube Archivist integrates with both Jellyfin and Plex so archived videos can be browsed and streamed through those media server interfaces.
Tube Archivist runs via Docker and typically requires companion services such as Elasticsearch and Redis, along with enough storage for downloaded video files.
Yes, official browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome let you archive videos with one click while browsing YouTube.
The first public release, version 0.0.1, launched in September 2021.
Tube Archivist is a community-maintained open-source project hosted on GitHub, with contributions from dozens of developers and support funded partly through donations and an optional paid membership.