Pinchflat vs Tube
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Pinchflat | Tube |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Elixir | |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,368 | — |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | YouTube | Dailymotion, Vimeo, YouTube |
What are Pinchflat and Tube?
Pinchflat
Pinchflat is a self-hosted application for downloading and archiving YouTube content in a way that media servers like Plex and Jellyfin can use. It applies naming conventions and metadata for smooth library integration.
- YouTube archiving for media servers
- Media-server-friendly naming
- Metadata embedding
- Channel automation
Tube
Youtube-like, video Sharing App.
Pinchflat vs Tube: key differences
Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Pinchflat versus MIT for Tube. Tube is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Pinchflat. Pinchflat lists first-class Docker deployment; Tube does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Pinchflat if…
- Plays nicely with Plex and Jellyfin
- Clean modern UI
Watch out for
- Newer project
- YouTube-focused
Choose Tube if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Pinchflat or Tube better?
Neither is universally better. Pinchflat has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Pinchflat and Tube free and open-source?
Yes. Pinchflat is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tube under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Pinchflat and Tube with Docker?
Pinchflat: yes. Tube: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Pinchflat or Tube?
Tube has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Pinchflat. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.