TubeSync vs ytdl-sub
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted media servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
TubeSync
Syncs online video channels into a local media library
VS
ytdl-sub
Subscribe to and download media into a self-hosted media library
| Feature | TubeSync | ytdl-sub |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Media Servers | Media Servers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,795 | ★ 2,952 |
| First released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaces | YouTube Premium | YouTube Premium |
What are TubeSync and ytdl-sub?
TubeSync
TubeSync is a self-hosted application that monitors online video channels and playlists and downloads new content into a folder structure compatible with media servers. It runs as a PVR-style background service for video subscriptions.
- Channel and playlist monitoring
- Plex and Jellyfin friendly output
- Quality profiles
- Background scheduling
ytdl-sub
ytdl-sub is a tool built on yt-dlp that downloads videos, podcasts, and music from subscriptions and formats them with metadata and thumbnails for Plex, Jellyfin, or Kodi. It turns online channels into a self-hosted library kept up to date automatically.
- Subscription-based downloading
- Media server metadata formatting
- yt-dlp powered
- Recurring sync
TubeSync vs ytdl-sub: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for TubeSync versus GPL-3.0 for ytdl-sub. Ytdl-sub is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for TubeSync. TubeSync is the more established project (first released 2020), while ytdl-sub arrived in 2022.
Why pick each one
Choose TubeSync if…
- Hands-off video archiving
- Plays well with media servers
Watch out for
- Storage hungry
- Depends on extractors staying current
Choose ytdl-sub if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is TubeSync or ytdl-sub better?
Neither is universally better. ytdl-sub has the larger community, while TubeSync is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are TubeSync and ytdl-sub free and open-source?
Yes. TubeSync is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and ytdl-sub under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run TubeSync and ytdl-sub with Docker?
TubeSync: yes. ytdl-sub: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, TubeSync or ytdl-sub?
ytdl-sub has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for TubeSync. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.