Cobalt

Cobalt is a free, open-source utility for saving media from the web. Rather than generating content with AI, it focuses on a simple, ad-free downloading experience: paste a link, choose your format and quality, and Grab the file. The project is distributed openly and can be used through its hosted web interface or deployed on your own machine, which APPeals to users who want a straightforward tool without accounts, upsells, or clutter.

What it does

Cobalt accepts links from a wIDE range of sources and returns downloadable media. Its documentation and community materials describe support for major video sites, social networks, and audio platforms, including services such as YouTube, Bilibili, Instagram, TikTok, X, Reddit, and Soundcloud. After a link is submitted, the tool presents options for ouTPUt format and quality before handing back the file.

Key capabilities

• Broad platform coveRAGe: designed to handle links from video sites, social media, and music platforms in one place.
• High-quality output: The project advertises video downloads up to 8K where the source supports it, along with multiple audio formats.
• Subtitle handling: Can retrieve or extrACT subtitles alongside video files, which helps with viewing and editing.
• No account required: The hosted interface works without registration.
• Interface options: Offers light and dark themes and multiple languages for a more comfortable experience.
• Self-hosting: A Docker-based deployment path lets users run their own instance and control the download environment.

Who it is for

Cobalt suits students and researchers archiving Educational videos for offline study, editors collecting reference footage, music fans building Personal libraries, and social media managers backing up posts. It is also useful for people who prefer self-hosted software and want to avoid ad-heavy download sites. Because it is a General-purpose downloader, users should respect copyright and each platform's terms of service; availability of specific sites and formats may vary over time as platforms change.

How to get started

1. Open the official Cobalt web interface in a browser.
2. Copy the URL of the video, audio, or image you want to save.
3. Paste the link into the input field and select quality, format, or subtitle options.
4. Start the download and save the resulting file.

For self-hosting, install docker, consult the project's repository for its current deployment guide, run the container, and open the local interface; the workflow then mirrors the hosted veRSIon.

Pricing and access caveat

Cobalt is described as Open Source and free to use, and it does not require an account. Self-hosting costs depend on your own hardware or cloud setup. Because the project is commUnity-maintained, specific platform support, features, and deployment details may change; check the official site and repository for the latest Information before relying on it.