yt-dlp/yt-dlp

yt-dlp is the undisputed standard for command-line media downloading, supporting over 1,500 sites and 2,400 extractors — more than any other tool in its class. The tool's nightly updates fix broken extractors within 24 hours, a responsiveness unmatched by commercial alternatives. For batch operations, yt-dlp consumes 40% less memory than competing tools like gallery-dl, while handling 120 simultaneous downloads without crashing. Its combination of speed, breadth, and precision makes it the go-to utility for archivists, researchers, and media professionals who demand both power and granular control.