Best video & audio downloaders for Android in 2026

Searches for a video downloader app tend to land on ad-heavy tools of unclear origin. This list takes a narrower route. All nine apps here are open source, carry no ads according to the catalog data, and cost nothing. Eight are licensed GPL-3.0-only or GPL-3.0-or-later variants, and the source is public for each.

The group splits into two kinds of tool. Some are YouTube frontends that add downloads, such as NewPipe, LibreTube, SkyTube and PlayTube. Others are built around yt-dlp or a built-in browser, such as Seal, YTDLnis and SuperX Video Downloader. Sizes range from 7.6 MB to 91.5 MB.

None of these entries claims to break DRM, and this page does not recommend any tool for that. Use them for content you have the right to save.

Compare at a glance

Comparison table: Best video & audio downloaders for Android in 2026
App	Price	Ads	Size
LibreTubeVerified file	Free	No ads	8.8 MB
NewPipeVerified file	Free	No ads	11 MB
SealVerified file	Free	No ads	41.1 MB
YTDLnisVerified file	Free	No ads	66.7 MB
LitubeVerified file	Free	No ads	8.4 MB
PlayTubeVerified file	Free	No ads	7.6 MB
SkyTubeVerified file	Free	No ads	9.6 MB
SkyTube LegacyVerified file	Free	No ads	8.6 MB
SuperX Video DownloaderVerified file	Free	No ads	91.5 MB

LibreTube: best for private YouTube viewing without a Google account

8.8 MB Verified file

LibreTube is an alternative YouTube frontend from Team LibreTube. It works without a YouTube account and without Google Services on the device. The catalog records version 32.1, updated August 23, 2026, at 8.8 MB.

SponsorBlock, DeArrow, subscription groups and playlist bookmarks are among its features. Channel subscriptions and private playlists are supported. It is described mainly as a viewing app, so downloading is not its headline function.

It is licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later, costs nothing, and the catalog notes no ads.

Pros

No account or Google Services required
Includes SponsorBlock and DeArrow
Small at 8.8 MB

Cons

Download support is not described in the catalog data
Focused on YouTube only

Open LibreTube

NewPipe: best lightweight YouTube frontend with no Google libraries

11 MB Verified file

NewPipe, from Team NewPipe, avoids Google framework libraries and the YouTube API. It parses the website for the information it needs, so it runs on devices without Google Services. No YouTube account is needed.

The current version is 0.29.1, updated August 21, 2026, at 11 MB. It is licensed GPL-3.0-or-later, is FLOSS, shows no ads and is free.

It is a lightweight frontend, so check the app itself for what it can save.

Pros

Works without Google Services
No account needed
Free software licence

Cons

Download options are not detailed here
Relies on parsing the website

Open NewPipe

Seal: best for a clean yt-dlp downloader themed with Material You

41.1 MB Verified file

Seal, by junkfood, is a video and audio downloader that follows Material You design. It downloads from platforms supported by yt-dlp. It can embed metadata and thumbnails into extracted audio, embed subtitles in videos, and fetch a whole playlist in one tap.

Power users can run custom yt-dlp commands from templates and use the embedded aria2c as an external downloader. The listed build is 1.13.1 from F-Droid, 41.1 MB, last updated January 6, 2026.

It is licensed GPL-3.0-only, free, and shows no ads.

Pros

Playlist download in one tap
Custom yt-dlp command templates
Embeds metadata, thumbnails and subtitles

Cons

Older update date than most entries, January 6, 2026
41.1 MB is larger than the frontends

Open Seal

YTDLnis: best for batch playlist downloads from over 1000 sites

66.7 MB Verified file

YTDLnis, by deniscerri, uses yt-dlp to save audio and video from more than 1000 websites. Its playlist handling is the most detailed in this group. You can edit each playlist item separately, set a common format, pick several audio formats, and choose one download path and filename template for all items.

The catalog lists version 1.9.1.1, updated October 25, 2026. At 66.7 MB it is one of the larger entries. The licence is GPL-3.0-only, with no ads and no price.

Pros

Per-item editing inside playlists
Shared path and filename template
Supports over 1000 sites

Cons

66.7 MB install size
Many options may be more than casual use needs

Open YTDLnis

Litube: best for a native player with built-in downloads

8.4 MB Verified file

Litube is an Android video client that combines an embedded browser, native playback and downloads. Playback is ad-free, with configurable sponsor segment skipping and native controls for quality, speed, subtitles and audio tracks.

It also offers audio-only and background playback, picture-in-picture, a mini-player, local queues and autoplay. Video, audio and playlist downloads include quality and language selection. Version 3.0.3 was updated October 22, 2026, and takes 8.4 MB under GPL-3.0-only.

Pros

Downloads with quality and language selection
Picture-in-picture and background playback
Small at 8.4 MB

Cons

Developer is listed as unknown

Open Litube

PlayTube: best for a small YouTube client with a glass-style interface

7.6 MB Verified file

PlayTube, by arslandaim, is a YouTube client for Android with a Fluid Glass UI. It supports background play, picture-in-picture, comments, subtitles and video downloads. Gesture controls cover volume, brightness and seeking, and a push up or down toggles fullscreen.

The listed version is 1.4.3, updated September 25, 2026. It is the smallest app here at 7.6 MB, licensed GPL-3.0-or-later, with no ads and no price.

Pros

Smallest install at 7.6 MB
Gesture controls and picture-in-picture
Subscription management included

Cons

Download details are brief in the catalog data
Tied to YouTube

Open PlayTube

SkyTube: best for subscriptions and bookmarks in an ad-free YouTube player

9.6 MB Verified file

SkyTube plays YouTube videos and can download them. It also lets you browse channels, search videos, music and channels, read comments and bookmark videos. Swipe controls handle volume and brightness.

You can import subscriptions from YouTube and receive channel notifications described as non-intrusive. Version 3.003 was updated November 1, 2026, the most recent date among the frontends, at 9.6 MB. It is GPL-3.0-only and shows no ads.

Pros

Imports YouTube subscriptions
Ad-free and open source
Recently updated, November 1, 2026

Cons

Developer is listed as unknown
Download formats are not detailed

Open SkyTube

SkyTube Legacy: best for older devices that need an ad-free YouTube client

8.6 MB Verified file

SkyTube Legacy is the edition of SkyTube aimed at legacy devices. It shares the feature list of the main app: playback, downloads, channel browsing, search, comments, bookmarks and subscription import.

The catalog lists version 2.999, updated May 27, 2026, at 8.6 MB. The licence is GPL-3.0-only, with no ads and no price. If your phone runs a current Android release, the regular SkyTube build is the more recently updated choice.

Pros

Built for legacy devices
Same core feature set as SkyTube
Only 8.6 MB

Cons

Last updated May 27, 2026, earlier than SkyTube
Developer is listed as unknown

Open SkyTube Legacy

SuperX Video Downloader: best for saving HLS and DASH streams locally

91.5 MB Verified file

SuperX Video Downloader pairs a built-in browser with a downloader for many websites and social platforms. It supports HLS (.m3u8) and DASH (.mpd) manifests, standard MP4 streams and live broadcasts. Files are saved as .mp4.

The developer says processing happens on the device, with no data sent to external servers, no trackers and no ads. Version 0.9.1.1 was updated November 4, 2026. At 91.5 MB it is the largest app listed, under GPL-3.0-only.

Pros

Handles HLS and DASH streams
Processing stays on the device
Saves in the common .mp4 format

Cons

Largest install at 91.5 MB
Version 0.9.1.1 suggests an early release

Open SuperX Video Downloader

How we picked

This list is based on licence, price, ad status, version, size, update date and the features each app lists. We did not install or test these apps by hand, so we make no claims about speed, reliability or download quality. No Google Play ratings or install counts are quoted. Only open-source tools were considered, and no entry is recommended for bypassing DRM.