01 · MP4 video
High-quality video, handled locally.
Choose up to 4K, control the output profile, and move individual videos or full playlists through a clear sequential queue.
Free, open-source YouTube downloader
Video and audio,
forged locally.
Turn YouTube videos and playlists into clean MP4 video or production-ready MP3 audio—with quality, queue, metadata, and cover-art controls instead of a converter site or command line.
MIT licensed. No desktop account. Your downloads stay on your computer.
Developer ID signed and notarized on macOS · Authenticode signed on Windows
MP4 + MP3
Video and audio
4K
Up to 4K
Quality ceiling
Playlist queue
Sequential runs
Metadata
Source and output
Cover art
YouTube or custom
Local files
Your chosen folder
Inside VODForge
From pasted link to finished file.
VODForge uses yt-dlp and FFmpeg underneath, then gives you a focused desktop workflow to choose a format, watch every run, and keep a clear record of what came from YouTube and what VODForge created.
02 · MP4 library
See the source and final file side by side.
VODForge keeps the YouTube source and validated MP4 output together so you can compare codecs, resolution, bitrates, frame rate, audio, size, and saved location—not guess what a converter changed.
03 · MP3 audio
Source-aware audio controls.
Choose up to 320 kbps, preserve the source rate, and keep cover art separate or embed YouTube or custom artwork.
04 · MP3 library
Know what came in—and what came out.
Compare source audio with the validated MP3, inspect cover-art and metadata choices, and open the exact saved location.
Downloads
Get VODForge 0.1.8
Choose the build that matches your computer. Files download directly from GitHub Releases.
Apple Silicon Mac
M1, M2, M3, M4, and newer Apple chips. Most Macs from late 2020 onward.
Download · 141 MB
VODForge-macOS-arm64-v0.1.8.zip
Intel Mac
For Intel-based Macs, typically from 2019 and earlier.
Download · 164 MB
VODForge-macOS-x64-v0.1.8.zip
Windows
Signed installer for Windows 10 and Windows 11, 64-bit.
Download · 167 MB
VODForge-Windows-Setup-v0.1.8.exe
Portable ZIPmacOS downloads are Developer ID signed and notarized. Windows downloads are Authenticode signed.SHA-256 checksums
Questions, answered plainly
Before you download.
What sites does VODForge support?
VODForge is deliberately focused on YouTube videos and playlists today. It uses yt-dlp and FFmpeg underneath, but it does not expose yt-dlp's full multi-site catalog.
Does VODForge work on Linux?
Not currently. Public builds support macOS 12 or newer and 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Is VODForge really free and open source?
Yes. The desktop app is free and released under the MIT License. Its source code is available on GitHub. VODForge Cloud is a separate planned paid service; joining its interest list is free.
Is VODForge safe to install?
Public macOS builds are Developer ID signed, notarized, and stapled. Windows installers are Authenticode signed by Kryden Ventures, LLC. SHA-256 checksums are published for every release asset.
Does the desktop app require an account?
No. Downloading and managing files in VODForge requires no account. The app uses one random installation ID for first-launch and Cloud-interest measurement. When usage sharing is enabled, it also sends coarse app-open, download-run, conversion, and playback events to VODForge and HeyCatch. These events exclude media URLs, titles, filenames, file paths, and file contents. You can turn future usage sharing off in Settings.
VODForge Cloud
Run downloads even when your computer is offline.
Cloud is a planned paid service. Join the free interest list for pricing and availability updates. The desktop app stays free.
