Grabbit

A PWA for downloading videos and MP3s from YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and 1000+ other sites.

Type
Web app (PWA)
Platforms
PWA, Desktop, Mobile
Duration
1 month
Stack
Node.js, Express, yt-dlp, FFmpeg, PWA
Grabbit, downloading videos and MP3s from 1000+ platforms

About the project: Download anything, simply

Grabbit is a simple PWA for downloading videos and music from YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and more than a thousand other sites. It started as a practical tool for personal use.

The frontend is an installable web app (PWA), it can be added to the home screen on phone and desktop. The backend runs locally on Node.js (Express), and downloading is handled by yt-dlp together with ffmpeg.

The challenge

The goal was to make it work on as many sites as possible and to make the app comfortable to use from a phone, even though the backend runs on a computer.

The solution

The solution is a thin Express server that drives yt-dlp and ffmpeg (merging video and audio, converting to MP3), plus a PWA frontend. For quick access from a phone, the app generates a QR code to its local-network address.

What it does

  • 1000+ platforms
    YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and many more
  • Video & MP3
    Download video or extract audio to MP3
  • PWA
    An installable app on the home screen of phone and desktop
  • Local & private
    Runs on your PC via Node.js, with no third-party service

The result

The result is a fast, installable downloader that handles both video and MP3 from a huge range of platforms, all local, with no dependency on a third-party service.

Because the download engine is yt-dlp, support for new sites arrives automatically with its updates.

How it came together

  1. Concept & backend
    A thin Express server driving yt-dlp and ffmpeg.
  2. PWA frontend
    An installable interface with a URL field and a download list.
  3. Mobile access
    A QR code to open it from a phone on the local network.
  4. Polish
    Formats, MP3 conversion, and download stability.

Got a similar idea?

Write me a few sentences and I will reply within 24 hours.

Get in touch · mokansro@gmail.com · +421 902 554 927

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