Cobalt is a media downloader that retrieves content from social platforms and video sites without ads, trackers, or paywalls.
The tool solves the friction of saving public media by providing a straightforward interface: paste a link, receive the file. It works as a proxy rather than a cache, streaming content directly from the source without storing it. The project supports downloads from platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, SoundCloud, Vimeo, and others. It operates as a monorepo containing an API backend, a Svelte-based web frontend, and supporting packages, with documentation covering instance deployment, security hardening, and API usage.
Cobalt suits developers and end users who want a lightweight, ad-free alternative to browser-based downloaders. The tool is designed for downloading free and publicly accessible content only; the README explicitly states it is not a piracy tool and cannot be used as such, placing responsibility on users for their downloads. Those considering self-hosting can run their own instance using the provided documentation. The project distinguishes itself through its ethical stance of taking zero liability and functioning transparently as a proxy rather than a caching service.
The project maintains active engagement with its user base, with nearly all open issues originating from outside users rather than the core team, demonstrating substantial real-world adoption. Maintainers respond to new issues and pull requests within hours. Work in the issue tracker centers on main instance issues, feature requests, and bug reports.
