Shiliu Downloader review
A free, open-source downloader with queues, playlists, subtitles, and retries.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Shiliu Downloader is a free, open-source desktop application for downloading media from YouTube, Bilibili, and other sites that yt-dlp can parse. It suits Mac and Windows users who need more than one-off downloads, especially when managing multiple links or full playlists. Official builds support macOS Apple Silicon, macOS Intel, and 64-bit Windows. Download modes cover video, audio, subtitles, and video with subtitles, while format and resolution selection provide control over the result.
Its strongest area is task management. Multiple links can be placed in a queue, with progress tracking for active work. Tasks can be cancelled, failed tasks can be retried, and local history preserves task states between sessions. Browser cookies and cookie files are also supported, which is useful for sources that require an authenticated browser context. Together, these features make the application better suited to recurring or multi-item download workflows than a minimal single-link utility.
Shiliu Downloader keeps its scope focused on desktop downloading rather than offering a wider media-management ecosystem. Its supported platform set is limited to macOS and Windows, and source coverage depends on yt-dlp parsing the target site. The product also does not include AI features. Choose it for a free, open-source downloader with playlist handling, subtitles, format and resolution controls, and retryable queues. Users seeking Linux support, broader platform coverage, or capabilities beyond the listed downloader workflow should consider an alternative.
Shiliu Downloader pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports single, batch, and playlist downloads
- Offers video, audio, subtitle, and combined download modes
- Queues include progress tracking, cancellation, retries, and history
- Where it doesn't
- Official platform coverage is limited to macOS and Windows
- Source support depends on sites that yt-dlp can parse
- No AI features are included
Shiliu Downloader fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update