Zclippervscobalt
A cobalt alternative for YouTube clips
YouTube downloading is turned off on the main cobalt.tools site. If you need part of a YouTube video, Zclipper records it in your browser and saves an MP4 or WebM file, free and without an account.
| Feature | Zclipper | cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube on the main site | Works | Turned off on cobalt.tools Source 1 |
| What it saves | A start-to-end segment | The whole file, no trimming Source 2 |
| Clip length | Up to 10 minutes | Whole video |
| Other platforms | YouTube only | Many sites Source 2 |
| Output | MP4 or WebM video | Video, audio or GIF Source 2 |
| Account | Not needed | Not needed Source 3 |
| Ads | None | None Source 3 |
| Speed | Real time | As fast as the download |
| Works on a phone | Preview and pick times; record on desktop Chrome or Edge | Yes Source 3 |
| Open source | No | Yes, AGPL-3.0 Source 2 |
Zclipper vs cobalt: questions
Why doesn't cobalt work with YouTube?
cobalt's own error message says YouTube downloading is disabled on the main instance "due to restrictions from youtube's side and infinite maintenance cost at scale." Self-hosted cobalt instances are not affected by that setting.
Is there a cobalt alternative for YouTube?
For whole videos, a self-hosted cobalt instance is the closest option. For part of a video, Zclipper saves a start-to-end segment of up to 10 minutes as an MP4 or WebM file, free and without an account.
Can Zclipper download a whole YouTube video?
No. Zclipper saves segments of up to 10 minutes, and it does not download files from YouTube. It records the official player while your segment plays, then saves that recording.
Does Zclipper work with TikTok, Instagram or X?
No. Zclipper works with YouTube links only: watch pages, youtu.be links, Shorts, live streams and embeds.
Can I save only the audio?
Not with Zclipper yet. It saves video as MP4 or WebM. cobalt can save audio-only files from the sites it supports.
When is cobalt the better choice?
Use cobalt for whole files, for platforms other than YouTube, for audio-only downloads, on a phone, or when you run your own instance. Use Zclipper when you need a clean clip of part of a YouTube video.
cobalt is a trademark of its owner. Zclipper is not affiliated with cobalt. Facts checked on from the linked sources. Spot something out of date? support@zclipper.video