VideoKidnapper is a free, open-source desktop app for grabbing and editing video. Paste a link to download clips from multiple platforms via yt-dlp, then trim to a range, add captions, and export as a video or an animated GIF — all locally with the full FFmpeg toolchain, so nothing is blocked or watermarked. Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and is released under the Apache-2.0 license.
Publisher’s description
What is VideoKidnapper?
VideoKidnapper is an open-source download manager program for Windows from AES256Afro. It is written in Python.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (Inno Setup). Installation asks for administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.9.1, released on October 8, 2026. 7 versions are listed since July 10, 2026, each with links to its own installer files. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (AES256Afro/VideoKidnapper) has 3 stars. Similar programs include youtube-dl, yt-dlp and Transmission.
Project description on GitHub: “Grab a video from the web, trim it, caption it, and export a clean GIF, MP4 or MP3. Frame-accurate trimming, styled and motion-tracked captions, animated stickers, 9:16 reframing for Shorts, Reels and TikTok, and colour grading. Runs on your machine: no watermark, no account, no upload. Windows, macOS, Linux.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: VideoKidnapper is an open-source download manager tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is VideoKidnapper safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
D7E0F59910232F7399EB7CAB1DF05DD006A5910E58C17EB8F46379EFCD09BE4D· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 7 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9.1Latest | October 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.9.0 | October 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.8.4 | September 22, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.8.3 | September 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.8.2 | September 3, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.8.1 | August 5, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.7.4 | July 10, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id AES256Afro.VideoKidnapper -eVideoKidnapper-Setup-1.9.1.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- AES256Afro
- Category
- Download managers
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/AES256Afro/VideoKidnapper
- Written in
- Python
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Version
- 1.9.1
- Released
- October 8, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- July 23, 2026
- Versions listed
- 7
- GitHub stars
- 3
- GitHub forks
- 1
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- AES256Afro.VideoKidnapper
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is VideoKidnapper free?
Yes. VideoKidnapper is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is VideoKidnapper safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install VideoKidnapper with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can VideoKidnapper be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does VideoKidnapper run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of VideoKidnapper?
The versions page lists all 7 versions with links to their official installer files, back to July 10, 2026.
Can I use VideoKidnapper without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to VideoKidnapper?
youtube-dl, yt-dlp, Transmission, Jackett and Tribler. The alternatives page compares them.