ShellBeats is a free and open source music player designed for listening to YouTube music without distractions, ads, or the need for a web browser. The platform addresses the need for quick, offline, and streamlined access to music, offering both streaming and downloading capabilities directly from YouTube. It is available in two editions: a terminal-based interface for Linux and macOS, and a graphical user interface (ShellBeatsNG) for Windows and macOS.
The terminal edition features a ncurses-based interface written in C, optimized for keyboard-driven workflows and minimal system resources. Users can search for tracks on YouTube, stream or download individual songs or entire playlists in high-quality MP3 format, and manage playlists with up to 1000 songs each. Additional features include shuffle and repeat modes, batch downloads, a download queue system, renaming songs and playlists, and importing YouTube playlists. The graphical edition, written in C++ with Dear ImGui, provides a windowed environment with tabs, buttons, and keyboard shortcuts, and automatically downloads required dependencies such as mpv, yt-dlp, and ffmpeg. Both editions support playlist management and batch operations, and the GUI version is distributed as a single executable without the need for installation.
ShellBeats integrates with SuriSync, enabling users to sync their playlists across multiple devices and share or import playlists within the Surikata community. This cloud sync feature works with both editions, supporting desktops, laptops, and servers. The platform emphasizes privacy and creative freedom, allowing users to share playlists without the influence of large corporations or marketing. All downloads are optimized and tagged for easy transfer to portable MP3 players.
The tool is suitable for users who prefer either terminal or graphical workflows and want a lightweight, distraction-free way to enjoy and organize YouTube music. ShellBeats is distributed under an open source license and is available at no cost.
ShellBeats is a Music & audio product. It enables users to download and play YouTube music offline via desktop or terminal without ads or browser. ShellBeats is an open-source project aimed at music enthusiasts and open source users. The project is open source (GPL-3.0). ShellBeats is available on the command line, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
ShellBeats first shipped in 2026. The project is developed in the open on GitHub with 244 stars and 23 commits in the last 90 days. Across PulseGate's embedding index, ShellBeats has few near neighbours, marking it as relatively distinct. Among its 7 catalogued features are youTube to MP3, offline playback, and playlist management.
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