One of the most common reasons people reach for Zotify is to download a full Spotify playlist and keep it offline. Because Zotify is a command-line tool, a single line can pull every track in a playlist, complete with cover art, metadata and synced lyrics. Here's the whole process from start to finish.

Before you start

Make sure Zotify is installed. It needs Python 3.9 or newer and FFmpeg — FFmpeg is what lets you save downloads as MP3 (or other formats) instead of the default Ogg Vorbis. If you haven't set it up yet, follow our installation guide first.

Step 1 — Copy the playlist link

Open Spotify, go to the playlist you want, and copy its share link. It will look something like https://open.spotify.com/playlist/…. Both your own playlists and public ones work.

Step 2 — Build your command

The quickest way is to paste the link into the download tool on the homepage, pick your options, and copy the generated command. If you'd rather type it yourself, the basic form is:

zotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/<id>

Step 3 — Choose MP3 (optional)

Zotify saves in Ogg Vorbis by default. To get MP3 files, set the format in your config or on the command line — this is possible because FFmpeg handles the conversion. You can also control quality: premium accounts download at up to 320kbps, free accounts at up to 160kbps.

Step 4 — Organise your files

You don't have to accept messy filenames. Zotify's output templates let you decide the folder structure and naming. A popular pattern keeps everything tidy by playlist and artist:

zotify <playlist-url> --output "{playlist}/{artist} - {song_name}.{ext}"

Step 5 — Run it

Paste the command into your terminal and press Enter. Zotify logs in with your account, resolves the playlist, and downloads each track in turn — writing lyrics, cover art and tags as it goes. Larger playlists simply take longer.

A tip for big playlists

If you're downloading a lot at once, consider turning on real-time mode (--download-real-time=True). It downloads at streaming speed so your activity looks more like normal listening — slower, but gentler on your account.

Zotify is lightweight and only needs two things to run: Python 3.9 or newer and FFmpeg. Once those are in place, installing Zotify itself is a single command. Below is the setup for each major operating system.

Windows

Open PowerShell and install FFmpeg, then Zotify:

# install FFmpeg
winget install Gyan.FFmpeg

# install Zotify
python -m pip install git+https://zotify.xyz/zotify/zotify.git

If python isn't recognised, install it from the Microsoft Store or python.org and make sure "Add to PATH" is ticked.

macOS

The easiest route uses Homebrew for FFmpeg:

brew install ffmpeg
python3 -m pip install git+https://zotify.xyz/zotify/zotify.git

Linux (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt install ffmpeg python3-pip
python3 -m pip install git+https://zotify.xyz/zotify/zotify.git

On other distributions, install ffmpeg and python3-pip with your package manager, then run the same pip command.

Verify it worked

Run zotify --help. If you see the list of options, you're ready to go. If the command isn't found, your Python scripts folder may not be on your PATH — reopen your terminal, or add it manually.

What's next

With Zotify installed, head to the download tool, paste a Spotify link, and generate your first command. If you want to grab a whole playlist, see our playlist download guide.

Search for a Spotify downloader and you'll find dozens of options — browser tools, sketchy apps, and command-line utilities. They are not all the same. Here's an honest look at where Zotify stands out and where it asks more of you.

It pulls directly from the source

Many "Spotify downloaders" quietly grab audio from YouTube, Deezer or other mirrors and match it to the song you asked for. That means variable quality and, sometimes, the wrong version entirely. Zotify downloads directly from the source, so what you get is the real track — audio, metadata and lyrics included.

It's transparent about quality

Zotify doesn't overpromise. Free accounts download at up to 160kbps and premium accounts at up to 320kbps — the same limits the service itself uses. No inflated "lossless" claims that turn out to be re-encoded files.

It's genuinely free and open-source

There's no subscription, no watermark, no daily download cap, and no ads. Because it's open-source, anyone can inspect what it does — a level of trust web-based rippers rarely offer.

It's deeply customizable

Output formats, bitrates, folder structures, file-naming templates, bulk downloads from a text file, built-in search, real-time mode — Zotify is built for people who want control over their library, not a one-size-fits-all button.

The trade-off

Zotify is a command-line tool. There's no flashy app window; you install Python and FFmpeg, then run commands. Our download tool smooths this over by generating the exact command for you, but if you refuse to touch a terminal at all, that's the main hurdle.

Who it's for

If you value real files, direct-from-source quality, and full control — and you don't mind a terminal — Zotify is hard to beat. If you want a zero-setup web button and don't care where the audio comes from, a web ripper may feel easier, with the quality caveats above.

Audio quality is the first thing most people ask about. With Zotify, the bitrate you can download depends mainly on your account type, and the format depends on your setup. Here's the short, honest version.

Free vs premium bitrate

• Free accounts: up to 160kbps.
• Premium accounts: up to 320kbps.

Zotify mirrors the limits of the account you log in with — it can't unlock quality that the account itself doesn't have.

File formats

By default, Zotify saves in Ogg Vorbis. With FFmpeg installed, you can save to other formats such as MP3, which is why FFmpeg is listed as a dependency. Converting between formats won't add quality that wasn't in the source, so pick the bitrate that matters and a format your devices like.

Where does real-time mode fit?

Real-time mode (--download-real-time=True) isn't about quality — it's about pace. It downloads at the speed the track would normally stream, which looks more like ordinary listening. Some premium users use it when pulling 320kbps files to keep activity low-key.

Getting the best result

• Use a premium account if 320kbps matters to you.
• Install FFmpeg so you can choose your output format.
• Don't expect "lossless" — the source sets the ceiling.

Ready to try it? Open the download tool and generate a command in seconds.

Zotify is best known as a music downloader, but it handles podcast episodes just as happily. If you want an episode saved locally — for a flight, a commute with no signal, or a permanent archive — the process is almost identical to downloading a song.

Step 1 — Grab the episode link

In Spotify, open the episode and copy its link. It will look like https://open.spotify.com/episode/….

Step 2 — Run the command

zotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/<id>

That's it. Zotify resolves the episode and saves the audio to your download folder. You can also paste the link into the download tool to generate the command with your preferred options.

Keeping podcasts organised

Podcasts are saved to their own path, separate from music, so your episodes won't get mixed into your song library. If you download a lot of shows, output templates help keep everything sorted by show and episode.

A note on etiquette

Downloading for personal, offline listening is the intended use. As with music, keep your usage reasonable and in line with the safety guidance — and remember creators rely on plays, so consider streaming shows you love too.

"Is Zotify safe?" is a fair question, and the honest answer has two parts: the software itself, and how you use it. Let's take both.

The software

Zotify is open-source, which means its code is public and can be inspected by anyone. It pulls audio, lyrics and metadata directly from the source rather than from questionable third-party mirrors. That transparency is a big reason people trust it over anonymous web-based rippers.

The real risk: your account

The catch is that downloading this way goes against Spotify's user guidelines. In principle, that could put an account at risk of suspension. Reported cases are rare, and typically involve heavy, non-stop usage — but the risk isn't zero.

Best practices

• Use a burner account. The most common recommendation is to log in with a throwaway account rather than your main one.
• Turn on real-time mode. Downloading at streaming speed (--download-real-time=True) looks more like normal listening.
• Download in reasonable batches. Marathon sessions of thousands of tracks are what draw attention. Space things out.
• Keep backups of playlists. Export your playlists so you never lose a curated list.

Is it legal?

Zotify is intended to be used in compliance with the DMCA, Section 1201, for educational, private and fair use — or the equivalent laws in your region. Downloading music you don't have the rights to redistribute is your responsibility, not the tool's.

Bottom line

The tool is transparent and pulls clean files. The sensible approach is a burner account, real-time mode, and reasonable usage. Follow those and you've addressed the main risks. When you're ready, the download tool will build your command.