Qobuz, a renowned music streaming service, is celebrated for its Hi-Res audio quality. While the platform offers exceptional sound, many users seek efficient ways to download tracks for offline listening. This has led to the popularity of third-party tools like Qobuz-DL, which provide advanced features for downloading lossless and high-resolution music.
In this article, we'll break down how Qobuz-DL works, how to install it, and introduce the best alternatives including Qobuz-DL GUI versions like QBDLX, and the professional-grade ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader.
Part 1. What Is Qobuz-DL?
Qobuz-DL is an open-source tool that allows users to download lossless and high-resolution music directly from Qobuz. With an active Qobuz subscription, you can download unlimited music to your computer without needing to purchase each track from the Qobuz store. The tool is available on platforms like GitHub (search "Qobuz-DL GitHub"). It supports popular audio formats such as FLAC and MP3, ensuring that the rich audio quality of Qobuz is preserved.
Key Features of Qobuz-DL:
- Cross-Platform Support: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- High-Quality Downloads: Supports multiple quality levels, from 320 kbps MP3 to 24-bit Hi-Res FLAC.
- Flexible Inputs: Download albums, playlists, artists, or tracks by pasting URLs.
- Direct Inputs: Utilize the interactive mode and lucky mode to search, browse and download music directly from the terminal.
- Batch Download: Support downloading multiple tracks, albums and playlists at once.
- Metadata Embedding: Adds album art, titles, and artist details to files.
This command-line tool offers powerful download control for those familiar with technical setups. However, its complexity may discourage beginners, which is where other tools come in.
- Pros
- Downloads albums, playlists, tracks
- Supports flexibile modes (Interactive and Lucky Modes)
- High-quality FLAC, MP3
- Works on Windows, Mac, Linux
- Free, open-source
- Cons
- Needs Python setup
- Command-line only
- Steep learning curve
Part 2. How to Install Qobuz-DL and Use It
2.1 Steps to Install Qobuz-DL on Windows, Mac & Linux
Windows:
- Get Qobuz-DL: Head to the qobuz dl github repository (e.g., vitiko98/qobuz-dl). Download the source code as a ZIP or clone it using Git.
- Install Dependencies: Open Command Prompt, navigate to the extracted folder, and run:
- Run Qobuz-DL: Type
qobuz-dl.exe
to execute the program. If fails, runqobuz-dl -r
to reset your config file. - Check Installation: Type
qobuz-dl --help
to confirm it's working. You'll see a list of commands.
pip3 install windows-curses
pip3 install --upgrade qobuz-dl
macOS/Linux:
- Download the Qobuz-DL: Visit the official GitHub repository for qobuz-dl (e.g., vitiko98/qobuz-dl) and download the file.
- Install Dependencies: Open Command Prompt, navigate to the extracted folder, and run:
- Run Qobuz-DL: Type
qobuz-dl
to execute the Qobuz-DL. - Test It: Run
qobuz-dl --help
to ensure proper setup.
pip3 install --upgrade qobuz-dl
2.2 Steps to Use Qobuz-DL to Download Qobuz Music
Once installed, Qobuz-DL is intuitive for downloading music. Follow these steps:
- Set Up Tokens: Run
qobuz-dl -r
to create or reset the config file. Enter your Qobuz email and password when prompted. This generates authentication tokens for access. - Choose Output Format: Specify quality using the -q flag (e.g.,
-q 7
for 24-bit/96kHz,-q 27
for Hi-Res). - Download Music in Download Mode:
- Album: Use
qobuz-dl dl https://play.qobuz.com/album/123456
to download an album. - Playlist: Run
qobuz-dl dl https://play.qobuz.com/playlist/789012 -q 27
for a Hi-Res playlist. - Artist: Try
qobuz-dl dl https://play.qobuz.com/artist/2038380 --albums-only
to grab all of an artist's music on Qobuz, except for singles. - Explore Other Modes:
- Interactive Mode: Launch with
qobuz-dl fun
. Search for artists or albums (e.g., "fka twigs magdalene"), then pick releases from a list. This mode is great for browsing. - Lucky Mode: Run
qobuz-dl lucky
to download random tracks or albums, ideal for musical surprises. - Add Album Art: Try
qobuz-dl dl https://play.qobuz.com/album/123456 --embed-art
to download albums from a record labels and embed conver art images into the downloaded files. - Save Location: Files save to a default folder (e.g., "Qobuz-DL Downloads"). Customize with
-d /path/to/folder
.
- Use
qobuz-dl dl--help, qobuz-dl fun--help, and qobuz-dl lucky--help
to see advanced options and learn more about each mode. - Reset the database with
qobuz-dl -p
if issues arise.
Part 3. An Easier GUI Alternative to Qobuz-DL: QBDLX-MOD
Command lines scare you? QobuzDownloaderX-MOD (hereafter referred to as QBDLX-MOD) offers a Qobuz-DL GUI version that's a breeze to use. Built on Qobuz-DL's core, they swap code for clicks.
What Is QBDLX-MOD and Why Is It Better?
QBDLX-MOD is a modified version of the original Qobuz DownloaderX, originally developed by AiiR. This enhanced version isolates all Qobuz API interactions into a separate library project called QobuzApiSharp. It also brings notable improvements, such as optimized search functionality and a fully refactored backend.
Compared to the Qobuz-DL, QBDLX-MOD is not only more powerful but also more user-friendly—especially for those without coding experience who want to download music from Qobuz using open-source tools.
Key Features of QBDLX-MOD
- Graphical Ease: Download with a click.
- Quality Choices: From 320 kbps to 24-bit Hi-Res.
- No Code Needed: Runs standalone on Windows.
- Enhanced Tagging: Embed full music metadata.
- Pros
- Easy GUI interface
- Search and browse directly
- No Python needed
- Free, open-source
- High-quality downloads
- Advanced tagging
- Cons
- Windows-only
- No special modes
- Limited input options
- Might have some bugs
How to Install and Use QBDLX-MOD
- Go to the QBDLX-MOD GitHub page.
- Extract the downloaded file and find the executable (e.g., QobuzDownloaderX.exe).
- Open QBDLX-MOD and log in with your Qobuz account.
- Click the Open Search button.
- Choose Track or Album from the category dropdown, then type the name of the song or album into the search bar.
- In the search results, click the Download button next to the song or album you want.
- QBDLX-MOD will download the music straight to your computer.
Part 4. Best Qobuz-DL Alternative: ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader
In addition to the two open-source tools mentioned above, there are also professional converters designed to make downloading Qobuz music even easier. If you're looking for a hassle-free, all-in-one solution, we highly recommend ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader.
ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader vs Qobuz-DL vs QBDLX-MOD
Feature | ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader | Qobuz-DL | QBDLX-MOD |
---|---|---|---|
Setup | One-Click Install | Python, Dependencies | Simple EXE |
Supported Output Formats | MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, M4B | MP3, FLAC | MP3, FLAC |
Platform Compatibility | Win & Mac | Win/Mac/Linux | Win |
Batch Download | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
ID3 Tags | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Easy to Use | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Fast Download Speed | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader comes with the Qobuz web player built in, so you can browse and search for music directly within the software, no switching between apps. It supports multiple output formats, including MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B, giving you full control over your library. As for audio quality, ViWizard preserves Qobuz's original Hi-Res FLAC sound, up to 24-bit/192kHz, so you won't miss a single detail.
Additional features include batch downloads with one click, customizable output folders, and full retention of metadata tags like title, artist, and album info. You can try ViWizard for free by clicking the FREE TRIAL button below.

Key Features of ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader
Free Trial Free Trial* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.
- Download Qobuz tracks, playlists, albums unlimitedly
- Convert Qobuz muisc to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, and more
- Keep Qobuz original Hi-Res sound, up to 24-bit
- Play Qobuz music across devices and media players
Step 1Launch ViWizard and Access Qobuz Music
Open ViWizard on your Mac or Windows computer. You'll find a built-in Qobuz web player. Log in with your Qobuz account. Seach or browse your favorite albums, playlists, or songs as usual. When you're ready, click "Add Music" to load the tracks you want to download. There's no need to purchase them beforehand.
Step 2Customize Output Format and Audio Settings
Click the menu icon and open Preferences. Here, you can select your preferred output format, including MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B. You can also fine-tune the audio quality. ViWizard supports up to 24-bit/192kHz for true Hi-Res playback. Want your files saved in a specific folder? You can set that too. Once done, click "OK" to save your settings.
Step 3Download and Enjoy Offline Playback Anytime
Head to the conversion list and click "Convert" to begin. ViWizard will download your Qobuz music and convert it to the format you chose. After that, your songs will be stored locally and can be played on any device.
Conclusion
Downloading Hi-Res music from Qobuz lets you enjoy stunning sound quality, and with the right tool, it's easier than ever. Qobuz-DL is great for advanced users who like full control and open-source freedom. QBDLX-MOD offers a simpler interface. But if you want the easiest and most convenient option, ViWizard Qobuz Music Downloader is the way to go. It's quick to install, easy to use, and packed with powerful features. Pick the tool that works best for you and start by building your offline Qobuz collection today.
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