Many Spotify users feel like the app's offline feature doesn't give them enough. Sure, you can download songs to listen without the internet, but you're still stuck using Spotify's app and rules. What some people really want is a way to save their music files for good — a tool that lets them keep, move, and use their songs however they want.
That's where Zotify comes in.
Zotify is popular with people who want more control over their Spotify music. It's not just another music app. It helps listeners fully own their music instead of just streaming it. This shows a bigger trend: more users want to break free from the limits of regular streaming services.
In the fight over who controls digital music, Zotify gives users a way to rip music from Spotify. This changes the game from just streaming songs to truly owning them. In this post, we'll explain what Zotify is, what it can do, how it works, and some good alternatives if you want full control over your Spotify music.
Part 1. What Is Zotify and What Can It Do?
Zotify is an open-source tool designed to give Spotify users real control over their music. We tested many Spotify music rippers before, only to be disappointed that most of them made us guess where a song actually came from — whether YouTube, VK, or somewhere else. That's why we immediately liked Zotify when we discovered it, especially after seeing thousands of compliments on Reddit and then visiting its GitHub page. It's easy to see why so many users star it.
One of the best parts is this: instead of relying on third-party sites, Zotify connects directly to Spotify using your own account — whether free or paid. And that's just a small taste of what it can do.
What Can Zotify Do?
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Download Music and Podcasts Directly
Zotify lets you download music — real Spotify music — straight from your own account. No sketchy sources, no guesswork. Whether it's a playlist, an album, or just a single song, Zotify pulls it down exactly as you'd hear it on the app. And yes, podcasts too. Everything comes tagged and tidy, complete with artist names, track titles, and album art. If you're building a local music library or just want to keep your favorite songs forever, this feature alone makes Zotify worth a look.
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Command-Line Interface (CLI)
Zotify doesn't come with buttons or menus. It runs through a command-line interface — or CLI — where you type simple commands to get things done. That might sound technical, but it's more straightforward than you might expect. Want to rip a playlist? Just paste the link and go. It's clean, lightweight, and built for users who'd rather get to the point than tap through a maze of settings. Once you get the hang of it, it's a fast and reliable way to manage your downloads.
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Smart Playlists
Zotify is smart about how it saves your music. Tracks are organized into folders based on the album or playlist they came from. You'll get proper file names, artwork, and all the tags in place — no cleanup required. It even knows what you've already downloaded, so you won't waste time or space grabbing the same track twice. That makes a big difference if you're maintaining a large collection or syncing new songs regularly.
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Works with Free Accounts, Too
Zotify runs best with a Premium account, but it doesn't shut out free users. With the right setup, you can still download music even without a paid subscription. It takes a bit more effort — you'll need to follow a few extra steps to get it working — but it's doable. Free users might run into speed limits or have to settle for downloads limited to 160kbps, but the option is there, and it works just fine.
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Great for DJs and Power Users
Zotify fits right into workflows that go beyond casual listening. DJs love it because they can rip large playlists, keep them up to date, and prep sets offline. Programmers like that they can automate it — set up a script once and let Zotify grab new tracks whenever needed. It's flexible, fast, and doesn't get in the way. Whether you're archiving music or syncing it across devices, Zotify gives you the control to do it your way.
Part 2. Is Zotify Safe and Legal to Use?
Zotify lets users do more than official apps allow — and that's why it's popular. But since it's unofficial, it has some challenges and risks.
Zotify is open-source, so its code is public and clear. But it can be unstable. Spotify updates can break it, and small changes might stop it from working until someone fixes it. For example, free users may face speed limits, while Premium users usually have fewer problems, but glitches still happen. Legally, Zotify is in a gray area. It breaks Spotify's rules, though many use it just for personal listening. Legal trouble is rare, but accounts could get warnings or bans, especially if you use it a lot or with automation.
Still, many users stick with Zotify because it's one of the few tools that really downloads Spotify music with all the right info and good sound quality. But it takes patience and some technical skill, so it's not for everyone. If you want something easier to use, try ViWizard Spotify Music Converter. It has a built-in Spotify Web Player that makes downloading and converting music easy — definitely worth trying.
Download Spotify music, podcasts and audiobooks as MP3 and more. Keep full sound and listen offline anytime.
- Pros
- Downloads real Spotify audio directly
- Works with both Premium and free accounts
- Keeps metadata, album art, and file names organized
- Great for building local music libraries
- Can be automated with scripts
- Open-source and customizable
- Ideal for DJs, collectors, and power users
- Cons
- Not beginner-friendly
- Requires command-line setup and Python
- May break when Spotify updates
- Free accounts limited to 160kbps
- Risk of account issues with aggressive use
- Setup can be time-consuming
- No graphical interface (CLI-only)
Part 3. How to Install and Use Zotify
Zotify isn't a simple click-and-run app. You need to install Python, use commands in the terminal or command prompt, and get special login keys with a tool called librespot-auth. Sometimes, you might also have to change settings in the code to avoid Spotify blocking your downloads. There are updated versions made by the community that fix bugs and add improvements, but for beginners, setting it up can still feel tricky.
Zotify Features:
Downloads real Spotify music and podcasts
Supports playlists, albums, and single tracks
Works with both free and premium Spotify accounts
Keeps song info like artist, album art, and lyrics
Downloads songs at normal speed to avoid problems
Runs in the command line (no buttons or menus)
Can download many songs at once using scripts or lists
Note: Free accounts are limited to lower sound quality (160kbps).
Step 1: Get Python Ready
Zotify runs on Python. Download and install Python 3.8 or newer from python.org. During installation, check the box that says "Add Python to PATH" to make running commands easier. You'll also need to have FFmpeg installed on your system since it helps with audio processing.
Step 2: Add Spotify Tracks for Conversion
The easiest way is to install the latest version directly from its source or use a popular, updated fork like DraftKinner's on GitHub.
- Open your Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and run:
git clone https://github.com/DraftKinner/zotify.git
cd zotify
pip install -r requirements.txt
- If you don't have Git, download the ZIP file from that GitHub page and unzip it.
- In the same command window, run:
pip install -r requirements.txt
- Alternatively, to install the latest official release via pip:
python -m pip install git+https://zotify.xyz/zotify/zotify.git
This will install Zotify along with all required dependencies in one step.
Step 3: Choose Output Format and Settings
This is the tricky but very important part. Zotify needs a special "key" to connect to Spotify, created using a tool called librespot-auth.
- Download librespot-auth for your system from its official GitHub page.
- Run this command (replace with your username and password):
librespot-auth -u your_spotify_username -p your_spotify_password
- This generates a file (like
spotify.key) — copy this file into your Zotify folder.
Note: If you use two-factor authentication (2FA) or encounter issues, check Reddit guides or ask for help. This step is the most common source of trouble.
Step 4: Convert and Download Spotify Music
- Open the
config.jsonorconfig.inifile in your Zotify folder with a text editor. - Here you can set:
- Download folder path
- Turn off lyrics (to reduce errors)
- Add small delays if downloads fail (Reddit users often add
time.sleep(1)in the code)
- In your command window, run:
python -m zotify <Spotify playlist or track URL>
- Example:
python -m zotify spotify:playlist:37i9dQZF1DXcBWIGoYBM5M
Your songs will start downloading into organized folders.
Part 4. Best Zotify Alternatives to Rip from Spotify
ViWizard Spotify Music Converter is a great and easy-to-use alternative to Zotify, especially for macOS users or anyone who finds command-line tools complicated. Unlike Zotify, which requires command input and some setup, ViWizard offers a simple app with built-in access to your Spotify library, making downloading music much easier.
It works for both Free and Premium accounts and lets you download songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, and audiobooks all at once. ViWizard saves your music in popular formats like MP3, M4A, WAV, and more, so you can play it on almost any device. It also preserves the original sound quality and adds all the song info, like artist name and album art, keeping your music well organized. Even better, you can play the music directly within ViWizard since it also functions as a media player.
ViWizard's design focuses on ease of use without sacrificing control, removing the complex setup and authentication required by Zotify. It never hurts to try it out before making a final decision.
Download Spotify music, podcasts and audiobooks as MP3 and more. Keep full sound and listen offline anytime.
Step 1Open ViWizard and Log Into Spotify
Start by launching ViWizard Spotify Music Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Inside the app, use the built-in Spotify Web Player to log into your Spotify account—this works for both Free and Premium users. Once logged in, click the "Add Music" button (usually at the bottom right). When the button lights up, you're ready to add songs, albums, or playlists for downloading.
Step 2Choose Your Output Settings
Before you begin, customize how your music files will be saved. Click the menu icon in the upper-right corner and go to Preferences or Settings. Under the "Convert" tab, select your preferred audio format—options include MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, or AIFF. You can also adjust quality settings like bitrate and sample rate to suit your needs. If you want to keep song lyrics embedded, make sure to check the "Save Lyrics" box. After setting your preferences, save the changes.
Step 3Add and Start Downloading Music
Return to the main interface and browse your Spotify library through the app. Select the songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks you want to download. ViWizard supports all these content types, provided you have access to them via your Spotify account. When you've made your selections, hit the "Convert" button to start ripping and downloading your music.
Step 4Find and Use Your Downloaded Files
Once the conversion finishes, go to the History section in ViWizard to see your completed downloads. Click "Open Folder" to locate where your DRM-free music files are stored on your computer. From here, you can transfer the files to any device or play them directly using ViWizard's built-in media player.
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Nick Orin, a software developer at ViWizard, focuses on providing solutions for software-related challenges, including reviews, troubleshooting, and optimization tips.
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