Which Vimeo plans let you download videos via API?
If you want to migrate, back up, or automate anything involving your Vimeo videos, you need two things: a personal access token and a plan that actually lets the API return download links. This guide breaks down which plans qualify, what each unlocks, and what to do if you're on the free tier.
Image placeholder
Vimeo plans comparison diagram
A clean 5-column visual comparing Free, Starter, Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise. Each column shows a checkmark or X next to 'API Download Access'. Highlight the gap between Free (no API) and Starter+ (yes API) with a vertical divider or arrow.
The short answer
The free Vimeo plan does not give API access to video file downloads. You need Vimeo Starter, Standard, Advanced, or Enterprise to access the API fields that return a downloadable file URL. The Plusand legacy tiers historically varied — if you're on an old plan, the simplest check is to run an API call against /me/videos and see whether the download or files array is populated.
Plan-by-plan breakdown
Free
No API access for file downloads. You can use the Vimeo UI to download individual videos one at a time, but there's no way to automate or migrate at scale. If you have more than a handful of videos and you're on the free plan, you'll need to upgrade temporarily before migrating.
Starter
Vimeo's entry-level paid plan. Includes API access, so the download field on video objects is populated and tools like this2that can retrieve your files. Lowest-cost option if you just need enough time to migrate.
Standard
Adds more storage, collaborators, and API call quota. Useful if you're migrating a large library and want fewer rate-limit headaches during the process.
Advanced
Team-oriented plan with higher quotas. Same API download access as Standard but with more team features that may matter if you need multiple people to manage the migration.
Enterprise
Custom plan with the highest API quotas, SSO, and dedicated support. Overkill for migration alone, but if you're already on Enterprise, everything Just Works.
Try it now
On the free plan? You don't have to stay there forever.
Upgrade to Vimeo Starter for one month, run your migration, then cancel. One-time cost, full export.
Start the migration→Cheapest way to migrate from a free plan
If you're on the free plan and just want to export your videos so you can leave Vimeo, the most cost-effective path is:
- Upgrade to Vimeo Starter for one month. This is the cheapest plan with API access.
- Generate a personal access token with the
privateandvideo_filesscopes. - Run your migration (e.g., with this2that) to copy everything to your destination.
- Confirm everything landed safely, then cancel Vimeo. Your videos are now in Google Drive, Dropbox, or wherever you exported them.
For most people this is a one-time cost of the monthly plan price — far less than doing the migration by hand over days or weeks.
How to tell if your current plan works
You don't need to guess. Generate a personal access token, hit GET https://api.vimeo.com/me/videos?per_page=1 with your token in the Authorization header, and check the response. If the download or filesarray is present on each video, you have API download access. If those fields are missing or empty, your plan doesn't allow API downloads.