Best YouTube Downloaders
YouTube is the largest video-sharing and hosting network. As such, it is diverse in video content of different sizes, quality, and length. And while there are many ways to access its services, (through browsers, TV, mobile apps, and more), the content isn’t available in offline mode, at least freely. Luckily there are apps and websites that can help you with saving your favorite YouTube videos for later. In this guide, we’ll cover the best YouTube downloaders you can get for free.
Most good YouTube downloaders excel at downloading video content from other video-sharing sites, too, so you won’t have to worry about switching between different software to achieve appropriate results.
They work flexibly, allowing users to either cut a small piece of video and download it, convert video content into audio, which is an excellent option for podcasts and other audio-prominent content, or, of course, turning the entire video. The good thing is also that you won’t require a super-powerful laptop for this endeavor, either.
Other perks of using YouTube downloaders include the capability to get rid of the problems connected to slow internet connection, whereas the streaming, which increasingly grows in popularity is impossible and unnerving because of its dependency to good internet connection. The right downloader will let you download your favorite video content through the night to let you enjoy good-quality content the next day.
There are a lot of YouTube downloaders online, with new additions always arriving, and the already-existing ones changing constantly. Nevertheless, we made sure to compile a consistent guide that presents the most popular and most reliable YouTube downloaders you can currently find on Google, read on! In case you’re interested in downloading specific MP3 content, we strongly suggest using YouTube to MP3 converter, on which we’ve also written a guide and list.
Top 10 Best YouTube Downloaders
We know that you’ve probably not read YouTube’s terms of service, which state that using third-party apps to download video content is against it and can result in ultimate suspension. That said, users are allowed to stream videos only from YouTube’s official servers.
Also, downloading videos from YouTube can be listed as copyright infringement, unless you’re the creator of the video you’re downloading, or it’s public property available to everyone.
With that in mind, this post doesn’t promote copyright infringement or privacy. It solely serves to inform our readers about them, while the deeply discouraging act of piracy.
4K Video Downloader
If you’re looking for free, fast and reliable software to download all your favorite videos from YouTube, 4K Video Downloader is the best choice for you. It has a set of versatile functionalities and features that made us fall in love with it. It’s also suitable if you’re on the hunt for downloading high-resolution videos, hence the 4K in its name.
It boasts both video and audio options and allows users to download in MP4 and MP3 format. Additionally, the software will enable users to grab the caption of the videos to be able to recognize them easier in the sea of large video folders. Moreover, there is support for 3D and 360-degree video formats.
You can use it easily. You can copy the video’s URL or playlist’s URL as long as there are fewer than 24 videos and paste it into the downloader’s URL box. It’s available for free, although there is a small payment that allows you to run it full of features on three PCs.
Pros
- Great choice of formats
- It’s fast and reliable
- There is support for 3D and 360-degree videos.
- You can download it in MP3 format.
Cons
- There is a paid option with additional features.
Link: https://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader
Winx YouTube Downloader
WinX YouTube Downloader boasts a huge selection of features that will help you get your favorite videos from the most popular video-streaming site and use it on your computer or phone. The good news is that it doesn’t only support YouTube – users can download videos from Facebook, Vimeo, and DailyMotion.
Similarly, like the version mentioned earlier, all you have to do is to copy and paste URL into the downloading box, choose the format you want to download it in, as well as the quality, and it’ll be added to the batch of videos currently being downloaded. When the list is complete, hit Download, and soon your videos will be available on your computer.
When it detects a 4K video, you can choose to download it in that format. However, there is no option to download 360-degree videos, so you’ll miss some action in that aspect. If that’s not too much of a deal-breaker, then WinX is one of the best YouTube downloaders.
Pros
- Extremely easy to use.
- Supports a large selection of formats.
- It’s fast.
- Sports download list so you can download it in a batch.
Cons
- There is no option for 360-degree action videos.
Link: https://www.winxdvd.com/youtube-downloader/?__c=1
Any Video Converter
With a simple and straightforward name, Any Video Converter has gained sympathies from users who enjoy converting their videos from YouTube and other networks to their computers. It supports various features, a plethora of different video formats, it’s fast and reliable and allows users to download 4K and 360-degree videos.
It’s also extremely easy to use. It has a simple user interface and a search box where you paste the video you want to download. Unfortunately, this software won’t let you upload a batch of links to download from, and you’re restricted to one video at a time.
This software, which is one of the best YouTube downloaders comes with additional video editor that is helpful for users who want to distribute their videos to their Facebook or Instagram account and need to add a little finish text, effect, or animation. Alternatively, the editor can be used to shorten, slow or fasten the video.
Another drawback to this fast, consistent, and easy-to-use YouTube downloader is that its download comes bundled with bloatware like ByteFence and Yahoo software during the installation. Make sure to uncheck these options, or you’ll be annoyed by other software bloating your PC.
Pros
- A plethora of video formats
- Fast and reliable
- Sports a simple video editor
Cons
- No batch was downloading.
- Unnecessary software bundle that comes with installation.
Link: https://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/?__c=1
Fee YouTube Download
As its name suggests, Free YouTube Download will allow you to easily grab your videos from the website and download them to your computer. It boasts a simple user interface but allows users to choose from various video formats and resolutions to get video downloaded in the best quality possible. All you have to do is paste the video URL into the search box.
You can download videos in batches, use different options and formats, and even convert the video into MP3 if you’d like. The only downfall to this software is that there is a three-minute limit for downloading videos, meaning that if the video is longer than that, the software will ignore it or pop an error.
Pros
- Many formats to choose from
- Decent video quality
- Allows batch download
Cons
- Three-minute length limit.
Link: https://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-YouTube-Download.htm
aTube Catcher
The fifth of the best YouTube downloaders is aTube Catcher, which will not only grab the videos from YouTube, but also all other networks that boast videos. It’s popular because it supports large formats, works swiftly, and allows you to download batch videos. It doesn’t have a limit on the number of videos you want to download online so that you can exceed your own bandwidth. There is also a feature to record on-screen videos like Bandi.cam or Fraps offer, merge and burn discs.
There is one notable drawback mentioning. There is hidden adware in the installation, which will force colossal number of ads on you. Make sure to cancel the app and continue the installation.
Pros
- A lot of supported formats
- Good quality
- Fast
- Video merger and recorder
Cons
- Suggests a number of adware to download.
Link: https://www.atube.me/
Freemake Video Downloader
Freemake Video Downloader is another software that can bring the videos from YouTube and other platforms to your PC. It boasts a plethora of functions and formats that you can download from. Additionally, there is a reliable user-interface that helps users easily adjust to the process.
All you need to do is to paste the URL of videos you want to download, and this software will do the magic while you can also add other videos to the basket. The app also allows users to immediately transfer their converted video into cloud storage such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
It’s worth noting that there are some downfalls to using this app. The free version only has a download speed limit to 4 MBps, and it also provides a watermark from the beginning to the end of the video. If you subscribe to a paid version, the two will go away. Also, the video resolution isn’t always consistent; some 4K videos will only be downloaded in Full HD resolution, while 60 FPS videos will be converted into 30 FPS videos.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Simple interface
- Can download batch videos
- Can download 4K videos
Cons
- Watermark and download speed limitations on a free version.
- Inconsistent video resolutions.
Link: https://www.freemake.com/free_video_downloader/
Kastor All Video Downloader
If you’re looking for a fast and reliable YouTube downloader, Kastor All Video Downloader will meet all your requirements. It doesn’t require you to search directly on YT. Instead, you can use its search engine to find the video you want to download. Additionally, users can preview videos before downloading. It also boasts 190 new standard websites affiliated to YT or other video hosting sites.
This app, however, doesn’t boast using 4K and 360-degree videos and is affiliated with adult video-hosting sites.
Pros
- Affiliated with 190 video hosting sites
- Has its own search engine
- Allows video preview before downloading
Cons
- No support for 4K and 360-degree videos.
- Lackluster UI
Link: https://kastor-all-video-downloader1.software.informer.com/
Airy Video Downloader
Airy is a simple-to-use video downloader with a lot of features that make it versatile. It’s extremely easy to use and has an intuitive user interface that helps users easily adjust to it. It is available on all currently-supported Windows versions, as well as on Mac OS.
It doesn’t support 4K and 360-degree video formats, but it boasts support for UHD and Full HD videos without a problem. If you want to convert videos into MP3 format, whether it’s for music or podcasts, you can do so using Airy. Another perk of this software is that you can add a batch into a downloading basket and download more videos than one, which is a great addition to this lightweight multi-purpose software.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Fast
- Available for both Windows and Mac
- Has an MP3 converter
- Boasts batch downloading.
Cons
- Doesn’t support 4K videos
Link: https://www.airy-youtube-downloader.com/
Clip Grab
Clip Grab is one of the simplest and safest YouTube downloaders available on the market, and has an extremely user-friendly interface, working only a couple of clicks away. It’s free to download with fewer ads than other software, while also encouraging users to donate. You won’t find fancy video formats like 4K on this site, but it works extremely fast and allows users to download from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and other sites. There is also a built-in search bar and a Proxy Server as backup in case the app goes down.
Pros
- Built-in search bar
- Proxy Server as backup
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- No 4K or 1080p video format.
Link: https://clipgrab.org/
VideoProc
VideoProc is the last in our list for the best YouTube downloaders, but that doesn’t make it feel any less premium. It sports various options like Video downloader, recorder, DVD burner, as well as video-to-audio converter. It’s available for free for Windows and Mac OS, but there is also a paid version. It can convert any video, including the 4K and 8K private YouTube videos.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Different functionalities are included
- Can download 4K and 8K videos
Cons
- Not all functions are supported in the free version.
Link: https://www.videoproc.com/
Conclusion
Which YouTube downloader do you use to grab videos from YT and other video-sharing networks? Let us know in the comments!