Table of Contents
With more than 2.70 billion monthly active users in 2024, YouTube stands ground as a wildly popular video hosting platform. This video-sharing platform allows video watching, liking, commenting, and uploading across various devices such as desktop PCs, tablets, mobile phones, and laptops. However, there are times when having a particular video for offline viewing becomes necessary. Well, you can easily download those videos in versatile formats like MP3 and MP4 with YouTube video downloaders. How? That’s what we are here with!
Listed below is a curated selection of the best YouTube downloaders, each highlighted with distinctive features and website links. This list covers open-source (free) and commercial (paid) software. You get a comprehensive resource for video downloading needs from this article. So without much delay, let’s discuss these best free YouTube downloaders.
Top YouTube Video Downloaders for a Hassle-Free Download
SnapDownloader: Download Videos up to 8K Resolution
Downloading videos in up to 8K resolution from 1,100 websites, including YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
SnapDownloader stands out as a top pick among the leading YouTube video downloaders. It allows users to download videos from YouTube and over 1,100 other websites in resolutions up to 8K.
This YouTube Video Downloader App supports various formats such as MP4, MP3, MOV, M4A, WMV, and AAC. The software is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7 and macOS 10.10 and higher.
Notably, SnapDownloader offers a range of resolutions from 240P to 8K HD and provides a keyword-based video search feature. It supports playlist, channel, 3D, and VR video downloads.
Pros:
- Download videos in 8K, 4K, QHD, 1080p HD, and other resolutions.
- Convert videos to MP4, MP3, AVI, WMA, AAC, etc.
- Compatible with Windows and macOS.
- Keyword-based video search.
Cons:
- Not free, with only a 2-day free trial.
- Unavailable for Android and Linux.
Supported Formats:
MP4, MP3, MOV, M4A, WMV, AAC.
Free Download: SnapDownloader
iTubego: Versatile YouTube Video Downloader App
YouTube Video Downloader app for Android, macOS & Windows PC.
iTubeGo is a comprehensive software solution for downloading YouTube videos. Noteworthy features include support for 10,000+ sites, 4K & 8K video downloads, and the ability to download entire playlists with resolutions up to 8K.
Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android, iTubeGo offers flexible format options, including MP4, MP3, MOV, AAC, WAV, AVI, and M4A. The desktop version supports batch downloads, and a 30-day money-back guarantee adds a layer of assurance.
Pros:
- Supports downloading 4K & 8K videos.
- Batch download support in the desktop version.
- Converts videos to various formats.
- Proxy setup for region-restricted content.
Cons:
- The free version doesn’t offer downloads.
Supported Formats:
MP4, MP3, MOV, AAC, WAV, AVI, M4A, and more.
30-day Money-Back Guarantee: iTubeGo
By Click Downloader: Simplicity with Advanced Features
Downloading live videos and playlists with a straightforward interface.
By Click Downloader combines simplicity with advanced features, making it a popular choice for many users. This YouTube video downloader identifies videos in your browser and offers easy, one-click downloads for playlists, live videos, subtitles, and more. Supporting various formats, including HD, MP3, MP4, AVI, and others, By Click Downloader is a versatile solution for Windows users. However, it lacks support for Mac and Linux platforms.
Pros:
- Download entire YouTube playlists and channels.
- Backup videos from YouTube, Dailymotion, and 40+ sites.
- Supports multiple formats.
- One-click download for easy use.
Cons:
- No support for Mac and Linux.
Supported Formats: HD, MP3, MP4, AVI, etc.
Free Download: By Click Downloader
SSYouTube: Free YouTube Video Download
Downloading videos, music, playlists, and channels from YouTube in up to 8K resolution.
SSYouTube is a free YouTube video downloader, which simplifies batch downloads of high-quality videos from YouTube. Offering a multilingual interface, it supports various features like playlist and channel downloads, YouTube Shorts, subtitles, and even direct transfers to iTunes. Users can choose from original YouTube quality, MP4, AVI, MOV, and MP3 formats. While it excels in YouTube downloads, it is limited to YouTube content.
Pros:
- Full HD, 4K, 8K YouTube videos.
- Download YouTube Shorts, playlists, and channels.
- Transfer content directly to iTunes.
- Supports subtitles.
Cons:
- Limited to YouTube downloads.
- Doesn’t support websites other than YouTube.
Supported Formats:
MP4, AVI, MOV, MP3.
Experience SSYouTube’s Free YouTube Download.
YTD Video Downloader: Conversion and Monitoring Features
Converting playlists and complete channels.
YTD Video Downloader stands out with its video conversion features. In addition to monitoring downloader/converter activity, it offers an in-built video player. It supports a range of formats, including FLV, MP4, 3GP, MOV, MP3, and AVI. While it provides an effective solution for Windows users, it has ads in the free version and is limited to the Windows platform.
Pros:
- In-built video player.
- Monitor video downloader/converter activity.
- Automatic resume during connection issues.
- Converts videos for mobile devices.
Cons:
- Ads in the free version.
- Limited to the Windows platform.
Download your favorite playlist with YTD Video Downloader.
VideoProc: Multimedia Toolkit for High-Quality Downloads
Swift downloads of 8K/4K/HD videos, live streams, playlists, channels, and music on your computer.
VideoProc Converter is among the leading YouTube video downloaders, featuring a powerful download engine. Effortlessly download videos from a multitude of platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and over 1000 others. Simply insert the video link into the downloader, and let VideoProc Converter efficiently analyze and download in formats like MP4, WebM, MP3, and more. Beyond downloading, the software provides extensive video file solutions, allowing you to edit, convert, and enhance videos for various devices.
Pros:
- Unrestricted free downloads of various quality and duration
- Flexible choices for video format, resolution, and frame rate
- Efficient utilization of computer power for accelerated downloads
- Overcomes regional download restrictions with advanced proxy settings
- All-inclusive functionality for downloading, editing, converting, and recording videos.
Cons:
- Occasional difficulty in downloading private videos
Supported Formats: MP4, WebM, MP3, M4A, and more
Choose your download format with VideoProc.
PPTube: Nimble Converter for YouTube Videos to MP3
Converting YouTube videos to MP3 at 128, 192, or 320 Kbps.
PPTube is a small and lightweight app, made to help you with online video downloads. It specializes in converting YouTube videos to MP4 or MP3 formats. On top of that, it offers various bitrate options. It features a built-in search for seamless content discovery and allows you to store entire YouTube playlists with a single click. Moreover, PPTube simplifies the conversion of files on your hard drive to popular formats.
Pros:
- Swift and lightweight with built-in search
- Converts YouTube videos to MP3 with selectable bitrates
- Converts local files to various popular formats
- Access multimedia content offline without ads or annotations
Cons:
- Some users may find the pricing relatively high
Supported Formats: MP4, MP3, MOV, AAC
Taste the speed of download with PPTube.
CleverGet: Seamless Downloading of YouTube Live Stream Videos
Downloading live stream videos from YouTube.
CleverGet, a leading online video-downloading software, supports YouTube and various other platforms. It facilitates searching, playing, and downloading videos from sites like iFilm, Myspace, AOL, and Dailymotion. Setting itself apart, CleverGet allows the download of live-streaming videos, delivering an enhanced user experience through advanced video loading and hardware acceleration technologies.
Pros:
- Downloads live stream videos from YouTube
- Supports downloading from 1000+ sites
- Incorporates advanced video loading and hardware acceleration technology
- User-friendly and efficient
Cons:
- Lacks a browser plugin or format conversion tool
Supported Formats: MP4, MKV, WEBM, 3GP, M4A
Get CleverGet to Download Your Favorite YouTube Video.
VidJuice: YouTube Downloader with Simultaneous Downloads
Simultaneously downloads multiple videos.
VidJuice is one of the most versatile YouTube video downloaders, considered an all-rounder when it comes to YouTube downloading and more. It empowers users to download videos and audio from over 1000 websites. Featuring a built-in video trimmer for seamless clip cutting, VidJuice supports simultaneous downloads of multiple videos. The application offers a maximum audio bitrate of 320kbps, enables syncing videos to Dropbox and Google Drive, and ensures privacy with a private mode.
Pros:
- Downloads videos, audio, and playlists from 10,000+ sites
- Built-in video trimmer for easy clip-cutting
- Supports downloading and watching videos in various resolutions
- Accelerates downloading and conversion speed
- Private mode for enhanced privacy
Cons:
- Limited trial version
Supported Formats: MP3, MP4, AVI, etc.
Explore the unlimited download options with VidJuice.
Allavsoft: Download Video and Music from 1000+ Websites
Allavsoft is a comprehensive tool for downloading videos from over 100 websites. Supporting HD 1080p, 4K 4096p, and more, it offers a one-click download feature. The software is perfect for batch downloading and automatically avoids downloading advertisements. Allavsoft also streamlines the conversion of online video files through a simple one-step process.
Pros:
- Transfers downloaded files anywhere and keep them indefinitely
- Automatically detects and avoids downloading advertisements
- Simple one-step process for converting online video files
- Batch downloading option
Cons:
- Output options may be somewhat limited
Supported Formats: MP4, MP3, AVI, WAV, MOV, etc.
Elevate your YouTube experience with Allavsoft.
Verdict: Which YouTube Video Downloaders Are Best for You?
An ideal YouTube video downloader isn’t really hard to find once you’re aware of what exactly you need. Your needs dictate the kind of YouTube downloader that will work. Compare your requirements with the features listed in this article. And make your own decision.
Still, here’s what we think. Each of these options comes with their strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for a YouTube downloader for Windows, then you can’t go wrong with By Click Downloader and YTD Video Downloader. They offer high-resolution downloads and extensive format support. iTubeGo has more compatibility across multiple platforms, offering millions of downloadable 4K and 8K videos. SnapDownloader and iTubeGo are also compatible with macOS.
If you’re done with your checklist of requirements, you can proceed to compare these YouTube video downloaders. It’s time you made your decision. We sincerely hope this article helped you make your decision. Happy Downloading!
FAQs
What YouTube downloader is safe?
- SnapDownloader
- iTubego
- ByClickDownloader
- SSYouTube
Is Y2Mate safe to download from?
No. Y2Mate may seem like a legitimate website, which it is, but that does not make it a safe choice. It comes with a plethora of viruses and a lot of phishing ads.
Are YouTube downloaders illegal?
Google says that downloading any videos from YouTube or other sites is illegal, regardless of the platform you use. It violates the copyright claims of the owner of the original video. However, if you’re using these YouTube video downloaders to download videos for personal and non-commercial purposes, then you’re in the green zone and are not doing anything illegal.
How to download YouTube videos on a PC?
You can use many YouTube video downloaders such as YTD Video Downloader, SnapDownloader, VideoProc, and more. These platforms allow you to download videos from YouTube and many other sites.
