YouTube is undoubtedly one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world. Whether you’re looking for the latest music video, a tutorial on how to fix a car or a funny cat video, YouTube is the place to go.
However, despite its popularity, YouTube doesn’t allow users to download videos directly from the platform, even if they are YouTube Premium Users. This can be frustrating, especially when you want to watch a video offline or share it with friends without internet access.
Fortunately, many free YouTube downloaders allow you to download videos from YouTube and other popular video-sharing platforms. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best free YouTube downloaders available today.
Disclaimer: Please note that using any of the free YouTube downloaders listed above for unethical purposes is strictly prohibited. It is against YouTube’s policy to use third-party software to download videos from the platform. Moreover, downloading videos that are not your own or are subject to copyright protection may constitute a copyright infringement, which is illegal. Therefore, ensure that you only download videos that are free of any copyright or that you have the necessary permissions to download.
List of Best Free YouTube Downloaders for Windows PC & macOS
1. By Click Downloader
By Click Downloader is best for downloading content from over 40 websites, including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram. This software is seamlessly integrated with major browsers and automatically detects when you’re browsing video content. It then prompts you with a message window at the right corner, offering you various file formats to choose from and download the content.
The free version works fine, but you must upgrade to a premium plan to get features like playlist download, AVI/WMV conversion, No Ads, Private video download support for Facebook and YouTube, and more.
2. YTD Video Downloader
YTD Video Downloader is a popular software that allows you to download videos from various websites, such as YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and more. It can download videos in various formats, such as MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV, and more. It also allows you to convert videos to other formats, making it versatile. Additionally, you can download entire playlists and channels with just one click.
The free version can download up to 2K resolution, but it has ads, can only download one video at a time, cannot cut videos during conversion, and has a limited download speed. To unlock these features, you can upgrade to the Pro version.
YTD Video Downloader & Video Converter
3. VideoProc Converter AI
VideoProc Converter AI is powerful software that not only enables you to download videos from YouTube but also provides many other features, such as video editing, conversion, and compression. Its built-in AI engine can recognize video and audio content intelligently and automatically apply the best processing settings.
With VideoProc Converter AI, downloading videos from YouTube is straightforward. Open VideoProc Converter AI, go to Downloader, copy the video link from YouTube, and paste it into the software’s URL box. The software will analyze the video and offer various resolution and format options. You can choose the format and resolution you want to download and click the “Download” button.
Download VideoProc Converter AI
4. iTubeGo YouTube Downloader
iTubeGo YouTube Downloader is a powerful software that lets you download YouTube videos, music, playlists, and channels. In addition to YouTube, it supports Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud etc.
It also has a built-in browser that allows you to search for and download videos directly from the software without opening a separate browser window. The free version allows you to download 3 YouTube videos and 1 playlist.
Download iTubeGo YouTube Download
5. 4K Video Downloader+
4K Video Downloader+ is one of the oldest and most popular software for downloading videos and audio from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, SoundCloud, and more. It also supports downloading 3D, 360-degree, and 8K videos, which are excellent features for those who want to experience immersive content. Additionally, you can download entire playlists and channels with just a few clicks.
Smart Mode allows users to set default settings for future downloads. You can choose the format, quality, and destination folder for your downloads, and the software will automatically apply these settings to all future downloads.
With the premium plan, you can increase the number of daily downloads (from 30 daily downloads), download subtitles from playlists and channels, simultaneous downloads, and much more.
6. DVDVideoSoft’s Free YouTube Download
DVDVideoSoft’s Free YouTube Download software is a popular tool for downloading videos from YouTube. It allows users to save videos in various formats and resolutions, catering to different needs and preferences.
However, it’s important to note that the free version restricts video download speeds to the extent that it is too much for us. Also, the downloaded video had its watermark. You can search for a YouTube video directly from the software, and the trending music tab shows you the top trending songs on YouTube, which may be useful in some use cases.
With the premium version, you can download high-speed and high-resolution videos (2K, 4K & 8K) without a watermark, as well as playlists and channels.
Download Free YouTube Downloader
7. CleverGet
CleverGet can download videos from 1000+ websites, including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram. It can download videos in high-quality resolutions, up to 8K, providing an excellent viewing experience. The software also allows you to download entire playlists and channels, making it easy to save your favorite content.
The free version allows you to download a maximum of 3 minutes of video, and that too with a watermark. You can upgrade to the premium version to unlock additional features, such as batch downloading, an ad-free experience, and priority customer support.
8. SurFast Video Downloader
SurFast Video Downloader is a powerful tool for downloading videos from various websites, including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram. One of the best features of SurFast Video Downloader is its fast download speed, which means you can download videos quickly and efficiently. You can download videos up to 8K resolution.
It has a built-in video-to-MP3 converter, so converting even local video files to MP3 is convenient. You can unlock additional features by upgrading to the premium version, such as batch downloading, an ad-free experience, and priority customer support.
Download SurFast Video Downloader
9. HitPaw Video Converter
HitPaw Video Converter is a powerful tool for easily converting and downloading YouTube videos. It supports a wide range of video and audio formats, so you can convert your YouTube videos to any format you need. Whether you want to save a video as an MP4, AVI, WMV, or any other format, HitPaw Video Converter has you covered.
In addition to its video conversion capabilities, HitPaw Video Converter includes a built-in video editor that lets you customize your videos. You will need to buy the premium plan if you want ultrafast download speed, download more than one file simultaneously, playlist downloading, and other pro features.
Download HitPaw Video Converter
10. ClipGrab
ClipGrab is one of the most straightforward software on this list. It is completely free to use and relies on donations from their happy users for continuous development. It uses yt-dlp, which is an open-source tool to download YouTube videos. However, it has its limitations, the major one being the capping the max resolution at 1080p.
If that is not an issue with you, this is hands down the best software you can download to handle video downloading. If you are tech-savvy, you can directly grab yt-dlp, a command-line-based tool for your headless systems and servers.
In conclusion, many great tools are available for downloading videos from YouTube and other websites. Each software has unique features and benefits, so evaluating your needs and preferences is essential before choosing one. We have personally tested each of them, as you can see in the screenshot, and download a video from Tech Arrival’s YouTube Channel.
Whether you’re looking for a basic downloader or more advanced software with additional features like video editing, conversion, and compression, a tool can meet your needs. With the information in this article, you should be able to make an informed decision and choose the best video downloader software for your needs.
Also read: Best Video Sharing Sites You Should Use
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which are the best YouTube download apps?
ByClickDownloader, VideoProc Converter AI, and iTubeGo YouTube Downloader are some of the best YouTube downloader apps.
Why use a YouTube video downloader?
One main reason is to save a video for offline viewing, especially if you have a slow or limited internet connection. By downloading the video, you can watch it anytime, anywhere, without worrying about buffering or data usage. Additionally, some people may want to save a video for educational or creative purposes.
Is downloading YouTube videos LEGAL?
Downloading YouTube videos can be a legal gray area. While YouTube’s terms of service prohibit users from downloading videos without permission from the content creator, there are exceptions. For instance, if the video is in the public domain or has a Creative Commons license, you may be able to download it legally. Additionally, downloading the video for personal use, such as to watch offline, may be considered fair use. However, it’s important to note that downloading copyrighted material without permission can result in legal consequences.
What’s the difference between Online YouTube downloaders and desktop apps?
In most cases, sites that provide YouTube downloading features are usually very slow and full of cluttered interfaces with many ads. It may be suitable for one-time use, but a desktop app is way better if you want a permanent solution.
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