30 Great Video Downloaders to Download Video & Audio. As more and more sites are dedicated to making videos and audios available to you on the internet, you may often watch fantastic movies on YouTube and listen to hit records on SoundCloud at your free time. Jan 03, 2020 Free Video Editing Software to Try Today. Audio Mac Software Reviews August 30, 2018. Following on from our recent article about Great Video Editing Software For Mac To Download.
Multimedia • Updated on Jan 9, 2020
Best Free Video Downloader Reviews
No doubt, YouTube has become the center of entertainment for most people. From funny, short clips to full-length documentaries, you can find almost everything there. The service has been active for more than one decade now, as you know. And, it’s still a bummer that YouTube does not allow you to download videos.
Quick navigation
The case for YouTube offline
While it’s true that most of us have a internet connection nowadays, imagine this:
You have a slow internet connection. This can be a nightmare, you know, especially while you try to watch full-HD and 4K videos. If the internet connection drops, so does the fun.
You need Offline Access. So, you don’t want to spend all your time on the Internet, alright? So, when you come across a really good YouTube video, you want to keep it offline. That way, you will be able to watch it whenever you want. If you are on an airplane, for instance.
You need Backup. You are an artist or a content creator. You need to use some YouTube video for a project of yours. This time, quality is important for you and you need the maximum you can get. There is also the danger that videos will be taken offline in the future and you won’t be able to access them at all.
This is why it doesn’t surprise us that you want to know how to download and save YouTube videos. So did we, and luckily, third-party YouTube downloader software will help.
By saving your favorite YouTube videos for later, you’re ensuring you can watch YouTube videos start-to-finish anywhere without any pesky obstacles like wifi or restricted data plans.
There are some online downloaders as well, but they are limited in features and function. In this article, we are going to talk about desktop tools for macOS.
How we choose
In order to choose the best YouTube downloader for Mac, we analysed more than 20 apps from the market, and we’d followed some criteria.
- Does the app offer the ability to download YouTube video to watch offline?
- Does the app enable you to download, convert and save videos with a single click?
- Does the app provide bulk downloading?
- Does the app extract the audio from YouTube music videos to MP3 format?
- Does it work with the speed of light?
- Does the app help you select your best quality of download (4K or 1080p, 720p or 360p, etc)
- Is the app beautifully designed with an easy to understand interface?
- Does it help you keep up-to-date, allowing you to quickly get the latest version?
Our favorite top picks
Based on our testing sessions, here we’ve come down to these four.
Full disclosure: We earn a commission if you end up purchasing any of the Mac YouTube Downloader apps listed on this page through our referral links. This helps us to keep TheSweetBits up-to-date. Thanks for your support.
Softorino YouTube Converter 2 — best overall for iPhone and Mac
Softorino YouTube Converter 2, also known as SYC 2, is one of the most popular YouTube downloaders. The best part about SYC 2 is that you can download Youtube videos & audio to watch them or listen offline on your iPhone, iPad, iPod or computer.
What makes SYC 2 great?
Download and convert YouTube video: While its name mentions strictly YouTube, we should point out that the program is much more capable than it lets see. Besides YouTube, the application can download videos and tracks from SoundCloud, Vimeo, BandCamp, VEVO, BREAK, CNN, DailyMotion, Facebook, Instagram, and many more.
You can use this program for not just downloading YouTube videos but also converting the content to many other formats. If you opt for video output, indicating the video quality that best suits your needs is possible, with 360p, 720p HD, 1080p HD, and 2160p 4K resolution being your alternatives. As for audio output, you can choose from MP3, AAC, and “original” audio.
From our test, converting an hour-long YouTube video into an MP3 took fewer than two minutes. We also tried to pull a 249-track playlist from a video game soundtrack. That took under 15 minutes to convert them all to MP3 files and add them to iTunes and my iPhone X.
Ringtone Maker: SYC 2 is an awesome way to create ringtones at your convenience. While trying to download a video/song from the internet, you can select the Ringtone option as well. This can bring you one full-length ringtone, or something trimmed down to 30 seconds, but sadly there’s no way to trim a specific section. Either way, you don’t have to use any other tool for converting a song to ringtone.
aWi-Fi Data Transfer: You can transfer downloaded media to other devices such as iPhone, iPad or iTunes. According to the destination, SYC 2 will optimize the final file. At the end of the day, you don’t need other tools to transfer downloaded videos, music or ringtones to your other Apple devices — all thanks to aWi-Fi. It also supports other transfer protocols like UCB and ACR.
Impressive Performance: Being the latest version, SYC 2 is pretty fast in terms of performance. The download speeds are quite impressive. Also, it is worth noting that SYC 2 automatically recognizes content you download. Thanks to Automatic Content Recognition technology, it will fill in all the needed meta data, genre, and even proper artwork. It also lets you store the downloaded content to iTunes/TV app accordingly. This is an awesome feature if you’d like to have a well-organized media library.
Overall, Softorino YouTube Converter 2 is an awesome choice if you need a quick as well as versatile way to download YouTube videos to Mac and iOS devices.
The app is available for Mac and Windows. However, you get the best experience on Mac, due to the ecosystem integration. A single license of SYC 2 would cost you $19.95 and this unlocks all features including 4K UHD support and transfer-based features.
Downie — easiest to dive in
Downie is yet another popular YouTube video downloader for macOS. But, the best part is that it allows you to download videos from more than 1000 websites. For now, however, we will be focusing on YouTube video downloading capability of this tool.
What makes Downie great?
Minimal UI: As you can see, Downie has a minimal User Interface offering. Everything has been kept simple. You have a minimal list of the running and completed YouTube video downloads. It’s up to you to clear it. In addition to the fully-fledged window, Downie has a menu-bar interface as well. Clicking on it would show you the current progress of the download.
Browser integration: Downie offers top-notch integration with popular browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Chromium and Opera. Downie integrates so well that you can download your favorite YouTube videos in a single click. Or, if you want something further, you can check out the Contextual Menu as well. Downie Contextual Menu allows you to select the Post-processing mode as well.
Browser integration: Downie offers top-notch integration with popular browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Chromium and Opera. Downie integrates so well that you can download your favorite YouTube videos in a single click. Or, if you want something further, you can check out the Contextual Menu as well. Downie Contextual Menu allows you to select the Post-processing mode as well.
4K video support and compatibility: Downie lets you download YouTube videos at the highest possible quality. You can get videos that perform well in your 4K displays. Regardless the quality, Downie ensures the best set of speeds, for downloading as well as format conversion. Downie supports a wide variety of websites, from where you can download videos. The best part is that the team offers frequent updates, adding support for more sites.
Customization options: Downie allows you to download videos at different qualities, up to 4K. You can also automate the process. That is, you can set up Downie to choose the best possible Quality every time you download something. On the other hand, if you need more control, you can limit the quality as well. Along with video, this YouTube downloader can download the corresponding subtitle as well. You can even choose subtitles. There are also some Parental Control and Proxy customization options available in the Downie package.
Customization options: Downie allows you to download videos at different qualities, up to 4K. You can also automate the process. That is, you can set up Downie to choose the best possible Quality every time you download something. On the other hand, if you need more control, you can limit the quality as well. Along with video, this YouTube downloader can download the corresponding subtitle as well. You can even choose subtitles. There are also some Parental Control and Proxy customization options available in the Downie package.
To sum up, Downie is a great choice if you need a simple-yet-powerful YouTube video downloader for Mac. The app is pretty minimal, but the features are quite useful at times.
Downie is currently available for macOS only. You need a device running macOS 10.11+ to run the program. A single license of Downie is priced at $19.99, the developer offers TheSweetBits readers an exclusive 25% discount here, only $14.99. It’s also available on Setapp.
PullTube — online video and playlist downloader
Video Downloader For Macbook Pro
PullTube is different from the other YouTube downloaders we have listed above. It is a complete suite that helps you download online videos and playlists with ease. Compared to other tools in the list, PullTube has a versatile feature list as well.
What makes PullTube great?
Comprehensive Interface: The UI of PullTube may not be the simplest in the first look. That is because the media downloader packs an amazing set of features inside. However, if you just want to fetch details and download a YouTube video, it would take just a few seconds. The fact that you can use this single tool to download variety of videos from multiple websites is just amazing indeed.
Video Trimming: A new challenger in the game, PullTube has the ability to trim down videos. There’s a scissor-like button in the app which lets you trim the video to your desired length — either by feeding inputting the time stamps, or dragging through the video timeline for a preferred part of the video.
Built-in Conversion Engine: When you have PullTube, you don’t need another conversion utility. This tool is so great when you’d like to get an audio/video file converted into another format. There is also an option to stitch multiple video parts together so that you have a single file. You will also be able to use the built-in editing features for making a few changes.
Built-in Conversion Engine: When you have PullTube, you don’t need another conversion utility. This tool is so great when you’d like to get an audio/video file converted into another format. There is also an option to stitch multiple video parts together so that you have a single file. You will also be able to use the built-in editing features for making a few changes.
The Miscellaneous: There are a few seemingly simple but really useful features in the PullTube package. For instance, you would be able to download auto-generated subtitles when you download a YouTube video. A point worth mentioning is that the app supports playlist downloading as well. If PullTube detects that the video is part of a playlist, it will offer to download the entire collection. Similarly, the app also has a wonderful level of browser integration. It works well with Chrome, Safari and Firefox. PullTube also lets you using shortcuts and gestures, and set up custom proxy/socket choices for easy control. Altogether, the video downloading experience is unparalleled.
At the end of the day, we would recommend PullTube as the ultimate YouTube downloader if you need some extra points when it comes to additional features.
It is currently available for macOS devices only. If you have a Mac running 10.11 or higher, you should try it. Although it offers a free version, PullTube is actually a paid program. You can either purchase it from official website for $14.99 or get it as a part of the Setapp subscription.
Wondershare AllMyTube — the all-in-one solution
Have you ever thought of an all-in-one YouTube downloader? Something that can help you download, edit, convert and transfer the content from YouTube and other websites? Well, Wondershare AllMyTube is right that thing. That’s why we’ve chosen it as the best all-in-one YouTube downloader out there.
You should be considering Wondershare AllMyTube if you want to ignore using multiple tools at once. It gets the job done without much fuss. Awesome, huh?
You should be considering Wondershare AllMyTube if you want to ignore using multiple tools at once. It gets the job done without much fuss. Awesome, huh?
What we loved in Wondershare AllMyTube?
Wondershare AllMyTube just rocks the stage when it comes to additional features. We’ll keep it short.
Built-in Converter: Unlike the other YouTube video downloaders we checked out, Wondershare AllMyTube has a dedicated and well-built option for converting videos. You will be able to convert not only downloaded videos but also the other videos you have on your device. You can simply drag and drop the file to start the conversion process. It even comes with device profiles for easy conversion.
Content Transfer: Although not as good as SYC 2, Wondershare AllMyTube allows you to transfer content to your smartphone devices as well. Here, however, you can connect either your iOS or Android device for data transfer. The full process takes some time, but you have some convenience. You would have to install some apps on the device for easy transfer, though.
Content Transfer: Although not as good as SYC 2, Wondershare AllMyTube allows you to transfer content to your smartphone devices as well. Here, however, you can connect either your iOS or Android device for data transfer. The full process takes some time, but you have some convenience. You would have to install some apps on the device for easy transfer, though.
Recording and Browser: Wondershare AllMyTube packs a built-in Recorder utility along with other features. You can use it to record content from your screen. Browser, on the other hand, is an awesome way to explore popular sites without leaving the program. You can check out the content and will then be able to download everything with ease and control.
On any day, you can’t go wrong with Wondershare AllMyTube. It packs so many features that will help you in downloading and managing videos from YouTube and other platforms.
The software is available for both macOS and Windows. If you have a Mac that runs on 10.10 or later versions, you can install this program. You can also try the free version of Wondershare AllMyTube with some limited features. However, for complete features, you will have to pay $19 per year or $29 for the Lifetime license.
Other YouTube video grabbers we considered
Although they did not make it to the top four list, these are the other best YouTube downloaders you can be considering on any day. We will do a brief overview of all.
Airy YouTube Downloader
Airy is definitely a popular, minimalist tool for downloading videos from YouTube. It works for YouTube videos, and not for other video platforms. Starting from the User Interface, Airy is just simple. You will be able to start everything in seconds. Once you have pasted the URL, you can select the desired quality and Airy would start the download ASAP.
There aren’t many added features in the package, and we think Airy can be too minimalistic at times. The point is that you may miss some features that you actually need in the long run. That having said, we would be recommending Airy if you need something so simple and straightforward for downloading YouTube videos.
Airy YouTube Downloader is available for macOS and it costs $19.95. You can download up to three videos using the free version.
4K Video Downloader
As the name says, 4K Video Downloader is a tool that allows you to download YouTube videos in 4K quality. Of course, almost all the tools we have listed above can do this. However, 4K Video Downloader does a great job since we are talking about a dedicated tool. Once again, the process is straightforward, and the download tool can pick up the YouTube URL from the clipboard.
There are some cool features, though. For instance, the Smart Mode allows you to download videos in just a single click. Subscriptions feature, on the other hand, will download newly-uploaded videos from channels you have subscribed.
4K Video Downloader is available for Mac and is free to use. You can upgrade to premium for extra features.
MacX YouTube Downloader
This is your best shot if you are looking for the practically free YouTube downloader out there. MacX YouTube Downloader does get the job done and the speeds are also pretty great. Of course, you can expect standard features from the package but that’s it. Although the name says so, MacX YouTube Downloader allows you to download videos from more than 300 websites.
One thing we thought is that MacX YouTube Downloader could be faster in terms of UI. It takes a while for the program to analyze videos and process them for download. Regardless of all these, you can use the tool to download YouTube videos at 4K quality, given that you choose the right format. We think that’s great if you consider the utility of all.
MacX YouTube Downloader is available for Mac and is free cost.
ClipGrab for Mac
ClipGrab for Mac is one of the very few free YouTube downloaders for Mac. Of course, being a free tool, it’s some downsides, but they don’t matter much. You can use ClipGrab for Mac for downloading videos at up to full HD quality. An integrated Search feature makes it really easy to find and download videos. You can simply enter some search terms and appropriate YouTube results would appear.
Once that is done, ClipGrab for Mac would let you download the file into MPEG4 or MP3. There aren’t many fancy features to talk about in ClipGrab for Mac. However, you can control the download and conversion process to the maximum. You can even manage the Metadata of the file. Considering that it has some advanced features, this free YouTube video downloader is worth it.
ClipGrab for Mac is completely free to use. It’s available for Windows and Linux as well.
What about YouTube Premium? Can it save video to computer?
YouTube Premium(formerly known as YouTube Red) is a subscription service from YouTube. It packs a number of features such as downloading videos, ad-free playback and background playback. Currently, the package contains access to YouTube Music as well.
But it doesn’t come free. YouTube Premium is priced at $11.99 per month. So, you have to pay more than $120 a year for watching YouTube videos without ads and offline playback. On the bright side, you will have access to YouTube original content and background playback options.
Can YouTube Premium save videos to computer?
NO.
YouTube Premium lets you save YouTube videos only to Android/iOS devices. So, you cannot save videos to your Mac or Windows PC.
And, you know the worst part? All the downloaded videos are automatically deleted after 30 days. And YouTube has brought 1080p downloads to the official iOS and Android apps.many phones have now gone past that; the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max have resolutions that exceed 1080p, for instance.
Considering all these points, it makes more sense to download YouTube videos using a dedicated YouTube downloader for Mac above.
Last but not least, is it illegal to download YouTube videos?
Technically, it’s illegal to download YouTube videos. The official Terms and Conditions page of YouTube says:
“You shall not download any Content unless you see a “download” or similar link displayed by YouTube on the Service for that Content.You shall not copy, reproduce, make available online or electronically transmit, publish, adapt, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, or otherwise exploit any Content for any other purposes without the prior written consent of YouTube or the respective licensors of the Content. YouTube and its licensors reserve all rights not expressly granted in and to the Service and the Content.”
Going by definition, you cannot download YouTube videos for offline watching, but that’s just a definition. Unless you are downloading the video and publishing it elsewhere, there’s nothing to worry.
Practically speaking, you can download YouTube videos and watch them later. As long as you don’t use the videos for commercial purposes, YouTube downloading is legal.
Bottom line
So, which YouTube Downloader is your best bet? Depending on your needs. Horos dicom viewer for mac free download 2019.
If you are looking for something that offers the best speed and iOS-based features, Softorino YouTube Converter 2 seems to be the right shot, any given day. Nevertheless, there are times when you need something like Wondershare AllMyTube, especially if you want to do more than simply downloading the video.
Except for the four tools we mentioned last, it’s true that every YouTube downloader here packs some additional features. And, these features would come in handy if you are a content creator or someone who compiles different types of media from YouTube.
Perhaps, you are now
Looking for a trusted online video downloader?
Searching for a free YouTube video online downloader?
Googling for a way to watch online videos offline?
The keyword 'Online Video Downloader' enjoys about 450,000 searches per month globally while 'YouTube Video Downloader' boasts the stunning volume of over 7,480,000 searches every month.
Sounds incredible? Indeed, many are still googling now and you're far from alone.
However, you're LUCKY, because you make your way here.
Now, let me show you the ropes to freely download online videos on Windows and Mac.
VidPaw is all you need.
Still, know nothing about VidPaw? Let me get you covered.
Related Articles:
- Download and Save YouTube Videos on Laptop for Free
- Enjoy YouTube Videos on Kindle Fire with Ease
- Get YouTube Videos on iPod/iPod Nano Now!
- [Guide] 2 Ways to Get YouTube Videos on iPad
- For Android Users: Get YouTube Videos on Android Freely
- 5 Best iPhone App to Download YouTube Videos Simply
- Enjoy YouTube Videos on Kindle Fire with Ease
- Get YouTube Videos on iPod/iPod Nano Now!
- [Guide] 2 Ways to Get YouTube Videos on iPad
- For Android Users: Get YouTube Videos on Android Freely
- 5 Best iPhone App to Download YouTube Videos Simply
CONTENTS
VidPaw is an free online video downloader, providing free HD video and audio downloading service for video lovers around the world. It allows users to download online videos from YouTube, Facebook, etc. to desktop or iPhone/iPad or Android phone/tablet with ease.
Download firefox for mac os x 10.7 5. Perhaps you may take VidPaw as merely the alternative to online tools like SaveFrom, Clip Converter, OnlineVideoConverter , and so forth.
Yet, I'm telling you - VidPaw is the ONE and ONLY.
I'm not being exaggerated. Well-designed and clearly-outlined, VidPaw attaches great importance to user experience as well as sticks to offering a friendly and refined web service for our dear users.
Keep reading on and you'll know why VidPaw blows others out of water .
Currently, VidPaw speaks 9 languages:
- English
- Français
- Español
- Deutsch
- Português
- Italiano
- русский
- 日本語
- 中文
- More are coming up soon.
More than an online video downloader, VidPaw works to fulfill all your possible downloading needs. Video? Audio? Playlist? Closed Captions?
It can be your YouTube downloader to easily download YouTube videos and audio online. It can work as a facebook video downloader online to save Facebook videos offline as well. What's more, VidPaw are able to be a Dailymotion Downloader so as to save Dailymotion videos and songs on Mac or Windows.
..
..
All a stone's throw.
Moreover, formats and quality are customizable.
Video Formats | MP4, WEBM, 3GP |
Video Quality | 144p, 240p, 360p, 720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K,8k |
Audio Formats | MP3, WEBM, M4A |
Audio Quality | 64kbps, 96kbps, 128kbps, 256kbps, 320kbps |
What roles does VidPaw play?
- YouTube video downloader?
- Facebook video grabber?
- Dailymotion video recorder?
- Online video converter?
- ..
It's as many as you can think of.
With VidPaw, you can easily finish free HD video downloading, and be free to download online videos and audio with ease. You just need a video link to download online videos from any sites.
VidPaw Online Downloader gets all your favorite websites COVERED with currently over 1,000 sites supported.
Here's a list of VidPaw supported sites. Just take a look.
If your desired site is not here, TELL VidPaw!
VidPaw now supports online video streaming as well. Users can search for the online videos they like on VidPaw directly for streaming. Also, these videos are available for downloading as well.
How to Download Online Videos on Mac and Windows?
Tired of laggy network connection?
Want to download and watch videos offline?
Simply for treasuring favorite videos?
Spend spare time saving online videos for later watching?
..
Be it on Window 10/8/7/Vista or on MacBook/iMac/Mac Pro/mini, this is ever-easy for you.
1: Directly Download
STEP 1. Paste the URL to Download
You should copy and paste the link of the video in the search bar on top of the interface, then VidPaw will start analyzing the URL for you automatically.
STEP 2. Download Videos in Desired Format and Quality
After loading, there are FOUR sections shown - Video Download, Video-Only, Audio Download, and Subtitle. Massive output formats and quality are also provided by VidPaw Online Downloader.
Video Download | Support to download MP4, 3GP, and WebM in 144p to 720p with sound. |
Video-Only | Support to download MP4, 3GP, and |
Audio Download | Download videos as audio files in MP3, M4A and WebM from 64kbps and up to 320kbps. |
Subtitle | Download Closed Captions in a certain YouTube video. |
Being your Mac/Windows video downloader online, VidPaw is very easy to use. For example, if you are wondering how to save a YouTube video to your Mac computer. Only 3 steps are needed. Then, you can download videos from YouTube to Mac.
Now, move your cursor on the 'Download' button and give it a click.
Select the path to save the video and it begins downloading the video instantly.
Please wait until it finishes.
If you find a pop-up window shows up with video playing automatically after clicking on 'Download' button, just hit the three dots icon in the lower right corner of the video, then submit 'Download'. After that, the video will be saved to your PC within seconds.
STEP 3. Enjoy Your Favorite
Make a cup of coffee, get some snacks, and sit on a nice spot.
Now, enjoy the video!
[New] Search for Online Videos on VidPaw
After successful update, VidPaw now is equipped with a powerful search engine. By entering the title of the online video or artist into the search bar on the top navigation section, you can get the videos within seconds. Then simply move the cursor to the right side of the video, you will find a download icon. Click on it and directly download the video for offline playback!
You can also browse the online video according to the categories sorted in VidPaw. VidPaw has provided millions of videos for users to stream as well as download freely. Now just discover more online video resources with VidPaw!
2: Simple Trick
If you find the first method troublesome, you can try this simple trick.
STEP 1. Type 'paw' after 'youtube' in the address bar, for example, www.youtubepaw.com.
STEP 2. Press the 'Enter' key and redirect to the download page.
STEP 3. Select to download the desired video/audio/subtitle.
After that, you are able to download YouTube videos to your Mac/Windows.
NOTE: This quick hack is currently applicable to YouTube only.
3: VidPaw Extension
To download Facebook/YouTube videos, you might want a more convenient way.
Here VidPaw also comes out with an extension to download YouTube videos so that you can simply hit the button below the video and quickly save it to your desktop on Win/Mac.
But, how to install it? Here let me break down into steps for you.
STEP 1. Install Tampermonkey at First.
Tampermonkey is used to provide a stable and instant performance on browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Before you go any further, click to download and install Tampermonkey according to your browser. If you did not install Tampermonkey, you cannot install VidPaw Extension.
Google Chrome Tampermonkey
Mozilla Firefox Tampermonkey
Safari Tampermonkey
Microsoft Edge Tampermonkey
Mozilla Firefox Tampermonkey
Safari Tampermonkey
Microsoft Edge Tampermonkey
STEP 2. Install VidPaw Extension
After done installing Tampermonkey, you can see the icon listed in your extension bar.
Now, you want to click 'VidPaw Extension' to install the script in Tampermonkey.
Give it a click on the 'Install' button and it's all done.
STEP 3. Click the VidPaw Icon to Begin Downloading
When you're watching videos on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Dailymotion, and so forth, you'll see a paw-like icon below the video. Click it and you will be surprised.
I've done introducing how to download online videos from YouTube, Facebook, and more on Mac and Windows computer.
Now, this is your turn to put it into practice. Just try VidPaw out.
Besides, you can download online videos to iPhone, iPad, and Android with VidPaw as well.
YouTube Video: How to Download Online Videos on Win/Mac?
If you prefer to a vivid video rather than tedious paragraphs, VidPaw also creates a video with clear instructions for you about how to download videos from YouTube on Mac and Windows.
Now, just take your time and look it up!
You'll be loving it!
Take this link to watch the video on YouTube: [Free] How to Download Online Videos on Windows and Mac?
Like VidPaw? Share it!
Published on September 15, 2018