Best Free Youtube Video Downloader Apps
Downloading content from YouTube doesn’t always need to be difficult. Here we outline some of the top free youtube video downloader apps for saving YouTube videos in 2024.
Best YouTube downloader apps in 2024
When evaluating the top “Youtube video downloader” options, consider:
- Supported platforms – Can it access YouTube from desktop, mobile or both?
- Output formats – Which file types can be exported like MP4 or WEBM?
- Download speeds – How quickly can it save videos in your preferred quality?
- Extra features – Does it offer editing, scheduling, duplicate filtering or more?
- Interface and usability – Is the app intuitive to use on different devices?
- Batch downloading – Can it save playlists, channels or multiple clips at once?
- Format conversion – Can formats be changed for various playback devices?
With these key criteria in mind, here are some highly rated free apps that excel in different areas. Experimenting helps identify the best suited for individual needs and workflows.
Criteria for the best YouTube downloader apps
There are several important factors to consider when evaluating the top “Youtube video downloader” options available. The right downloader should suit your specific downloading needs and preferences.
Supported Platforms: It’s important to check compatibility. Can the app download from desktop, mobile or both? Do your most common devices have viable app versions?
Output Formats: What file types are supported for playback across devices? Popular options include MP4, WEBM and MOV. But do your personal devices require less common formats?
Download Speeds: How quickly can files be saved, especially in higher resolutions? Sustained fast speeds can save you time over numerous clips. Batch downloading times are also relevant.
Extra Features: Beyond basic downloading, what kind of value-adds are provided? Useful ones include editing tools, audio extraction, playlist/channel management, conversion utilities and more.
Interface & Usability: Is the app well-designed and intuitive to use on your preferred screen sizes? Frustration-free navigation encourages sustained long-term use.
Customization Depth: Can quality levels, locations, naming conventions and other fine-tuning be customized? Or is the experience more one-size-fits-all?
Stability & Reliability: Does the app have a history of crashes or bugs that negatively impact downloading sessions? Regular updates that fix issues are also important to consider.
Value & Costs: How much does the downloader cost, if anything? Are prominent features locked behind paywalls or free forever? Ongoing costs factor into the overall value assessment.
Taking all these standards into account helps narrow choices down to a few top-rated downloaders worthy of hands-on testing yourself. Your ideal solution balances as many priorities as possible.
YouTube Premium Offers Reliable Downloads Too
YouTube Premium is the platform’s official paid subscription service that offers numerous valuable perks beyond the standard free experience. For a monthly or annual membership fee, YouTube Premium removes all advertisements from videos, channels, and playlists across any device with the official YouTube app.Reliable downloading of videos for offline viewing directly within the YouTube app on mobile or desktop is one of the benefits, here are the steps to use：
Steps:
Step 1:Sign up for YouTube Premium premium subscription by selecting your desired monthly or annual plan while visiting the YouTube Premium signup page. , then enter your Google Account details to complete registration.
Step 2: While signed into your YouTube Premium account on mobile or desktop, browse YouTube as normal. When you find a video you want to save for offline viewing, click the download icon below the video thumbnail image or title.
Step 3: The selected YouTube video will queue up and proceed to download onto your device. This may take a few minutes depending on the video length and quality. The download progress can be monitored from the Library section within the YouTube app.
Finally, here is a summary of the key pros and cons around using YouTube Premium for downloading YouTube videos:
| Pros | Cons |
| Seamlessly integrated into YouTube app | Requires expensive paid subscription |
| Downloads high-quality versions | Recurring subscription cost |
| Ad-free viewing experience | Locked into YouTube ecosystem |
| Additional Premium features | Can’t transfer downloads across devices |
So in conclusion, while reliable thanks to deep integration from YouTube themselves, using Premium downloads does come with the major caveat of needing to pay a regular fee unlike standalone third-party downloader tools. Evaluate if the continuing cost is worthwhile for gaining simple one-click downloads from exclusively within YouTube’s walled garden.
Steps To Download YouTube Videos With Premium
Below are the key steps involved in accessing YouTube Premium downloads:
Step 1) Register For YouTube Premium
Start by selecting one of YouTube’s paid Premium plans and enroll using your Google account credentials and payment details. This will unlock access to exclusive Premium features.
Step 2) Find A Video To Download
Now when browsing YouTube normally, tapping the download icon below any video will allow selecting to save it directly on your device.
Step 3) Initialize Video Download
The chosen YouTube video will begin downloading onto your device storage through the YouTube app itself thanks to Premium permissions.
Step 4) Leverage Desktop Downloads Too
Beyond mobile apps, you can also access integrated Premium video downloads through YouTube’s website when logged into your account.
Step 5) Enjoy Ad-Free Offline Viewing
Finally, find saved YouTube videos in the “Downloads” section of YouTube’s apps and website. Enjoy offline ad-free viewing without connectivity!
The best apps for downloading YouTube videos
1 Y2mate
Y2mate combines simple downloading with powerful editing. Pros include one-click conversions, format support for any device, and precise trimming. However, its premium upgrades come at an added expense.
Pros：One-click downloads. Versatile format conversions. Robust built-in editing suite.
Cons：Free version has watermarks. Premium upgrades cost extra.
2 SnapDownloader
SnapDownloader’s streamlined process involves just copying links. Pros are lightning quick speeds and clean interface. Cons are limited format options and occasional unstable performance.
Pros：Lightning fast downloads. Simple link-based workflow.
Cons：Fewer export formats. Some stability issues reported.
3 YTD Video Downloader
YTD excels at batch functions for playlists and channels. Advanced pros include scheduler, clips extraction, and login authentication. Cons are a dated interface and dependency on YouTube support.
Pros：Batch downloads entire playlists and channels. Scheduling and clips functions.
Cons：Dated and cluttered interface. Reliant on YouTube API changes.
4 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader prioritizes quality with 8K resolutions supported. Other pros are channel subscriptions and duplicate filtering. Cons are occasional crashes and paid upgrades required.
Pros：Gold standard for pristine resolutions up to 8K. Channels feature and duplicate filtering.
Cons：Occasional crashing. Many useful functions locked behind paywall.
H2 5 ByClick Downloader
ByClick offers a diverse range of file types and link parsing abilities. Pros also include channel following and built-in media players. Cons are irritating sign-up pop-ups and slower speeds.
Pros：Supports comprehensive range of formats. Parses links from many sites. Integrated media playback.
Cons：Nags user to sign up on launch. Can be slower than other options.
6 Allavsoft Video and Audio Downloader
Allavsoft excels at ripping audio from videos. Additional pros consist of multi-tasking projects and captions extraction. Cons involve convoluted options menus and occasional crashes during use.
Pros：Extract audio from videos. Comprehensive options. Multi-task projects at once. Captions support.
Cons：Overly complex settings. Has crashed for some during use.
Are there any other ways to download a YouTube Video?
While dedicated downloader apps provide robust features for saving individual videos or bulk playlists, there are some alternative methods worth mentioning:
YouTube Premium Subscriptions: YouTube’s own premium service unlocks downloading straight from the platform’s website and apps. Subscribers gain ad-free streaming and background playback too. However, a recurring fee is required which may not suit all budgets.
YouTube Ripping Sites: Services like ClipGrab essentially run automated “screen scraping” processes to pull videos from YouTube by mimicking a browser. Quality often matches originals, though continued operation relies on YouTube’s cooperation. Additional ads or monthly fees sometimes apply as well.
Browser Extensions: Add-ons for Firefox, Chrome, Edge and others integrate download buttons directly into YouTube’s interface. With a click, extensions save the video straight to your device. Cross-browsing compatibility makes them universally accessible. However, a few paid extras exist and compatibility isn’t guaranteed indefinitely.
Saving from Shared Links: If sent just the YouTube video URL, it’s still possible to extract the Direct Video Link and pop it into a dedicated downloader or online conversion service to obtain MP4 format. Though an extra step instead of direct browser downloads.
Video Converter Websites: Sites like Savefrom.net allow copying-pasting or inputting YouTube URLs to convert videos on the fly. Quality is usually maintained while bypassing app installations altogether. However, the temporary files aren’t indexed locally for easy access long term.
So in summary, while dedicated downloaders offer most features, these alternatives still facilitate downloading depending on one’s unique software-related needs or restrictions.
Am I allowed to download videos from YouTube?
When it comes to downloading YouTube videos, it’s important to understand the legal considerations:
- YouTube’s Terms of Service permit personal downloading of public videos for offline viewing. As long as they are kept private and not distributed publicly.
- Videos you upload or own the copyright for can also be downloaded freely for your own use without restrictions.
- Monetizing or using downloaded content commercially without permission is prohibited, as it violates fair use policy and could constitute copyright infringement.
- Extracted audio files or unauthorized screen captures taken from copyrighted material may breach the Digital Millennium Copyright Act as well.
- As long as downloads are kept private and used for individual, non-profit purposes like education or personal enjoyment, it is generally considered legal under fair use guidelines.
- Always check that any tools you use to download respect YouTube’s robots.txt file and do not damage the website’s operations or functionality.
- Content restrictions by certain video owners may block downloading through YouTube’s platform in some cases as well.
Why would I need to download a YouTube video?
There are several practical reasons why someone may want to download YouTube videos instead of just streaming them:
- Offline viewing – To watch videos on flights, commutes or in places without internet access. Downloads let you view anywhere, anytime.
- Archiving favorite clips – Important tutorials, lessons or reviews can be saved long-term rather than risk losing them over time on YouTube.
- Removing streaming dependencies – Local files mean no reliance on unstable or metered internet connections that can slow streaming or cause buffering.
- Extended home playback – Downloads allow marathon viewing sessions without commercials or connectivity concerns getting in the way at home.
- Improved quality selection – Higher resolutions like 4K or even 8K can far exceed what streaming sites routinely offer for optimized online delivery.
- Accessibility features – Some disabled users may depend on features like closed captions, which downloads guarantee receiving fully.
- Preserving copyrighted video – In cases where content could be removed, downloading provides a backup copy protected from later deletion.
- Device compatibility – Flexibility to watch on any scree size from phones to TVs via LAN transfer or portable playback devices.
Conclusion
We’ve outlined some top free YouTube downloader apps based on factors like supported devices, formats, speeds and features. But feel free to experiment and choose what works best for your needs.
