What if you like the videos on YOUtube but don’t know how to save them?That’s where YouTube downloader apps come in handy. YouTube Video Downloader software allows you to save videos from YouTube for offline viewing anytime, anywhere. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the top YouTube downloader tools for desktop and mobile.
An Introduction to Downloading YouTube Videos
YouTube downloaders also allow you to convert between file formats, download entire playlists or channels, and more.
There are many valid reasons someone may want to download YouTube videos, such as:
Watching on a flight or commute without using mobile data
Keeping a private collection of favorite videos
Converting to formats for certain devices like MP3 for your phone
Archiving or backing up videos that may get deleted
Creating video comps and remixes
YouTube’s Terms of Service technically prohibit downloading videos from the platform. However, downloading for personal offline use is generally thought to be fair use and not actively policed. Just don’t redistribute downloaded videos.
Now let’s look at the key features to compare in YouTube downloader apps.
Key YouTube Downloader Features and Capabilities
Video quality
Download in standard definitions like 720p or 1080p HD, up to 4K.
File formats
Output as MP4, AVI, MOV, etc. Ability to extract MP3 audio.
Subtitles
Preserve closed captions and subtitles in the downloaded video.
Playlists and channels
Batch download full YouTube playlists or all videos from a channel.
Conversion
Convert downloaded files to different resolutions and formats.
Usability
Easytouse interface for beginners. Clear options and settings.
Downloading Speed
Faster is better when grabbing multiple large video files.
Device support
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, etc. Crossplatform options preferred.
Additional features
Video editing, metadata editing, screen recording, slideshow creation.
Now let’s dive into a comparison of the top desktop and mobile apps for downloading YouTube videos.
Comparing the Top 8 YouTube Video Downloader Apps
1. SaveFrom
SaveFrom is by far the most powerful and fullfeatured YouTube downloader available today. With support for the highest quality 4K downloads, extensive format compatibility, and platform support across Windows, Mac, and Linux, it has anything a YouTube user could need.
The intuitive interface makes downloading videos incredibly simple. Just copy the URL and click “Download”. You can choose your preferred resolution up to 4K UHD, select exactly which audio and subtitle tracks to download, and automate the saving of entire playlists or channels. Downloaded videos perfectly preserve the original quality for offline viewing.
Advanced users will appreciate the granular settings and options for tweaking the downloading and file conversion process. The multithreaded smart download engine delivers blazing fast download speeds when grabbing multiple videos thanks to modern parallel processing.
Overall, for desktop YouTube downloading across platforms, nothing beats the capabilities of SaveFrom. From the beautiful simplicity to the meticulous format preservation, it’s hard to find any flaws.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Key Features:
- Download in any resolution up to 4K
- Preserve subtitles and closed captions
- Extract MP3 audio tracks
- Playlist and channel downloading
- Multithreaded fast downloading
- Intuitive interface and settings
Visit: https://savefrom.rip/
2. aTube Catcher
aTube Catcher is one of the longest running and most robust utilities for downloading YouTube videos on a Windows PC. Despite the dated interface, it remains popular due to the massive feature set for capturing, converting, and managing YouTube and other online video content.
The sheer number of included tools is staggering for a free software. Beyond just downloading from YouTube, aTube Catcher includes its own media converter, DVD burner, screen recorder, and video editor. You can effortlessly create video CDs and DVDs after downloading content from YouTube and elsewhere.
With support for downloading entire playlists, extracting audio, and autoembedding captions, aTube Catcher excels at the YouTubespecific features as well. The detailed settings and options provide flexibility for power users. If you’re looking to download, convert, and manage videos on a Windows desktop, aTube Catcher is a veritable Swiss Army Knife.
Sure it may look a bit cluttered, but don’t underestimate the venerable aTube Catcher. For Windows users who really put their YouTube downloader through its paces, this software is hard to beat.
Platform: Windows
Key Features:
- Convert downloaded videos to any format
- Compress videos for mobile devices
- Download captions and autoembed
- Create video CDs and DVDs
- Builtin screen recorder
- Download online audio including YouTube to MP3
3. SnapTube
SnapTube brings slick modern YouTube downloading to Android mobile devices with an interface tailored specifically for phones and tablets. The app makes downloading videos a breeze whether you’re an Android power user or just getting started.
Downloading videos is a snap with SnapTube. Just search or paste the YouTube URL to start. Set your desired resolution up to crystal clear 1080p Full HD. Videos download quickly in the background, and you can watch with the floating popup player window. The media converter ensures you’ll be able to watch your downloaded videos in any format on your Android device.
Beyond the downloading, SnapTube really shines with convenience features for enjoying videos offline. Create playlists from your downloads for continuous playback. Customize the look with different colorful themes. Enable the dark mode for comfortable nighttime viewing.
For Android users who want a fast, featurepacked YouTube downloader designed for mobile, SnapTube hits the mark. It replaces the typical utilitarian downloader app with an experience tailored for modern Android phones and tablets.
Platform: Android
Key Features:
- Downloads in resolutions up to 1080p Full HD
- Builtin video converter
- Floating popup player for multitasking
- Offline playlist creation
- Download videos from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more
- Customizable themes and night mode
4. qBittorrent
While best known as a popular nononsense BitTorrent client, qBittorrent may surprise you with its capability as a YouTube downloader too. The opensource software includes an integrated tool for finding and downloading videos straight from YouTube.
The main qBittorrent app offers lightning fast torrent downloading thanks to lean coding and zero bloat. When you switch to the Search Engine to find YouTube videos, it provides keyword searching and channel subscriptions to quickly get the videos you want. Downloads are fast and efficient thanks to the underlying highperformance torrent engine.
Of course, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of dedicated YouTube downloader software. But for someone who already uses qBittorrent regularly for torrents, having the ability to grab videos from YouTube is quite convenient. And you’d be hard pressed to find a faster downloading experience thanks to the refined torrent client foundation.
For torrent users who also want the perk of fast YouTube downloading builtin, qBittorrent is a single piece of software that can do it all. The opensource credibility doesn’t hurt either.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Key Features:
- Fast BitTorrent downloading
- Search and download YouTube videos
- Simple minimalist interface
- No ads or spyware
- Media player integration
- Updates and bug fixes released frequently
5. Freemake Video Downloader
With its clean intuitive interface, Freemake Video Downloader brings easy and free YouTube downloading to Windows and Mac. This is the perfect downloader for novices who want a quick way to start grabbing videos from YouTube without any hassle.
Freemake Video Downloader has a modern design consisting of just two buttons: paste URL and download. You can paste in a video URL or even an entire playlist or channel. Hit download, choose your settings, and let Freemake handle the rest. Downloaded videos are automatically organized into a clean library ready for offline viewing.
Extra handy tools like video merging, splitting, and basic editing make Freemake more than just a downloader. For Windows and Mac users seeking an easy entry into downloading YouTube videos, Freemake Video Downloader is a great starting point before exploring more advanced options.
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Key Features:
- Autodetect download settings
- Large playlist support
- Basic video editing tools
- Extract MP3 audio from videos
- No watermarks or ads
- Free for noncommercial use
6. ClipGrab
Sometimes you just need a quick and simple YouTube downloader that does its job fast. ClipGrab throws out the complex settings and extra tools to provide a lightweight program for grabbing YouTube videos in high quality, without the hassle.
The minimalist approach of ClipGrab means there’s no clutter just click the buttons to download any YouTube video or playlist in seconds. The straightforward software is totally portable requiring no install. Downloads are ultra fast thanks to the streamlined downloading engine. Just paste the URL and go.
While ClipGrab won’t win any awards for flashy interfaces or abundant options, that’s not the point. The point is quickly and easily saving YouTube videos with no distractions. For that purpose, ClipGrab can’t be beat. It will have your video downloaded before other software even finishes loading. Sometimes raw speed and simplicity is exactly what’s needed.
Platform: Windows
Key Features:
- Quickly saves YouTube videos
- Downloads multiple videos simultaneously
- Allows MP3 audio extraction
- Playlist support
- No malware or bloatware
7. FLVTO
Prefer to download YouTube videos without installing any software? FLVTO runs directly in your web browser for quick media grabbing and converting without the desktop footprint. As a web app, it works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and just about any device with a browser.
FLVTO requires nothing more than the URL to download from YouTube and 500 other sites. Paste the link, choose your settings, get the video. It also uniquely allows pasting a list of multiple URLs for batch downloading making it easy to grab entire playlists with a couple clicks. There’s also a handy YouTube to MP3 converter to extract audio tracks.
The online nature of FLVTO means it’s easy to use from any computer. While the interface and options pale in comparison to desktop apps, the instant accessibility is quite useful. If you need a quick YouTube download solution without downloads or logins, give the webbased FLVTO a try.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Key Features:
- Web app requires no installation
- Convert videos to MP3 audio
- Paste URL to download
- Unlimited batch processing
- Download from other sites too
- Simple and easy to use
8. Y2Mate
Last but not least, Y2Mate offers an impressively robust online tool for downloading YouTube and converting videos from over 500 streaming sites. Without needing to install any software, Y2Mate provides fast high quality downloads accessible directly from your web browser.
One of Y2Mate’s best features is support for downloading from dozens of video sites beyond just YouTube. Simply paste the URL from nearly any major streaming site, and Y2Mate can identify, download, and convert the video flawlessly. Conversions output to a myriad of formats to play on any device.
The browserbased downloader also surprisingly offers advanced features like downloading entire YouTube playlists and channels with a single click. The straightforward draganddrop interface makes Y2Mate simple to operate, even for beginners. For broad format support across many sites withoutdownloads or logins, Y2Mate hits the mark.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Key Features:
- Webbased downloader works on any device
- Download videos in multiple resolutions
- Extract MP3 audio from videos
- Supports dozens of file formats
- Unlimited highspeed batch downloading
- Intuitive browserbased interface
Key Differences: Online vs Desktop YouTube Downloaders
Online, or webbased, YouTube downloaders provide quick access without needing to install software. Simply open the site in your browser and enter the YouTube URL to download. The tradeoff is having fewer features and options compared to desktop apps.
Desktop YouTube downloaders require downloading and installing the app on your computer. However, they provide far more powerful downloading capabilities, faster speeds, and better quality. Desktop apps also tend to be safer and more secure.
For most users, a desktop YouTube downloader like SaveFrom is worth installing for the full robust feature set. But online downloaders can be handy in a pinch as well.
Conclusion
Downloading YouTube videos enables you to build an offline collection of videos for anytime viewing. While YouTube technically discourages downloading, it tends to be overlooked for personal use. Avoid redistributing downloaded YouTube videos, and always exercise good security practices when installing new software. With a quality YouTube downloader by your side, you’ll always have ondemand access to your favorite videos from YouTube and beyond!