You may hate funny cat videos or game reviews, but the chances are you still use YouTube. A mammoth of video content, YouTube is a go-to spot for many. In fact, the platform has over 1 billion users which is one-third of all internet users. Huge.
See full list on wikihow.com. How To Download YouTube Videos On Mac It is now easy to convert YouTube videos into downloadable MP4s on a Mac. Jan 21, 2020 MacX YouTube Downloader is a great free online video/audio downloader for Mac OS that can download music and videos from over 300 online video sites. Features of Video Downloader for Mac software Download video instantly on Mac. The user-friendly interface makes downloading super easy, you simply get videos in one single mouse click. This video downloader for Mac provides the option to download videos in original quality, including HD and 4K videos.
Or, maybe your daily companions are Vimeo and Twitch. One way or another, video content is a part of your digital life. The question is how to utilize it.
In this article, we compare top YouTube downloaders for Mac and explain how you can legally save video to Mac to watch it anytime and anywhere.
Best YouTube downloaders
Get a huge set of top tools to download videos from Youtube. Most helpful utilities in one pack, give it a go!
Let us warn you in advance, all YouTube download tools reviewed in this article are worth a try. To help you narrow down the choice, check the nice-to-have assets every safe YouTube downloader should have:
- Works with all major video streaming platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
- Allows to save mp4 content and, optionally, convert to different formats.
- Has support for audio output — allowing you to save music from videos.
- Downloads entire playlists or channels in batch.
- Caters for both professional and everyday use.
- Guarantees data security, not collecting any of your personal information.
For sure, these are not one-size-fits-all qualities. You may need to batch download playlists, or this might be a totally useless feature for you. We made sure the reviewed tools satisfy the key needs — like security and integration with video streaming platforms. The rest is up to you and your priorities.
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It’s not easy to step into the jungle of video downloaders and instantly pick the right fit – impossible if you’re new to Mac. There’s help, though.
How to download from YouTube
Whether to capture a few movies for an upcoming flight or save favorite clips to rewatch, Mac owners love to save content. The most basic tool should teach you how to download YouTube videos directly from URL. The problem is that it’s complicated to find an efficient free YouTube downloader. Not to mention they could be used for copyright infringement.
To legally save content from YouTube and video streaming services to Mac, as well as download music from videos, you can use third-party apps. As long as you’re not earning money from downloads or breach copyright, they are safe to use.
Download streaming video
Streaming content is a huge chunk of your internet traffic. Think Vimeo, Twitch, YouTube, Dailymotion, and other platforms where you can watch video displayed in real time. Relying on online streaming stymies your watching experience in many ways – from limited data usage to network issues. Plus Wi-Fi often fails you at the most crucial moments. Therefore, you need a reliable tool that helps you capture YouTube video.
If you’re wondering how to watch favorite YouTube videos offline without breaking any laws, let us help you.
Download any videos from any website
Yes, you got it right. You can’t capture online videos to watch offline on Mac if you’re using YouTube Premium. To fill the gap and bring streaming content to a computer, you’ll have to consider third-party software.
Most of video downloaders differ only in terms of customization capabilities. The flow of capturing a video will be pretty much the same — no matter what platform you take it from. It' s="" easy="" to="" use="" anytrans="" to="" download="" youtube="" videos="" or="" convert="" youtube="" to="" mp3="" in="" just="" 3="" simple="" steps:="">
- Choose the video and copy the URL (the app has in-build video search on YouTube/Vimeo/Dailymotion).
- Paste the link into the app and wait for the app to finish the download.
- Choose/customize the output format and storage location.
When using third-party tools, be careful about YouTube blocking downloads. If you comply with YouTube’s Terms of Service, you should be fine.
Download and save video from YouTube in mp4
Whether it’s native YouTube Premium or a third-party application, the tools you use to download mp4 from YouTube will by default save video files in mp4. There are different options on tweaking formats, though:
- Retrieve only audio from your video file — tools like Downie and Folx will work for it.
- Download video in mp4 with Elmedia Player.
- Use Downie + Permute to download and convert to different formats — from FLV to MKV to AVI. The two work well together and are both available with Setapp subscription.
- Customize the output before downloading and convert a poor-quality YouTube video to mp4 HD.
Grab YouTube video with YouTube Premium
Since recently, you can’t download YouTube video anymore. That’s because the service created a native tool for the job.
So if you ask YouTube for the best YouTube downloader, it will probably suggest you use YouTube Premium, a native paid subscription service to save content. For the monthly cost of $11.99, it allows you to keep YouTube videos on iPhone and Android devices. Here’s how it works:
- Open the video in your YouTube mobile app.
- Click on the download button below the video player.
- Customize the quality of the output.
- Once the video is downloaded, you’ll see the “download complete” icon below the player.
The app will automatically save YouTube videos you download to the Library or Account tab.
Top YouTube downloaders compared
Below you’ll find a small collection of best Youtube downloaders that we recommend you look into. Use the apps to play, manage, and automatically save videos.
Best of all, you can use the full toolkit of apps reviewed in this article for a flat fee. Have a look at the full collection. You’ll find extensive descriptions of every YouTube downloader below.
Features | Pulltube | Downie | Folx | Elmedia Player | AnyTrans | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
Multi-threaded and batch downloads | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
Customize video quality / 4K and HD video support | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Convert video to audio and other formats | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Extract audio from video | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Download from YouTube, Vimeo, and any other websites | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
3D and 360 degree video support | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Schedule downloads | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Customize speed | no | no | yes | no | no | |
Browser extension | no | yes | yes | no | no | |
Built-in search | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Built-in video and audio editing | yes | no | no | yes | no | |
Save to external storage, cloud, and other devices | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Totally free with Setapp subscription | ||||||
Price | $14.99 for Standart License | $19.99 if purchased separately $26.99 Downie + Permute converter | $19.95 Folx Pro license | $19.95 Elmedia Player Pro license | $39.99 AnyTrans Single license |
App | Price |
---|---|
Pulltube | $14.99 for Standart License |
Downie | $19.99 if purchased separately $26.99 Downie + Permute converter |
Folx | $19.95 Folx Pro license |
Elmedia Player | $19.95 Elmedia Player Pro license |
AnyTrans | $39.99 AnyTrans Single license |
Downie: Save YouTube videos within seconds
The easiest version of a YouTube downloader you can imagine. Grab a link, drag it onto the app icon, wait a few seconds for the content to travel to your Mac.
While you don’t really do much, you can do even less with the browser extension. Downie already has it, so you don’t have to install the extension separately – check the box in your browser preferences and you’re good to go. Magically, Downie can also scan text files for links and download video content from there.
In other words, Downie is a media downloader that commits to cherishing your time. Here are the key ways to align the app with your workflow:
- Enable Simple mode to get rid of distractions in Preferences > General. Perfect for those who are annoyed by a progress bar showing up each time a download takes place.
- Downie is also a search machine. You can find YouTube videos on for download by searching right in the app, without opening a browser.
- If you love YouTube concerts and music videos, you can download audio only. To set Downie to the MP3 mode, open Preferences > Postprocessing > Enforce MP3.
This downloader automatically converts all videos to MP4, but if you need more options there’s Permute to help. It covers virtually all media formats and works both for video and audio. The app is basically Downie’s cousin, created by the same team of developers, Charlie Monroe Software. So you get a discount if you buy the two. Also, Downie and Permute are both available on Setapp.
Pros:
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- Simple and clean interface
- Customizable functionality
- 4K support
- Integrates with YouTube video converter
Cons:
- Limited file conversion options
Price:
$19.99 if purchased separately
$26.99 Downie + Permute
Starting at $9.99 per month Downie, Permute and 150+ apps on Setapp
Play and download video content with Elmedia Player
Elmedia Player is one of the best tools to entrust your movie watching experience to. Not only does it tell you how to save videos from YouTube, it also enables viewing content ad-free, right from the app. Download audio, convert to different media formats, or stream via AirPlay – it solves tons of problems.
Not limitless, but the functionality is pretty impressive. It’s a good idea to work with Elmedia Player if you want to:
- Organize downloads and bring them into curated playlists.
- Play Vimeo, Dailymotion, and YouTube videos in the app, without downloading.
- Open and convert files to different formats – from MP3 TO MKV.
- Extract audio tracks from YouTube videos.
- Stream media content to all Apple devices that support AirPlay.
Compared to Apple’s native QuickTime, Elmedia Player supports a bigger number of formats and is generally a decent alternative to the default program.
Pros:
- Intuitive interface
- Covers virtually all video and audio formats
- Streaming capabilities
Cons:
- Lots of features confusing for a beginner
Price:
$19.95 Elmedia Player Pro license
Starting at $9.99 per month Elmedia Player Pro and 150+ apps on Setapp
Swiftly download large videos with Folx app
There’s no better option than Folx if you’re big on big downloads. Combining the functionality of a download manager and torrent client, the app brings large videos to your Mac in a matter of minutes.
With your browser and Folx open, you can download any video from YouTube by URL. Once you have the URL, paste it directly into the search bar or click on the plus button > YouTube > paste the link. Give the app a few seconds to prepare a download, and click OK. Before you know it, the video is on your Mac.
The in-built torrent client that is available to Pro plan users works in a similar way – simple and lightning fast. Navigate to the Torrent tab via the plus button. In the top search field, click on the three dots to select a torrent file, customize default preferences if needed, and click OK.
To accelerate the process, Folx splits downloads in up to 20 streams. The app also cleverly adjusts download speed to your online activities, so that not to hamper important programs and processes running on your Mac. To tweak the default speed settings in Folx, access Preferences > Smart Speed.
Pros:
- Torrent search right in the app
- Speed optimization
- Download scheduling and auto-resume
Cons:
- No free trial for Pro features
Price:
$19.95 Folx Pro license
Starting at $9.99 per month Folx and 150+ apps on Setapp
AnyTrans to download and transfer content
Many think of AnyTrans as an alternative to iTunes, but it’s much more than that. The app is an all-mighty file manager that works with all your devices. So whether you want to copy images from iPhone to Mac, or transfer from Android to iOS, AnyTrans has you covered.
Apart from cleverly managing your content, the app also helps you grab some new. Using an in-built Media Downloader, you can save video from 900+ websites, including Vimeo, Dailymotion, and YouTube.
Torch browser official site download. Capturing and instantly sharing media is why you should pick AnyTrans over the other options. It has limited functionality in terms of download preferences, but is pretty good for capturing short videos.
Pros:
- Clean and understandable interface
- Excellent file control
- Media transferring options
Cons:
- Limitations in terms of integration with iTunes library.
Price:
$39.99 AnyTrans Single license
Starting at $9.99 per month AnyTrans and 150+ apps on Setapp
It’s ok if you have a hard time choosing your favorite. Some of the apps complement each other – like you could use Folx to capture large videos and transfer with AnyTrans. With Setapp subscription, you can try every mentioned YouTube downloader for free and choose what suits your flow. Or, don’t choose. Your Mac deserves all of them.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Youtube Download Videos For Mac Desktop
YouTube covers various types of videos such as funny, sports, movies, music, etc. It is a platform that all of us like to spend time on. When you are browsing videos on YouTube, you can never understand how time flies. However, watching videos online requires a lot of data. If your network environment is unstable, videos may get stuck or buffered, which is crazy.
At this point, you may consider downloading YouTube videos to your computer for offline viewing. This is a good choice, but requires a third-party downloader and converter. There are many such software on the market, and if you don’t know which software is the best, we will share with you the ten best YouTube downloaders for Mac for you to choose from.
1. Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader
A popular YouTube downloader for Mac, 4K Video Downloader will allow you to overcome the artificial restrictions imposed by certain online services. You will be able to download any content that you desire from YouTube and store it for your own future usage. This software allows you to save complete YouTube playlists in various formats (such as MP4, MP3, FLV, MKV, M4A, etc.). It also has a unique feature that lets you subscribe to YouTube Channels from the app. All their latest videos will get downloaded automatically.
More importantly, it supports 720P HD, 1080P FHD, 4K and 8K UHD resolutions, which means that all the videos you download from YouTube will be of high quality. In addition, the software provides the ability to download system-translated and automatically generated subtitles. After downloading YouTube videos to your Mac computer, you can merge videos with subtitles for easy viewing with its built-in conversion function. As for how to use it, you may check the following simple steps:
- Step 1. Download and install Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader for Mac on your computer.
- Step 2. Go to YouTube, find the video that you’re ready to download then copy its link address.
- Step 3. Run the 4k downloader and paste the link into the program, select your desired resolution from the pop-up box, then tap Download.
- Step 4. Wait for the program to automatically download the YouTube video. After downloading, you will be able to enjoy it offline or share it wherever you like.
2. MacX YouTube Downloader
If you are looking for a YouTube video downloader that will not only get the job done but also perform it efficiently, the MacX YouTube Downloader is perfect for you. This software will enable you to download audio and video without spending a penny. The videos that you download from YouTube will be compatible with your Mac OS, which means that you will be able to revisit them later on.
The MacX software is extremely powerful, and the downloader feature will allow you to download YouTube videos to Mac in different formats and resolutions depending on your requirements. You can save your videos in formats like MP4, FLV, WebM and more.
The software is integrated with a user-friendly interface, and it will not be long before you know how to operate it. The advanced technology gives excellent speed and restricts quality loss.
3. ClipGrab for Mac
One of the best YouTube video downloaders for Mac, ClipGrab offers its services for free. You will be able to download and convert videos that are available on YouTube. You will no longer be restricted to online usage of YouTube. The software will allow you to convert these videos into a variety of formats like MPEG4, MP3, and more with just a few clicks.
ClipGrab works very smoothly with Mac, and you will be able to master it without any difficulty. There are two versions of ClipGrab available for Mac. While the default version is compatible with macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) and above, the legacy version works with older systems making it somewhat more flexible. Once you’ve downloaded YouTube videos to Mac, you will be able to transfer them to your phone for easy viewing.
4.Gihosoft TubeGet
With the help of Gihosoft TubeGet, you can save YouTube videos to Mac easily. The software enables you to download an entire YouTube playlist along with the subtitles so that you can use them offline as well. Moreover, it also allows you to convert online YouTube videos into MP3 audio with precision. You can also use the Pro version if you want advanced features.
However, the basic version itself will allow you to download videos with resolutions up to 1080P, 4K and 8K for free without any difficulty. One of the main advantages of using this YouTube Video Downloader for Mac is that you don’t need a separate YouTube video converter as it can perform multiple tasks.
After downloading, you can transfer the all videos to your mobile devices at once. You can also back up your data to avoid losing any media content.
5. YTD for Mac
YTD is a well-known YouTube video downloader for Windows and Mac operating systems. With it, you can quickly download your favorite YouTube videos to your computer for offline viewing anytime, anywhere. YTD for Mac is very easy to use and has a friendly interface. All you have to do is copy and paste the video link into the software and it will do the rest for you automatically.
YTD supports downloading 720P and 1080P HD videos. If you encounter space problems, you can also opt for lower quality. The software also allows you to track the download status and then instantly convert it to the desired format. There are many preset modes compatible with iPod and iPad. If you want to download and convert simultaneously to save time, you need the Pro version. The YTD video downloader also supports batch downloading.
6. Airy YouTube downloader
If you are wondering how to download YouTube videos to Mac, then this is the software that you need in your life. It will allow you to download and save all your favorite videos without any hassle. The software can run multiple downloads at the same time. Moreover, you have the flexibility of choosing the format and resolution of the downloaded video.
With the help of this YouTube video downloader for Mac you will be able to download YouTube playlists and create your own offline playlists that can be played even in the absence of an Internet connection. Airy offers customization settings which will allow you to tweak the final video so that it meets your quality standards.
There are no videos out of your reach when you are using Airy. Moreover, you will be able to download the accompanying subtitles of the videos in SRT format.
7. MediaHuman
MediaHuman is the most efficient video downloader and converter on the market. This software lets you download all videos that may be of interest on YouTube so you can save them offline. The program will quickly complete the process, after which there will be no restrictions on your YouTube viewing. Moreover, it allows simultaneous downloads, which means that you will be able to save a significant amount of time.
The free YouTube downloader for Mac is compatible with ultra-high-resolution videos such as 4K and 8K.With MediaHuman, you can save complete playlists and even channels on your device. It also allows you to extract audio from the video and store it as a separate MP3 file. If you can configure the software properly, it will automatically transfer the downloaded videos to your iTunes library.
8. 5KPlayer – Download & Play
If you want to save a Youtube video to Mac, then you do not have to work hard as long as you have this software. The 5KPlayer will allow you to download as many online YouTube videos as you want for free. It can also capture streaming media in real time, capturing the moments that you might want to revisit later.
You can expect the software to run smoothly on your Mac, and there will be no unnecessary crashes. You will be able to download the videos in different formats and resolutions according to what you are looking for.
Along with conversion, you can edit the videos without losing the quality of the video. All the videos will run smoothly on your iPhone and iPad once the transfer is complete. You have nothing to worry about!
9. Total Video Downloader
The hunt for the perfect downloader ends today with the Total Video Downloader. Not only is it easy to use, but it also offers high-speed downloads, which means that you will save both time and effort. With this free YouTube video downloader for Mac, you will be able to download your favorite YouTube videos to the Mac computer in different resolutions and formats. You should not underestimate the speed offered by this software. All your videos will be downloaded and stored at 4x speed.
Youtube App For Mac
In order to use the YouTube downloader for Mac, you just have to copy the link to the video and then paste it into the program so that the software can start the download process. You will have the freedom to pause and cancel current downloads, which would make it easier to manage time. Preserve the original quality of the videos with Total Video Downloader.
In order to use the YouTube Downloader for Mac, you just need to copy the link to the video and then paste it into the program so that the software can start the download process. You are free to pause and cancel the current download, which will make it easier to manage time. Use Total Video Downloader to preserve the original quality of the video.
10. AllMyTube for Mac
If you want to download your favorite videos from YouTube and watch them offline in your free time, then nothing should stand in your way. With AllMyTube video downloader Mac, you will be able to download and store any video that you like without any trouble. The software works perfectly with the Mac OS. You will be able to enjoy beautiful 4K videos even after you complete the download.
With just one click, you can download entire playlists and channels. All you have to do is copy the URL of the video that you are aiming to download. You can also record YouTube live streams in real time. With AllMyTube, you will also be able to convert videos directly. You can extract the audio and convert them into audio files, or you can experiment with over a hundred video formats.
Conclusion
No ads, buffers, and data consumption! Download a free YouTube video downloader from our list to watch your favorite videos offline smoothly on Mac, Android, iPhone or other devices. If you are not sure which one to choose, you can try Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader first. It covers almost all the functions you need. With one software, you can experience all the features such as downloading videos, playlists, channels, subtitles, covers, and converting videos to MP3, etc. If you find this article useful, please share it with your friends; if you find a better YouTube video downloader for Mac than mentioned in our list, please leave a message in the comment area, we will be glad to add it to the list.