The best free YouTube video downloader apps to use for 2023 on PC and Mac
Using a Youtube video downloader app is simple. First, install the app on your computer. Next, copy the url of the Youtube video you want to save. Then paste that url into the app and select your preferred download format like MP4. Finally, click download and choose where to save the video file. Youtube downloader Apps also typically allow downloading full Youtube playlists or channels in one click. It’s a quick, straightforward process.
What is a Youtube video downloader?
A Youtube video downloader is a software program that lets you input the url of any Youtube video and download the actual video file to your computer for offline playback. It essentially extracts the video from Youtube’s servers and converts it into a format like MP4 that you can then watch anytime without an internet connection. Some are downloadable apps while others work as browser extensions or online tools. Their purpose is to make downloading and archiving Youtube videos easy.
How to use the Youtube video downloader on PC?
Using a Youtube video downloader app on a Windows or Mac PC is simple:
First, get the downloader app you want such as aTube Catcher or YTD Video Downloader.
Then, find the Youtube video to download and copy its url from your browser.
Paste that video url into the downloader app. You can often paste in multiple urls to batch download.
Select the file format to download like MP4, MP3, etc.
Finally, hit the download button and choose where to save the video file when complete.
That’s all there is to it! With the right desktop app, downloading videos from Youtube is fast and seamless.
How to download youtube shorts on Mac?
To download Youtube Shorts on a Mac, follow these steps:
First, open the Youtube website and find the Short you want to save. Copy its url.
Next, paste that url into a free online tool like SaveFrom.net and click the blue download button.
Select MP4 as the format to download the Short video.
Once downloaded, find the MP4 file in your browser’s downloads folder.
Open the file with QuickTime Player and you can now save the Short to your Mac’s Photos app.
Using a simple online youtube video downloader like SaveFrom makes grabbing Youtube Shorts straightforward on a Mac.
Top 8 free YouTube video downloader apps to use for 2023
Here are 8 of the top free Youtube video downloader apps for Windows and Mac in 2023:
1. 4K Video Downloader
Fast, free and flexible – the most versatile YouTube downloader
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux
REASONS TO USE
- Great choice of formats
- Downloads playlists
- Supports 3D and 360-degree videos
- No bundled extra software
REASONS TO AVOID
- Limits on playlist downloads
4K Video Downloader is the best free YouTube downloader around for quick, fuss-free YouTube downloads. It’s simple to use, highly customizable, ad-free and doesn’t include any bundled extra software.
To grab a video (or a whole playlist, provided it’s not longer than 24 videos), simply copy its URL from your web browser, click ‘Paste URL’ and select an output format, quality and location.
There’s a great choice of formats – both video and audio – including MP4 and MP3.
You can download captions for individual videos, and there’s support for 3D and 360-degree videos too.
Delving into the properties lets you tweak options like multi-stream downloads (increasing the number of streams will speed up downloads, but increases the risk of YouTube blocking your IP address) and set up a proxy connection.
2. aTube Catcher
Reliable downloader for beginners
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows
REASONS TO BUY
- + Easy to use interface
- + Built-in converter
- + Downloads playlists
- + Free
REASONS TO AVOID
- – Occasional ad pop-ups
- – Windows only
aTube Catcher is an excellent free YouTube downloader for beginners on Windows. Its straightforward interface makes downloading videos a breeze.
Copy a video’s URL, click the green arrow button, and choose a format and quality. When your download’s ready, a popup will let you play the file or locate it in Windows Explorer.
Built-in conversion options help transfer your downloads to mobile devices. The app supports downloading complete playlists up to 24 videos long. You can also use aTube Catcher to record streaming video.
There are a few small ads, but they don’t disrupt the experience too much. This downloader produces great results with minimum hassle.
3. YTD Video Downloader
A strong choice for downloading 4K video
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows, macOS
REASONS TO BUY
- + Downloads 4K video
- + User-friendly interface
- + Good conversion tools
- + Channels and playlists supported
REASONS TO AVOID
- – Shows some ads
- – Requires Java
YTD Video Downloader makes it simple to save YouTube videos up to 4K resolution on Windows and Mac. The sleek interface is very easy to navigate.
Just copy a video URL, click the ‘Paste URL’ button, choose your preferences, and click the download icon. You can convert videos to MP3 and download captions too.
Batch-downloading entire YouTube channels and playlists is supported. There’s also a built-in converter for transferring files to mobile devices.
YTD has occasional ads, and requires Java to work – not ideal. But for seamless 4K YouTube downloads, it delivers great performance.
4. VideoProc
Fast downloader and converter for Windows and Mac
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows, macOS
REASONS TO BUY
- + Very fast downloading
- + Excellent format support
- + Built-in converter
- + Downloads 4K, 8K, HDR
REASONS TO AVOID
- – Free version has limits
VideoProc makes quick work of downloading videos from YouTube in up to 8K HDR quality. It also functions as a superb video converter.
The app couldn’t be easier to use. Just enter a video URL, select your format options, and click the download button. Batch downloading entire playlists is fully supported.
As well as offering every format you could need, VideoProc converts downloaded files lightning fast. The free version has limits, but the full software is reasonably priced.
For ultra fast high-quality downloads and seamless file conversion, VideoProc is easily one of the top YouTube video savers out there.
5. WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe
Specialized video downloader and converter
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows
REASONS TO BUY
- + Very fast performance
- + Intuitive interface
- + Handy video editor
- + Good format support
REASONS TO AVOID
- – Windows only
- – Free version limitations
WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe is a phenomenal program for downloading videos from YouTube and 300 other sites. It grabs videos in up to 8K quality at blazing speeds.
Beyond standard downloading, WinX can convert downloaded files into any format for playback on mobile devices. The built-in video editor lets you trim, crop, add subtitles and more.
The straightforward interface makes WinX extremely easy to use. The free version has limitations, but the full software is very reasonably priced. For super fast high-quality video grabbing and conversion, WinX is a top choice.
6. iTubeGo YouTube Downloader
Downloader for multiple sites with advanced options
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows, Mac
REASONS TO BUY
- + Downloads from 1,000+ sites
- + Advanced conversion tools
- + Downloads playlists
- + User-friendly interface
REASONS TO AVOID
- – Free version limitations
- – Occasional slowdowns
iTubeGo YouTube Downloader provides a powerful way to grab videos not just from YouTube but over 1,000 streaming sites. It can download in up to 8K quality.
Just paste in video URLs to download. iTubeGo includes excellent built-in conversion tools for transferring files to mobile devices. Downloading entire playlists is supported.
The straightforward interface makes downloading a breeze. Performance slowdowns occasionally, but overall iTubeGo is a top choice for multi-site downloading and seamless file conversion.
7. Freemake Video Downloader
Ad-supported downloader for PC
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows
REASONS TO BUY
- + Totally free to use
- + Simple straightforward interface
- + Multiple format support
- + No limitations
REASONS TO AVOID
- – Displays ads during use
- – Windows only
Freemake Video Downloader provides a completely free option for grabbing videos from YouTube and over 50 other sites on Windows. It’s very easy to use.
Just copy and paste a video URL to download. Freemake supports downloading in multiple formats up to 4K quality. Videos automatically download to the desktop.
The trade-off for being free is it shows some ads during use. But there are no limitations on downloads. For basic YouTube video grabbing, Freemake delivers respectable performance.
8. ClipGrab
Specialist downloader for YouTube and other major sites
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating system: Windows, Mac, Linux
REASONS TO BUY
- + Simple clean interface
- + Good format support
- + Handles major streaming sites
- + Completely free
REASONS TO AVOID
- – No advanced options
- – Can be slow
ClipGrab provides a totally free way to download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and other top sites. It has a clean straightforward interface that makes downloading a breeze.
Just paste in a video URL and select your desired format and quality to download. ClipGrab can save videos as MP4 files up to 1080p HD quality. It also supports extracting MP3 audio.
While a little slow at times, ClipGrab delivers respectable performance for a free YouTube downloader. It lacks advanced features, but gets the basics right.
What’s the difference between Online YouTube downloaders and desktop apps?
Online YouTube downloaders and desktop apps both allow you to save videos from YouTube, but they work differently:
Online downloaders
- Accessible from any web browser
- Don’t require installing software
- Often simple with fewer features
- Can be slower than desktop apps
- Rely on website being online
Desktop apps
- Must be installed on your PC or Mac
- Offer full-featured downloading options
- Typically provide faster download speeds
- Give you more control and customization
- Work offline once installed
In summary, online YouTube downloaders provide quick and easy access directly in your browser but can be basic and slow. Desktop apps require installing but give you more power and control over the process including better speeds.
Many people use a combination – an online downloader for quick one-off saves, and a desktop app for serious large downloads and archiving videos. Identify your usage patterns and needs, then choose the best option or combination of YouTube savers for you.
Summary for Youtube video downloader
The top free YouTube video downloader apps for desktop in 2023 include 4K Video Downloader, aTube Catcher, YTD Video Downloader, and more. They provide customizable downloading in multiple formats, fast speeds, playlist and channel saving, and easy-to-use interfaces.
For quickly saving videos in up to 8K quality, converting downloaded files, avoiding slow speeds or disruptive ads, and efficiently archiving YouTube content, a purpose-built desktop app is the way to go. The best are free to use with no sneaky bundled software. Try installing a top recommended YouTube downloading utility like 4K Video Downloader to start saving your favorite videos for enjoyment offline.