YouTube Downloaders: 10 Options You Should Know

A guide to 10 of the most popular YouTube downloader apps and extensions.

Co-authored by Yaffet Meshesha and Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: August 16, 2024 Fact Checked

If you want to download YouTube videos and play them offline, there are several options available. In this article, we’ll tell you about some of the best YouTube downloader apps and extensions on the market, including several options that are completely free to use.

Things You Should Know

Several popular YouTube downloaders, including 5K Player and YouTube Video Downloader, are completely free.
Some of these downloaders require a subscription or a one-time payment to access all their features.
YouTube Premium includes a download feature, but it’s more limited than many third-party options.

1

5K Player

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5K Player is free and allows high-resolution downloads. This app works on Windows and Mac computers, and it can download videos from a wide variety of platforms, including YouTube. While you have to register with your name and email address to get access to all the app’s features, you can download YouTube videos without registering.
- Download 5K Player here: https://www.5kplayer.com/youtube-download/

2

YouTube Video Downloader

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This extension works with most browsers. If you want a quick and easy way to download videos straight from your browser, YouTube Video Downloader is a good option. This extension also supports a wide variety of file formats and video resolutions. You can download it and find more information about the available features here: https://addoncrop.com/v2/youtube-downloader/.
- YouTube Video Downloader is free to install and use.

3

VLC Media Player

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Try this free app to download and play YouTube videos. VLC Media Player is a multi-functional app that’s free to download. It runs on most major operating systems, including Android and iOS. You can download it here: https://www.videolan.org/. While VLC is a powerful tool, the process for downloading YouTube videos is a bit complicated. To do it:
- Make sure you’re using the most up-to-date version of the software.
- Open YouTube and copy the URL of the video you want to download.
- Open VLC and go to the Network tab. In macOS, this is located in the File menu. In Windows, you can find it under Media.
- Paste the video URL into the URL text field.
- On a Mac, click Open. On a Windows PC, click Play.
- Once the video starts playing, VLC will generate a new downloadable URL for it. To find it in macOS, open Window, then Media Information. In Windows, select Tools and then Codec Information.
- Copy the long URL in the Location box and paste it into your browser’s address bar, then press Enter. The video will load in your browser.
- On a Mac, right-click the video in your browser and select Download Video As. Choose a location and click Save. On a PC, click the ⋮ Menu button on the video and select Save Video As.

4

WinX YouTube Downloader

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You can also download from other video sites with this app. WinX YouTube Downloader is a free app that is available for Windows. It supports downloads from a wide variety of video sites in addition to YouTube. It also offers the option to download multiple videos at once and supports high-resolution downloads.^{[1]
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- Download WinX YouTube Downloader here: https://download.cnet.com/WinX-YouTube-Downloader/3000-2071_4-77117321.html.
- Unlike some of the other YouTube downloader apps on the market, this one won’t let you extract audio from your downloads in MP3 format.

5

Any Video Converter

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Use Any Video Converter to download, convert, and edit videos. While Any Video Converter is primarily a video converting and editing app, it also has the capability to download videos from YouTube. It works for both Mac and Windows.^{[2]
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Research source} You’ll need to log in with your YouTube account to download videos that contain age-restricted content.
- Download Any Video Converter here: https://www.any-video-converter.com/en6/for_video_free/
- While the basic version of Any Video Converter is free, there’s also a paid version that offers additional features.
- Some reviews report that the installer for Any Video Converter may include unwanted software, such as a security program that changes your browser’s default search engine. When you install this app, click Check here to customize the installation, then uncheck the box next to the offer to install ByteFence.^{[3]
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6

aTube Catcher

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aTube Catcher is a free app that allows you to download videos from several platforms. It also has screen recording, video converting, and DVD/BluRay burning capabilities. This app is currently only available for Windows. Download it here: https://www.atube.me/.

7

4K Video Downloader

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This is a popular and user-friendly option. 4K Video Downloader is an app for Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, and Android. To download a video from YouTube, copy the video’s URL, then open the app and click or tap Paste Link.^{[4]
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- Download the app here: https://www.4kdownload.com/-kqvi2/video-downloader
- The basic version of 4K Video Downloader is free, but there are limits on how many videos you can download per day. There are also subscription plans available with more features and fewer limits.

8

Open Video Downloader

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This is a popular open-source video downloader app. Open Video Downloader is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. It claims to be able to download videos from more than 1000 sources, including YouTube. It will also allow you to download up to 32 videos at once. To get Open Video Downloader, visit the download page and click the Download button: https://jely2002.github.io/youtube-dl-gui/
- The website should automatically detect your operating system and link you to the correct version of the app. If it doesn’t, click Other versions underneath the Download link.
- Open the install file and follow the prompts to install and start using Open Video Downloader.

9

MediaHuman YouTube Downloader

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This versatile app lets you download up to 20 videos for free. While you need to pay for this app if you want to use it long-term, it comes with a generous free trial period. MediaHuman’s YouTube Downloader works on Windows, MacOS, and Ubuntu. It has a reputation for being safe and easy to use. Some of its most popular features include the ability to download whole playlists and channels, support for ultra-high resolution formats, and the ability to extract audio from your downloads and save it separately as MP3 files. To get it:
- Visit https://www.mediahuman.com/youtube-video-downloader/29/
- Click the Download button at the bottom of the screen to download and try the app for free, or select Purchase to buy it and immediately get access to the full program.
- Open the install file and follow the instructions to install and start using the app.

10

YouTube Premium Downloads

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Use this built-in feature if you want to avoid third-party apps. YouTube offers its own download function if you’re willing to pay for a YouTube Premium subscription. However, be aware that there are some limitations—for example, you can’t download videos at 4K resolution. To find out more, check out the YouTube Premium page: https://www.youtube.com/premium.
- Videos that you download this way will be available to play offline for up to 29 days. After that, you’ll have to reconnect to the internet to continue watching them. If they become unavailable on YouTube, they’ll be removed from your device next time you sync with YouTube.^{[5]
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- YouTube offers a 3-month free trial of YouTube Premium.