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.
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.
Jun 30, 2020 Get the official YouTube app for Android phones and tablets. See what the world is watching - from the hottest music videos to what’s trending in gaming, entertainment, news, and more. Subscribe to channels you love, share with friends, and watch on any device. With a new design, you can have fun exploring videos you love more easily and quickly than before. Just tap an icon or swipe to. Easily convert videos to mobile devices, like iPod, iPhone, android phones. Download Youtube videos with lossless quality. Edit videos with video clipping, video cropping, special effects applying functions. Burn any videos to DVD playable on TV and DVD player. You can do more with Any Video Converter Ultimate! Jul 01, 2020 Get all the videos you like for offline watching! Download all the videos you want with the simple and smart downloader! Get it for your PC or Mac or Android. This is a software package that combines a wide range of commonly requested functions - including the ability to download videos from Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo and other sites, as shown in this video. And even then, only iOS and Android users are provided with the option to download YouTube videos for offline viewing. YouTube puts these policies in place to help fight piracy, but what if you just want to watch some YouTube videos in the car, or in bed where the Wi-Fi is spotty?
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.
Quick navigation:
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: copy-paste-save.
- 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 media 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:
- Simple and clean interface
- Customizable functionality
- 4K support
- Integrates with YouTube video converter
![Mac Mac](https://www.enolsoft.com/images/newscreenshots/macyoutubedownloader-download-l.jpg)
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.
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.
Keep Apple devices in sync
Enjoy full-way data transfer with AnyTrans for iOS.
Chances are consuming video content takes a big chunk of your daily digital life. You might be using YouTube to educate yourself, see latest game reviews, or just watch a few cat videos (no judgement). But what do you do when you have an upcoming flight and want to download some clips to watch offline? You might want to know how to save YouTube videos to iPhone (or Mac). And you’re not alone — “can you download YouTube videos?” is one of the most popular requests on search engines.
However, watching videos without an internet connection can be tricky. If you don’t mind paying $12 a month, a YouTube Premium subscription will allow you to avoid often sketchy YouTube download apps for iPhone and watch videos offline directly from the YouTube app. Unfortunately, there would still be no way to transfer these videos to your Mac. So using a YouTube video downloader is still necessary if that’s important to you.
Youtube App For Mac Os
This guide will explain in detail how to save YouTube videos to iPhone, so you have an entertainment backup anytime and anywhere.
Grab videos from anywhere on Mac
Download, edit, and share video content with Setapp. It’s an all-in-one collection of apps that saves your time and effort.
How To Download YouTube Videos On iPhone
There are a few ways to get the content you want on your smartphone. Downloading videos from YouTube to iPhone is one. Screen recording iPhone is another. And transferring videos from Mac to iPhone and vice versa is also available. Let’s dive into all of them step by step.
How to screen record on iPhone and iPad
Using YouTube Premium to watch videos offline requires that you watch them within your YouTube app. What if you want to simply have them in your Videos folder or send them to your Mac?
A quick solution would be to capture a YouTube video with a built-in iPhone screen recorder. This way, you don’t even need to download YouTube video to iPhone.
Steps for how to screen record on iPhone are as follows:
- Go to Settings
- Navigate to Control Center ➙ Customize Controls
- Add the Screen Recording iPhone widget from the list below
To actually start recording:
- Swipe down from the top right on an X-series iPhone or from the bottom on a Home-button iPhone
- Click on the Screen Recording iPhone widget icon and wait for a three-second countdown
- Once you’ve finished recording, tap on the red bar at the top of the screen
- Confirm to stop recording
To access all your screen recorded videos, go to the Photos app.
How to download YouTube videos to iPhone directly
Wondering how to download from YouTube to iPhone? A good alternative way to download YouTube videos to iPhone lies in using specific YouTube downloader apps for iPhone, such as AnyTrans for iOS.
With a YouTube video downloader, you can easily capture a video from YouTube (or other video-streaming sites), store it on your phone, and even send the file to your Mac for later offline viewing. The best part of using an iOS YouTube downloader is there’s no need to be connected to the official YouTube app when watching downloaded video content.
A word of caution: Be careful when using a third-party YouTube download app for iPhone as it might cause changes to your default settings.
How to download YouTube videos on iPhone with AnyTrans
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126524899/650998288.jpg)
The ultimate answer to how to save YouTube videos on iPhone is the Media Downloader feature in AnyTrans, which allows you to get videos from more than 900 websites, including Vimeo, Dailymotion, and, of course, YouTube.
The app automatically chooses the best resolution and converts the downloaded video file to an iOS-compatible format. You can also just keep the video on your Mac and watch it there.
Download and transfer files with AnyTrans
With AnyTrans, you can download videos right inside the app’s interface. What’s more, you can flexibly transfer them across devices.
AnyTrans makes it nearly effortless to download and transfer files, and is overall a better alternative to screen recording iPhone with your desired YouTube videos.
To download a video from YouTube and save it on your iPhone or iPad for later viewing:
- Download AnyTrans
- Connect your iPhone (via USB cable)
- Select the icon for Downloads (the down-facing arrow). Click on the video app you want to download from, such as YouTube.
- Search for the video you wish to download and copy the link for sharing. The download link field in the AnyTrans app will automatically populate.
- Click Download
Once the download is complete, you can access the video file by clicking on the Downloads icon in AnyTrans to open the AnyTrans Video Library. To send the video to your iPhone, click “Send to Device”. You’ll then be able to play the video in the iPhone's Videos app.
How to transfer downloaded videos from iPhone to Mac
In addition to downloading videos for offline use, AnyTrans works great as a one-stop content manager. It allows you to manage and seamlessly transfer files from mobile devices, cloud drives, and your computer.
To transfer your downloaded videos from iPhone to Mac with AnyTrans:
- Launch AnyTrans on your Mac and connect your iPhone
- Click the Videos option
- Select the videos you’d like to transfer
- Press the “Download to Computer” button
- Choose the place you want the videos to save on your Mac
- Once the transfer is done, the Transfer Completed message will pop up
- To see the YouTube download videos, click View Files
How to watch downloaded videos from YouTube on iPhone
With a YouTube to iPhone transfer set up, you can now watch what you download from YouTube without an internet connection. If you’ve used the iPhone screen recorder before, all those videos should be still available from the Photos app. And to see the videos you got from an iOS YouTube downloader, AnyTrans, click on the Media Downloader tab. From here, you can re-download, delete, or clear all the files in the list.
Can you download YouTube videos legally?
YouTubers globally work hard to create video content and upload it to the video-viewing site. By downloading their creation, you could be preventing them (and YouTube) from receiving some ad revenue.
In addition, downloading videos might violate YouTube’s terms and conditions, so it’s uber important to keep all videos for personal use only and not to attempt to profit from them in any way. In most jurisdictions, you’re good to download from YouTube and other websites as long as you’re not breaching anyone’s copyright.
Mac App Download Youtube Videos
Now that you know how to download YouTube videos on iPhone, are you ready to give AnyTrans a try? Luckily for you, AnyTrans is available free for seven days via Setapp, a platform of more than 150 productive Mac apps that significantly expand what your computer is capable of otherwise. So start downloading videos from YouTube to iPhone and rest assured that they will be available on that upcoming long flight of yours, even without internet access.