Whether you’re stuck on a long flight or preparing for an apocalyptic event, downloading YouTube videos gives you on-demand entertainment when you need it. While the world descends into chaos around you, relax in your bunker with the latest makeup tutorials, music videos, viral clips and anime episodes, all powered by your trusty video downloader. When society eventually rebuilds itself like in those dystopian young adult novels, you’ll be the wise elder with all of human knowledge stored offline on your smartphone. So don’t underestimate the life-saving potential of video downloading. The next time you’re lost in the woods or your WiFi goes out, you’ll be thanking yourself for having a YouTube downloader ready to save the day – and stave off boredom.
What is a YouTube Video Downloader?
A YouTube video downloader is an application or online tool that allows you to download videos from YouTube to store and watch offline. After downloading, you can view the YouTube videos without needing an internet connection – great for trips, commutes, flights, or other times you may not have WiFi or mobile data.
YouTube video downloaders work by grabbing the video file from YouTube’s servers and saving it to your device storage. Some downloaders are designed for specific operating systems, while web-based options work across multiple devices.
With a good YouTube video downloader, you can typically download videos in different formats and resolutions. This allows you to save disk space by choosing a lower resolution, or get higher quality downloads for archiving purposes. Most downloaders also allow downloading just the audio track of a YouTube video.
Advanced YouTube downloaders offer features like:
- Downloading entire playlists or channels
- Accelerated download speeds
- Options for video metadata and subtitles
- Queue for bulk downloads
- Built-in media converters
- Password protection
- Cloud storage integration
How to Choose the Best YouTube Downloader in 2023
With the number of YouTube downloaders available, it can be tricky to identify the best options. Here are the key factors to evaluate:
Download speed: Faster is better, especially for long or high-resolution videos. Look for apps that leverage acceleration technologies.
Formats and quality: Can it save multiple formats and resolutions? HQ 1080p or 4K downloads are ideal.
Ad-free experience: Choose an app with no annoying ads interrupting the process.
Simple interface: A good downloader should make it easy to grab videos with minimal steps.
Device support: Make sure the app works on your iPhone, Android, PC or Mac.
Legal compliance: Only use downloaders following YouTube’s Terms of Service. Avoid pirated versions.
Additional features: Download playlists, subtitles, convert files, etc.
Price: Some excellent free options are available, but paid tools offer premium features.
Ratings: Check user reviews and ratings across multiple sites.
Security: Verify the tool is free from viruses and malware. Avoid requests for unnecessary permissions.
Top YouTube Downloaders for 2023
Based on the criteria above, below are the top recommended YouTube video downloaders for 2023:
1. SaveFrom
SaveFrom offers the most complete downloading solution, it support for videos up to 8K resolution, playlists, channels, subtitles, and more.
The multithreaded smart accelerator engine gives incredibly fast download speeds, while still being easy on system resources. Downloads can be queued up and will continue in the background.One of the best features is auto-grabbing thumbnails, descriptions, subtitles, and other metadata to include with your downloads for a complete offline archive. The playlist downloader lets you save full YouTube channels or individual playlists for offline binging.
Navigation is simple with just copy and paste to download. But you can still customize options like directory, format, subtitles, playlists and more on the intuitive interface. SaveFrom stays completely free without any ads or restrictions.
Verdict: With robust format support, smart speed acceleration, automatic metadata fetching, and a full-featured but simple interface, SaveFrom is quite possibly the single best desktop YouTube downloader available today. The open source nature also makes it transparent and safe to use.
2. KeepVid
For a downloader that works across all devices via the browser, KeepVid is a great choice. It can grab videos up to 8K, playlists, MP3 audio, and captions from YouTube with just the video link.
KeepVid uses a web of servers to optimize download speeds and make the process fast and smooth. Just head to their website, paste the link, and downloading will begin instantly. The clean web interface works the same across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and any modern browser.
Basic downloading is free and unlimited. KeepVid also offers premium tiers with faster connections, malware monitoring, and unlimited playlists for power users.
Verdict: The simplicity and ubiquity of KeepVid as a web downloader makes it easy to recommend. Any device with a browser can download YouTube videos seamlessly in seconds, with no installation or signup required. While premium features are compelling, the free downloader has all you need.
3. VidMate (Android)
As a downloader dedicated specifically for Android, VidMate offers robust mobile-centric features. It can download videos up to 4K, in formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, and more.
Integrated searching makes finding videos easy. Downloads are quick with multi-threading and streaming support so you can begin watching videos before they even finish. Videos can play in a mini window for multitasking as you download in the background.
Useful extras include video converters, auto thumbnail fetching, fast streaming, and a private browser to protect your downloading history. VidMate remains completely free, although ads are included.
Verdict: For Android users who want a premium downloading experience optimized for mobile, VidMate is easily one of the top options. Conveniences like the mini player, streaming, and video conversion make downloading and watching videos seamless.
4. Documents by Readdle (iOS)
Documents by Readdle takes downloading to iOS by providing a simple way to save YouTube videos directly on your iPhone or iPad.
To use it, just copy the video link and paste it into the Documents app. Tap download and the video will begin saving to your device’s local storage. Videos play right inside Documents in the built-in media viewer.
While it lacks advanced features, the utter simplicity of downloading by just pasting the link makes Documents shine for quick and easy iOS downloading. Videos save directly on your device for offline viewing. Completely free with no ads or limits.
Verdict: For Apple mobile device owners, Documents is the perfect lightweight app for saving videos right on your iPhone or iPad. Despite the lack of extras, the dead-simple downloading process makes it easy to recommend Documents for casual iOS users who just want to save a video now and then.
Guide to Downloading YouTube Videos
- Install the downloader app – Select one of the recommended options above that works on your operating system. Run the installer.
- Copy the YouTube link – Browse YouTube and find the video you want. Click Share and copy the link.
- Paste link into downloader – Open the downloader, look for a field to enter the video URL, and paste it in.
- Select format/quality – Choose the file format and quality you prefer based on your needs.
- Choose save destination – Pick where you want the file downloaded to on your device.
- Start the download – Click the download, grab, or save button to begin the process.
- Play the video – Once finished, open the file from your device storage and enjoy offline!
With the right downloader installed, saving YouTube videos is quick and seamless.
Key Benefits of Downloading YouTube Videos
Beyond just the convenience of offline viewing, downloading YouTube videos offers other advantages:
- Avoid streaming costs: Reduce mobile data usage and save money by viewing offline.
- Enhanced privacy: Downloaders only grab the file without tracking info.
- Keep favorite videos: Download special videos to re-watch forever.
- Archive content: Save how-to videos, lessons, recipes and more for handy reference.
- Share videos easily: Email or transfer videos without YouTube links.
- Reduce buffering: Downloaded videos play smoothly without lag.
- Watch ad-free: Avoid annoying ads with offline viewing.
- Protect from deletion: Videos removed from YouTube stay in your collection.
Is Downloading YouTube Videos Legal?
When choosing a YouTube downloader, an important question is whether it complies with legal terms. Here are some key points on the legality of downloading YouTube videos:
- Downloading videos for personal offline use is generally allowed under YouTube’s Terms of Service.
- However, you should avoid re-uploading, distributing, or publicly displaying downloaded videos without permission.
- Check the video’s license info on YouTube – some content creators prohibit downloading.
- Avoid modified versions of YouTube downloaders that enable piracy. Stick to reputable tools from known developers.
- Downloaders that encourage downloading copyright-protected content illegally could face legal action.
As long as you use trusted apps to download videos for personal offline enjoyment, stay within YouTube’s guidelines, and respect video licenses, downloading should be legally in the clear. But repeated abuse could still violate ToS and result in account termination. When in doubt, avoid downloading any content you don’t have licensed rights to use.
Enjoy Your Favorite YouTube Videos Anywhere with a Downloader
Downloading YouTube videos for offline enjoyment doesn’t have to be difficult. With the best apps for your iPhone, Android, Mac or PC, you can quickly save online videos – just remember to use them responsibly! Test a few recommended YouTube downloaders to find your favorite.
The top options provide reliable ways to download videos up to 4K or even 8K quality. Look for downloaders that match your device, avoid annoying ads, download quickly, and offer conveniences like bulk/playlist support.
With the right YouTube video downloader installed, you’ll be able to easily save content for those times you lack an internet connection. Catch up on video playlists during long flights or road trips, show friends fun videos at parties with no WiFi, or archive how-to content for handy offline reference. Stop wasting your mobile data and enjoy ad-free content by going offline with downloaded YouTube videos.
Download YouTube Videos to an iPhone
For iPhone users, Documents by Readdle provides the easiest way to download YouTube videos:
- Install Documents from the App Store.
- copy the YouTube link from the share menu.
- Open Documents and tap the upload function on the bottom bar.
- Paste in the YouTube link and tap download. Wait for it to finish.
- The video will save to the Documents local file storage. You can watch it offline!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is downloading YouTube videos legal?
It is legal to download YouTube videos for personal offline use. However, you should avoid re-uploading or distributing downloaded videos without permission. Check each video’s license terms.
Will the quality be the same?
If you select the highest resolution, the downloaded video will match the source quality on YouTube. Lower resolutions will be reduced quality.
What formats can I download?
Most YouTube downloaders support MP4, WebM, AVI, MKV, and other common video formats. Audio can usually be saved as MP3.
Is it safe to download from third-party apps?
Stick to reputable apps from known developers like those recommended above. Check user reviews and ratings for red flags about any app. Avoid any software asking for questionable device permissions.
Downloading YouTube videos for offline enjoyment doesn’t have to be difficult. With the best apps for your iPhone, Android, Mac or PC, you can quickly save online videos – just remember to use them responsibly! Test a few recommended YouTube downloaders to find your favorite.
