Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a most popular supply on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- ClipGrab and WinX/MacX are the very best free instruments for YouTube downloads.
- YouTube Premium affords authorized, ad-free downloads tied to your account.
- Be conscious of copyright legal guidelines and solely obtain movies which are allowed.
For those who’ve ever needed to obtain a YouTube video to observe later — say, for a flight or someplace with horrible Wi-Fi — you have in all probability observed that Google does not make it simple. YouTube’s personal app limits offline viewing to pick out movies and paying Premium subscribers. Nonetheless, there are methods to obtain movies free of charge. The problem is determining which possibility is definitely price utilizing.
Additionally: Your YouTube Premium subscription simply acquired 3 main upgrades – plus AI experiments you’ll be able to strive
After years of working in multimedia, I’ve needed to regionally save numerous YouTube movies. I now have one go-to software, and my colleague David Gewirtz has instructed one other, however there are many choices on the market that come extremely really helpful. Both manner, listed here are two strategies which are free and trusted, so you will not need to wade by means of sketchy pop-ups and questionable hyperlinks, or pay a cent.
I am going to additionally cowl YouTube Premium, the official paid technique for downloading movies, so it’s best to discover not less than one possibility that works.
The way to simply obtain YouTube movies free of charge
What you will want: Editors at ZDNET, together with me, have been utilizing ClipGrab for years. It is a free program accessible for Mac, Home windows, and Linux customers. The developer describes it as open supply, although the supply code is just accessible for Linux.
Level your browser to the official ClipGrab.org web site.
- Click on the “Present all obtain choices” hyperlink.
- Obtain the installer to your platform (Home windows, MacOS, Linux). It is free, however there’s an choice to donate.
- Run the installer to put in ClipGrab.
Additionally: I used this straightforward YouTube TV trick and saved $66 – this is how one can, too
Throughout set up, ClipGrab could request permission to put in a Rosetta helper (on newer MacOS) or to obtain supplementary elements (corresponding to yt-dlp). It’s best to permit them — they’re a part of ClipGrab and allow options or help with processing.
Present extra
If you wish to change the place your downloaded YouTube movies are saved, click on the Settings tab in ClipGrab. Right here, you’ll be able to specify a goal folder, modify metadata and notification settings, arrange a proxy, and extra. You do not have to tweak any of those choices, although — by default, ClipGrab prompts you every time you obtain, and it saves movies to your system’s default Movies or Downloads folder.
Present extra
In your internet browser, go to the YouTube video you wish to obtain.
- Copy the video’s URL from the deal with bar. (You can too click on the Share button beneath the video.)
- Open ClipGrab and go to the Downloads tab.
- Click on into the enter area and paste the copied YouTube hyperlink (Ctrl+V on Home windows/Linux or Cmd+V on Mac).
- ClipGrab will routinely fetch details about the video.
Additionally: I modified these 6 TV settings to immediately make the system really feel like new once more
As soon as the video is acknowledged (you will often see the title seem in ClipGrab), you are able to proceed.
Present extra
Earlier than downloading, use the Format drop-down to decide on the file sort to your saved video. You will discover it proper beneath the sphere the place you pasted the YouTube hyperlink. I often depart the format set to Unique, which retains the video’s native file sort, however you’ll be able to choose MP4, WMV, OGG, MP3 (audio solely), or no matter you favor.
Subsequent, use the High quality drop-down to pick out a decision. It is proper subsequent to Format and often permits you to select the complete unique decision (corresponding to 1080p and even 4K, if accessible) or a decrease one like 720p if you wish to save house.
Present extra
When prepared, in ClipGrab’s Downloads tab, click on the “Seize this clip!” button.
- ClipGrab will immediate you to decide on a file title and save location for the video.
- When you affirm, the obtain will start.
- You will see progress within the Present Downloads part.
A typical YouTube video ought to obtain quick — or not less than in an affordable time, relying in your web pace and the video size. It took me lower than 2 minutes to obtain an hour-long ZDNET livestream.
Present extra
One other free possibility
ClipGrab is my best choice for straightforward, easy YouTube video downloading. I commonly use it to seize movies, together with my very own uploads after I want an area copy. After greater than a decade of use, I have not run into any points with it.
Additionally: 10 open-source apps I all the time advocate Home windows person to strive – they usually’re free
However if you would like an alternate, ZDNET’s David Gewirtz makes use of the WinX/MacX apps. Made by Digiarty Software program (identified for its DVD-ripping instruments), WinX Video Converter (for Home windows) and MacX Video Converter (for MacOS) are freemium video conversion packages.
The way to use WinX or MacX to obtain YouTube movies free of charge
What makes them fascinating right here is that the free trial consists of a limiteless YouTube downloader you need to use indefinitely — if you happen to do not thoughts dismissing the occasional immediate to improve.
- Set up the software program: Obtain the trial of WinX Video Converter Deluxe (Home windows) or MacX Video Converter Professional (Mac) from the official web site. As soon as put in, launch the app.
- Paste a YouTube hyperlink: Within the app’s toolbar, click on the “YouTube URL” button. The app will change to a obtain display screen, the place you’ll be able to click on a hyperlink icon on the prime, then paste your video’s URL, and click on Analyze. After a couple of seconds, you will see an inventory of accessible resolutions and codecs (for instance, 1080p MP4, 720p WebM), together with file sizes.
- Obtain the video: Select your most popular decision and format from the checklist, then click on OK or Obtain. The video will obtain shortly. Except for YouTube, WinX/MacX helps a whole bunch of different websites — Fb, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and extra.
For those who resolve to improve to the paid model, you will unlock a full suite of video instruments to transform, compress, trim, crop, and even add subtitles. The paid choices begin at $19.95. However you need not pay something in case your predominant objective is just downloading movies.
The official paid possibility
Let’s speak about Google’s official technique to obtain YouTube movies: YouTube Premium. I have been a subscriber for years and love the blissful absence of adverts, picture-in-picture mode on cellular, the power to maintain a video taking part in within the background whereas utilizing different apps, entry to YouTube Music Premium, and all the opposite perks — together with downloading movies for offline viewing.
Within the US, a person YouTube Premium plan is $13.99 per thirty days. There’s additionally a Household Plan for as much as six customers at $22.99 per thirty days, and a Pupil Plan at $7.99 per thirty days. It is not low cost, however for heavy YouTube customers, it may be price it.
The way to use YouTube Premium to obtain movies
Since that is an official characteristic, it is utterly authorized and sanctioned by YouTube.
- Log in along with your Premium account: As soon as you have subscribed to YouTube Premium, check in to YouTube in your gadget (cellular app or internet browser) along with your account. As soon as logged in, search for a video you wish to save.
- Faucet Obtain: If you’ve discovered a video, click on or faucet the Obtain button. On desktop, you’ll now see a down arrow beneath movies, often to the proper of the Share arrow icon. Within the cellular app, the Obtain possibility seems within the video choices menu (three-dot menu).
- Select your high quality: The primary time you obtain, YouTube will ask what high quality you wish to save by default (corresponding to 720p or 360p). Larger resolutions take extra storage and won’t be accessible for all movies. When you affirm, the video will start downloading. A progress indicator would possibly seem (on cellular, it is a loading circle).
- Discover your downloaded movies: After the obtain completes, yow will discover the video within the Downloads part of YouTube. Within the cellular app, faucet Library > Downloads. On desktop, click on your profile image menu and go to Downloads (or go to youtube.com/feed/downloads whereas logged in). All movies you have downloaded for offline viewing can be listed there.
You’ll be able to watch your downloaded movies with out an web connection, however you will want to go surfing not less than as soon as each 30 days for YouTube to confirm your Premium standing. In any other case, your downloads will expire. Your downloads are additionally tied to YouTube. So, if you happen to have been hoping to get an MP4 file to edit or share outdoors of YouTube, you are out of luck with this technique.
Additionally: Is Google’s $250-per-month AI subscription plan price it? Here is what’s included
Principally, you are not given a simple technique to flip your YouTube downloads into usable video recordsdata on a desktop or from iOS gadgets. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re an Android person with an SD card slot, you’ll be able to change the YouTube app’s settings to avoid wasting movies on to your SD card. Within the YouTube app, faucet your profile pic > Settings > Downloads, and you will see the choice to make use of an SD card.
Are there Linux command-line choices?
Sure. Linux customers have a command-line choice to obtain YouTube movies. As with all issues Linux command line, there are some grey areas right here, corresponding to whether or not a given software nonetheless works or if there’s a greater one on the market.
The primary possibility is youtube-dl. You may get it from its official web site, GitHub, or by means of your favourite package deal supervisor. However some of us say youtube-dl is outdated hat and hasn’t been up to date shortly. There’s one other open-source challenge on GitHub known as yt-dlp, a fork of youtube-dl with extra options and extra energetic upkeep. I have not examined it myself, so use it at your personal threat.
Additionally: The primary 5 Linux instructions each new person ought to be taught
Each youtube-dl and yt-dlp provide an extremely wide selection of options if you happen to want them. Personally, I am sticking with ClipGrab — I haven’t got time to show YouTube downloading into a 3rd full-time job. However it’s as much as you.
What’s the most secure technique to obtain YouTube movies?
Absolutely the most secure manner is to make use of YouTube Premium’s offline obtain characteristic, because it’s an official, totally accepted technique offered by Google itself. If you obtain a video through YouTube Premium, you are abiding by YouTube’s phrases of service in addition to the video’s utilization restrictions (the movies are DRM-protected and tied to your account).
YouTube will implement any regional or copyright restrictions on these downloads, so you will not be capable of obtain movies that the platform does not permit in your nation. And you will not run into any malware or sketchy software program points, as a result of it is a built-in characteristic.
How can I obtain personal movies?
You’ll be able to solely obtain personal movies if you have already got entry to them (or they’re your personal — YouTube Premium will allow you to obtain your personal personal movies). For those who can log in and watch the video in your browser, you’ll be able to often obtain it.
However if you cannot view it in any respect, you will not be capable of obtain it both.
Additionally: Gemini can now watch YouTube for you – skip the video, get the highlights
So, if in case you have login credentials for the video and you are a Home windows person, strive utilizing the premium model of By Click on Downloader. It permits you to save personal movies on to your pc and sometimes prices between $20 and $40, relying on promotions.
Are you able to get in bother for downloading YouTube movies?
Simply because you’ll be able to obtain a YouTube video does not all the time imply it’s best to — not less than not with out understanding the implications. Completely different jurisdictions have totally different legal guidelines, and it might not be authorized to obtain a given video, even when all you wish to do is watch it offline. Some international locations additionally prohibit movies on sure subjects, so if you happen to’re in a repressive area, be additional cautious.
You would possibly wish to learn our VPN information for tips about downloading with a bit extra privateness.
Additionally: Greatest VPNs for YouTube in 2025: 5 suppliers for unblocking content material
For those who plan to obtain a video to include into one thing you are producing, take into account that some international locations acknowledge truthful use, permitting small parts of copyrighted materials for commentary, criticism, or training. That mentioned, YouTube makes use of automated programs to detect reused content material, and your channel may obtain a copyright strike for violations.
When unsure, it is all the time greatest to ask for permission first.
Get the morning’s prime tales in your inbox every day with our Tech Right this moment e-newsletter.
Present extra
