With the massive number of YouTube downloading tools available, it can be hard to pick the best one for you. We've done the legwork and made a list of five ways to download YouTube videos to make your decision an easy one.
[#TOC1]Download videos using YouTube Premium - mobile and desktop (pay monthly)[#TOC1]
If you want an ad-free experience, watch videos offline, and play music or video without being interrupted (even when you open another app), then YouTube Premium is perfect for you.
However, you can only download public videos with the download feature enabled by the creator.
Step 1: Open YouTube
Open the YouTube app, and ensure you have the latest version of your browser else the download will fail.
Step 2: Select the download video quality
Click on the hamburger menu at the top left corner, scroll to the bottom, select Settings, and then Downloads. Here, you can choose your download video quality—YouTube premium users can download videos at a maximum of 1080p.
Step 2: Download the video
Open the video you want to download. Click on the three dots, right beside the Save option, and hit download.
Step 3: Play the video offline
Once the video is downloaded, click on the hamburger menu at the top left, and click on Downloads. Here, you'll find the video ready for offline viewing.
[#TOC2]Download videos using Y2Mate - desktop (online, free)[#TOC2]
The best way to download YouTube videos to your computer of up to 1080p is with Y2Mate. It supports multiple audio and video files like MP3, MP4, 3GP, AVI, M4V and more, with an option to download unlimited videos with high-speed encoding, so you don't have to wait forever for your videos to process.
The best part about this free YouTube downloader is it doesn't require any unnecessary sign-up hassle, has a super simple downloading process—and is completely free.
If you download YouTube videos regularly, you can also download their chrome extension so you can download videos in a single click—without having to visit the website every time.
Step 1: Copy the YouTube video URL
Go to the YouTube video you want to download, and copy the URL from the address bar at the top of your screen.
Step 2: Paste it on the Y2Mate website
Open the Y2Mate website and paste the URL in the designated bar.
Step 3: Choose your resolution
As soon as you paste the link, the video will start processing. Then, you'll see a window with multiple resolutions and file size options to convert the video. Choose your preference and click on Convert.
Step 4: Download the video
You’ll see a download option besides the resolution you choose. Click on it, and it’ll start downloading on your device.
How to download a YouTube video on mobile
YouTube allows all users to download videos to your phone for offline viewing. However, non-YouTube premium users can only keep downloaded videos for 48 hours, after which they'll have to connect to the internet again to retain their downloads. On the other hand, YouTube premium users can save unlimited videos for offline viewing until they delete them manually.
You simply need to open the YouTube video you want to watch offline and click on Download below it. Then, you can find it in the Downloads section.
However, note that these videos will be saved within the YouTube app and not your files or gallery.
So, if you want to save a YouTube video on your phone, follow these methods:
[#TOC3]Download videos using TubeMate - mobile (online, free)[#TOC3]
If you don't want to waste data when downloading a YouTube video to your Android phone then TubeMate is best for you. It lets you choose the resolution, allows you to download unlimited YouTube videos, gives you an option to save the video in the internal storage or SD card, and will enable you to download just the audio without the video. Thus, it gives you a lot of flexibility and control.
Besides, it has a super simple and decluttered interface, so you can easily use it to download YT videos.
Step 1: Download TubeMate APK file
TubeMate isn’t available on Play Store but is the only viable solution for downloading YouTube videos on Android. So, search for TubeMate APK Softonic on your mobile browser and click on Free Download.
Step 2: Manage your phone settings
When you see the security prompt, press OK.
Most phones are set at a default setting to prevent any unknown apps from downloading. TubeMate is super safe to download and doesn’t harm your Android in any way. So click on Settings.
Then turn on the Allow apps from this source button.
Step 3: Install TubeMate
Navigate to Downloads on your browser, and open the TubeMate APK file. And then click on Install when you’re prompted, and the app will be available for use.
Step 4: Download YouTube video
Open the TubeMate app. Search for the video you want on the search bar, choose the video quality and click on Download—and you’re good to go!
How to download a YouTube video online
It's better to use an online video editor or a browser-based downloading tool to save YouTube videos offline without having to install any third-party app on your mobile or desktop. We tried many tools but found these to be the best in terms of:
- Video quality
- Speed
- Range of features and settings
- Device compatibility
- Pricing
Let’s have a look at these.
[#TOC4]Download and edit videos using VEED (online, free)[#TOC4]
If you want to download and edit a YouTube video quickly and easily without taking up space on your computer with storage-heavy software and files, then VEED is for you. It has a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to create and edit professional videos like an expert, even if you’ve never edited a video before. And since VEED is browser-based you can save a YouTube video to your desktoop regardless of whether it's a mac or windows.
Downloading YouTube videos on VEED is as simple as copying the YouTube video URL and hitting export to download the video in MP4 format.
Step 1: Copy the YouTube video URL
Go to the YouTube video you want to download, and copy the URL from the address bar at the top of your screen.
Step 2: Go to the VEED website
Visit VEED and log in or create a free account if you haven't already. Click on Create New Project.
Step 3: Paste the YouTube video link
Paste the YouTube video URL you copied in the designated space, and it’ll start uploading.
Step 3: Add subtitles for better viewing
If you like watching videos with the sound off, are downloading a video in a different language or simply want a more optimized viewing experience—add subtitles to your video. Choose Subtitles from the left bar, and click on Auto Captioning to automatically add captions to the video.
Step 4: Edit your video
You can also edit your videos further by using the cut and trim features, adding elements, filters, or the free-hand drawing feature on the left bar.
Step 5: Export your video
Once you’re satisfied with the video, click on Export on the right-hand side.
Step 6: Choose the resolution
Select the resolution for your video, and click on Export.
Step 7: Download the video
Once the video is processed, click on Download, and you’re ready to enjoy the video offline.
You can also share and collaborate on a video with your team by commenting feedback and edits here.
Additionally, you can directly share your video on social media or get an embed code to use it on your website if you want to give your audience a sneak peek or start a conversation around it.
Is downloading a YouTube video legal?
Downloading a YouTube video isn't illegal for personal use if the creator has enabled public viewing. However, it’s a YouTube violation to use the video for commercial purposes, claiming it as your own without giving the creator due credit or selling it.
YouTube states, “You shall not copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, or otherwise exploit any Content for any other purposes without the prior written consent of YouTube or the respective licensors of the Content.”
Additionally, it’s immoral to download a video that’s set to private by the creator as it’s considered a privacy breach. However, it’s completely justified to download a video for personal use through YouTube premium, or third-party apps.
[#TOC5]How to download YouTube videos in 4K on 4kdownload.com[#TOC5]
4kdownload is perfect if you want to download 4K resolution YouTube videos on your Mac or Windows computer and don't mind paying a one-time fee for a personal, pro, or bundle license for the tool.
Instead of downloading just one video, this tool enables you to download entire YouTube playlists and channels so you can enjoy offline viewing while travelling or when low on data. Besides, it also allows you to extract YouTube video subtitles to replicate the online viewing experience—but offline.
Step 1: Get the YouTube video URL
Open YouTube and navigate to the video you want to download. Copy the URL from the address bar at the top of the window.
Step 2: Open 4KDownload
Download and open 4KDownload. Click on the Paste Link option at the top left.
Step 3: Adjust the download settings
Next, you’ll see a window where you can choose your video format, file size, and if you want to download subtitles along with the video. Once you select your settings, click on Download at the bottom.
The video will start downloading, and then you can enjoy it offline!
What features should you look for in a YouTube downloader tool?
There are a lot of YouTube video downloading tools online, so it's not easy to make a pick. But, here are some features that will make picking the best one for you a piece of cake:
- Range of supported file formats: Download videos in multiple file formats like MP4, MP3. or AAC
- Video quality options: Customize video resolutions for your ideal file size and viewing experience.
- Simultaneous/Batch downloading: Download the entire playlist or channel in one go, and save time.
- Video editor: Edit YouTube videos with a built-in video editor before downloading them.
- Fast processing speed: Process and download videos quickly, without having to wait for hours.
- Subtitles in multiple languages: Automatically get subtitles for videos in another language.
What is YouTube batch downloading?
YouTube batch downloading allows you to download multiple videos simultaneously. It’s a convenient feature when you want to download a YouTube playlist or all the videos in a YouTube channel, like for a web series or a documentary series.
Downloading a YouTube video is great whether you want to download it to watch offline, without using data or repurpose YouTube videos for other social platforms. But ultimately, which tool should you use to download videos from YouTube? Here’s what we recommend:
- If you want to download a YouTube video on your Android device, use 4KDownloader or TubeMate
- If you wish to download a YouTube video on your PC, without having to download storage-heavy software, go for Y2Mate.
- If you want to edit and download a YouTube video on your PC or iPad, use an all-in-one simple tool like VEED.
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