Download and install Airy on your computer.
In order to save videos from YouTube and enjoy their offline viewing, a reliable video downloader is required. In this article, we've gathered a list of the top 12 downloaders and converters for YouTube videos. Whether you're searching for a reliable and efficient downloader or a feature-rich converter, you're sure to find a solution that meets your requirements.
The Best YouTube Video Downloader for Mac
Airy Video Downloader
When it comes to how to download YouTube videos Mac users can fully rely on Airy YouTube downloader. It is a high-grade software that features playlist downloads, subtitle downloads, batch downloads, YouTube audio extraction, and supports HD and low-definition formats.
With this YouTube video downloader Mac users can access locked videos and age-restricted videos. Moreover, the application does not limit the number of downloads and conversions. Airy also integrates with most browsers, so you can start downloading from YouTube in just a few clicks.
Pros:
- Plentiful features, all accessible with a single click
- Able to queue up many downloads in various formats
- Download management; can run multiple at once
- Music, video, subtitles - nothing is off the table.
Cons:
- Converter feature can’t be used separately
- Only YouTube is supported.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
How to Download YouTube Videos
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You’ll need a YouTube URL to get started.
You can get one either from the address bar, or through "Share" - "Copy to clipboard".
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Pop it into Airy’s own search bar.
Before you start the download, make sure to change any desired options and video file format.
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Start the download and wait for it.
Soon, you’ll have your youtube video, playlist or whatever else your heart desires.
YT Saver Video Downloader
YT Saver Video Downloader is a versatile video downloader and converter compatible with both macOS and Windows. It covers over 10,000 websites (YouTube, Spotify, Vimeo, Dailymotion, TikTok, Instagram and more) and allows you to download videos, audios, entire playlists and channels easily and quickly.
YT Saver also serves as a great converter while providing the fastest conversion speed. You can convert videos to MP4, MP3, MOV, WMV and other formats without quality loss. Moreover, there is a built-in web browser that makes it easy to view and save videos directly from websites. Among other features, YT Saver comes with a built-in video cutter to help you crop online videos.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Supports a wide range of sites
- Has a built-in browser
- Saves playlists and channels
- Enable to save YouTube videos in HD, 4K, 8K.
Cons:
- Trial version supports 3 downloads and 1 playlist.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
iTubeGo YouTube Downloader
iTubeGo YouTube Downloader is one of the best YouTube downloader for Mac, Windows and Android. You can download videos from YouTube and other 10,000+ music/video streaming websites, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, FreeSound, etc. No matter what formats you want: MP4, MP3, AAC, WAV, AVI, MOV, etc, you can get that via iTubeGo, even if you want to download YouTube video up to 8K resolutions.
iTubeGo also allows users to download YouTube playlists, channels, and multiple videos in one click. It comes with a simple and friendly interface, very easy to use, and the built-in browser will make you cut YouTube clips to MP4, MP3 for sharing.
Pros:
- Supports Mac, Windows and Android
- Supports various popular sites
- Convert medias to 20+ formats.
Cons:
- Paid software.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Android
Downie
Online Video Downloader - Downie currently allows you to download media content from over 1,000 different websites, including Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube, Instagram, etc. Besides that, the list of the supported platforms is growing rapidly making Downie the best YouTube video downloader.
This app makes it possible to download videos from YouTube without even launching the website. Thanks to the built-in search you can search for YouTube videos right in the app. Besides that, there is a browser extension to facilitate the download process.
Downie is a simple tool that is not overwhelmed by thousands of features. It is considered to be one of the most practical and versatile applications in its class. The app requires a computer running macOS 10.11 or later.
Pros:
- Ability to download audio and video from over 1200 platforms
- Ability to save YouTube videos in 4K
- Built-in search option
- Support for MP4 download
- Ability to extract and download only audio.
Cons:
- Inconvenient quality control
- Setapp service membership is required to use the app.
Supported OS: macOS, iOS
Pulltube YouTube Downloader for Mac
Pulltube is a well-known Mac app for downloading video and audio content from top websites. The list of supported sites includes YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and many more. It has a nice and intuitive interface and is equipped with a number of useful features. Gesture control, video cropping, and cutting are all very curious. What's more, this YouTube downloader Mac app comes with an integrated media converter that allows you to save videos as MP3 or M4A.
Pros:
- Clean interface
- Can trim video and audio
- Offers browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox
- 14-days trial.
Cons:
- Limited format selection.
Supported OS: macOS
4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is a decent YouTube video downloader app earning this spot with its addition of "Smart Mode". It’s an interesting solution to cut out the copy-paste operations without installing or running any additional programs in the background.
The app allows saving not only video and music files from YouTube but also channels and playlists. Besides that, you can seamlessly get the content of the private channels you got access to. There are also options to select different subtitles if it’s of primary concern to you.
Pros:
- Smart Mode is good
- Advanced subtitle options
- Wide range of supported video sites.
Cons:
- Free version is limited.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Ubuntu, Android
WinX HD Video Converter
WinX is a popular third-party alternative for YouTube downloads. It covers many platforms and formats. Some say it makes WinX the best YouTube video downloader Windows solution; others claim that it’s overly confusing. Besides that, it is also a great video converter that makes all your videos compatible with a phone or tablet. However, keep in mind that WinX is, essentially, a paid product: the meager trial limit expires quickly, urging you to purchase the license. And $30 is just a discount price; if you’re unlucky enough, you’ll have to cough up a lofty $45.
Note:
As it is stated on the official site WinX for Mac is compatible with macOS Catalina and lower. As for macOS Ventura, we’ve made some tests and investigations and come to the following conclusions. Even though you can install it on macOS Ventura the app seems to be not working. We’ve tried to download some videos from YouTube, and waited for quite a long time, unfortunately, the download didn’t start.
Pros:
- Many available video formats
- Special compression algorithms
- Numerous secondary features.
Cons:
- Steep price
- Busy interface.
- Outdated interface.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Softorino YouTube Converter 2
Far from a mundane downloader, Softorino breaks the mold by providing automatic recognition for video thumbnails and tags. Combined with the possibility to instantly transfer files to iPhone/iPod, the program is clearly specialized towards music collectors, and it may be the best YouTube video downloader for this purpose. Softorino will be fine for queuing multiple clips or movies. Sadly, this YouTube downloader and video converter for Mac is only available on a subscription-based license: a month will cost you $9.95, only slightly less expensive than YouTube Premium.
Pros:
- Supports more than 60 popular sites
- Works with iDevices
- Trimless Ringtones feature
- Cheap initial purchase.
Cons:
- Expensive in the long run
- Mediocre for batch downloads.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, iOS, iPadOS
MacX YouTube Downloader
And here comes another solution from Digiarty. Despite WinX is also available for Mac users it is not right to claim that these apps are the same. MacX is a YouTube downloader Mac app that allows saving live videos, playlists, and channels in an easy and convenient way. However, it lacks many useful features in light of its successor. Even though, this app is still very solid, has plenty of conveniences and accessible streaming sites.
Pros:
- Many different sites to download from
- Free technical support
- Batch downloading.
Cons:
- Unable to convert YouTube videos to MP4/MP3
Supported OS: macOS
HitPaw YouTube Video Downloader
HitPaw is another YouTube downloader for Mac that supports a wide range of formats, including MP4, FLV, WMV, AVI, and more. You can download videos in up to 4K quality, and save thumbnails and subtitles in over 50 languages. The also lets you convert YouTube videos to MP3 audio files, and supports batch downloads. You can use HitPaw with other video sites too, like TikTok, Facebook, Tumblr, and Vimeo.
Pros:
- Supports almost any format
- Download in up to 4K quality
- Convert YouTube videos to MP3 audio files
- Batch downloads
- Works with other video sites like TikTok and Vimeo.
Cons:
- Limited free version
- No support for browser extension
- Limited list of output formats.
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
ClipGrab Open Downloader
Unlike all previous competitors, ClipGrab is completely free. It’s only sustained by donations and the goodwill of its developers. Also, given that it’s licensed under GPL, there is transparency about the code and less risk of malicious injections.
It’s completely innocuous. Feature-wise, it doesn’t stand out too much, and there are no special shortcuts to start downloads in a snap. There’s a built-in YouTube browser, so that’s neat. It’s a decent appetizer before you start reaching for your wallet.
Pros:
- Completely open and free
- Safe and transparent.
Cons:
- No playlist capability
- Issues with downloading some YT videos.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
YTD Video Downloader
Last but not least in our list of YouTube downloader Mac solutions is YTD. It works on multiple sites, has a separate converter and a built-in video player. Like the rest of the solutions presented here, the app can download audio files and videos not only from YouTube but also from other popular sites like Vimeo, TikTok, Dailymotion, etc. However, there were no updates of the up since 2017. You can read our article to know more about YTD alternatives.
Note:
Since the latest update was made in 2017, we have tried to download it on macOS Ventura. Summing up, you can download the app and download videos from YouTube, however, you will get a notification to uninstall this app as it may harm your computer.
Pros:
- Works with major streaming services
- Ability to download playlists
- Ability to download high-definition videos
- Automatic resume when the Internet connection fails.
Cons:
- Last update was in 2017
- Old interface
- Presence of annoying ads.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Comparing Table of the Best YouTube Downloaders
Use this tool to compare and contrast the best way for you to download YouTube on your computer. These YouTube downloaders all have something to offer, so find the best one for you here!
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Top features
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VideoDuke
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Airy
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YT Saver Video Downloader
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iTubeGo YouTube Downloader
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Downie
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Pulltube YouTube Downloader
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4K Video Downloader
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Softorino YouTube Converter 2
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WinX HD Video Converter
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MacX YouTube Downloader
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HitPaw YouTube Video Downloader
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ClipGrab Open Downloader
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YTD Video Downloader
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Download videos from YouTube
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Download videos from YouTube
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Download in different video formats
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Download in different video formats
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Choose video resolution
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Choose video resolution
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Download HD video
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Download HD video
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Browser integration
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Browser integration
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Extraction of audio from YouTube
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Extraction of audio from YouTube
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Playlist downloading
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Playlist downloading
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Channel downloading
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Channel downloading
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Batch downloading
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Batch downloading
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Private videos download
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Private videos download
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Pause/resume downloading
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Pause/resume downloading
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Download videos from 1000+ other sites
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Download videos from 1000+ other sites
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Help & support
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Help & support
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Windows supported operating systems
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Windows supported operating systems
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Mac supported operating systems
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Mac supported operating systems
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Best Online YouTube Video Downloaders
Alternatively, you can use online video downloaders to save YouTube videos. Unlike desktop apps, video download websites do not require installation or setup. They are free and easy to use: all you need is a stable Internet connection and a compatible browser.
ClipConverter.CC
ClipConverter.CC is among the best online solutions that assist you in downloading videos from YouTube and many other video hosting and social services with ease. The utility is completely free and does not require the installation of additional software to run.
Additionally, while using this service you cannot only download but also convert videos to different formats as well as extract audio. For even greater convenience, ClipConverter offers browser add-ons for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Pros:
- Supports various formats
- No fee
- Ability to extract audio
- Browser add-ons for easy downloading.
Cons:
- According to users’ reports, there are issues with video quality or downloading speed
- Site compatibility is limited.
Y2MATE
Y2Mate is an online solution that allows users not only to save YouTube videos but also videos from various popular websites like Facebook, Dailymotion, and more and seamlessly convert them to the required formats.
The list of supported file formats is rather impressive, as here you can find M4V, MP4, MO, MP3, FLV, WMV, and WebM, just to mention a few. This is the most convenient online YouTube downloader for Mac as the tool is rather simple-to-use, doesn’t require any personal details, and offers an unlimited number of downloads.
Pros:
- Free solution
- Doesn’t require registration
- Compatible with all operating systems
- Multiple video formats and resolutions
- Google Chrome extension.
Cons:
- Requires stable internet connection
- Risks of malware
- Unable to download 4K videos.
YTMP3
YTMP3 is another popular service known for the ability not only to download videos from YouTube but also to convert them into MP3 audio files. This is a free online tool Mac users can benefit from to enjoy their favorite media content offline. It’s a very convenient solution that won’t take much time to get used to and most importantly it doesn’t require users to sign up for a paid subscription.
Pros:
- Doesn’t require installation
- Works on various platforms
- Free to use
- Convenient to use.
Cons:
- Limited video and audio format options
- May contain ads.
SSYOUTUBE
One more best YouTube video downloader is an online service named SSYouTube. Like the rest of the mentioned above solutions, it doesn’t require any registration, or installation and is absolutely free of charge. The service supports various video formats and resolutions, and it can download videos from any YouTube page, including playlists and channels. Besides that, you can access SSYouTube on multiple platforms, including desktops and mobile devices.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Ability to download videos in various formats
- No registration required
- Free to use.
Cons:
- Presence of pop-up ads and redirect.
How to Identify the Best YouTube Downloader
Not all video downloaders offer the same set of features. Some of them only come with basic functionality, while others offer quite advanced features. We’ve tested the aforementioned YouTube downloaders on our trusty MacBook Pro (2015) with Monterey, and graded them according to a set of completely objective, totally unbiased criteria.
The first thing a video downloader should do well is download videos quickly and efficiently. The best YouTube downloader should also support a variety of video formats, as well as other additional features, including bulk downloads, channels and playlists downloads. Other highly preferable features include:
- Conversion options. Some downloaders have a built-in converter with which you can easily convert videos and get the file in the desired format. Choose a downloader that is capable of converting videos to all possible formats.
- Browser integration support. This will maximize your convenience.
- Ease of use. Also do not forget about the interface. It should be clear and intuitive.
- Safety. The tool should be free from any malware. In addition, your personal data must also be fully protected.
Is It Legal To Download Videos From YouTube?
Wondering whether it is legal or not to download videos from YouTube? This is a question that will depend on what kind of content you want to download, as there are some that are completely legal and others that are not because they are protected by copyright and licenses that don't allow you to download. In other words, downloading TV shows, movies, video clips, or any other protected (copyrighted) content from YouTube is against the law.
So what kind of content is allowed to be downloaded from YouTube? You can legally download the following sorts of videos from YouTube, namely videos from public domains where no one owns the video due to copyright expiration, forfeiture, etc., videos under Creative Commons license, and copyleft content. Besides that, if you download videos for your personal use with no intention for further distribution or monetization, it is also considered as legal actions.
Videos that fit one of the aforementioned categories may be found on YouTube with a little bit of searching. However, keep in mind that downloading the videos is still against YouTube's Terms of Service, so download wisely.
Conclusion
In this article, we have reviewed several variants on how to save YouTube videos to Mac. Here you can find the best stand-alone as well as online solutions. Now that you know some of the best YouTube video download solutions for Mac and Windows, you can easily save videos to your laptop for offline watching. All of the options described in the article are great for downloading YouTube videos, while some even offer additional features like converting to various formats, bulk downloads, and more.
You just need to focus on your priorities and choose the one that best suits your needs. However, you shouldn’t forget that downloading videos from YouTube is a rather tricky topic, so always remember that you may violate YouTube's Terms of Service and your actions can be illegal.
