Airy: Great YouTube Video Downloader for Mac

A dazzling, prominently useful UI
Conversion to many useful formats
Mass downloads from playlists
Additional support for music tracks
Simple download management

Top choice

Airy

4.9 Rank based on 811+ users, Reviews(885)

Download

Buy Now

The Best YouTube Downloader for Mac on Big Sur

YouTube is a real commercial titan. On a good day, the service pulls over 1 billion hours’ worth of views. And there's plenty of good content you’d rather keep and watch offline.

Currently, the situation regarding the best YouTube video downloader Mac is rather shaky. With the recent macOS update, some old champions went offline and new contenders have emerged. To address this, we’ve compiled a brand new rated list of downloaders.

Recognizing the Best YouTube Downloader for Mac 2021

1. Airy Video Downloader

1. Airy

Requirements: OS X 10.9+. 22.55MB free space. Version 3.21.318. (2 Dec, 2020). 4.9 Rank based on 811+ users, Reviews(885)
Category: UtilitiesApplication

Download Purchase

There’s no reason to hide it - Airy is #1 on the current Mac YouTube downloader market. There’s nothing quite like it, and few apps will provide you with an equal experience. It’s supported by a hard-working dev team, and no update can bring it down. It’s always up for you to enjoy in 2021.

Though Airy has lots of features, all of them are accessible with surprising ease. It’s the best YouTube downloader if you’re looking for comfort and convenience. It makes no difference whether you download a single video, a playlist, or an entire channel; no difference whether it’s video, audio, HD or low-res. It’s all equally simple, asking no more than a few keypresses. And there’s even an option to start downloads from your browser. There’s no need to interrupt your web-surfing with this YouTube downloader for Mac.

Why Do We Call Airy the Best Mac YouTube Downloader?

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

The Best Way to Download YouTube Videos with Airy

1. You’ll need a YouTube URL to get started.

You can get one either from the address bar, or through "Share" - "Copy to clipboard".

Get YT videos with the best free YouTube downloader for Mac

2. Pop it into Airy’s own search bar.

Before you start the download, make sure to change any desired options.

Download YouTube videos with Mac free App

3. Start the download and wait for it.

Soon, you’ll have your video, playlist or whatever else your heart desires.

2. WinX HD Video Converter for Mac

WinX is a popular third-party alternative for YouTube downloads. It seems that the company has made it their mission to cover as many platforms and formats as possible. This abundance of choice is a double-edged sword. Some say it makes WinX the best YouTube video downloader; others claim that it’s overly confusing. Regardless, it’s a solid, quality-assured product.

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$.

One of the best way to download YouTube videos

WinX Pros and Cons

Pros:

Many available video formats
Special compression algorithms
Numerous secondary features

Cons:

Steep price
Busy interface

3. 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.

Outside of that, there is the normal functionality you’d expect from a YouTube downloader Mac. Softorino will be fine for queuing multiple clips or movies. Sadly, it’s only available on a subscription-based license: a month will cost you $9.95, only slightly less expensive than YouTube premium.

Softorino YouTube Converter 2: Worth it?

Pros:

Caters to music fans
Works with iDevices
Cheap initial purchase

Cons:

Expensive in the long run
Mediocre for batch downloads

4. Wondershare YouTube Downloader

Does Wondershare have wonders to share? Ah, let’s not wander away from our theme. It’s the highest rated Mac YouTube downloader that can be truly used for free. Of course, one should not expect the full functionality from a trial version.

The full app asks for $29.99, and boy do they make it tempting! Among the many limitations of the free version, there are also ads plastered here and there. Thankfully, there are none of the malicious adware variety, just banners. Regardless, this could very well be the best free YouTube downloader for Mac.

Sharing Our Thoughts on Wondershare

Pros

Actually free with no limits
Adequately functional
Simple to use

Cons

Free version quite limited
Some ads present
Not the best deal for $30

5. iTube Studio

While otherwise unnotable, iTube makes a bold move by advertising Netflix recordings as one of its main features. It takes some chops to stand up to a large company like that. It’s right there on their product page, whoah! Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?

It’s an all-around average YouTube downloader for Mac, with some additional capabilities to spice it up. The price tag is not so hot - $24.95 for a yearly subscription, $ 34.95 for a lifetime license. Maybe worth it if you’re just in for a year.

Pros and Cons of iTube Studio

Pros:

Can record/convert Netflix
Extraordinarily brave legal team
Converter can be used by itself

Cons:

Many better, cheaper alternatives
May get decimated in a copyright battle

6. MacX YouTube Downloader

And here comes another entry from Digiarty. While it may seem that way, WinX and MacX are 2 entirely different apps, with WinX also being available for Mac. And for MacX, it’s not a favorable comparison.

But even though it lacks many features in light of its successor, this app is still very solid, has a plenty of conveniences and accessible streaming sites. If WinX ever goes down, it’s got your back for $29.95.

MacX Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros:

Many different sites to download from
Free technical support
Always on discount

Cons:

WinX is better in every way
Limited format selection

7. PullTube YouTube Downloader for Mac

PullTube has a rather limited selection of conversion formats. That lowers its ranking by a bit. But in other regards, it brings a lot of new stuff to the table. Gesture control, video cropping and cutting - all very curious.

While certainly not a contender for the title of best free YouTube downloader, it’s an interesting app that may be more comfortable or novel than many higher positions on this list. And it’s pretty cheap at $14.99. Consider it if you don’t have a problem with MP4 and M4A.

PullTube Pros and Cons

Pros:

Exotic interface
Can crop and trim video
Adequate overall

Cons:

Limited format selection
UI can be awkward if you’re not into it

8. 4K Video Downloader

Now we’re really getting to the bottom of this list. 4K is an unremarkable piece of software, 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. There are also options to select different subtitles, if it’s of primary concern to you.

There are many alternatives, but if you feel skittish about browser extensions or background-running software, this is a good choice. It’ll cost you 15€, otherwise you can download 30 videos for free on a daily basis.

4K Pros and Cons

Pros:

Smart Mode is good
Advanced subtitle options
Limited free use

Cons:

Definitely not the best video downloader
The paid version has more paywalls

9. ClipGrab Open Downloader

Unlike all previous competitors, ClipGrab is completely free. It’s only sustained by donations and the goodwill of its developers. Noble! 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.

The Positives and Negatives of ClipGrab

Pros:

Completely open and free
Safe and transparent

Cons:

No playlist capability
Issues with downloading some YT videos
No shortcut features

10. YTD

YTD gets more of an honorary mention. Perhaps you’ll notice: we’ve actually put it below a free app. While it’s powerful, the cases where you’d want to splash your cash on this app are very situational.

It works on multiple sites, has a separate converter and a built-in video player (though, who’s gonna use that?). A large plus is the download manager - its fancy, compact UI pleases the eye. It’s only a shame that YTD sells on a subscription basis - $24 for a year, and a whopping $9 for a single month.

YouTube Video Downloader Pros and Cons

Pros:

Tries to be a multi-purpose app
Works on several streaming services
HD audio downloading and extracting from videos
Can be tried out for free

Cons:

Expensive in the long term
Very few formats to choose
Not very versatile

Online YouTube Downloaders vs Desktop Software

Now, we’ve been talking so much about these desktop apps. They are smooth, clean, safe. "Where’s the fun in that?" - asked no one ever. If you want something bold and brash, check out online conversion services.

When your boss is looking over your shoulder, nothing says "I’m productive" better than unspeakable obscenities taking up 3/4ths of your screen space. This is the kind of golden experience only an online downloader can provide.

Comparing table of the best YouTube downloaders

Use this tool to compare and contrast the best way for you to download YouTube on Mac. These YouTube downloaders all have something to offer, so find the best one for you here!

Scroll to view more


Top features	VideoDuke	Airy	WinX YouTube Downloader	Wondershare YouTube Downloader	MacX YouTube Downloader	iTube Studio	PullTube	4K YouTube Downloader	ClipGrab	YTD Video Downloader for Mac
Download Videos from YouTube	Download Videos from YouTube
Download in different video formats	Download in different video formats
Choose Video Resolution	Choose Video Resolution
Download HD Video	Download HD Video
Browser integration	Browser integration
Extraction of Audio from YouTube	Extraction of Audio from YouTube
Playlist downloading	Playlist downloading
Channel Downloading	Channel Downloading
Batch downloading	Batch downloading
Private videos download	Private videos download
Pause/ Resume Downloading	Pause/ Resume Downloading
Download Videos from 1000+ Other Sites	Download Videos from 1000+ Other Sites
Help & Support	Help & Support
Windows Supported operating systems	Windows Supported operating systems
Mac Supported operating systems	Mac Supported operating systems

How to Identify the Best YouTube Downloader Mac?

Other than testing them on our trusty MacBook Pro (2015) with Catalina, we’ve also graded the aforementioned apps according to a set of completely objective, totally unbiased criteria. Some highly preferable features include:

★ Ability to choose the format and video quality
★ Extract music
★ Pausing/resume downloading
★ Bulk downloading
★ Downloading Channels and playlists
★ User-friendly interface
★ Browser integration support
★ Private YouTube videos download

Is YouTube Premium a Worthy Investment?

Indeed, is it? When looking how to download a YouTube video, it may seem like going to the source is the first thing you should do. But it’s not a one-time purchase: $11.99 isn’t pocket change, and the monthly payments will stack up to regrettably high sums over time.

Add to that the fact that you don’t get to keep the videos as files, and that your access will be revoked once the subscription runs out. A dubious investment at best! If you’re interested in Premium, look at other things it has to offer. The download capability is but a minor bonus. And the article above will easily help you pick out the best YouTube video downloader Mac.

QnA

It’s okay if you still have some questions about the topic. Here, we’ll try to cover some of the most common points that people get confused about. It’s very likely that the answers you’re looking for are found below.

How Do I Download Music Directly from YouTube?

There’s nothing worse than being caught in a traffic jam without data or a public place with unpredictable Wifi connection. That’s why it’s such a blessing to be able to have your favourite music or videos offline and ready to watch, whenever you need them.

There are many ways to download music from YouTube. You can use their official app, Music Premium. This way you pay a monthly fee to get access to all your favourites - offline and downloaded right on your devices.

However, if you’re not interested in paying for this service, you can choose one of the many apps mentioned in this article that lets you download YouTube videos for free.

How to Download YouTube Videos on Your Android Device

Downloading YouTube videos on Android is just as simple as downloading videos to your Mac or any other device. You can either choose to go with YouTube Premium for a quick solution, but there are also free YouTube downloaders which are also worth considering - especially if you’re a heavy user:

How Can I Save YouTube Videos to Watch Offline on PC?

You’d have to look towards third-party apps and software for that. Fortunately though, there are a wide range of options in this space.

As a side note, downloading YouTube videos to your PC violates YouTube’s terms of service. So keep that in mind before downloading.

Here are some options:

Airy

Requirements: OS X 10.7+ , 22.55MB size
Version 3.21.318 (2 Dec, 2020) Release notes
Category: UtilitiesApplication

Download

Purchase

4.9 Rank
based on
811 + users Reviews (885)

comments powered by Disqus

Ajman, United Arab Emirates • support@eltima.com

Get the Best YouTube Downloader for Mac

Download

Purchase