Download and install Airy on your computer.
To be able to save YouTube videos for offline viewing, you need a powerful video downloader. To help you find the right solution, in this article, we've rounded up the best third-party YouTube video downloader Mac and Windows apps along with their pros and cons and features.
The Best YouTube Downloaders in 2023
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
You’ll need a YouTube URL to get started.
You can get one either from the address bar, or through "Share" - "Copy to clipboard".
Pop it into Airy’s own search bar.
Before you start the download, make sure to change any desired options.

Start the download and wait for it.
Soon, you’ll have your video, playlist or whatever else your heart desires.
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
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
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. To get started, you just need to copy and paste the URL into the text field or drag the link anywhere in the application window. Alternatively, you can use the Pulltube browser extension, which makes downloading even easier.
Pulltube 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, Pulltube 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
- Comes with a built-in media converter.
Cons:
- Limited format selection.
Supported OS: macOS
4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader 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.

Pros:
- Smart Mode is good
- Advanced subtitle options
- Limited free use.
Cons:
- Definitely not the best video downloader
- The paid version has more paywalls.
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; 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.

Pros:
- Many available video formats
- Special compression algorithms
- Numerous secondary features.
Cons:
- Steep price
- Busy 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.
Outside of that, there is the normal functionality you’d expect from a YouTube downloader Mac and Windows PC. 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.

Pros:
- Caters to music fans
- Works with iDevices
- Cheap initial purchase.
Cons:
- Expensive in the long run
- Mediocre for batch downloads.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, iOS, iPadOS
Wondershare YouTube Downloader
It’s the highest rated Windows PC & 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. 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 and Windows OS.

Pros:
- Adequately functional
- Simple to use.
Cons:
- Free version quite limited
- Some ads present
- Not the best deal for $30.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
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.

Pros:
- Many different sites to download from
- Free technical support
- Always on discount.
Cons:
- Limited format selection.
Supported OS: macOS
Free YouTube Download
Free YouTube Download is a free app that’s simple to use and distraction-free. Though may not have as many features as some other downloaders, it’s easy to use: Just paste in the URL and hit download. You can even set up auto download, if you like. The app also supports batch downloading.

Pros:
- Free
- Simple interface
- Easy to use
- Supports auto download and batch downloading
- Can shut down your PC when finished.
Cons:
- Three-minute time limit.
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
HitPaw YouTube Video Downloader
HitPaw is a free YouTube downloader 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. This Windows-only software 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:
- No Mac version.
Supported OS: Windows
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. We've collected several great free YouTube downloader solutions.

Pros:
- Completely open and free
- Safe and transparent.
Cons:
- No playlist capability
- Issues with downloading some YT videos
- No shortcut features.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, ArchLinux
YTD Video Downloader
YTD gets more of an honorary mention. 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. You can read this article to find even more the YTD alternatives.

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.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
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!

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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Wondershare YouTube Downloader
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MacX YouTube Downloader
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Free YouTube Download
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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 Downloader
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 one of the best online video downloaders that can help you easily download videos from YouTube and other video sharing websites. It's completely free and doesn't require any registration.
With this tool, you can convert videos and extract audio as well. To get started, you just need to paste the video link into ClipConverter and then download the video in the desired format. Supported formats include MP4, AVI, MP3, M4A, etc.
Furthermore, there is an add-on for Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers, which means you can download and convert videos with just one click.
DID YOU KNOW THAT: The video streaming market is valued at approximately $25 billion. YouTube has over 2 billion monthly active users and is undoubtedly the most popular platform. Netflix, Yahoo! Screen, Vimeo and Dailymotion are also among the most popular video streaming sites.

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.
YouTube Premium
As you know, many online streaming services allow downloading content for offline viewing. YouTube is not an exception. There is a paid subscription service - YouTube Premium. The subscribers get various perks, including an ad-free, download feature and the ability to watch YouTube videos in the background. The subscription price starts at $11.99 per month, but you can also try YouTube Premium for free for 1 month.
To download videos, you just need to visit YouTube with your logged in YouTube Premium account, navigate to the video and click the "Download" button. You can download videos only in certain browsers: Google Chrome, Opera and Microsoft Edge.

Conclusion
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, 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.