You may want to watch the video later, but there will be no Internet access. Perhaps tomorrow or in an hour the video will be deleted for one reason or another. We’ll show you how to download YouTube videos for free to your smartphone, tablet and computer. The easiest and fastest way to download YouTube videos to your computer is to use one of several hundred online services available on the Internet. They are all alike, but Lifehacker prefer those that have stood the test of time.
YouTube Video Downloader
Google does not allow extensions to download videos from YouTube to the company’s store, so you’ll have to install YouTube Video Downloader manually.
- Follow the link, click the Download for Chrome button, and then unzip the downloaded archive.
- Next, in Chrome, open the menu “Advanced Tools” → “Extensions” and turn on the toggle switch “Developer Mode”.
- Click Download Unpacked Extension and select the YouTube Video Downloader folder in the downloads.
- To download a video, use the extension icon on the toolbar or the buttons below the video. A choice of quality is available, as well as a separate download of audio to MP3.
- The extension is also available for Chromium, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi and other browsers. Like Chrome, you have to install it manually from a file.
4K Video Downloader (Windows, macOS, Ubuntu)
The 4K Video Downloader app is a more advanced alternative to traditional browser downloads, giving the user much more options:
- Download entire playlists and channels.
- Download video in 1080p and 4K, as well as in 3D.
- Advanced features for downloading subtitles.
- Download embedded YouTube videos from any page. Just copy and paste the page address, and the program itself will find the source for download.
ClipGrab (Windows, macOS, Linux)
ClipGrab will be a real find for fans of the all-in-one format. There is a built-in search on YouTube, automatic recognition of links from the clipboard, extensive settings and download management. Everything is simple and reliable, but unfortunately does not work with playlists.
Softorino YT Converter (macOS)
This application is for those who do not like to bother. No, it allows you to choose the quality and load only audio tracks, but its main feature is the fastest and easiest video download.
Literally in a couple of clicks, the video can be downloaded and immediately transferred to the iOS device. More details here.
Download master
Download Master is a program from the Ukrainian company Westbyte for downloading any files from the Internet, and the ability to extract videos from YouTube is its additional useful option. The main feature of Download Master is that it is completely free, but for this you will have to view ads in its interface.
The principle of downloading a video with its help is simple: copy the link from YouTube, paste it into the program using the “Add” button, select the quality of the downloaded video and click the download button – the program will do the rest.
Freemake video converter
Another convenient and free program for downloading videos from YouTube. Its main task is to convert videos to a variety of formats, which it can do right after downloading videos from a video hosting service. The principle of downloading is as simple: copy the video link, paste it into the program using the “Insert URL” button, and wait for the video to load. However, before downloading the first video, you must authorize your YouTube profile in the program – without this, the download will not start.
How to download YouTube videos using Android apps
Google’s policy regarding Chrome extension extensions is also valid for Android apps on Google Play. Therefore, it is preferable to look for them on the side. This is dangerous, and therefore carefully look at the address of the site from which you want to take the APK-file.
Lifehacker has put together proven applications that will allow you to download YouTube videos to your Android smartphones and tablets without harming your data and devices. These are the official project pages. Choose any of the applications, but only at the addresses below. Downloading and installing from other sources is only at your own risk.
- SnapTube.
- Watch Later.
- Downloader the YouTube.
- TubeMate .
- YTD.
- WonTube.
WinX YouTube Downloader
Free software.
The program “WinX YouTube Downloader” claims that it allows you to download videos from more than six hundred sites containing the most diverse information and designed for the interests of absolutely any audience. Perhaps the main advantage, after the huge list of video sites available for download, for everyone is the statement presented on the official website of the developer company that the program “does not contain malicious malicious programs, adware, spyware or viruses. Security is 100%. ” The new version also has an updated, significantly improved, interface. However, there is its own advertising – when installing the program, users will be asked to purchase a paid product called”VideoProc”, which performs most of the functions of the program “WinX YouTube Downloader”, but for more than a thousand video sites, including allowing you to edit high-quality video in high resolution format “4K / UHD” .
Initially, users need to copy the “URL” of the video they like in the YouTube service, and then click on the “Add Url” button in the ribbon menu of the main menu of the program “WinX YouTube Downloader”.
“AnyVid”
The program supports full performance on computer devices based on “Windows” and “macOS”. “AnyVid” is available in a free fourteen- day trial version, or in paid versions that directly depend on the expected time of use: one month, one year, or a lifetime license.
Supporting more than a thousand video sites, the AnyVid program offers the ability to convert video to various formats or music files, supports the ability to capture entire playlists and simultaneous batch download. “AnyVid “It belongs to the category of shareware programs, so users get limited functionality during a two-week trial version (no more than five downloads of music / video files and five file conversions per day). After the purchase, the developers offer a thirty-day money back guarantee at the request of the user. There is a detection mode, which is basically a web browser option that allows you to quickly find the path to supported sites (including sites of various interests) to determine the content to capture.
Gihosoft TubeGet
The program is available for installation and use on computer devices with the “Windows” and “macOS” operating systems, and comes both in the free version and in paid versions for use on one or several devices at the same time (up to five computers inclusive).
In Gihosoft TubeGet» have an opportunity to support the video recording tracks with more than ten thousands of relevant sites (the YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, Facebook and many others). However, the free version has certain limitations in comparison with paid options: one-click downloading is not supported, there is no possibility of downloading from all ten thousand sites, users receive only five downloads per day, and the download speed is limited by a limit of one Mbit / s, regardless Internet connection speeds . Also, users cannot output audio files from the video resources of the YouTube service, the ability to download video files with subtitles is blocked, and there are no tools for converting video to various formats and other restrictions.
