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The Best Online YouTube Video Downloader

When choosing the best YouTube downloader online one should be wise enough to choose the most practical service that provides maximum features, namely free solutions without ads that support HD quality and provide conversion options.

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How to save YouTube videos on Mac with Airy

We all enjoy YouTube in one way or another. Some users prefer watching content offline and they use downloaders to save videos or music. To filter through all the available software, you need to know what to keep an eye out for. When looking for the best YouTube downloader for Mac, such as Airy for example. So we’ve put together an updated list of the top contenders for YouTube downloading and conversion, in order to help you evaluate.

Online YouTube Downloaders VS Desktop Apps

There are several ways to download videos from YouTube, namely online services, desktop apps. Which one to use depends mostly on the user. However, let’s try to figure out the difference between them.

While using online services, you do not need to download and install anything on your computer or register, or even pay for the service. It doesn't matter what browser or operating system you have, or whether you have a YouTube account. This is the easiest and fastest way to download any YouTube video. It is enough to copy the link from the video and paste it into a special field of one of the best free online youtube downloader services.

Desktop apps are programs designed to download videos from YouTube and other sites. Their principle of operation is the same as in online services, but the advantage is that there are no restrictions on the quality of the video, and the disadvantages are that they need to be downloaded and installed on a computer, and the full functionality is often available in the paid version. Such programs take up little space, and installation is not difficult.

The advantages of downloading through specialized programs include faster work and the convenience of downloading large volumes of video, for instance, we can recommend Airy that combines the simplicity of the best online YouTube video downloader services and advanced features of desktop apps. Let’s take a closer look at these apps below.

The Best Online YouTube Downloaders You Can Find

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Airy
Requirements: OS X 10.10+. 25.23MB free space. Version 3.26.371. (2 Jun, 2022). 4.9 Rank based on 812+ users, Reviews(889)
Category: UtilitiesApplication
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Also available on Windows

It is worth mentioning, that Airy is not an online YouTube conversion tool, nevertheless, it’s actually a very user-friendly and convenient app. It supports a wide range of features available at your fingertips with just a click.

download full albums from YouTube to MP3

Airy has a clean and intuitive UI that can be a cup of tea for both savvy users and newbies. The app offers to save subtitles, choose desired resolution, download right from a browser, select the output format, download the entire playlists and channels, and way more.

Pros

  • Neat user-interface
  • Ability to manage your downloads or create a queue
  • Download videos, audio, or all subtitle tracks
  • Browser integration

Cons

  • Not a standalone converter
  • Limited trial version (2 free downloads)

How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac with Airy?

1.

Go to YouTube to copy the video URL. You can do it in several ways:

  • by copying it from the address bar
  • by clicking on Share > Copy to clipboard.
Choose the quality and format you need.
2.

Insert the link into the search bar of the app. Perform necessary configurations.

Download speed depends on your internet speed.
3.

Start the download.

Service Works on any device.

ClipConverter.CC

ClipConverter.CC is one of the best YouTube downloader online services when it comes to variety. It allows users to download videos from over 10,000 sites, including YouTube of course, as well as Facebook, Vimeo, and more. The available resolution options include full HD 1080p and even 4K or 8K. In addition to that, it also offers a file conversion tool. If you’re interested in downloading audio-only, ClipConverter.CC can help with that as well. The available formats, in that case, are MP3, M4A, and AAC. Overall, it’s a very handy online tool.

Download speed depends on your internet speed.

Pros

  • Provides up to 720p, 1080p, 4K, and 8K downloads, covering all SD, HD, and UHD video resolutions
  • Allows direct video to audio conversion in MP3, M4A to AAC
  • Browser add-on available

Cons

  • Annoying pop-ups whenever you try to download a video
  • Interface is not too attractive

Converto.io

Converto.io is one more best online YouTube downloader services that is really simple to use. You practically just need to copy the YouTube video URL and paste it on the Converto site, then click Convert. It allows you to make a few changes prior to downloading, too. For example, you can edit the filename, choose a specific part of the video you wish to convert or choose video quality. You can also edit ID3 tags, which is convenient if you plan on listening to a converted song in Music (formerly iTunes) for example, and need accurate artist info. Video resolution options include 1080p, 720p, 480p, etc.

You can't only download the file, but also edit it.

Pros

  • You can download YouTube videos or audio-only
  • Permits you to modify the file name or ID3 tags before downloading or cutting the MP3 file
  • Website available in various languages

Cons

  • Only works with YouTube
  • Only supports MP4 and MP3 as output formats
  • Annoying and distracting ads, often NSFW

Video Grabber

Video Grabber is a cool online solution that houses many functionalities. For example, it’s not only the best YouTube online downloader but also a video editor, and converter. It works with YouTube, Dailymotion, Lynda, Twitter, Twitch, Vevo, and many more. The interface looks very neat and it even has a suggested video section on the home page, where you can browse, watch, and download videos.

Almost all functionality is available in the free version.

Pros

  • Diverse video downloader which lets you browse, download, convert
  • Many formats such as MP4, FLV, 3GP, WMV, WEBM, MP3
  • You can download videos to watch on iPhone, iPad, Android, etc.
  • No issue with ads and pop-ups

Cons

  • Many functionalities are only available after you download their Launcher plugin (e.g. screen recording, etc.)
  • Frequent error messages prompting you to get Video Grabber Pro

SaveFrom.net

Another best YouTube online downloader is SaveFrom.net. It is quite easy to use since you only need to copy & paste the video URL, select format, and click Download. It works with WEBM, MP4, etc., downloading media from YouTube, Soundcloud, Vimeo, Dailymotion, to name a few. However, many higher resolutions don’t actually include sound. Another drawback is the fact that it prompts you to download and install their SaveFrom.net helper or a different downloader app in some cases.

An excellent downloader if you need to download videos quickly and in average quality.

Pros

  • Quick and easy to use
  • Website is available in multiple languages

Cons

  • Most download options only save video but don’t include audio

Y2mate

With Y2mate, you can easily convert YouTube videos to MP4, 3GP, WEBM, FLV, M4V, etc., or MP3, if you’re downloading audio-only. When you paste the video URL, it shows all available download options in a neat and organized way (together with some ads, of course). Y2mate works with a number of streaming sites such as YouTube, Dailymotion, Facebook, Youku, Vimeo, and more that keep its position among the best online YouTube downloaders.

One of the best online downloaders on this list.

Pros

  • You can search for videos directly in their search bar
  • Supports 1080p full HD resolution

Cons

  • Many redirects, pop-ups, and unpleasant ads

VidPaw

Last but not least in our rating of the best online youtube downloaders is the VidPaw Online Video Downloader. Its site states that you can download videos, songs, playlists, and subtitles with no registration required. The available output options are up to 8K, 4K, 2K, 1080p, 720p, 360p, 240p, 144p for the MP4, 3GP, WebM formats, and up to 320kbps, 256kbps, 128kbps, 96kbps, 64kbps for MP3 & M4A.

Their website says VidPaw supports over 1,000 sites, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Facebook, SoundCloud, etc. However, we recently experienced some issues with the downloader. When clicking Download, it redirects you to a different domain. Then, when you select your preferred format, it invites you to choose a payment plan for a paid Pro desktop version. Basically, we didn’t manage to save a single video.

The free version is very limited in features.

Pros

  • Wide variety of formats available

Cons

  • Clicking Download redirects you to another domain requires you to select a payment plan instead of downloading a video
  • There seems to be some sort of limit on the number of URL entered

Downloading YouTube videos: legal or not?

On the one hand, like all copyright holders, YouTube does not like ladling out its content to every user. In 99% of cases, downloading a video from any site is illegal and YouTube is not an exception.

The remaining 1% includes videos that you made yourself and videos that are licensed to download. YouTube, for example, explicitly states that you cannot download videos without the consent of the platform, more information can be found on YouTube’s Terms of Service page.

On the other hand, if you are an ordinary viewer who wants to save a couple of videos for themselves, without the purpose of commercial distribution with its subsequent monetization, this content is quite legal.

When deciding to download a YouTube video, we have gathered the best online youtube downloaders for your convenience. However, there are a couple of important things you should keep in mind. To insert someone else's video into your videos, you need the permission of the author of this video, the right to use, or a link to the source.

The vast majority of YouTube videos are copyrighted. The mere mention of the author of the video does not give the right to use its content and does not guarantee that your case will fall under the concept of fair use.

Conclusion

To sum up, when choosing a download method, you need to start with how often you plan to do it, what quality video you need, whether you need to convert files to other formats, download YouTube live stream online, etc. Having tested lots of services and apps, we have chosen Airy as one of the best apps for downloading YouTube content. The app has combined lots of enhanced features and the simplicity of use that made it our top choice. And what is your best online YouTube downloader? Leave a comment below.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions related to the best online YouTube downloaders, take a look at the section below. We try to cover all the commonly asked questions and provide all the details you may need.

YouTube content regularly, or looking for a YouTube playlist downloader we advise you to get a reliable app to fulfill all your downloading needs in the long run, such as Airy. Using a good downloader on macOS is very straightforward. With Airy, for example, all you need to do is follow these simple steps:

  • Launch Airy on your laptop
  • Copy and paste the URL of a YouTube video of your choice
  • Select the desired format and resolution from the drop-down list and click Download.

Airy allows 2 free downloads upon installation, and after that, the paid version of the app gives access to even more handy features.

We tested and evaluated a lot of downloaders and converters, in order to provide you with a comprehensive list of the best YouTube downloaders. Based on our experience, the best YouTube downloader is Airy. it’s powerful, yet simple to use, which makes a good choice for a variety of macOS users who seek different functionalities. For example, if you’re looking for a YouTube stream downloader, Airy is the right app for that also. We tested numerous alternatives for their usability, resolution options, etc., and Airy was again our top choice.
You need to choose a YouTube downloader that supports the download of videos in high quality. It can be tricky, as most free options have many limitations, but we’ve put together this article to help you choose the best free online YouTube video downloader for you. So whether you are looking for YouTube 4k downloader or YouTube 8k downloader - check out the list above.
Airy
Requirements: OS X 10.10+ , 25.23MB size
Version 3.26.371 (2 Jun, 2022) Release notes
Category: UtilitiesApplication
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