Programs to download videos from YouTube for free
As I said at the beginning, there are several programs to download videos from YouTube for free. To find out which ones and how you can use them on your computer, both on Windows and on macOS and Linux, read on.
youtube-dl (Windows / macOS / Linux)
An excellent tool that I suggest you consider to download videos on YouTube is youtube-dl. It is totally free, open source and allows you to download videos from YouTube and other sites by saving them on your computer in various formats and resolutions, but also to extract only the audio track. It works on Windows, macOS and Linux. The only thing to be aware of is that it doesn't have a user interface, which is why it needs to be used by command line.
To download youtube-dl to your computer if you are using Windows, go to the program website and click on the link Windows exe present at the top. Once the download is complete, move to one folder to taste the .exe file obtained.
Later, download the FFMpeg, which is an indispensable software component to perform video conversion. To do this, visit their website, click on logo on Windows placed at the section More downloading options, select one of the links under the heading Windows EXE Files and proceed with the download from the new page that opens. Then extract theZIP archive obtained in any position and copy i fillet contained in the folder bin in the same location as the youtube-dl executable.
Once you've done the above steps, type "Command prompt" in the search field on the taskbar Windows and select the link to Command Prompt from Start menu that opens. Now that you see the Command Prompt window on your desktop, navigate to the folder where the file.exe di youtube-dl preceding the relative path with the cd command (e.g. cd C: / Download / yt, if the folder where you extracted the program is C: / Download / yt) and pressing the key Submit on the keyboard.
Stai using MacOS, on the other hand, to use youtube-dl you have to rely on Homebrew, a free and open source package manager that allows you to install various software with the terminal. To open the latter, select the relevant one icon (Quella with the nether finest in the riga di codice) present in the folder Other of Launchpad and, in the window that is shown to you, enter the command / usr / bin / ruby -e "$ (curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)", then press the key Submit on the keyboard and, when prompted, type the Password Mac administration tool and press the key again Submit.
At this point you can finally proceed with the installation of youtube-dl, typing the string brew install youtube-dl in the Terminal window and pressing the key Submit on the Mac keyboard. Again, install the FFMpeg tramite la stringa brew install ffmpeg –with-fdk-aac –with-tools –with-freetype –with-libass –with-libvorbis –with-libvpx –with-x265 e premi ancora il tasto Submit.
Now, issue the command youtube-dl [video URL] (instead of [URL video] you need to type the video URL) in the Windows Command Prompt window or the macOS Terminal window, press the key again Submit on the keyboard and wait for the download of the video on YouTube of your interest to be completed. Proceeding as I just indicated, the video will be downloaded in MP4, in its original resolution.
To download the videos in a different format and / or with a different resolution or to download an entire playlist simultaneously, all you have to do is modify the command with the strings indicated on the Web page with the program documentation.
Once the download is complete, if you are using Windows you will find the output file in the same folder where you decided to save the youtube-dl executable, while on macOS the video will be saved in the folder Start Of computer.
JDownloader (Windows / macOS / Linux)
While not specifically falling under the programs to download videos from YouTube to PC and between programs to download videos from YouTube with Mac, the download manager JDownloader certainly deserves to be mentioned in a review of this type. In case you have never heard of it, this is an excellent software at no cost through which you can download practically any kind of file from all the main file hosting services (with also support for Premium accounts) and from popular video platforms, including YouTube. It's free, open source, and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
To download JDownloader on your computer, visit the program's website, click on the link Windows or on that Mac (depending on the operating system you are using) and select the link located at the top of the menu that opens.
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, start the .exe file obtained, click on the button Yes in the window that opens and waits for all the components necessary for the operation of the software to be downloaded from the Internet, then click on the buttons OK e Next (for four consecutive times). Then complete the setup by pressing the buttons Skip e Finish.
Stai using MacOSInstead, open the package .dmg obtained, start the executable contained within it and, in the window you see appear on the screen, click on the buttons OK e Next (for four consecutive times). Finally, click on the button Finish. When requested, also enter the Password you use to log into your Mac.
Then copy the URL of the YouTube video you want to download to the clipboard on your computer. Once this is done, JDownloader should automatically detect the link and you should see it appear in the tab Capture Links of the program.
If the above does not happen, act "manually" by right-clicking with the mouse in any empty spot on the tab dedicated to capturing links, selecting the option Add new web links from the context menu, pasting the link of your interest in the field next to the icon with the magnifying glass with the (+) in the new window displayed (otherwise enter it yourself) and clicking on the button Continue.
To start the video download, click on the symbol capacitor positive (+) lead next to its title, right-click the link next to the icon with the coil e seleziona l'opzione Start download from the context menu. Note that if this is your first time downloading a video from YouTube, JDownloader may ask you to install the free software component FFMpeg. If so, you also agree to it.
Once the download is complete, you will find the video in the folder Download Of computer. If you want, however, you can change the position for the output, by accessing the JDownloader preferences via the top menu and pressing the button Shop by Department at the section Download folder in the section General. If you feel you need further information, check out my specific guide on how to use JDownloader.
4K Video Downloader (Windows / macOS)
Among the programs to download videos from YouTube that I recommend you try is also there 4K Video Downloader. It is for Windows and macOS, it is very easy to use and allows you to download videos on Youtube, as well as on other Internet sites, in various formats and qualities. It supports subtitles and also allows you to download internal playlists (maximum 25 videos at a time). Basically it is free, but eventually it is available in a Premium variant (which is paid and costs 14,64 euros), which also allows you to circumvent the limitations relating to the download of playlists and to use other extra functions.
To download 4K Video Downloader to your computer, visit its website and click on the button Download 4K Video Downloader.
Download completed if you are using Windows, april il .msi files obtained and, in the window that opens on the desktop, click on the buttons Run e Next, then check the box relating to the acceptance of the terms of the service and complete the setup by clicking on the buttons NEXT (twice in a row), install, Yes e Finish. Next, start the program by selecting the relevant one collegamento added to Start menu.
Stai using MacOSInstead, open the package .dmg ottenuto e trascina l 'program icon in the folder Applications Of computer. Afterwards, right click on it and choose the item apri from the menu and in the window that opens, in order to start the software, however, going around the restrictions imposed by Apple against software from non-certified developers (an operation that must be carried out only at the first run).
At this point, copy the URL of the YouTube video you want to download to the computer clipboard and, once the main program window is displayed on the screen, click on the button Paste the link at the top, to paste the link into 4K Video Downloader.
Then use the drop-down menu Size to select the format in which you want to download the video, select the resolution of your interest among those listed below, specify the location in which to save the output file by pressing the button Choose and, finally, click on the button Download and wait for the download procedure to complete.
Programs to download videos from YouTube online
You don't want to install new software on your PC and would like to know if there are any programs to download videos from YouTube online? Yes, of course. Below, in fact, you will find those that, in my humble opinion, represent the most reliable in the category. However, I make you a recommendation: avoid clicking on any advertisements that may be shown to you while using the aforementioned sites!
noTube
The first of the tools to download videos from YouTube via the Web that I invite you to test is noTube. It is free, works from any browser and operating system, does not require registration and allows you to download videos available on YouTube in MP4, FLV and 3G formats. Eventually, it is also possible to extrapolate only the audio tracks in MP3 and M4A format.
To use noTube, go to its home page, copy the address of the video to download to the clipboard of your computer, paste it in the field in the center, select the output format from the adjacent drop-down menu and press the button OK.
Then wait for the movie to be processed and proceed with the download on your PC by clicking on the button Download. If you have not changed the default settings of your browser, the video will be saved in the folder Download Of computer.
YouTubePlaylist.cc
Another web service you can use to download the videos available on YouTube is YouTubePlaylist.cc. It allows not only to download the videos that are on the famous video streaming service, but also to download those on other video sharing sites and social networks, saving them in MP4 format, or in the form of MP3 audio files. It is free for up to 4 downloads per day (otherwise it has prices starting at $ 3,99 for 5 days) and also supports download of 1080p movies, complete with audio. It does not require registration, but without creating an account you cannot download videos longer than 30 minutes.
To use it, visit its home page, copy the URL of the video you want to download to the clipboard of your computer and paste it in the field next to the wording Enter url. Then wait for the movie to be processed, then press the button Auto [resolution] placed next to the preview of the latter and choose the video file format in which you intend to download.
Next, click on the icon of arrow located on the right, wait for the icon to appear again arrow and click on it to start the download. Again, if you haven't changed your browser's default settings you'll find the video in the folder Download Of computer.
Other programs to download videos from YouTube online
None of the services for downloading the videos on YouTube that I have already reported convinced you and you would like me to propose you some alternative? I'll settle you instantly! In the list below, in fact, you will find a "roundup" of further Internet sites for this purpose.
- I GIVE YOU - it is an online service to download YouTube videos or their audio tracks, in MP4, MP3 etc. It's super easy to use and works without having to create a dedicated account.
- 9xbuddy - Web service that allows you to download videos from YouTube in various formats and resolutions. It also allows you to download the audio track only. It is free and requires no registration.
- loader.to - another service to download the videos available on YouTube. Even then, videos can be saved in many different formats and resolutions, depending on your needs and preferences, and even just in the form of audio files. Registration is not required and is at no cost.
Programs to download videos from YouTube Android and iOS / iPadOS
As I told you at the beginning of the guide, downloading videos from YouTube on mobile devices is also possible through a solution officially provided by Google: YouTube Premium. This is a service that allows you to download videos available on YouTube, so that you can also play them offline and keep them for 30 days. In addition, it removes ads, gives access to exclusive YouTube Originals content and allows you to take advantage of YouTube Music, the “big G” music streaming solution (which I told you about in my tutorial on the subject).
YouTube Premium is paid: it costs 11,99 euros / month (or 17,99 euros / month if you choose to activate a family plan that can be used by 6 people), but for those who use the service for the first time, 1 month of free trial. Furthermore, the download of the videos is allowed only on mobile devices, using the "usual" apps on YouTube for Android and iOS / iPadOS. All the other features, on the other hand, are also accessible on a computer, therefore on the YouTube site.
That said, if you are willing to turn to YouTube Premium to download the videos, do this: download and install the YouTube app on your device (if you haven't already), log in to your Google account and if you have not yet subscribed to YouTube Premium, tap on tua photo in alto a destra, select the voice Paid subscriptions in the menu that opens, touch the appropriate wording on the next screen and follow the instructions on the screen, as I explained to you in my guide on how to get YouTube Premium for free.
At this point, you can finally proceed with the download of the videos that interest you, starting the playback of those you want to download, by pressing the button Download placed under the player, choosing the download quality from the menu that is shown to you and pressing the button OK.
Then wait for the download to complete, after which you will see a notification indicating the thing in the lower right part of the screen and you will be able to access the videos from the section Collection of the app, by selecting the wording Download from the new screen displayed and tapping on the relevant title.
If YouTube Premium does not work to your liking, I inform you that there are also unofficial solutions for mobile devices that you can consider contacting. If you want to deepen the discussion and, therefore, find out which ones programs to download videos from YouTube Android and iOS / iPadOS you can use it alternatively, I suggest reading my specific guides on how to download videos from YouTube with Android and how to download videos from YouTube on iPhone (also valid for iPad).
Caution: illegally downloading copyrighted audiovisual content is a crime. This guide was written for demonstration purposes only. It is absolutely not my intention to encourage piracy. Therefore I take no responsibility for the use you will make of the information contained therein.
Programs to download videos from YouTube
