Best Way To Download Youtube Videos Mac



Our youtube video downloader allows you to download and save videos to any storage, from where you can play them in the future. Y2mate download youtube videos and more! You can also save video from Facebook, Instagram, Coub, Twitter, TikTok, and many other services. This tutorial demonstrates some of the best ways that you can use to download YouTube videos on MAC without using any software or applications for free. So without further ado, lets get straight into the tutorial.

Here's the thing: you found a video online. It's so catchy, you can't stop watching it. On repeat, every day. Now you're thinking, 'Oh boy, I really wanna re-watch it when I'm offline. What's the easiest way?' The answer is: you get yourself a video grabber tool.

Using video grabbers is not rocket science. You just have to enter the URL of the video and then download it directly to your device. Once saved, you can watch it anytime.

In this post, I share a comparison of five top video grabber tools that stand out from the crowd to make sure you make the best decision. Plus, I talk about the rise of online videos and why Youtube is such a big deal.

Ready? Steady? Let's go.

What to Look For In a Video Grabber Tool

Before I started downloading online videos, I wish someone had told me not all video grabbing tools are alike. Inspired by Eric Griffith's post for PC Magazine, I've put together a list with some crucial aspects all video grabbers should have:

  • Must work with YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo
  • Have a user-friendly interface
  • Except for youremail address, not collect personal data
  • No malware, please

Without further mentions, let's see our winners.

Top 5 Video Grabber Tools to Download Online Videos

Here's some word of advice on downloading online content:

Online videos are protected by copyright law. We don't encourage stealing, but we understand that sometimes, we need to have an online video just for ourselves (and not for dissemination). So be careful what and how you download.

Now let's dive in.

#1. 4K Video Downloader

This is a multi-lingual top video grabber that does what it says using a simple interface: grabs videos up to 8K and downloads to a variety of formats.

How It Works:

Select a video, copy the video URL and click the Paste link button to get started. Then, choose to download the video or extract its audio. Finally, select the format and choose the resolution (up to 8K). You can download playlists up to 24 videos with the free version while the premium version lets you subscribe to channels.

Pros:

  • Frequently updated
  • Grabs entire playlists and channels
  • Clear download links on the website
  • Advanced subtitles download option
  • Multi-thread download technology for faster downloads
  • No ad traps
  • Extracts audio to MP3 format
  • Supports 360° videos
  • Downloads videos in 3D format
  • Supports sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and a few others

Cons:

  • Limits on playlist downloads
  • No mobile app

User Review:

'4K Video Downloader is at the top of the list whichever site I visit so I gave in and gave it a go. Not only does it allow 4k video downloads and 360-degree videos, but it also allows users to download videos from Vimeo, DailyMotion, and other popular websites. Another added benefit is that it is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.' - Arjun Yadav

How To Download Youtube Videos Macbook Air

Pricing: Free basic functions, Standalone License ($15) and Bundle License ($20).

#2. aTube Catcher

A free YouTube video grabber and converter you should keep on hand.

How It Works:

Downloading videos is a simple matter of copying and pasting the URL, choosing the format and clicking 'Download'.

Pros:

  • Supports several video sharing websites
  • Built-in screen/sound recorders for grabbing live streaming videos
  • Clipboard Monitoring function supports downloading multiple videos at once
  • Integrated burning software to create CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs from the downloaded videos
  • Includes an automatic updater
  • Excellent format support including WAV, PSP, MPG, VOB, OGG, 3GP, 3G2, MP3, MP2, WMA, WMV, GIF, FLAC, AVI, XVID, MP4, MOV, etc.
  • Multilanguage option

Cons:

  • Deceptive adware in the installer
  • Outdated interface
  • Only works on Windows

User Review:

'This is a great tool to use to download videos off YouTube so you can view them on your computer offline or on your phone at a later time. I made a playlist at home with my favorite songs and then was able to listen to these songs on my way to work. This tool not only works for songs from YouTube but also from many popular websites like MetaCafe and Dailymotion. ' - Anthony Meyer

Pricing: Free

#3. ClipGrab

A free, friendly, multi-platform video grabber and converter for YouTube and many other sites.

How It Works:

Step 1: Install ClipGrab

Step 2: Copy the video link

Step 3: Insert the video link in ClipGrab

Step 4: Select download format and quality

Step 5: Grab that clip

Pros:

  • Supports major video websites
  • Allows downloading multiple videos simultaneously
  • Converts downloaded videos into various formats
  • Has a built-in search feature
  • Allows you to select the video quality (can download in HD)
  • It automatically detects links from clipboard
  • Clean user interface
  • Clipboard monitoring

How To Download Youtube Videos Mac Reddit

Cons:

  • Bundles adware with the installer

User Review

'Okay, call me weird or whatever but I enjoy watching Super bowl ads when I'm bored. That's why I really wanted to download them from Youtube because that's where I mainly find them. I tried other downloaders but so far this is the one I like the most.' - Katherine Valdez

Pricing: Free

If you want to create thumb-stopping videos out of the content you're grabbing, sign up to Lumen5 and producer killer social media videos in minutes.

#4. JDownloader

The video grabber that lets you download files from a large variety of websites in no time.

How It Works:

You take the video URL, paste it into the app, and it will dig up for all the videos it can detect. You then select the videos you want to download. Boom---done.

Pros:

  • Supports the most popular streaming sites
  • Faster video downloads with multi-thread download technology
  • Multiple video quality (4K, HD included)
  • Allows downloading multiple videos simultaneously
  • Automatically detects and downloads files
  • Set bandwidth limitations
  • Auto-extract archives
  • Remote management feature to track downloads while away from the computer
  • Completes CAPTCHA forms for you
  • Intuitive and clean interface

Cons:

  • The installer has adware bundled with it. Select“Custom” installation to skip the adware
  • Consumes a lot of system resources

User Review:

Best way to download youtube videos to macbook

'I download a ton of programs every week. I'm always looking for ways to increase productivity and get more out of my computer, so I try a lot of different programs. Keeping track of my downloads can be a problem because sometimes my browser hangs up, or the file goes missing, or a paused download refuses to resume. Having this download manager saves me from all of that with the added bonus of being able to set bandwidth limitations, something that is important on my internet plan as anything over a certain amount gets tethered.' - Madison Santos

Pricing: Free

#5. VideoGrabber

Simple video grabber tool to grab online videos, convert videos or record screen. You have two options: either use the online version or download the app.

How It Works:

Paste the link of the online video to the download bar and it will generate the download links.

Pros:

  • Useful “how-to” section
  • No ads
  • Converts video/audio files for Android, iPad, iPhone, PSP, etc.
  • Online platform and desktop application
  • Supports sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Tubechop, etc

Cons:

  • Limited formats are available for download: MP4, FLV, 3GP, WMV, WEBM (no mp3)
  • Unable to download RTMP video and live streaming video
  • No 1080p or 4k Youtube video downloads

User Review:

' Videograbber.net is a great site for converting videos from Youtube, Facebook, and other places so they are downloadable to your computer or phone. The site also shows you how to get rid of black lines and things that you don't want on your videos.' - Paige2

Pricing: Free

Conclusion

After checking out all five options, 4K Video Downloader was the clear winner. However, JDownloader, aTube Catcher and ClipGrab are also viable options. The only one that seems to score lower is VideoGrabber.

Now that you're armed with the proper data to make an informed decision about the best video grabber, let's talk about the rise of online video and how Youtube changed our lives.

Why Video Is the Most Engaging Type of Content

Hubspot's Research on 'The Future of Content Marketing' invites us to take a trip down memory lane. 'In the mid-’90s, access to the internet changed the way people sought and consumed information.'

True story. We used to consume more text, radio and TV content back in the days.

The Internet changed the way people interacted with content. Even with endless options and attention spans shrinking, we pay the closest attention to video content.

The same research shows that 45% of people watch an hour or more of video per day; plus, 43% of respondents want to see more video content creation moving forward.

According to Google, 50% of people aged 18-34 would stop what they’re doing to watch a new video by their favorite YouTube creator.

That said, the volume of online video content is growing exponentially. According to Zipstrr, 'video is at the top of the virtual food chain and here is why:

  1. Video combines auditory & visual sense. Our brain loves video because it is programmed to retain visual content better than a page loaded with words.
  2. Video encompasses all content types. A video can include text, music, photographs, links, and even podcasts, which makes video the king of all contents.
  3. Marketers and consumers worship video. Videos make great storytellers. They make information more digestible and easier to understand.'

The Rise of Youtube

Since we're talking about the supremacy of online videos, we can't just move forward without mentioning Youtube. As Kim Smith from Brandwatch puts is, 'When YouTube first made its way onto the internet, few people realized how many hours of video we’d be watching years later.'

'Launched in 2005, YouTube was synonymous with video content long before video marketing became a buzzword. In 2018, a whopping 1.8 billion people flocked to the platform each month,' tells Farheen Gani from Zapier. Youtube is currently considered the most popular video hosting site. The reason is it offers some crucial features such as:

  • An easy-to-use interface
  • Compatibility with all types of browsers and players, such as Flash and HTML5
  • Compatibility with mobile devices
  • Basic analytics tools to measure the impact of your videos
  • SEO tools to make your videos search-engine friendly
  • The ability to embed your videos on external websites

Apart from these, what makes YouTube a big player is its relationship with Google, the platform's parent site. After Google purchased YouTube in 2006, it went from being a niche hosting site to a mainstream one. Plus, their search algorithms match each other so that Youtube videos receive first spots in Google search results.

To make sure you're all caught up, we've gathered the most up-to-date facts on Youtube to help you own your place on the platform.

Best Way To Download Youtube Videos On Mac For Free

12 Insightful and Fun YouTube Statistics For 2019

Whether you're simply using Youtube to watch your favorite videos, you wanna create your own channel or you're currently managing one: knowledge is power.

And if you're ever looking to create videos for social media that turn heads, Lumen5 is your platform.

Youtube User Stats

1. YouTube is the 2nd most popular social media platform with 1.9bn users.

2. In an average month, 8 out of 10 18-49 year-olds watch YouTube.

3. YouTube reaches more 18-49 year-olds than any broadcast or TV network on mobile.

4. 50% of American internet users aged 75 and overuse YouTube.

Youtube Usage Stats

5. YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine and second most visited site after Google.

6. 400 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.

7. People watch over 1 billion hours of YouTube videos a day, more than Netflix and Facebook video combined.

8. The first video to hit one million views was a Nike ad featuring Ronaldinho.

9. The most searched term on YouTube is ‘despacito’, followed by ‘bts’.

10. The time people spend watching YouTube on their TV has more than doubled in the last year.

11. YouTube provides almost 50% of all on-demand music.

12. 70% of millennial YouTube users watched a video to learn how to do something new last year.

Over to You

If you need to capture and download online videos, it makes sense to research the right video grabber tool for the job.

What's your favorite one?

Alex helps businesses create content that converts users into customers. She flips over wording challenges while keeping her zen. When she’s away from her desk, you’ll probably find her doing yoga, surfing, reading, camping, or walking her dog on the beach.

YouTube is our frequently visited website where we can watch any type of video, such as action movies, pop music, practical courses, TV series, talk shows, variety shows, comedy, etc. The only downside is that the website does not provide a direct download button, which is very inconvenient if we want to save our favorite videos to watch while offline. Fortunately, there are tools specifically designed for this purpose on the market. To save your time, we have selected two of the best YouTube video downloaders for Mac to share with you.

Method 1. Use 4K Video Downloader for Mac

The first tool we are going to introduce is 4K Video Downloader for Mac developed by Jihosoft. It has advanced algorithms and exquisite interface, integrates multiple functions in one, provides a full range of services, and is regarded as the best software for downloading YouTube videos on Mac in this article. The following are its main features:

  • Download 4K & 8K UHD, 360° VR, 60FPS YouTube videos
  • Download full-length YouTube movie
  • Download YouTube channel and playlist
  • Download songs from YouTube
  • Extract subtitles/CC from YouTube video
  • Merge YouTube videos and subtitles
  • Save videos from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
  • Download Twitch clips, videos, and highlights
  • Download music from SoundCloud, VEVO, MixCloud, etc
  • Convert videos to MP4, MOV, MKV, and AVI
  • Download Ted Talks

As for how to use it, please check the simple steps that are given below:

Step 1. To download YouTube videos to Mac, you first need to get the 4K YouTube video downloader installed on your computer. To do this, please click the download button provided in the article, then open the .pkg file and follow the prompts to install it.

Step 2. Open your browser and go to the YouTube website, then find the video you’d like to download and copy its link address. Next, run the Mac YouTube video downloader, and then click the blue “+Paste URL(s) button on the interface to insert the URL into the program.

Step 3. The software will start automatically parse the video link. After a few seconds, there will pop up a window where you can select the output quality of the video like 720P, 1080P, 2K, 4K, etc., and whether to download subtitles, video cover or convert the video to mp3. After selection, tap the “Download” button.

Youtube Download For Mac

Step 4. Next, the downloader will automatically start downloading YouTube videos, and you can clearly see the progress bar. After downloading, all the videos will be auto-saved to the “Finished” page, you can play them directly or convert them to the format you need.

Tips: If you need to download multiple videos simultaneously, please enable the one-click download mode in advance, which will save you a lot of time.

Method 2. Use QuickTime Player

The second way to save YouTube videos to Mac is through screen recording. QuickTime is a multimedia application developed by Apple that can handle digital video, pictures, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity in various formats. In addition to being a video player, it can also act as a screen recorder, supporting simultaneous recording of video and sound on the screen. Although this method is very simple, it will seriously affect the quality of the video, and the efficiency is relatively low. If you don’t mind, the following is the specific steps:

  • Step 1. Go to YouTube and open the video you want to download, then click Pause playback.
  • Step 2. Click the gray and blue “Q” icon on the launchpad directly or open the Applications folder and find the “QuickTime Player” app to run it.
  • Step 3. Click the “File” option in the menu bar at the upper left corner of the computer screen and select “New Screen Recording”. Then QuickTime will automatically create a selection area on the screen.
  • Step 4. Adjust the size of the selection area so that the edge is close to the video window, and then click “Options” at the bottom to select “Build-in Microphone“, this can ensure that the recorded video has sound.
  • Step 5. When everything is ready, play the YouTube video and click the “Record” button to start recording. After the recording is complete, save the video to your favorite directory.

The above are two practical methods for downloading YouTube videos on Mac. The first is to use desktop software, it supports batch downloading, and can maintain the original quality of the video, which is very powerful. The second method is to use the screen recording tool, which is also a good choice if you only need to download a few videos.

In addition to what we mentioned, you can also use an online Mac YouTube video downloader to save your favorite videos. However, with the update of the YouTube algorithm, most websites have stopped working, even if there are survivors, they are very unstable thus not recommended to use. If you like this article, please share with your friends and family. By following Jihosoft’s blog, you can learn more useful video-related tips and tricks.

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