Your search for the best free Youtube downloader software ends here. This list will give you as many as 10 software, completely free, which will let you download Youtube videos in 2021.
In fact, most options also allow downloading from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vimeo and thousands of other websites.
I’ve picked these tools primarily based on my own personal experience. However, I’ve also considered the speed and other advanced features for each listing.
The 10 Best Free YouTube Downloaders in 2021
The list of the best free Youtube video downloaders includes:
- 4K Video Downloader
- Freemake Youtube Video Downloader
- SnapDownloader
- YTD Video Downloader
- iTubeGo
- ByClickDownloader
- XiliSoft Video Converter
- WinX Youtube Downloader
- Save from. Net
Let’s get started with the detailed insights for each.
1. 4K Video Downloader
Website: https://www.4kdownload.com/
You see a video online, 4K Video Downloader will let you download it, period. Just copy the link, and paste it onto the tool. That’s all you need to do!
Primary features:
- 1000+ websites supported.
- Download subtitles
- Multithread downloads
- 8K and 3D video downloads supported.
- Simultaneous downloads
- Download entire playlists and channels.
- Downloads private videos.
- In-app Youtube subscriptions.
It’s not even limited to just Youtube, you can download videos from almost all the websites on the planet!
Some of the supported websites Include TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, Tumblr and hundreds others.
Your video has subtitles? 4K Video Downloader will download those too!
Low on bandwidth? Or maybe it doesn’t matter and you only need the best quality? With 4K, you get to manually choose the quality of the video. It’s even capable of downloading 8K, 4K, 1080P videos in addition to the lower qualities.
Scared that a free Youtube video downloader may be slow? Well, this one isn’t! In fact, it’s capable of downloading videos on multi-thread. In simpler words, your downloads are much faster than most other free (and even paid) alternatives. You can even set the number of threads to use manually!
The app also lets you download 3D videos! Not even the best software to download you tube videos generally offer this.
Why be limited to single videos? You can download entire channels and playlists with 4K Video Downloader as well! Moreover, it also supports simultaneous downloads!
It’s also the only app on this entire list of best free Youtube downloaders list capable of in-app subscriptions. Meaning, you can subscribe to Youtube channels from within the app, this lets you auto-download new videos without you having to lift a finger!
Sometimes Youtube videos are private or they’re added to private playlists. Well, 4K is capable of downloading those as well.
It’s also super easy to use. If you know how to copy (the video link) and paste, you know how to use 4K. Just in case you’re confused, here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to download Youtube Video using 4K Video Downloader.
What makes it the best free Youtube video downloader? Well, its features make it the “best”, and it’s truly 100% free, forever! There’s no trial period. You can use it forever without paying a penny.
Moreover, there’s an offline installer, an online version and even a portable installer version available! Just pick the one you’re most comfortable with.
As for OS compatibility, it’s compatible with macOS, Ubuntu and obviously Windows (including Windows 10 which also makes it the best Youtube downloader for windows 10).
2. Wondershare AllMyYoutube
Website: https://www.wondershare.com/
Wondershare is one of the most well-established software companies on the planet. They make software which make our lives easier and simpler, obviously like a Youtube downloader.
Primary features:
- 10,000+ websites supported.
- In-built recorder.
- Simultaneous downloads
- Extract audio
- Video converter
- Multithread downloads
Wondershare’s YT downloader is called “AllMyYoutube”. It too allows downloading videos from nearly any and all video sites. The number is officially marketed as “10,000+” by the company.
It allows downloading entire channels and playlists in a single click! That makes it perfect for downloading entire albums off Youtube and similar sites.
It also has an in-built “recorder”. That can be used to record shows off Netflix and other streaming platforms.
There’s also a video converter! It allows converting videos to and fro over 150 different formats. Just some of the supported formats include MKV, WMV, MPG, AVI etc. There’s even this feature to auto-convert downloaded videos.
It can also be used as an audio extractor. Don’t need the video but only the song or the audio? Obviously, quality-selection is possible. You can choose the quality which suits your bandwidth, speed and just general preference. As many as 7 different video qualities are supported.
Finally, there’s a “scheduler”. You can decide what happens to your system after all your videos have been downloaded.
The multi-thread tech also makes sure the download speed stays pretty impressive. The user-interface is just copy & paste as well.
It’s completely free to try, The prices for the paid plans start at $19.00 and it’s one-time.
3. Freemake Youtube Video Downloader
Website: https://www.freemake.com/
Freemake has established itself as a major freeware software company in past decade. Its Youtube Video Downloader supports over 10,000 websites, a pretty good start, isn’t it?
Primary features:
- 4K video downloads
- 500 simultaneous downloads
- Cloud sync
- Channel and playlist downloads
- 100% free
It doesn’t compromise with the quality either. You get to choose from qualities as high as 4K, or as low 240P. Many other choices in between this range are offered.
Maybe you download more than just a few videos? Well, it does allow downloading up to 500 videos simultaneously!
Despite being completely free, it does allow downloading entire playlists and albums. Even private videos aren’t off-limit. There’s no maximum file-length limit either.
Maybe you’re on a limited or slow connection? You can set the maximum download speed you want Freemake to go up to!
The one impressive feature is its cloud sync. You can set Dropbox, Google Drive and other options as the storage location for the downloaded videos which saves your hard-disk space.
What seals the deal (even though it’s free, especially because it’s free) is that it doesn’t display any ads whatsoever!
Because it’s a freeware, all its features are readily available in the free version. No paid plan exists (they sure accept donations though).
4. SnapDownloader
Website: https://snapdownloader.com/
Despite being a free Youtube video downloader, SnapDownloader did an impressive job with its features and interface. What’s special? It offers an in-built search-feature which lets you search Youtube videos from within the app!
Primary features:
- In-app search
- 900+ websites
- “trim before you download”.
- 8K video downloads
- Schedule downloads
- Simultaneous downloads
SnapDownloader supports 900+ websites to download videos from, including Youtube (obviously).
It also features an in-built format converter. This clearly means videos can be converted not just to MP3, but also to other formats such as AVI, WMA, AAC etc.
There’s this unique “trim” feature which makes it the best free Youtube video downloader. Before you even download a video, you can trim and specify parts of it. Those parts can then be selectively downloaded excluding the rest.
That not just helps save space and bandwidth but is a very convenient feature in general as well, isn’t it? You can download song clips from movies, action sequences for memes and what not.
As far as the video quality goes, you as a user get complete choice over it. It even supports downloading 8K videos! Obviously 4K, 1080P, 720P and other formats are supported as well. 360 videos can be downloaded as well.
Two automation features which I personally love are its scheduler and queue. The queue lets you add multiple videos to be downloaded one after another. The scheduler lets you add a date and time at which the added downloads automatically begin.
Obviously, simultaneous downloads too are supported. Now, it’s free for a limited time. After that you’ll have to upgrade to a premium plan which starts at $22.99.
5. YTD Video Downloader
Website: https://www.ytddownloader.com/
YTD video downloader probably has one of the simplest interfaces on this entire list. If I’m being honest, the Interface almost hinges at the edges of feeling boring. However, the features are a completely different story.
Primary features:
- 4K video downloads
- Album and playlist downloads
- Simultaneous downloads
- Video converter
- In-built video player
It’s fully capable of downloading videos from Youtube, TikTok, Facebook, Xvideos, Vimeo and dozens of other sites.
It also features an in-built video converter. This would let you convert video songs to MP3s in seconds. Apart from songs, videos can also be converted to other formats including MP4, 3GP, AVI and MPEG.
As far as the quality goes, it’s capable of downloading even 4K videos and those of lower quality. Got multiple videos to download? It does support simultaneous downloads.
If you wish to download entire channels or playlists, that’s supported as well. It’s also capable of automatically resuming downloads once they’re paused due to choppy internet.
Finally, it features an in-built video player. I get it, it doesn’t matter much, but, it’s still a feature.
As for the pricing, it’s totally free forever. However, you can go for an optional paid plan which would offer more features. These plans start at around $5.00/year.
6. iTubeGo
Website: https://itubego.com/
Using iTubeGo you can download videos of YouTube and nearly 10,000+ other websites on the planet.
Primary features:
- 8K video downloads
- Video converter
- “Trim and download”
- Subtitle downloads
- Simultaneous downloads
- Password protection
Its support for 8K video downloads is what makes it the best free Youtube downloader. Obviously, 4K, 1080P and lower qualities are naturally supported.
The in-built video converter isn’t missing either. It allows over 40 different conversion formats. It even allows stripping the sound off the videos for various purposes.
Something that’s very rare and desirable is its “trim and download” feature. You can select specific durations of a video and then only download those parts.
Another rare and special feature is its “password protection” feature. It allows locking videos with a password. It even has an in-built browser so you don’t have to go to Youtube (or other sites) to search for and download videos.
It does support downloading entire playlists in a go! Need entire song albums of Youtube? You’ve got that!
The unlimited simultaneous downloads are another feature which won me over. As far as speed goes, its “multi-thread” technology and “turbo-fast” mode offer some of the best speeds compared to other alternatives.
And yes, it allows you to download Youtube videos with subtitles (actually, over 50 different languages supported!)
Obviously, the free version offers limited features. There are two paid plans, you can pay just once and own it forever for $29.95, or you can opt for the cheaper but recurring monthly or yearly plans.
7. ByClickDownloader
Website: https://www.byclickdownloader.com/
As the name hints, “by click” downloader allows downloading Youtube videos in just a click.
Primary features:
- Download popup on video pages
- Playlist and channel downloads
- 8K video downloads
- Can download private videos
- In-built converter
- Audio extraction
Once the software is installed, a download popup shows itself on any webpage that contains a video!
As is evident from the above screenshot, it does allow audio-extraction. You don’t need to download the entire video if it’s just the audio you need.
Obviously, you can still go the traditional route and copy-paste video URLs to initiate downloads.
As far as supported websites go, it does support nearly all the major video hosting and streaming websites.
If you wish to download entire playlists, albums, Instagram accounts and channels, that’s possible as well. No manually adding individual URLs, all it requires is a single click.
Quality matters, doesn’t it? ByClickDownloader does support 8K, 4K, 1080P, 720P and other video qualities. The in-built converter allows converting videos to other video or audio formats.
Downloading simultaneous videos without having to queue them up too is supported. Finally, the ability to download private videos of Youtube and other platforms is a major feather in its cap. Subtitles too are downloaded if and when available.
It’s completely free however there does exist an unlimited plan which costs just $4.99.
8. XiliSoft
Website: http://www.xilisoft.com/
XiliSoft is another tool deserving of the best free Youtube downloader title. In fact, it primarily only supports Youtube and not most other video sites out there making it a hardcore Youtube downloader.
Primary features:
- 4K videos supported
- In-built converter
- Simultaneous downloads
It not only supports video conversions, but also “automated conversions”. Doing that automatically converts videos of specific formats to other formats you’ve specified once they’re downloaded.
Even device-specific conversions are supported so you can transfer and play the video on other devices.
It not just supports simultaneous downloads but also lets you choose the number of simultaneous downloads you want to allow on your system.
As for video quality, it supports 4K, 1080P, 720P and lower qualities. Need to download 3D Youtube videos? That’s supported as well. Even the bitrate can be manually set.
The download process is the traditional copy-pasting of the URL on the app. It’s obviously free with additional features if you go for the paid plan.
9. WinX Youtube Downloader
Website: https://www.winxdvd.com/
Alike most other best free YouTube downloaders, WinX too isn’t just for YouTube. Its website-support isn’t as massive as 4K Video Downloader or WonderShare. Nonetheless, it does support 300+ websites which is still a pretty neat number, isn’t it?
Primary features:
- 4K video downloads
- 300+ websites supported
- Batch downloads
- Low CPU consumption
- In-built recorder
It does support multithread which results in very fast download speeds. It also supports batch downloads, actually, as many as 300 URLs can be added to the queue at a time.
It also boasts of an in-built recorder. While not a major “yay” feature, it still allows recording live streams and other streaming platforms which is a nice edge. Another similar feature is that it allows grabbing a snapshot of the video at any time.
Unfortunately though, it doesn’t support 8K videos. However, 4K and lower videos (1080P/ 720P) are supported.
In case you have a PC or computer from a decade back, WinX is just for you. That’s because it has been specially optimized to consume very low CPU power.
I must admit, it isn’t as feature-rich as some other options on this list. That probably is also the reason why it’s a completely free Youtube video downloader. Meaning, there just is no paid plan whatsoever.
10. Save from .net
Website: https://en.savefrom.net/
This would be the best free Youtube video downloader for those who need simplicity and ease of use. It’s not as feature-rich as some other options on this list. However, if you wish to download videos off Youtube, it can help you do that.
Primary features:
- Web-based app.
- Audio extraction
- Multiple quality-choices.
- 100% free.
For starters, it’s a browser-based Youtube video downloader. Meaning, you do not need to “download” any software. Simply go to the website, and paste your Youtube URL.
It then instantly generates a download link. Multiple quality options are presented. You can also choose to download the video with or without audio!
Yes, there are absolutely no registrations, signups or payments involved! It’s 100% free.
What’s special is, you can optionally install the browser add-on. Doing so installs a “download” button for each Youtube video you play. This eliminates the need to copy-pate the URLs. Clicking on the button instantly initiates downloads.
Do note that save from .net does nothing to aid or restrict the download speed. That completely depends on your internet connection.
That I believe was a pretty decent list of Youtube downloader reviews. You probably do have your best free Youtube downloader by now, don’t you?
Let’s quickly answer some commonly asked questions.
FAQ:
#1. Is downloading Youtube videos illegal?
This probably is the most common and obvious question you’re asking.
No, downloading Youtube videos isn’t illegal for the most part, as long as it’s for “private” viewing. In other words, as long as you do not put the video up on display for a larger audience.
However, do note that Youtube video downloading is a direct breach of Youtube terms. As a result, your account may get suspended, deleted, or worse, you may be sued by Youtube.
Historically this hasn’t ever happened and the chances of it happening are slim as long as you do not infringe upon someone’s copyrights.
#2. Which is the best free Youtube downloader?
In terms of speed, interface and overall features, 4K Video Downloader is the best free Youtube video downloader in my personal opinion.
#3. Is my Youtube account safe when downloading Youtube videos via third-party apps?
Yes, in most cases you do not need to login to your Youtube account. If and when a login is required, you’re still safe as the access is limited. Moreover, all the options listed above are well-established and trustworthy.
Conclusion- Best free Youtube downloader
If you’ve gone through the list, I’m sure you’re probably already downloading Youtube videos by now.
If not and you’re still confused, just go with 4K Video Downloader or Wondershare’s AllMyYoutube. Freemake is another great option if you need something that’s completely free even though not as feature-rich.
That’d be all as far as this list of best free Youtube downloader tools goes. Just be sure to use this list and the tools for legal purposes, you’re 100% responsible for all your actions.
