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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- ClipGrab and WinX/MacX are the most effective free instruments for YouTube downloads.
- YouTube Premium affords authorized, ad-free downloads tied to your account.
- Be aware of copyright legal guidelines and solely obtain movies which can be allowed.
If you happen to’ve ever needed to obtain a YouTube video to observe later — say, for a flight or someplace with horrible Wi-Fi — you have in all probability observed that Google would not make it simple. YouTube’s personal app limits offline viewing to pick movies and paying Premium subscribers. Nonetheless, there are methods to obtain movies without cost. The problem is determining which choice is definitely price utilizing.
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After years of working in multimedia, I’ve needed to domestically save numerous YouTube movies. I now have one go-to device, and my colleague David Gewirtz has instructed one other, however there are many choices on the market that come extremely advisable. Both method, listed below are two strategies which can be free and trusted, so you will not must wade via sketchy pop-ups and questionable hyperlinks, or pay a cent.
I will additionally cowl YouTube Premium, the official paid methodology for downloading movies, so it is best to discover at the least one choice that works.
How you can simply obtain YouTube movies without cost
What you will want: Editors at ZDNET, together with me, have been utilizing ClipGrab for years. It is a free program obtainable for Mac, Home windows, and Linux customers. The developer describes it as open supply, although the supply code is just obtainable for Linux.
One other free choice
ClipGrab is my best choice for simple, easy YouTube video downloading. I usually use it to seize movies, together with my very own uploads after I want a neighborhood copy. After greater than a decade of use, I have never run into any points with it.
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However if you would like another, ZDNET’s David Gewirtz makes use of the WinX/MacX apps. Made by Digiarty Software program (identified for its DVD-ripping instruments), WinX Video Converter (for Home windows) and MacX Video Converter (for MacOS) are freemium video conversion packages.
How you can use WinX or MacX to obtain YouTube movies without cost
What makes them attention-grabbing right here is that the free trial consists of an infinite YouTube downloader you need to use indefinitely — for those who do not thoughts dismissing the occasional immediate to improve.
- Set up the software program: Obtain the trial of WinX Video Converter Deluxe (Home windows) or MacX Video Converter Professional (Mac) from the official web site. As soon as put in, launch the app.
- Paste a YouTube hyperlink: Within the app’s toolbar, click on the “YouTube URL” button. The app will change to a obtain display, the place you may click on a hyperlink icon on the high, then paste your video’s URL, and click on Analyze. After a couple of seconds, you will see a listing of obtainable resolutions and codecs (for instance, 1080p MP4, 720p WebM), together with file sizes.
- Obtain the video: Select your most popular decision and format from the checklist, then click on OK or Obtain. The video will obtain rapidly. Other than YouTube, WinX/MacX helps a whole bunch of different websites — Fb, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and extra.
If you happen to resolve to improve to the paid model, you will unlock a full suite of video instruments to transform, compress, trim, crop, and even add subtitles. The paid choices begin at $19.95. However you needn’t pay something in case your predominant objective is just downloading movies.
The official paid choice
Let’s discuss Google’s official option to obtain YouTube movies: YouTube Premium. I have been a subscriber for years and love the blissful absence of advertisements, picture-in-picture mode on cellular, the power to maintain a video enjoying within the background whereas utilizing different apps, entry to YouTube Music Premium, and all the opposite perks — together with downloading movies for offline viewing.
Within the US, a person YouTube Premium plan is $13.99 per thirty days. There’s additionally a Household Plan for as much as six customers at $22.99 per thirty days, and a Pupil Plan at $7.99 per thirty days. It isn’t low cost, however for heavy YouTube customers, it may be price it.
How you can use YouTube Premium to obtain movies
Since that is an official characteristic, it is fully authorized and sanctioned by YouTube.
- Log in along with your Premium account: As soon as you have subscribed to YouTube Premium, register to YouTube in your machine (cellular app or net browser) along with your account. As soon as logged in, search for a video you wish to save.
- Faucet Obtain: While you’ve discovered a video, click on or faucet the Obtain button. On desktop, you’ll now see a down arrow under movies, normally to the proper of the Share arrow icon. Within the cellular app, the Obtain choice seems within the video choices menu (three-dot menu).
- Select your high quality: The primary time you obtain, YouTube will ask what high quality you wish to save by default (corresponding to 720p or 360p). Increased resolutions take extra storage and may not be obtainable for all movies. When you verify, the video will start downloading. A progress indicator would possibly seem (on cellular, it is a loading circle).
- Discover your downloaded movies: After the obtain completes, yow will discover the video within the Downloads part of YouTube. Within the cellular app, faucet Library > Downloads. On desktop, click on your profile image menu and go to Downloads (or go to youtube.com/feed/downloads whereas logged in). All movies you have downloaded for offline viewing will probably be listed there.
You may watch your downloaded movies with out an web connection, however you will want to go surfing at the least as soon as each 30 days for YouTube to confirm your Premium standing. In any other case, your downloads will expire. Your downloads are additionally tied to YouTube. So, for those who have been hoping to get an MP4 file to edit or share outdoors of YouTube, you are out of luck with this methodology.
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Principally, you are not given a simple option to flip your YouTube downloads into usable video recordsdata on a desktop or from iOS units. Nevertheless, for those who’re an Android consumer with an SD card slot, you may change the YouTube app’s settings to save lots of movies on to your SD card. Within the YouTube app, faucet your profile pic > Settings > Downloads, and you may see the choice to make use of an SD card.
Are there Linux command-line choices?
Sure. Linux customers have a command-line choice to obtain YouTube movies. As with all issues Linux command line, there are some grey areas right here, corresponding to whether or not a given device nonetheless works or if there’s a greater one on the market.
The primary choice is youtube-dl. You may get it from its official web site, GitHub, or via your favourite package deal supervisor. However some of us say youtube-dl is outdated hat and hasn’t been up to date shortly. There’s one other open-source venture on GitHub referred to as yt-dlp, a fork of youtube-dl with extra options and extra energetic upkeep. I have never examined it myself, so use it at your personal threat.
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Each youtube-dl and yt-dlp provide an extremely big selection of options for those who want them. Personally, I am sticking with ClipGrab — I haven’t got time to show YouTube downloading into a 3rd full-time job. However it’s as much as you.
What’s the most secure option to obtain YouTube movies?
Absolutely the most secure method is to make use of YouTube Premium’s offline obtain characteristic, because it’s an official, totally accepted methodology offered by Google itself. While you obtain a video by way of YouTube Premium, you are abiding by YouTube’s phrases of service in addition to the video’s utilization restrictions (the movies are DRM-protected and tied to your account).
YouTube will implement any regional or copyright restrictions on these downloads, so you will not be capable of obtain movies that the platform would not enable in your nation. And you will not run into any malware or sketchy software program points, as a result of it is a built-in characteristic.
How can I obtain non-public movies?
You may solely obtain non-public movies if you have already got entry to them (or they’re your personal — YouTube Premium will allow you to obtain your personal non-public movies). If you happen to can log in and watch the video in your browser, you may normally obtain it.
However if you cannot view it in any respect, you will not be capable of obtain it both.
So, if in case you have login credentials for the video and you are a Home windows consumer, strive utilizing the premium model of By Click on Downloader. It helps you to save non-public movies on to your pc and sometimes prices between $20 and $40, relying on promotions.
Are you able to get in bother for downloading YouTube movies?
Simply because you may obtain a YouTube video would not at all times imply it is best to — at the least not with out understanding the implications. Completely different jurisdictions have totally different legal guidelines, and it is probably not authorized to obtain a given video, even when all you wish to do is watch it offline. Some nations additionally prohibit movies on sure matters, so for those who’re in a repressive area, be further cautious.
You would possibly wish to learn our VPN information for recommendations on downloading with a bit extra privateness.
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If you happen to plan to obtain a video to include into one thing you are producing, remember that some nations acknowledge truthful use, permitting small parts of copyrighted materials for commentary, criticism, or schooling. That stated, YouTube makes use of automated programs to detect reused content material, and your channel may obtain a copyright strike for violations.
When doubtful, it is at all times finest to ask for permission first.
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