Best way to download youtube videos on mac

Download YouTube Videos on Mac with MacX Video Converter Pro

MacX Video Converter Pro is an ideal video downloader for Mac users to download videos on Mac from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other 1,000+ video sites in 8K/4K/HD 1080p/720p, and convert MP4 to MP3. Superfast, high-quality, playlist support.

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1. Click the "Add URL" button to input video URL. | 2. Start parsing. | 3. Click "Download Now" button to start downloading.

Part 1. Top 12 Fast YouTube Downloaders for Mac Reviews

No.1: MacX Video Converter Pro - Fastest YouTube Downloader

• System requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 and above, 39MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.6/5 (Trustpilot)

MacX Video Converter Pro is an universal 4K UHD video converter software that can be applied to convert, edit, download and resize videos at No.1 fast speed. Acting as a YouTube downloader on Mac, it assures you to download YouTube files in any format up to 4K/8K video resolution with original quality at GPU Hardware Accelerated 5X faster speed than its rivals, and also convert videos on Mac to any formats for any devices including MP4, MP3, iPhone, iPad, Huawei, Xiaomi, PS4, Xbox One, etc. You are also allowed to edit your YouTube videos like trim, crop, adjust volume and add subtitles. No YouTube download slow error.

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Pros:

• Able to download YouTube contents on Mac, including videos, audio, TV shows, movies in 4K, HD 1080p/720p or so.
• Convert YouTube videos to any formats like MP4 MP3 for any devices.
• Supported input/output video formats: AV1, HEVC, MP4, MOV, HEVC, H.264, MPEG4, AVI, WMV, FLV, MKV, MTS, M2TS, TS, AVCHD, MOD, etc.
• Supported input/output audio formats: MP3, AAC, AC3, FLAC, iPhone ringtone, etc.
• Download contents from 1,000+ video sharing sites, including YouTube, Facebook, Dailymotion, Vevo, Myspace and many more.
• Screen record Mac and crop.
• Further edit YouTube videos with crop, cut, merge, rotate, split, subtitle, special effects, YouTube to GIF, watermark, denoise, deshake, etc. features.

Cons:

• Can’t batch download YouTube on Mac, you can add only one media source each time to download.
• Need to update YouTube URL analysis engine to ensure successful video downloads.

How to Download YouTube Videos with MacX Video Converter Pro?

Step 1. Install the YouTube video downloader.

Free download MacX Video Converter Pro

Step 2. Access the URL analysis window.

Click the "Add URL" button to pop up the video URL parsing box.

Step 3. Copy a YouTube video URL and put into the parsing box.

Find the video clip you want to download on YouTube and copy the video URL. Return to MacX Video Converter Pro interface and click on "Paste & Analyze" to input the YouTube video URL. Then, click "Analyze" to start parsing the video URL.

Step 4. Optionally, choose the desired form of the downloaded video.

After that, choose the video format, resolution and file size you prefer from the drop down menu, and click "OK".

Step 5. Start downloading YouTube video.

Click "Download Now" button to start downloading the YouTube video on Mac.

Notice: MacXDVD Software doesn't advocate any reproduce, distribute, transmit, broadcast or sell any content for any other purposes without prior written permission of YouTube or the respective licensors of the content. Please refer to YouTube terms of service before doing so.

No.2: Airy YouTube Downloader

• System requirements: OS X 10.10+, 25.23MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5 (Macworld)

Airy YouTube downloader for Mac can easily save YouTube video right to your Mac computer without the need of login. It runs on Mac OS X 10.7 or above, and macOS Big Sur is fully supported. Like any other Mac YouTube downloaders, Airy lets you simply copy and paste the URLs and then download videos to the local folder. You can download a single video, playlists and the whole channels, and manage the download at your own pace. With it, you can enjoy the YouTube videos when there is no internet connection at hand on Mac.

Pros:

• Batch download entire playlists and channels with subtitles.
• Extract MP3 audio from videos to build audio playlist in high conversion speed.
• Support downloading Ultra HD videos in 4K and Ultra HD 8K 60FPS formats.
• Age-restricted or private contents are accessible.
• Has browser integration available for any web platform.
• Pause/Resume active downloads

Cons:

• Free version provides two free downloads of YouTube videos.
• Converter feature can’t be used separately.
• Only YouTube is supported.
• Audio files are saved at 256Kbps.
• $19.95 is required for a license key to use all the features to the full extent.

No.3: YTD Video Downloader for Mac

• System requirements: Mac OSx 10.6/10.7/10.8/10.9/10.10/10.11/10.12. 5.75 MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 3.9/5 (Trustpilot)

Trusted by 20,000+ users, YTD Video Downloader for Mac is also one of the fastest Mac YouTube Downloaders in the market that supports up to 50 video sites. It is a speedy, easy-to-use tool for saving streaming videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc. in 8K, 4K, 2K, High Definition (HD) 1080P, and convert videos to MP4, MKV, M4A, MP3, AVI. Its intuitive interface is easy to use without any instruction that even a newbie can handle easily, and helps complete downloads quickly and easily. To save time, you can directly download mulitple videos playlists at the same time with the Pro version.

Pros:

• Support high definition up to 4K and 8K.
• Download & convert entire playlist and channels in MP4, MKV, M4A and AVI.
• Extract aduio from video to M4A, or MP3.
• Integrate video player to watch videos directly.
• Support a variety of languages and multiple video sites besides YouTube, such as TikTok, Vimeo, Dailymotion, etc.

Cons:

• Limited format options.
• Limited sites support, you can only download videos from about 50 websites.
• Limited download numbers, only upgrade to pro version you can download unlimited videos from YouTube.
• Quite expernsive in the long term.

No.4: YT Saver

• System requirements: MacOS 10.10 or later, 80MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.8/5 (Trustpilot)

YT Saver is a YouTube video downloader and converter that can download videos, audio, and playlists from 10,000+ websites like YouTube. For different purposes, it also lets you convert videos to MP4, MOV, AAC, WAV and more. Put succintly, you can download any YouTube videos including public and private ones up to 4K and 8K with this Mac YouTube downloader. Compared to similarities, it provides 10X faster video download and conversion speed to allow for batch task in minutes. BTW, you can also use the built-in web browser to browse and download videos within the YouTube and other websites.

Pros:

• Download videos in 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p HD, 2K, 4K and 8K
• Support playlists, channels and multiple videos download.
• Convert videos to MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, FLV, MKV, HEVC MP4, HEVC MKV, 3GP, iPhone/iPod, iPad, Android Phone, Android Tablets.
• Extract audio from videos to 64kbps, 128kbps, 256kbps, 320kbps.
• Cut, trim, crop online videos to MP4, MOV, AAC, etc.
• Built-in web browser lets browse and download videos within the supported websites.
• 10X faster video download and conversion speed.
• The Private Mode will keep the downloaded contents in a password-protected folder.

Cons:

• The trial version only provides 3 downloads, 1 playlist, and limited output formats.
• Can't output MP3 format.

No.5: iTubeGo YouTube Downloader

• System requirements: Mac OS Big Sur, Mac OS X 10.15, 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10. 47.7MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.6/5 (Trustpilot)

Supporting 10,000+ websites, iTubeGo is more than a YouTube downloader for Mac. You can use it offline or within the website to batch or selectively download videos in full HD/4K/8K from YouTube and other video streaming sites at 10X faster speed. More specifically, a 2 hours of video will only take a few minutes to download. After downloading, it lets you convert YouTube to MP4, MP3, and more for playback on more devices. Also, you can keep certain part of a YouTube video in MP4 or MP3 by cuttng using the built-in browser. Another shining part of this YouTube video downloader is it can download subtitles directly from YouTube videos. If needed, MP3 download from music sites is supported.

Pros:

• Download YouTube videos, audios, playlists, channels in one click.
• Extract audio from video and save it as high quality 320kbps MP3 format.
• Cut YouTube videos to keep the part you need within the website with built-in web browser.
• Directly download subtitles from YouTube as SRT file.
• Multithread Technology and Turbo-fast Mode provide 10X faster download speed.
• Private video mode is provided to protect sensitive contents in a password-protected folder.

Cons:

• Free version only allows for 3 number of downloads, 1 playlist download, 1/3 length conversion, 1 simultaneous downloads at once.
• Free version only outputs MP4, MP3 or original format.
• Occasional not working issue happens.

No.6: EaseUS Video Downloader

• System requirements: macOS 10.13 or later. 179MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.6/5 (Trustpilot)

Though it is quite a new tool, EaseUS Video Downloader is a very safe and reliable video downloader to download videos and audio files from over 1,000 websites including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, etc.. You can download YouTube videos on Mac in 8K/4K/HD and extract the audio tracks from videos for offline watching or listening. If needed, it also allows you to directly download music, sounds or audiobooks from sites to MP3 or WAV with different audio quality options, including 320kbps, 256kbps, and 128kbps.

Pros:

• Batch download available: multiple videos, playlists, channels.
• Download and convert videos to MP3, WAV, and 10+ formats.
• Download audio tracks directly, with 3 audio quality options including 320kbps, 256kbps, and 128kbps.
• Search, analyze and download the video within the result page.

Cons:

• Free version can't download video/audio by playlist or channel.
• Free version has no 24/7 technical support.

No.7: MacX YouTube Downloader

• System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5 - macOS 12 Monterey. 100 MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.6/5 (TechRadar)

MacX YouTube Downloader mainly targets YouTube videos download on Mac, so as to let users download all types of YouTube contents easily to save them into personal collection. Thanks to the well embedded hyper-threading technology, people can save online videos within seconds at a very fast speed. It's 100% free and clean, so no worries about ads, virus, spam, plugins, malware, spyware, etc. and ytb dl slow issue.

Pros:

• Download any YouTube contents: Movies, TV shows, MVs, funny videos, tutorials, workout videos, gameplays, cartoons, etc. one by one or in playlist.
• Analyze any types of YouTube contents: 8K 4320p, 4K 2160p, 2K, 1080p or 720p HD, 360-degree, VR180, 3D and HDR.
• Various output choices: Keep the original codec or format, or just download to MP4, WebM, FLV, 3GP or whatever that better suits your device like Mac, iPhone, PS4, Xbox One S, etc.
• Compatible with macOS big Sur, and iMac Pro, iMac 5K/4K, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or Mac Pro/mini.
• Download a YouTube clip within seconds.

Cons:

• Unable to convert downloaded YouTube videos on Mac.
• The built-in video player is for downloaded video preview.
• No GPU hardware acceleration tech to help speed up video downloading process.

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No.8: 4K Video Downloader

• System requirements: macOS 10.13 and later. 117.1 Mb free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 (Trustpilot)

With over 11 millions supporters, 4K Video Downloader is always a good choice to download online videos. As the name implies, it is capable of downloading 4K videos and it is the truth. If you've seen a video on YouTube and want the ability to save it to your Mac computer so you can watch it whenever you like, you're going to give this software a look. What makes it prominent is it can save full playlists and channels in high quality and with various video audio formats available. You can also keep the subtitles and annotations along with the downloaded YouTube videos with the help of this software. With it, you can easily download your YouTube Mix, Watch Later, Liked videos, private YouTube playlists, and videos from other popular websites.

Pros:

• Able to download a single YouTube video, as well as YouTube playlists and channels.
• Extract YouTube subtitles a video, playlist or even channel in SRT format from over 50 languages.
• Download videos in HD 1080p/720p, 4K, 8K, 3D in MP4/MKV/FLV/3GP, 360-degree, etc.
• Support popular video sites, like Vimeo, TikTok, SoundCloud, Flickr, Facebook, Instagram, DailyMotion, Tumblr, etc.

Cons:

• Though it supports most famous websites, it can only download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, SoundCloud, Flickr, Facebook, Instagram, DailyMotion, Likee, Tumblr and Twitch.
• Need to upgrade to pro version to download unlimited videos and private contents without advertisements.
• The free version only lets you download 30 single videos per day, download 10 videos in a playlist and 5 videos per channel each time.

No.9: ClipGrab

• System requirements: macOS 10.12 Sierra or later. 107MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 (TechRadar)

As an open-source program, it is completely free. There is transparency about the code and less risk of malicious injections. ClipGrab is a free open-source program used to download and convert online videos. When using it as a Mac YouTube downloader, it can save your energy by automatically grabbing the video through video URL and then download it to desired format. Software review site softoxi.com states that "[ClipGrab] has a beautifully designed graphical user interface" and "stands out immediately for its look, feel and performance".

Pros:

• Free and open-source. Safe and transparent.
• Provide an integrated search function for YouTube to easily find YouTube videos.
• Download YouTube to MPEG4, WMV, OGG Vorbis, OGG Theora, or original format.
• Support video downloads from YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Facebook, etc.
• Download high definition, standard definition and low definition version of videos easily.

Cons:

• Can't download playlist.
• Flagged as malware by some security software.
• Limited output formats, only support resolution up to HD.
• Downloaded 4K/8K videos come with decreased output quality.
• Extra program may be downloaded when installing ClipGrab.

No.10: Wondershare Free YouTube Downloader for Mac

• System requirements: Mac OS X 10.6, 10.7,10.8,10.9 and 10.10. 512MB of RAM or above.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.1/5 (Trustpilot)

You can use this downloader as an IE, Firefox, or Safari YouTube downloader to save videos from YouTube to your Mac computer, convert YouTube videos to your portable devices, and format them for playback on your computer with built-in FLV player. You can download HTML5, HD, HQ and 4K videos from YouTube and playlist with a 3X faster speed. However, the free version of Wondershare Mac YouTube Downloader has limited functions that you have to pay $29 for its pro version AllTube to unlock full features.

Pros:

• Download YouTube SD, HD and 4K videos one by one or in playlist.
• Wirelessly transfer videos through WiFi to play on portable devices.
• The built-in player can play downloaded YouTube and existing FLV, MP4 and WebM videos directly.
• 3 scheduler options: Auto Shutdown, Enter Sleep Mode and Exit Program. You can also set the time period for downloading.

Cons:

• May catch virus and adware during installation.
• Can't download videos from other sites like Vimeo, Facebook, VEVO, Metacafe, Dailymotion, etc.
• Can't directly download audio files.
• Free version only download 5 playlist.
• Only compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) to 10.9 (Mavericks).

No.11: 5KPlayer

• System requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 and above, 39MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 3.3/5 (Trustpilot)

Though born to be a 4K video player, 5KPlayer can also be used as a YouTube downloader for Mac computer. The embedded YouTube module of this tool allows you to directly paste YouTube video URL and then download YouTube to MP3 MP4 in a few clicks within seconds. It is a quite comprehensive tool that combines YouTube videos audio download, YouTube media playback and cross-platform stream into one unit, thus you can enjoy the downloaded files directly on Mac computer or stream to TV with a bigger manner wirelessly without any other help.

Pros:

• Download videos from 300+ sites including YouTube, Dailymotion, Vevo, etc. quickly.
• Analyze any YouTube contents: movies and videos in 3D/4K/HDR/HD/360°, 3GPP, AVI, FLV, MOV, MP4, MKV, MPEGPS, WebM and WMV from uploaders.
• Directly play the downloaded YouTube videos on Mac in any format, full color and high quality.
• AirPlay YouTube from iPhone iPad to Mac, and cast YouTube contents from Mac to smart TV to have bigger views.

Cons:

• Except MP3, can’t convert downloaded YouTube videos to other formats, like MP4, MKV, MOV, etc.
• Need frequent updates to download newest analysis engine for successful YouTube download on Mac.
• Not compatible with macOS Big Sur as of now.

No.12: DVDVideosoft YouTube Download

• System requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or above. 113MB free space.
• Rating: ★★★★☆ 2.5/5 (TechRadar)

DVDVideosoft YouTube Download is the new handy application both for free YouTube videos downloading and conversion on Mac. It's simply an excellent tool for saving your favorite video clips or even lessons from YouTube at 1.5-2x faster speed. Since it has been present on the market for over ten years, this free YouTube downloader for Mac has gained over 158 million downloads as of now.

Pros:

• Batch download videos in original YouTube quality including HD and 4K.
• Customize output name easily.
• Save operation history.
• Transfer downloaded YouTube videos to iTunes automatically.

Cons:

• Limited output formats: only download YouTube to MP4, MKV, WebM.
• Interface lags at times.
• Toolbar comes with bloatware.
• Unable to choose output video quality.

Further reading: Check the best Macs for editing videos including the downloaded YouTube videos.

Part 2. Comparison Table of the 12 Best Mac YouTube Downloaders

In the market, there are hundreds of YouTube content downloaders for you to choose from. If you are confused by their functions and want to get the best one that really satisfies your needs, below are some criterias for your reference to pick out the best YouTube downloader for Mac.

1. Support all YouTube contents, including video and audio in various formats up to 4K/8K.
2. Ability to choose video format (MP4), resolution and quality.
3. Ability to convert video to MP3.
4. Batch or playlist downloading.
5. Simple UI that even kids and the elder people can understand.
6. Pausing and resume download.
7. Private YouTube videos download.

So, based on the criteria mentioned above, you can pick the ideal one for youself from the 12 Mac YouTube downloaders hand-picked by us.

Among the 12 Mac YouTube downloaders, each one of them has its own merits and dismerits. If you have a lot of time, you can try them one by one to find out the best one you need. If you need the direct answer, MacX Video Converter Pro wins out with its fast speed, stability, needless of third party help, rich output formats, and so on. You can use it to download YouTube videos to Mac free without worries about virus, malware.

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Part 3. How about the Online YouTube Video Downloader for Mac?

You are not suggested to use online YouTube downloader. Though online YouTube video downloaders let you download YouTube videos on Mac computer, they have many harmful sides. For example, online YouTube video downloaders can't download 4K videos; can't download playlists; can't download videos with subtitles, etc. And the download process is slow. Worse still, when using online video downloader to download YouTube videos on Mac, it may bring malware, adware and virus to your computer.

However, unlike desktop apps, online YouTube downloaders do not require installation or setup. If you are interested in them, you can select one from our list as we have tested they are working.

1. ClipConverter.CC
2. freeyoutubedownloader.online
3. Ummy Online Video Downloader
4. BTCLOD.COM
5. SSYouTube
6. SnapSave

FYI: How to download YouTube videos on Mac with online YouTube downloader? The process is very easy. You just need to copy a YouTube video URL, go to the website of an online YouTube video downloader and paste the URL to the parsing box. Then, start downloading the YouTube video.

Part 4. How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac with YouTube Premuim?

By paying $11.99/month for YouTube Premium, you can enjoy YouTube videos and YouTube music ad-free, offline, and in the background. Since September 2021, YouTube's own video downloader - YouTube Premium started testing YouTube video download in browser that had been available on mobile for quite a while. This official way allows the Premium users to download YouTube videos on Mac and Windows 10 with browser instantly once they discover an interesting or useful video.

Step 1. Go to YouTube website, find and play the video you want to download.

Step 2. At the right bottom corner of the playing window, there is a Download button available if the video is allowed to be downloaded by the publisher. Just hit the Download button.

Step 3. If you have joined the YouTube Premium plan, you can save the video in 720p or 480p directly. If didn’t have the membership, simply follow the on-screen guide to pay $11.99/month for offline contents from YouTube.

Note: For sure, free YouTube users are bolted out to save YouTube videos offline. Even to YouTube Premium users, there are some restrictions. They can't keep the videos as files on computer, and the access will be revoked once the subscription signs out. For those reasons and legitimately, some other free YouTube downloaders for Mac need to be introduced.

In conclusion:

All the Mac YouTube downloaders have advantages and disadvantages. They comes with different features including the basic and advanced ones. Whatever, all the aforementioned YouTube video downloaders can download YouTube videos on Mac. So, rest assured to use one to save YouTube videos for offline watching. If needed, you can use the advanced features to convert YouTube video to MP3, download subtitles, and convert videos to other formats with YouTube downloader like MacX Video Converter Pro.

Part 5. Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best YouTube downloader for Mac?

Actually, what satisfies your needs is the best choice. If you need a Mac YouTube downloader which owns all the features including choosing video formats, setting video quality, extracting music from YouTube, batch download, downloading playlists and channels, pausing/resuming YouTube downloading and downloading private YouTube videos, you are out of luck to get one. But if you only have one of the above needs, the top 12 free YouTube downloaders for Mac can give you an ideal choice. If you want to download YouTube videos fast and in 4K, MacX Video Converter Pro is picked as the fastest YouTube downloader for Mac.

1. MacX Video Converter Pro
2. Airy YouTube Downloader
3. YTD Video Downloader
4. YT Saver
5. iTubeGo YouTube Downloader
6. EaseUS Video Downloader
7. MacX YouTube Downloader
8. 4K Video Downloader
9. ClipGrab
10. Wondershare YouTube Downloader
11. 5KPlayer
12. DVDVideosoft YouTube Download

2. Is MacX YouTube downloader for Mac safe?

Yes, it is 100% safe. MacX YouTube downloader is a ad-free, clean and green software that you can use on any Mac. It is from trustworthy and identified developer - Digiarty Software Inc., and its installation won't bring any extra inistallation like malware or plugins.

3. How do I download a YouTube video to my Mac?

Simply copy the YouTube video URL, input it to your Mac YouTube downloader and then hit Download button to download videos. Take MacX YouTube Downloader as an example to tell you how to download YouTube clips on Mac.

Step 1. After installing MacX YouTube Downloader, simply click the "Add URL" button on the top bar.

Step 2. Paste a YouTube video URL and tap "Analyze" to auto parse the video and detect video info. Then, you can choose desired video format, resolution and size.

Step 3. Hit "RUN" button to start YouTube video download on Mac.

4. How do I download audio from YouTube to my Mac?

Some YouTube downloaders like 5KPlayer allow you to directly download MP3 from the YouTube URL, and some like MacX Video Converter Pro let you extract MP3 audio from YouTube video.

5. Is it legal to download YouTube contents?

Especially in the United States, copyright law indicates that it is not legal to download YouTube music and YouTube copy-protected videos, movies, TV series, sports clips, etc. However, you are unlikely to be prosecuted for download some YouTube clips, but this is also the risk you take. Of course, you are safe to download your own videos in your personal channel.

6. How do I download music directly from YouTube?

You are not suggested to download music for free from YouTube. If neccesaary, you should become a YouTube Premium subscriber so that you can listen to YouTube music offline at will.

7. How to save YouTube videos using browser?

With the help of online YouTube downloaders or extensions, you can save YouTube videos in browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox) on Mac.

8. Is YouTube Premium Worthy?

Yes. It is an official way allowing you to download YouTube videos and music on computer and mobile, and view contents offline and in the background anywhere anytime.

9. Can I download YouTube videos with online YouTube downloader?

Yes. You can download YouTube videos with an online tool.

However, online YouTube downloaders are not recommended for many reasons. In the begining, they are not safe as you probably will download virus to your computers when download YouTube videos. Second, the download speed is often restricted by the remote server and your data connection. Third, output format choices are limited and the video quality is often 1080p or lower. Fourth, batch download or playlist download is usually not allowed. At last, you won't be able to download a real 4K video from YouTube using these kinds of tools.

How do I download YouTube videos directly to my Mac?

How can I download YouTube videos to my Mac without software?

How do I download 1080P YouTube videos to my Mac?

How do I download a YouTube video to my Mac using Safari?