These are my favorite ways to download YouTube videos for free

Sometimes I just want to watch a YouTube video without having to deal with a shaky internet connection, YouTube’s growing list of ads, or the Premium upsell popping up every few clicks.

While YouTube Premium offers an official way to download videos, it's not free, and its offline feature is limited to the app itself. Fortunately, there are several free tools available that allow you to download YouTube videos directly to your device.

In this article, I'll walk you through some of the best free options available in 2025, including ClipGrab, 4K Video Downloader, and WinX/MacX Video Converter. These tools are user-friendly, efficient, and, most importantly, free.

Let’s get into it.

ClipGrab

Out of all the tools I’ve used, ClipGrab is the one I always come back to. It’s free, works across Windows, macOS, and Linux, and gets the job done without much fuss. It lets you convert videos to different formats like MP4 or MP3 and lets you choose the resolution too.

How to use ClipGrab:

1. Go to ClipGrab.org
2. Download and install the version for your operating system.
3. Copy the link of the YouTube video you want.
4. Paste the link into ClipGrab.
5. Choose your format (I usually go with MP4) and resolution.
6. Hit “Grab this clip!”

Pretty straightforward. And yes, you can also change where the video saves on your device.

Where ClipGrab falls short

There are a few things to keep in mind, though. First, the installer sometimes tries to sneak in third-party software (nothing dangerous, but annoying), so pay attention during installation. Second, while the tool claims to support HD resolutions, I’ve found that it doesn’t always grab the highest possible quality available on YouTube. 

Some 1080p videos may download as 720p, depending on the source and video encoding.

And unlike more advanced tools, ClipGrab doesn’t support batch downloads or full playlists. It’s one video at a time. If that’s what you need, it’s fine. But if you’re looking to grab a whole channel’s worth of content, you’ll need something stronger.

4K Video Downloader

If you care more about quality, think 1080p, 4K, and even 8K video, then 4K Video Downloader is a solid pick. It supports subtitles, playlists, channels, and even lets you extract audio.

One of my favorite features of this tool is that there’s actually an Android version, which makes downloading on your phone a lot more convenient. Sadly, there’s no iOS version, so iPhone users are out of luck here.

Using it is simple:

1. Download and install it on your computer (Windows/macOS/Linux).
2. Copy the YouTube video or playlist link.
3. Paste it into the app.
4. Choose your format (MP4, MKV, or extract audio as MP3).
5. Choose resolution—4K and above is available if the original video supports it.
6. Start downloading.

The free version gives you a lot. You can download videos in high resolution and even save full playlists, but only up to 24 videos per playlist. That’s where things get a little restrictive.

Limitations to be aware of

The 24-video cap per playlist can get frustrating if you’re trying to archive longer playlists or entire channels. If you want to download a playlist with 60 videos, you’ll have to do it in chunks.

Also, you’ll get frequent prompts nudging you toward the paid version, especially when you try to use features like subtitle downloads or “Smart Mode,” which lets you preset your preferred formats and settings.

Still, for most users just trying to grab a few high-quality videos, the free version holds up.

WinX/MacX Video converter

For those looking for something more versatile, like trimming videos, compressing them for mobile, or converting between a long list of file formats, WinX Video Converter and MacX Video Converter offer the most control.

This one’s a bit different. It’s freemium, which means the full suite of features is locked behind a paywall. But the free version does include a working YouTube downloader, and you can use it for as long as you want, no time limit on downloads, just on conversion features.

Here's how it works:

1. Download the software from the official WinX or MacX site.
2. Launch the program and click on the YouTube link button.
3. Paste your video URL into the popup window.
4. The app will analyze the link and show all available resolutions and formats.
5. Pick what you want, then hit the big blue Run button.

What you don’t get in the free version

You can only convert up to 5 minutes of video unless you pay. So, if you want to trim, reformat, or compress longer clips, you’re out of luck unless you upgrade.

Also, expect a lot of upselling. You’ll see regular prompts encouraging you to purchase the full license, and while you can ignore them, they slow down the experience. It’s not as smooth as ClipGrab or 4K Video Downloader.

That said, the downloading part is solid. You can still grab full YouTube videos with no time limits on that part, just don’t expect to do any fancy editing without paying.

What about online downloaders like Y2Mate?

Yes, there are dozens of browser-based downloaders that let you paste a YouTube link and save the file without installing anything. Y2Mate, SaveFrom, and similar sites are everywhere. Some work. Some don’t.

The big issue is trust. These sites often come loaded with misleading ads, fake download buttons, and potential malware risks.

Some will try to redirect you to sketchy browser extensions or spammy affiliate sites. Unless you’re confident in your ability to spot these tricks, I’d recommend staying away.

If you do decide to use one, make sure your antivirus is active, and don’t click anything that feels off. I personally avoid these unless I’m in a pinch.

A quick word on legality

Just because you can download a video doesn’t mean you should. YouTube’s terms clearly state that downloading videos is against the rules unless the download button is explicitly provided or the content is royalty-free and offered for offline use.

So yes, technically, most of these methods violate YouTube’s terms. That said, I use them only for personal, offline viewing, and never for re-uploading or sharing content I don’t own. If you’re working with copyrighted material, be smart about it.