15 Best YouTube Video Downloader for Mac Big Sur/Catalina/Mojave. If you are a Windows user, choosing a YouTube video downloader is easy, but it is a different story.
Out of tens of hundreds of free YouTube downloaders for Mac, which one really deserves a spot on your Mac? Which one can download YouTube videos muisc on Mac free in a blazing fast speed? Which one is the best of the best?
- To download the files all we'll have to do is type or paste the URL address of the video that we want, click on the 'start' button and the application will take charge of carrying out the rest of the process. In the advanced options we'll be able to choose the quality of the video that we want to download, having the possibility to choose.
- The first one in the list is ClipGrab which can be used to download YouTube videos on.
Based on experience, tests and comparisons, below top 10 free YouTube downloaders for Mac are trustworthy tools to save YouTube videos MP4/MP3, HD, 4K, HDR, etc on Mac. Read the reviews and get the one you like most.
Note: There are no online Mac YouTube downloaders as they are dying choices and often from malicious websites. Also, they have limited output formats and resolutions, and will reduce the output quality during downloading.
[Warning!] YouTube music & copyright-protected contents are not supported for download.
Top 10 YouTube Downloaders for Mac
1. MacX Video Converter Pro
MacX Video Converter Pro is a universal 4K UHD video processing 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 including MP3 MP4 with original quality at GPU Hardware Accelerated 5X faster speed than its rivals, and also convert the media files to any formats for any devices including iPhone, iPad, Huawei, Xiaomi, PS4, Xbox One, etc. You are also allowed to edit your YouTube videos.
Pros:
- Able to download YouTube videos, audio, TV shows, movies, etc. in 4K, Full HD 1080p/720p or so on Mac.
- 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 1000+ video sharing sites, including YouTube, Facebook, Dailymotion, Vevo, Myspace and many more.
- 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.
2. 5KPlayer
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 in a few clicks. It is a quite comprehensive tool that combines YouTube videos audio download, YouTube media playback and stream into one unit, thus you can enjoy the downloaded files directly or in a bigger manner without any other help.
Pros:
- Download videos from 300+ sites including YouTube, Dailymotion, Vevo, etc.
- Analyze any YouTube contents: movies and videos in 3D/4K/HDR/HD/360°3GPP, AVI, FLV, MOV, MPEG4, MPEGPS, WebM and WMV from uploaders.
- Directly play the downloaded YouTube videos on Mac in any format.
- AirPlay YouTube from iPhone iPad to Mac, and cast YouTube contents from Mac to smart TV.
Cons:
- Can’t convert downloaded YouTube videos to other formats.
- Need frequent updates for successful YouTube download on Mac.
- Not compatible with macOS Big Sur as of now.
3. ClipGrab
ClipGrab is 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. 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:
- 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:
- 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.
4. DVDVideosoft YouTube Download
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 choose between MP4, MKV, WebM.
- Interface lags at times.
- Toolbar comes with bloatware.
- Unable to choose output video quality.
5. MacX YouTube Downloader
MacX YouTube Downloader mainly targets YouTube videos download on Mac, so as to let users download all types of YouTube contents including MP3 MP4 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.
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 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.
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.
6. YTD Video Downloader for Mac
YTD Video Downloader for Mac is a speedy, easy-to-use tool for saving streaming videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and so on. Its intuitive interface is easy to use without any instruction and help complete downloads quickly and easily. To save time, you can directly download videos in bulk.
Pros:
- Download & convert entire playlist and channels in MP4, MKV, M4A and AVI.
- Integrate video player to watch videos directly.
- Support a variety of languages.
Cons:
- Limited sites support, you can only download videos from 15 websites.
- Limited output formats, only support resolution up to HD.
- Limited download numbers, only upgrade to pro version you can download unlimited videos from YouTube.
7. 4K Video Downloader
As the name implies, this Mac YouTube downloader 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 want 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.
Pros:
- Able to download a single YouTube video, as well as YouTube playlists and channels.
- Support over 50 languages.
- Extract YouTube subtitles.
- Download videos in HD 1080p/720p, 4K, 8K, 3D in MP4/MKV/FLV/3GP, 360-degree, 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 let you download 30 single videos per day, download 10 videos in a playlist and 5 videos per channel each time.
8. Airy for Mac
Airy YouTube downloader can easily save YouTube video right to your Mac computer. 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. You can download single videos, playlists and 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.
Pros:
- Download entire playlists and channels with subtitles.
- Extract audio from videos to build audio playlist.
- Support Ultra HD videos in 4K and 8K resolutions.
- Has browser integration available for any web platform.
Cons:
- Free version provides two free downloads of YouTube videos.
- Audio files are saved at 256Kbps.
- $19.95 is required for a license key to use all the features to the full extent.
9. Wondershare Free YouTube Downloader for Mac
You can use this downloader as an IE, Firefox, or Safari YouTube downloader to save videos from YouTube to your Mac, 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 have 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).
10. YouTubeHunter
Likewise, this Mac video downloader can download videos from YouTube and many other websites including Vimeo, VEVO, DailyMotion, etc. The most shinning feature of it is the built-in search function which allows you to enter the keywords and then find the videos directly on YouTube or Vimeo. You can preview the found clips from the tool’s interface and decide which one to download and convert.
Pros:
- 15X faster speed to capture YouTube videos.
- Keep subtitles along with the downloaded videos.
- 'Add to iTunes' feature to copy your YouTube videos to iPhone iPad iPod.
- Built-in search tool to find videos you want to download on Mac directly.
- Batch processing to download multiple clips at the same time.
Cons:
- There might be adware or malware during the process.
- You can choose only between two output formats.
- You can’t access to advanced output settings: frame rate, bit rate or audio quality level.
- It is a freemium that you need to upgrade to the full version for more features.
Summary: Among the 10 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, and you can download YouTube videos to Mac free without worries about virus, malware.
Step-by-step Guide to Download YouTube Video Clips MP4 MP3 on Mac
Here we use MacX Video Converter Pro to show you how-to.
Step 1. Click the download button on this page to free download MacX Video Converter Pro, install and launch it on your Mac.
Step 2. Click the 'add URL' button to pop up the video URL parsing box.
Step 3. Find the video clip you want to download on YouTube and copy the URL. Return to MacX Video Converter Pro interface and click on 'Paste & Analyze' input the YouTube video URL. Then, click 'Analyze' to start parsing the video URL.
Step 4. After that, choose the video format, resolution and file size you prefer from the drop down menu, and click 'OK'.
Step 5. Choose an output folder on your Mac to save the downloaded video.
Step 6. Click 'Download Now' to start downloading YouTube videos.
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.
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 vuideos, you are out of luck to get one. But if you only have one of the above needs, the top 10 YouTube downloaders for Mac can give you an ideal choice.
2. 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.
Besides the desktop software, there are also online Mac YouTube downloaders like Keepvid and open-source software like VLC to help get YouTube videos on Mac. However, none of them is better than desktop software due to safety and stability issues.
3. 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 WinX YouTube Downloader let you extract sound from YouTube MP4 video.
4. 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.
YouTube covers various types of videos such as funny, sports, movies, music, etc. It is a platform that all of us like to spend time on. When you are browsing videos on YouTube, you can never understand how time flies. However, watching videos online requires a lot of data. If your network environment is unstable, videos may get stuck or buffered, which is crazy.
At this point, you may consider downloading YouTube videos to your computer for offline viewing. This is a good choice, but requires a third-party downloader and converter. There are many such software on the market, and if you don’t know which software is the best, we will share with you the ten best YouTube downloaders for Mac for you to choose from.
1. Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader
A popular YouTube downloader for Mac, 4K Video Downloader will allow you to overcome the artificial restrictions imposed by certain online services. You will be able to download any content that you desire from YouTube and store it for your own future usage. This software allows you to save complete YouTube playlists in various formats (such as MP4, MP3, FLV, MKV, M4A, etc.). It also has a unique feature that lets you subscribe to YouTube Channels from the app. All their latest videos will get downloaded automatically.
More importantly, it supports 720P HD, 1080P FHD, 4K and 8K UHD resolutions, which means that all the videos you download from YouTube will be of high quality. In addition, the software provides the ability to download system-translated and automatically generated subtitles. After downloading YouTube videos to your Mac computer, you can merge videos with subtitles for easy viewing with its built-in conversion function. As for how to use it, you may check the following simple steps:
- Step 1. Download and install Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader for Mac on your computer.
- Step 2. Go to YouTube, find the video that you’re ready to download then copy its link address.
- Step 3. Run the 4k downloader and paste the link into the program, select your desired resolution from the pop-up box, then tap Download.
- Step 4. Wait for the program to automatically download the YouTube video. After downloading, you will be able to enjoy it offline or share it wherever you like.
2. MacX YouTube Downloader
If you are looking for a YouTube video downloader that will not only get the job done but also perform it efficiently, the MacX YouTube Downloader is perfect for you. This software will enable you to download audio and video without spending a penny. The videos that you download from YouTube will be compatible with your Mac OS, which means that you will be able to revisit them later on.
The MacX software is extremely powerful, and the downloader feature will allow you to download YouTube videos to Mac in different formats and resolutions depending on your requirements. You can save your videos in formats like MP4, FLV, WebM and more.
The software is integrated with a user-friendly interface, and it will not be long before you know how to operate it. The advanced technology gives excellent speed and restricts quality loss.
3. ClipGrab for Mac
One of the best YouTube video downloaders for Mac, ClipGrab offers its services for free. You will be able to download and convert videos that are available on YouTube. You will no longer be restricted to online usage of YouTube. The software will allow you to convert these videos into a variety of formats like MPEG4, MP3, and more with just a few clicks.
ClipGrab works very smoothly with Mac, and you will be able to master it without any difficulty. There are two versions of ClipGrab available for Mac. While the default version is compatible with macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) and above, the legacy version works with older systems making it somewhat more flexible. Once you’ve downloaded YouTube videos to Mac, you will be able to transfer them to your phone for easy viewing.
4.Gihosoft TubeGet
With the help of Gihosoft TubeGet, you can save YouTube videos to Mac easily. The software enables you to download an entire YouTube playlist along with the subtitles so that you can use them offline as well. Moreover, it also allows you to convert online YouTube videos into MP3 audio with precision. You can also use the Pro version if you want advanced features.
However, the basic version itself will allow you to download videos with resolutions up to 1080P, 4K and 8K for free without any difficulty. One of the main advantages of using this YouTube Video Downloader for Mac is that you don’t need a separate YouTube video converter as it can perform multiple tasks.
After downloading, you can transfer the all videos to your mobile devices at once. You can also back up your data to avoid losing any media content.
5. YTD for Mac
YTD is a well-known YouTube video downloader for Windows and Mac operating systems. With it, you can quickly download your favorite YouTube videos to your computer for offline viewing anytime, anywhere. YTD for Mac is very easy to use and has a friendly interface. All you have to do is copy and paste the video link into the software and it will do the rest for you automatically.
YTD supports downloading 720P and 1080P HD videos. If you encounter space problems, you can also opt for lower quality. The software also allows you to track the download status and then instantly convert it to the desired format. There are many preset modes compatible with iPod and iPad. If you want to download and convert simultaneously to save time, you need the Pro version. The YTD video downloader also supports batch downloading.
6. Airy YouTube downloader
If you are wondering how to download YouTube videos to Mac, then this is the software that you need in your life. It will allow you to download and save all your favorite videos without any hassle. The software can run multiple downloads at the same time. Moreover, you have the flexibility of choosing the format and resolution of the downloaded video.
With the help of this YouTube video downloader for Mac you will be able to download YouTube playlists and create your own offline playlists that can be played even in the absence of an Internet connection. Airy offers customization settings which will allow you to tweak the final video so that it meets your quality standards.
There are no videos out of your reach when you are using Airy. Moreover, you will be able to download the accompanying subtitles of the videos in SRT format.
7. MediaHuman
MediaHuman is the most efficient video downloader and converter on the market. This software lets you download all videos that may be of interest on YouTube so you can save them offline. The program will quickly complete the process, after which there will be no restrictions on your YouTube viewing. Moreover, it allows simultaneous downloads, which means that you will be able to save a significant amount of time.
The free YouTube downloader for Mac is compatible with ultra-high-resolution videos such as 4K and 8K.With MediaHuman, you can save complete playlists and even channels on your device. It also allows you to extract audio from the video and store it as a separate MP3 file. If you can configure the software properly, it will automatically transfer the downloaded videos to your iTunes library.
8. 5KPlayer – Download & Play
If you want to save a Youtube video to Mac, then you do not have to work hard as long as you have this software. The 5KPlayer will allow you to download as many online YouTube videos as you want for free. It can also capture streaming media in real time, capturing the moments that you might want to revisit later.
You can expect the software to run smoothly on your Mac, and there will be no unnecessary crashes. You will be able to download the videos in different formats and resolutions according to what you are looking for.
Along with conversion, you can edit the videos without losing the quality of the video. All the videos will run smoothly on your iPhone and iPad once the transfer is complete. You have nothing to worry about!
9. Total Video Downloader
The hunt for the perfect downloader ends today with the Total Video Downloader. Not only is it easy to use, but it also offers high-speed downloads, which means that you will save both time and effort. With this free YouTube video downloader for Mac, you will be able to download your favorite YouTube videos to the Mac computer in different resolutions and formats. You should not underestimate the speed offered by this software. All your videos will be downloaded and stored at 4x speed.
In order to use the YouTube downloader for Mac, you just have to copy the link to the video and then paste it into the program so that the software can start the download process. You will have the freedom to pause and cancel current downloads, which would make it easier to manage time. Preserve the original quality of the videos with Total Video Downloader.
In order to use the YouTube Downloader for Mac, you just need to copy the link to the video and then paste it into the program so that the software can start the download process. You are free to pause and cancel the current download, which will make it easier to manage time. Use Total Video Downloader to preserve the original quality of the video.
10. AllMyTube for Mac
If you want to download your favorite videos from YouTube and watch them offline in your free time, then nothing should stand in your way. With AllMyTube video downloader Mac, you will be able to download and store any video that you like without any trouble. The software works perfectly with the Mac OS. You will be able to enjoy beautiful 4K videos even after you complete the download.
With just one click, you can download entire playlists and channels. All you have to do is copy the URL of the video that you are aiming to download. You can also record YouTube live streams in real time. With AllMyTube, you will also be able to convert videos directly. You can extract the audio and convert them into audio files, or you can experiment with over a hundred video formats.
Conclusion
No ads, buffers, and data consumption! Download a free YouTube video downloader from our list to watch your favorite videos offline smoothly on Mac, Android, iPhone or other devices. If you are not sure which one to choose, you can try Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader first. It covers almost all the functions you need. With one software, you can experience all the features such as downloading videos, playlists, channels, subtitles, covers, and converting videos to MP3, etc. If you find this article useful, please share it with your friends; if you find a better YouTube video downloader for Mac than mentioned in our list, please leave a message in the comment area, we will be glad to add it to the list.