Completely Free! Top 6 YouTube Download Methods Summarized
By Izzy Warren
Topic
Updated on 09/07/2024
As you may know, YouTube Premium users can download YouTube videos to their devices and play them offline for 30 days. However, many people may wish to download YouTube videos for free or find a safe way to save YouTube videos for free. Therefore, this article introduces methods to download and permanently free save YouTube videos, with web browsers and apps.
Contents
Note: Before downloading YouTube videos, please check the copyright of the video. We do not recommend downloading illegally uploaded videos or audio. Remember to use it for "personal use", "do not redistribute", and "do not click on ads".
No.1 TunePat VideoGo All-In-One
TunePat VideoGo All-In-One is a powerful video download software that allows you to download videos for free from YouTube. Additionally, you can download videos from video streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Max. This tool is totally safe and secure and is capable of saving YouTube videos in MP4/MKV with 1080p/2k/4k/8k. Here are the steps to free download videos from YouTube using TunePat VideoGo All-In-One:
Step 1 Download and install TunePat VideoGo All-In-One.
Step 2 On the main screen, select YouTube from the site options and click "Settings" to customize output settings.
Step 3 Open the video you'd like to download on the embedded YouTube web player and click the green arrow.
Step 4 Click on "Advanced Download" to select specific video quality, audio tracks, and subtitles you want to download.
Step 5 After completing the settings, click the "Download" button to start the download.
Pros and Cons
TunePat VideoGo All-In-One allows you to download videos from YouTube for free. Additionally, you can extract audio from videos. In terms of safety, it does not have any plugins or annoying ads. However, if you want to save videos from Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or Max, you will need to purchase the paid version.
No.2 NoteBurner YouTube Video Downloader
NoteBurner YouTube Video Downloader is a specialized video downloader for YouTube. By pasting a URL, you can download videos from YouTube in high quality as MP4 or MKV, and even extract audio as M4A, WebM, or MP3 files. Here's how to use it:
Step 1 Download and install NoteBurner YouTube Video Downloader.
Step 2 Open the "Settings" window and set the video output quality to "High".
Step 3 Copy the YouTube URL, paste it into the search box, and search for the video.
Step 4 After confirming the video, click the "Advanced Download" button next to the download button.
Step 5 Select the video resolution and format (such as MP4 or MKV) and click the "Download" button to start downloading.
Pros and Cons
NoteBurner YouTube Video Downloader is completely free software that downloads YouTube videos without ads and without any viruses or plugins. You can use it with peace of mind. However, sometimes changes on YouTube's side may cause download failures.
No. 3 Any Video Converter Free Version
Any Video Converter Free Version is an excellent video conversion and editing software. Its main features are video conversion and editing, but it also has a download function that allows you to download videos from over 100 sharing sites, including YouTube, Facebook, VEVO, Vimeo, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Dailymotion. Here's how you can download videos from YouTube using Any Video Converter Free Version:
Step 1 Download and install Any Video Converter Free Version.
Step 2 Click on "Video Download" and paste the YouTube video URL into the pop-up window.
Step 3 Choose the output options from the right handside.
Step 4 Click "Start" to begin the download.
Pros and Cons
Any Video Converter Free Version not only allows you to download YouTube videos but also lets you edit the downloaded videos and burn them to a DVD. In terms of safety, Any Video Converter Free Version is free from viruses and annoying ads. While there might be instances of download failures, they are usually resolved quickly. However, as a video conversion and editing software, its DVD burning feature is somewhat unstable, which is considered as its biggest drawback.
No. 4 Offliberty (http://offliberty.com/)
Offliberty is a website that allows you to download videos uploaded on the web. You can also save just the audio from the videos. Offliberty receives a lot of monthly traffic, typically over 10 million visits. Its Facebook page has more than 100,000 likes. While Offliberty has a Japanese version of the site, its download success rate is slightly lower compared to the English version. Here's how to download YouTube videos using Offliberty:
Step 1 First, copy the URL of the YouTube video you want to download.
Step 2 Access Offliberty (http://offliberty.com/).
Step 3 Paste the URL and either press Enter or click the power (OFF) icon.
Step 4 Click the yellow button to start downloading the video in MP4 format.
Pros and Cons
Offliberty is easy to use because it doesn't require detailed settings. Additionally, it has few annoying ads and doesn't redirect you to other sites. On the downside, you can't select the output format or quality of the videos when using Offliberty. In the Japanese version, you might also encounter issues with searching for videos.
No. 5 y2mate.com (https://www.y2mate.com/en370)
Y2mate is a video download site that allows you to download videos from YouTube, Facebook, Video, Dailymotion, Youku, and more. The available output formats include MP4, M4V, 3GP, WMV, FLV, MP3, and WEBM. The operation is simple and easy to understand even for beginners. Here are the detailed steps to download YouTube videos using Y2mate:
Step 1 Paste the link of the video you want to convert directly.
Step 2 Click the "Start" button to begin the download.
Step 3 The videos you want to download will be listed below.
Step 4 Select the video/audio format you want to download and click the "Download" button.
Pros and Cons
Y2mate is lightweight since it's a download site. According to Norton Safe Web, Y2mate is safe and free from viruses. However, when using Y2mate to select output formats, it might redirect you to suspicious websites or automatically download some Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs).
No. 6 Easy Video Download (https://www.thxyoutube.com/watch/)
Easy Video Download (thxyoutube) is an online conversion site. By using this one tool, you can paste a YouTube video link into the site and complete the download in just a few clicks. Here's how to download YouTube videos using Easy Video Download.
Step 1 Go to Easy Video Download (https://www.thxyoutube.com/watch/).
Step 2 Paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download and click the "START" button.
Step 3 Once the video is loaded, multiple downloadable files will be displayed.
Step 4 Select the desired output quality.
Step 5 An advertisement and the download link screen will open. Hover over the "DOWNLOAD" section, then right-click.
Pros and Cons
Easy Video Download (thxyoutube) is easy to use, but the site contains many malicious ads that are easy to click on by mistake. If you accidentally click on one of these ads, you might be redirected to a dangerous or fraudulent site, so please be careful.
FAQs about Free YouTube Video Download
Q1. Is it illegal to download videos from YouTube?
You shouldn't download videos or audio that have been uploaded illegally. Downloading content without permission from YouTube and the copyright holder is prohibited. However, downloading videos uploaded by official accounts or those marked with Creative Commons is allowed.
Q2. What is free downloading?
Generally, to download YouTube videos, you need to subscribe to "YouTube Premium". Even with this subscription, you can only save videos temporarily. Free downloading refers to using free software or websites to download YouTube videos without needing a YouTube Premium subscription. These methods allow you to permanently save videos to your PC and are easy to use.
Q3. How much does YouTube Premium cost?
Subscribing to YouTube Premium allows you to legally download YouTube videos. The individual plan costs $14.99 per month (tax included) and offers a one-month free trial. The family plan is $22.99 per month, and the student plan is $8.99 per month. (*Please check the official site for the exact prices.)
Conclusion
The above are methods for free downloading YouTube videos to your computer. The recommended tools TunePat VideoGo All-In-One, NoteBurner YouTube Video Downloader, Any Video Converter Free Version, Offliberty, y2mate.com, and Easy Video Download are all completely free.
Compared to dedicated video downloaders, download sites are lighter, but app versions are safer. When using download sites, be particularly cautious of fake ads when saving YouTube videos. Avoid clicking on fake ads. Since all the tools mentioned above are free, you can freely choose the method that suits you best.
Izzy Warren
Content Writer