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11 Best YouTube Video Downloaders, Ranked by Features

Quick Answer

Based on features alone, yt-dlp ranks first. It is free, downloads up to 8K with HDR and 60 fps, supports every format and codec, and handles subtitles, playlists and sign-in. If you want an app instead of commands, Open Video Downloader offers most of the same features on Windows, Mac and Linux, and YTDLnis is the most complete option on Android. YouTube Premium is the only official way, but its downloads only play inside the YouTube app.
Updated October 17, 2026
There are plenty of reasons to download a YouTube video, whether you want to watch it on a flight, keep a copy of a tutorial, or save a lecture before it gets taken down. YouTube Premium lets you download videos, but only inside the YouTube app, so you never actually get the file.
This is where a YouTube video downloader comes in handy. But not all of them are equal. Some stop at 360p, some lock playlists behind a paywall, and some are ad-filled websites you should stay away from.
So instead of picking favourites, we ranked 11 popular YouTube video downloaders purely on the features and specs they offer: maximum quality, formats and codecs, playlist and channel support, extras like subtitles and sign-in, how often they are updated, and whether they are free and clean. Here is the full list.

List of the Best YouTube Video Downloaders

yt-dlp logo

1. yt-dlp

Website
4.9
Every format and quality, if you don't mind typing commands.
Type
Open source, command line
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Price
Free
Version tested
2026.08.19
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.9 above is their average.
Max Quality5.0/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs5.0/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels4.6/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras5.0/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.8/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean5.0/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Free and open source, with no ads or limits
  • Picks HDR, AV1 and 60 fps formats exactly
  • Subtitles, cookies, SponsorBlock and download archives built in
  • Gets YouTube fixes first, often within days
Weaknesses
  • Command line only, so there is a learning curve
  • Needs FFmpeg and a JavaScript runtime for full YouTube support
  • Old versions stop working, so you must keep updating
  • Some fixes reach the nightly build before the stable one
YTDLnis logo

2. YTDLnis

Website
4.9
The most complete YouTube downloader on Android.
Type
Open source Android app
Platforms
Android 7.0 and later
Price
Free
Version tested
1.9.0
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.9 above is their average.
Max Quality4.3/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs5.0/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels5.0/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras5.0/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.8/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean5.0/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • yt-dlp's full feature set without typing commands
  • Downloads whole channels and playlists on a schedule
  • Sign in for private, members-only and age-restricted videos
  • Choose AV1, VP9, H.264 or H.265, in MP4, MKV or WebM
Weaknesses
  • Busy interface with lots of settings
  • Some YouTube fixes need extra packages like Deno
  • Breaks briefly whenever YouTube changes something
  • Not on the Play Store, so you install it from GitHub or F-Droid
Open Video Downloader logo

3. Open Video Downloader

Website
4.6
yt-dlp's features in a free, open source app.
Type
Open source desktop app
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Price
Free
Version tested
3.2.1
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.6 above is their average.
Max Quality4.3/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs4.6/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels4.0/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras5.0/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.6/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean5.0/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Free and open source, with no ads or tracking
  • Choose resolution, frame rate, codec and audio track
  • Saves subtitles, including auto-generated ones
  • Updates yt-dlp by itself, so fixes arrive fast
Weaknesses
  • No channel subscriptions or automatic downloads of new uploads
  • Has to wait for yt-dlp fixes during YouTube outages
  • Some open bugs with large playlist downloads
  • The Microsoft Store version cannot update yt-dlp by itself
JDownloader 2 logo

4. JDownloader 2

Website
4.4
8K, HDR and bulk downloads, but watch the installer.
Type
Free download manager
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS
Price
Free
Version tested
Updated October 2026
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.4 above is their average.
Max Quality5.0/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs4.6/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels4.5/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras4.6/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.6/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean3.2/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Free, with no download caps or paid tiers
  • Offers 8K, AV1, HDR and 60 fps versions of each video
  • Grabs whole channels and playlists, and resumes downloads
  • Also works with file hosts and many other sites
Weaknesses
  • Java app that starts slowly and uses a lot of memory
  • The Windows installer can include optional software offers
  • YouTube sign-in needs a manual cookie export from your browser
  • Its website served malware installers for two days in May 2026
Stacher logo

5. Stacher

Website
4.3
A polished yt-dlp app with free channel subscriptions.
Type
Free app for yt-dlp
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Price
Free, Premium $5 a month
Version tested
7.1.12
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.3 above is their average.
Max Quality4.0/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs4.0/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels5.0/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras3.6/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.8/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean4.5/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Channel and playlist subscriptions included for free
  • Keeps yt-dlp and Deno updated by itself
  • No ads in the app
  • Clean interface with most yt-dlp options
Weaknesses
  • Closed source, and the Library needs Premium
  • Subtitle and sign-in options are not documented
  • Large installer, about 180 MB on Windows
  • Few independent reviews to judge it by
Parabolic logo

6. Parabolic

Website
4.2
Clean and open source, but updates have slowed down.
Type
Open source desktop app
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Price
Free
Version tested
2026.5.0
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.2 above is their average.
Max Quality4.3/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs4.8/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels3.6/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras4.6/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates3.2/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean5.0/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Free and MIT open source, with no ads
  • Choose codec, frame rate and speed limit
  • Subtitles, SponsorBlock and cookie files supported
  • Browser extension sends links straight to the app
Weaknesses
  • No new release since May 2026
  • Some YouTube fixes need the beta yt-dlp channel
  • Browser cookie import was removed on Windows
  • No channel subscriptions
MediaHuman YouTube Downloader logo

7. MediaHuman YouTube Downloader

Website
4.2
Up to 8K with channel tracking, for a one-time fee.
Type
Paid desktop app
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Price
$29.99 once, free trial
Version tested
3.9.24
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.2 above is their average.
Max Quality4.7/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs4.0/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels5.0/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras3.8/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.8/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean3.0/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Downloads up to 8K at 30 or 60 fps
  • Tracks channels and downloads new uploads automatically
  • Built-in YouTube sign-in for age-restricted and private playlists
  • Up to 20 downloads at the same time
Weaknesses
  • Paid licence, and the trial limits are not published
  • YouTube subtitle downloads are not documented
  • Several YouTube breakages in 2026 needed updates
  • Major version upgrades cost extra
4K Video Downloader Plus logo

8. 4K Video Downloader Plus

Website
4.2
Up to 8K and private playlists, but the free plan is capped.
Type
Freemium desktop app
Platforms
Windows, macOS 12+, Ubuntu, Android
Price
Free plan, $25 lifetime
Version tested
26.3.5
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 4.2 above is their average.
Max Quality4.7/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs4.0/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels4.2/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras4.5/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.6/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean3.0/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Downloads up to 8K, plus 360-degree and 3D video
  • Subtitles in over 50 languages
  • Private playlists, Watch Later and Liked videos on paid plans
  • One-time lifetime licence available
Weaknesses
  • The free plan has a daily download cap and shows ads
  • 4K videos often only save as MKV
  • Some users report failed downloads after updates
  • Paid features differ by plan, which can be confusing
NewPipe logo

9. NewPipe

Website
3.5
A full YouTube app for Android that can also download.
Type
Open source Android app
Platforms
Android 6.0 and later
Price
Free
Version tested
0.29.1
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 3.5 above is their average.
Max Quality3.8/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs3.5/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels1.5/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras3.0/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates4.0/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean5.0/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Free, with no ads and no Google account needed
  • Downloads video, audio and subtitles up to 4K
  • Background play and a popup player as well
  • Light on battery and privacy friendly
Weaknesses
  • No playlist or channel bulk downloads
  • No sign-in, so no private or members-only videos
  • No HDR, AV1 or 8K
  • Frequent 403 errors when YouTube changes something
YouTube Premium logo

10. YouTube Premium

Website
2.8
The official way, but downloads only play inside YouTube.
Type
Official subscription
Platforms
Android, iOS, web browsers
Price
$15.99 a month (₹149 in India)
Version tested
Always current
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 2.8 above is their average.
Max Quality3.0/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs1.0/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels3.5/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras2.0/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates5.0/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean2.5/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Official and legal, so it never breaks
  • Works on phones and in desktop browsers
  • Downloads whole playlists, plus automatic Smart Downloads
  • Also removes ads and adds background play
Weaknesses
  • Files are encrypted and only play inside YouTube
  • You must reconnect every 29 days, or 48 hours in some regions
  • Monthly subscription, and US prices went up in 2026
  • No way to save audio as an MP3

11. Generic Web Downloaders

Avoid
1.3
The savefrom and y2mate kind of website.
Type
Ad-funded websites
Platforms
Any browser
Price
Free, funded by ads
Version tested
Domains change constantly
Parameter Breakdown
Each one is out of 5, and the 1.3 above is their average.
Max Quality1.5/5
Resolution, HDR and 60 fps
Formats & Codecs2.0/5
MP4, MKV, WebM; AV1, VP9, H.264
Playlists & Channels1.0/5
Bulk downloads, new uploads
Extras1.5/5
Subtitles, audio-only, sign-in
Updates1.0/5
How quickly YouTube fixes arrive
Free & Clean0.8/5
Price, limits, ads, bundled offers
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
  • Nothing to install, and they work on any device
  • Quick for a single short video
  • No account needed
Weaknesses
  • Usually 360p with sound; higher qualities often have no audio
  • Aggressive ads, pop-ups, redirects and notification spam
  • Y2mate and 11 related sites were shut down in October 2025
  • Copycat sites with unknown owners

Which One Fits Your Needs

8K, HDR and 60 fps
yt-dlp or JDownloader 2
Both offer 8K, HDR and 60 fps versions of a video.
A free app instead of commands
Open Video Downloader
Open source, with codec, subtitle and cookie options.
On Android
YTDLnis
Up to 4K, AV1, playlists, channels and sign-in.
Auto-downloading new uploads
Stacher, MediaHuman or YTDLnis
All three can follow channels and grab new videos.
360-degree and 3D video
4K Video Downloader Plus
The only one that lists 360-degree and 3D downloads.
Staying official
YouTube Premium
Downloads inside the YouTube app only.

Full Comparison Table

ToolOverallMax QualityFormats & CodecsPlaylists & ChannelsExtrasUpdatesFree & CleanPrice
1. yt-dlp4.95.05.04.65.04.85.0Free
2. YTDLnis4.94.35.05.05.04.85.0Free
3. Open Video Downloader4.64.34.64.05.04.65.0Free
4. JDownloader 24.45.04.64.54.64.63.2Free
5. Stacher4.34.04.05.03.64.84.5Free, Premium $5 a month
6. Parabolic4.24.34.83.64.63.25.0Free
7. MediaHuman YouTube Downloader4.24.74.05.03.84.83.0$29.99 once, free trial
8. 4K Video Downloader Plus4.24.74.04.24.54.63.0Free plan, $25 lifetime
9. NewPipe3.53.83.51.53.04.05.0Free
10. YouTube Premium2.83.01.03.52.05.02.5$15.99 a month (₹149 in India)
11. Generic Web Downloaders1.31.52.01.01.51.00.8Free, funded by ads
Every figure is out of 5, and Overall is simply the average of the six.

FAQs on YouTube Video Downloaders

Is it legal to download YouTube videos?

Not always. Downloading videos you don't own breaks YouTube's Terms of Service, and in many countries, copyright law as well. However, your own uploads and Creative Commons videos are fine. YouTube Premium is the official way to watch offline.

Why do some downloaders only give me 360p?

Since mid-2024, YouTube only offers 360p as a single file with both video and audio. Higher qualities come as separate video and audio streams that have to be merged, which is why many websites stop at 360p or give you a silent 1080p file.

What is the difference between MP4 and MKV?

Both hold video and audio. MP4 plays almost everywhere, while YouTube's 4K and 8K videos usually use VP9 or AV1, which are often saved as MKV or WebM. Choose MP4 with H.264 if you need it to play on older devices.

Can I download 4K and 8K videos?

Yes. yt-dlp, JDownloader 2, 4K Video Downloader Plus and MediaHuman all support 8K. However, the video has to be uploaded in that quality in the first place.

Can I download private or age-restricted videos?

Yes, with apps that let you sign in or use your browser cookies, like yt-dlp, YTDLnis, Open Video Downloader and MediaHuman. NewPipe and the websites can't.

Why aren't Seal, Video DownloadHelper or cobalt on this list?

Seal hasn't had a stable release since October 2024 and often fails on YouTube in 2026. Video DownloadHelper doesn't support YouTube in Chrome, and cobalt's public site hasn't supported YouTube since mid-2025.

Are these YouTube downloaders safe?

Yes, the apps on this list are safe. However, JDownloader's Windows installer can include optional offers, and its website served malware for two days in May 2026, so check the AppWork GmbH signature before installing. Avoid the ad-filled websites.

Decision Matrix

What you needyt-dlpYTDLnisOpen Video DLJDownloaderStacherParabolicMediaHuman4K DownloaderNewPipeYT Premium
Free with no download limits
4K and higher
Whole playlists and channels
Auto-downloads new uploads
Subtitles
Sign in for private or age-restricted videos
No ads or bundled offers
Open source
Yes Partly No