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Download Center 9 Best Free YouTube Downloaders for Mac: Full Reviews
By Gisela Werber
Updated on Oct 12, 2024
12.5K views
5min read
Are you still struggling to choose the best free YouTube downloader for Mac? With so many options available on the market, how do you make a wise choice? This article is here to help by introducing 9 top-rated free YouTube downloaders for macOS computers, including desktop software and online tools. Also, we will compare their key features, ease of use, and pros and cons in detail to help you quickly find the right one. This way you can watch your favorite YouTube videos offline whenever you want!
Quick Overview of Top YouTube Video Downloader for Mac
To pick the best free YouTube downloader for Macbook Pro/Air, you can prioritize several factors, such as video format, download quality, stability, advanced features, and so on. Before we explore each option deeply, let’s take a quick look at them all.
| YouTube Downloader for Mac | Type | Ease of Use | Output Quality | Output Format | Performance | Ads-free | Subtitle Download | Built-in Browser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TuneFab VideOne 🥇 | Software | Easy | Up to 4K | MP4, MKV, MOV | Stable & Fast | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| VideoHunter | Software | Easy | Up to 8K | MP4, MP3 | Stable & Fast | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| MacX | Software | Easy | Up to 8K | MP4, FLV, 3GP, WebM | Stable & Fast | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 4K Video Downloader | Software | Easy | Up to 8K | MP4, MKV, FLV, 3GP | Stable & Fast | ❌(Free version included) | ✔️ (Not for free) | ✔️ |
| YTD | Software | Medium | Up to 8K | MOV, MP4, 3GP, AVI, MP3, WMV | Less Stable & Slow | ❌(Free version included) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Airy | Software | Medium | Up to 1080P | MP3, MP4, FLV, 3GP | Less Stable & Slow | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Freemake | Software | Easy | Up to 4K | AVI, FLV, MKV, 3GP | Less Stable & Slow | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| ClipConverter | Online | Easy | Up to 4K | MP3, MP4, M4A, AAC, 3GP, AVI, etc | Less Stable & Slow | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| YT5s | Online | Easy | Up to 1080P | MP4, 3GP, WEBM, MP3, OGG, M4A | Less Stable & Slow | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
After going through this overview, you may have a general idea of these downloaders. Next, let’s continue reading to discover the ideal free YouTube downloader for your iMac.
1. TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader [Best Overall]
TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader is a versatile video solution for multiple streaming sites, including YouTube. Prioritizing users’ needs, this tool offers a free YouTube downloader for Mac to help you convert videos, or entire playlists and channels from YouTube to 4K MP4 files at no cost. More importantly, whether you have a free or premium YouTube account, TuneFab has you covered!
Moreover, its built-in browser makes it easier for you to directly search and download YouTube videos on Mac computers. This way, you don’t need to manually copy and paste the video URL like other options. If you need a reliable and efficient YouTube downloader for your Macbook, try TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader first.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Download YouTube videos to MP4, MKV, or MOV, in up to 4K quality. ✔️ 3X faster speed to batch download YouTube videos. ✔️ Download entire playlists and channels from YouTube at once. ✔️ Quick search for YouTube videos within the built-in browser by keywords. ✔️ Offer options for multi-language audio tracks and subtitles. |
❌ Only download the first 5 minutes of each video during the free trial. |
Now, follow the brief steps to download YouTube videos on your MacBook/iMac.
Step 1. Launch TuneFab VideOne Downloader, choose YouTube, and log into your account.
Step 2. On the inbuilt YouTube web player, search for YouTube video, playlist, or channel you want to download.
Step 3. Tweak output settings, like formats, quality, etc., and then hit “Convert All” to save YouTube videos on your MacBook Air/Pro.
2. VideoHunter YouTube Downloader
VideoHunter YouTube Downloader is another ideal choice for beginners. Similar to TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader, it also has an intuitive and user-friendly interface, which contains only the essential features with no ads or complicated settings. Therefore, even first-time users of free YouTube downloaders for Macbooks will be able to get started quickly.
However, ease of use does not mean being not professional. With just a few simple clicks, VideoHunter can quickly download YouTube videos for free to your Mac and save them in stunning Ultra HD quality up to 8K, creating a cinema-like viewing experience for you at home.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Convert YouTube videos, playlists, and channels to MP4 or MP3. ✔️ Ensure high-quality outputs, up to 8K. ✔️ Support multi-language subtitle downloads. ✔️ Offer a 6X faster download speed. ✔️ Very easy to use. |
❌ Only 3 videos can be downloaded for free per day. ❌ No built-in browser for quick search. |
3. MacX YouTube Downloader
MacX YouTube Downloader is a dedicated video downloader designed specifically for Macbook Pro, Air, and iMac. With its powerful features, downloading YouTube videos has become a piece of cake. It can not only download any HD video from YouTube to MP4 for easy offline playback but also automatically detect any YouTube video opened in a browser, making the downloading process more hassle-free.
While it is a free YouTube downloader for Mac, there are several limitations, such as lower quality, limited formats, larger file size outputs, etc. Also, it doesn’t allow you to download YouTube subtitles with videos. Thus, to enjoy better services, you can consider switching to other tools, like TuneFab we mentioned before.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Download videos from 1,000+ video sites, including YouTube. ✔️ Detect available YouTube videos automatically. ✔️ Include several output formats like MP4, WebM, FLV, 3GP to better suit your device. ✔️ Support batch download of YouTube videos. |
❌ Limited features for the free version. ❌ Occasional download errors or interruptions. ❌ No browser integration. |
4. 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is considered one of the best YouTube downloaders for Mac because it includes all the necessary features you need to watch YouTube videos offline. Moreover, thanks to its Smart Mode, this tool can quickly download high-quality YouTube videos from HD 720p, 1080p to 4K, and even 8K.
In addition, this software also supports downloading YouTube subtitles, but unfortunately, this feature is only available to paid users. Plus, it is important to note that the number of free downloads per day has been reduced from 30 to 10, and this limit might drop further in the future. In this case, it may be a good idea to consider some alternatives to 4K Video Downloader.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Ensure high-quality video downloads, up to 8K. ✔️ One-click download the entire playlist and channel from YouTube. ✔️ Support 3D and 360-degree video downloads. ✔️ Offer Smart Mode for faster YouTube downloads. |
❌ Include ads in the free version. ❌ Offer limited download features for free. ❌ Limit simultaneous downloads for 3 videos only. |
5. YTD Video Downloader
YTD Video Downloader has been popular among over 10 million users worldwide since its launch in 2007. It offers a simple way to let you easily download any video from YouTube in multiple formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, etc., and output high-quality videos up to 8K. This way you can watch stunning YouTube videos offline on any device.
However, unlike other best YouTube downloaders for Mac, like TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader, it can only process one video URL at a time. If you need to download many videos from multiple URLs simultaneously, then YTD may not be the ideal choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Download videos from over 50 video sites. ✔️ Save multiple videos simultaneously, suitable for YouTube playlist/channel downloads. ✔️ Maintain videos from HD to sharp 8K quality. ✔️ Provide a built-in converter for more output formats, including MP4, MKV, M4A, MP3, and AVI. |
❌ Has ads in the free version. ❌ Process one URL at a time. ❌ Offer limited features in the free version. |
6. Airy YouTube Downloader
Airy offers an excellent free YouTube downloader for Mac. It can be seamlessly integrated with browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, and supports fast batch download of HD YouTube videos. Additionally, Airy can also automatically detect downloadable URLs from YouTube pages, making the download process more convenient. Unfortunately, however, its free version only allows you to download two videos, which may not meet your needs.
Tips : You’ll find that Airy’s interface is quite basic compared to other products, with fewer features. Therefore, if you’re looking for a better video downloading experience, TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader would be the better choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Seamless integration with multiple browsers. ✔️ Support batch downloading of YouTube playlists and channels. ✔️ Offer an option to pause/resume active downloads. ✔️ Ensure HD YouTube video outputs. |
❌ Offer 2 free downloads only. ❌ Browser integration process is challenging. |
7. Freemake YouTube Video Downloader
Have you heard of Freemake YouTube Video Downloader, an online tool that was once popular? While this online service is no longer available, the Freemake team has launched a powerful desktop YouTube downloader for Mac users. It can easily bypass DRM protection and convert YouTube videos to MP4, AVI, 3GP, FLV, and more, so you can watch them offline anytime, anywhere.
Keep in mind, though, its free version is limited to downloading videos that are only 3 minutes long and includes a Freemake watermark. If you need a free YouTube downloader for your Macbook without a watermark, it is advisable to explore other options like TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Download any video with a URL from 10,000 sites, including YouTube. ✔️ Convert YouTube videos to any DRM-free format like MP4. ✔️ Save original video quality, up to 4K. ✔️ Support direct upload of YouTube videos to Dropbox and Google Drive. |
❌ Unable to download videos for free that are longer than 3 minutes. ❌ Watermark is included in free video downloads. |
8. ClipConverter
ClipConverter can download YouTube videos to multiple popular formats, such as MP4, 3GP, AVI, and MKV, and supports several output qualities from 720P to 4K. Without any software installed, just copy and paste the YouTube video URL, select a proper format and quality, and then you can start downloading. After that, you can easily watch your favorite YouTube videos offline on your phone, tablet, or TV. Additionally, ClipConverter also provides browser addons for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari to make the download process more convenient.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Offer free YouTube video downloader online. ✔️ Support several output formats such as MP4, MP3, MKV, etc. ✔️ Download YouTube videos with up to 4K. ✔️ Provide free addons for integration with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. |
❌ Unable to convert music videos from YouTube. ❌ Annoying Ads pop up. ❌ No support for batch download. ❌ Potential security risk. |
9. YT5s
YT5s is also a great choice if you prefer a free YouTube downloader for Mac without having to install extra software. It comes with a user-friendly interface and offers a straightforward method to download YouTube videos for offline watching on any device. One standout feature of YT5s is that it offers a built-in browser, enabling you to directly search for target YouTube videos by entering keywords, without the need to manually copy and paste the YouTube video URLs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Download YouTube videos online for free. ✔️ Direct search with keywords in the built-in browser. ✔️ Convert HD YouTube videos to be DRM-free with multiple common formats. ✔️ Fast speed for efficient downloading. |
❌ No batch download feature. ❌ No support for downloading YouTube playlists and channels. ❌ Relatively unstable performance and success rate. |
Conclusion
In this article, we have reviewed 9 free YouTube downloaders for Mac and made a detailed comparison of their features and pros & cons. Whether you want to download 4K/8K YouTube videos, batch playlists/channel downloads, or fast downloads, you can find the right tool for you in this article. Among them, TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader stands out as the best YouTube downloader for Mac with its ease of use, powerful download features, stable performance, and high success rate, making it worth trying.