The Best Free Software for Downloading YouTube Videos

You find the best video on YouTube. It could be your favourite song, a how-to video, or a video that makes you feel happy. You want to save it so you can watch it later or just get the music for your next workout playlist.

It’s not easy with YouTube though.

There are free tools that can help you do that. With these useful apps, you can save movies (or just the sound) to your phone or tablet, even when you’re not online.

Which one should you use, though?

We’ve tested the best of the best in 2025—free, safe, and easy-to-use tools for downloading YouTube videos and converting them to MP3. This guide is packed with real insights, pros and cons, fresh tools, and tips you won’t find in the usual cookie-cutter blog posts.

👀 What You’ll Learn

In this post, we’ll cover:

• The top free software to download YouTube videos in 2025
• The best YouTube to MP3 downloader apps for grabbing just the audio
• How to choose the right tool for your device (Windows, Mac, Android, or online)
• Safety tips (because malware is real)

🏆 The 8 Best Free YouTube Video Downloaders in 2025

Let’s dive right in.

1. 4K Video Downloader+ (Windows, Mac, Linux)

If you’re looking for quality, this one tops the list. 4K Video Downloader+ lets you download Youtube videos, playlists, subtitles, and even channels in up to 8K resolution.

Pros:

• Easy to use, clean interface
• Supports YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, Facebook, and more
• Download subtitles with videos
• Great for batch downloads

Cons:

• Free version limits playlist size
• Ads in the free version (not too annoying)

💡 Pro tip: You can extract just the audio too—perfect for podcasts or music!

Also Read: Top 10 Free Software for Screen Recording

2. YTD Video Downloader (Windows & Mac)

YTD has been around forever, and for good reason. It’s fast, lightweight, and does the job without trying too hard.

Pros:

• Simple and quick
• Built-in converter (video to MP3, MP4, AVI, etc.)
• Great for low-spec PCs

Cons:

• The installer might try to sneak in extra software—uncheck those boxes!
• No playlist downloads in the free version

3. Snap Downloader (Windows & macOS)

Snap Downloader is like the premium feel without the premium price. It supports over 900 websites (not just YouTube).

If you want to download Youtube videos for free then use this software.

Pros:

• Fast multi-threaded downloads
• Download in 8K, 4K, 1080p, 720p
• Supports auto-download from channel subscriptions

Cons:

• Free trial only (paid after that)
• No mobile version

✅ Why we like it: If you’re okay with a trial, this is your best friend for large, high-quality downloads.

Also Read: Top 5 Best Free VPN Download for PC

4. YT Saver (Windows, macOS)

This one feels like a hidden gem. YT Saver isn’t as well-known but offers a solid interface and handy tools for trimming, converting, and downloading Youtube videos.

Pros:

• Built-in browser for downloading from restricted websites
• Easy YouTube to MP3 conversion
• Clean UI

Cons:

• Limited downloads in the free version

5. Clip Grab (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Clip Grab is free, open-source, and works great if you want downloading Youtube videos this software help you to download videos from Youtube.

Pros:

• Totally free and lightweight
• Converts YouTube videos to MP3, MP4, WMV, etc.
• Ad-free

Cons:

• Interface feels a bit dated
• Not the fastest option

6. By Click Downloader (Windows only)

By Click shines with its one-click simplicity. It recognizes when you’re watching a YouTube video in your browser and offers to download it.

Pros:

• One-click download magic
• Convert to MP3, MP4, AVI, etc.
• Supports playlists and channels

Cons:

• Windows only
• Slightly aggressive pop-ups

7. Online Video Converter Tools (No install needed)

If you don’t want to download software, these online tools are great to downloading Youtube videos for free.

• Y2Mate
• SaveFrom.net
• KeepVid
• SnapSave.io

Pros:

• No install, just paste the link
• Fast and free
• Works on any device with a browser

Cons:

• Watch out for pop-up ads
• Some may go offline or change domains frequently

🔐 Security tip: Always use an ad-blocker and never click on “Download EXE” buttons from these sites.

8. New for 2025: TubeMate (Android App)

Looking to download straight to your phone? TubeMate is one of the most trusted YouTube video downloaders for Android.

Pros:

• Easy mobile interface
• Supports background downloading
• Converts videos to MP3 on the go

Cons:

• Not available on Google Play Store (download from the official site only)
• Occasional bugs on newer Android versions

🎵 Best YouTube to MP3 Downloader Apps (For Just the Audio)

If you’re here just for the music or podcast-style listening, these are our top picks:

✔️ Any Video Converter Free (Windows & Mac)

Despite the name, it’s perfect for extracting audio too.

✔️ MP3Studio YouTube Downloader (Windows/Mac/Android)

Designed with MP3 lovers in mind—batch MP3 downloads, ID3 tag editing, and more.

✔️ MediaHuman YouTube to MP3 (Windows/Mac)

Simple, sleek, and made specifically for converting YouTube to high-quality MP3s.

📱 Compatibility: Which One Should You Use?

🚫 Safety First: Read This Before Downloading

Look—we need to talk about malware and fake downloaders.

Not all download sites are safe. Some try to trick you with fake buttons or bundle in sketchy software. Always:

• Download from the official website (never third-party links)
• Use antivirus protection
• Read the installer steps carefully and uncheck unwanted extras
• Avoid any site that requires you to create an account just to download

🆕 What Makes This Guide Different?

We get it. You’ve seen a dozen “Best YouTube Downloader” posts. But here’s what sets this one apart:

✅ Up-to-date tools for 2025 – No outdated apps from 2019
✅ Real testing – We tried these tools ourselves
✅ More than just YouTube – TikTok, Instagram, Facebook supported
✅ Clear pros/cons – Not sugar-coated
✅ MP3-specific picks – Because sometimes you just want the audio

🧠 Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Choose?

If you want the best all-around downloader: Go with 4K Video Downloader+

If you want the easiest mobile experience: Try TubeMate

If you just want MP3 files: Media Human or MP3Studio is your jam

And if you want to keep it simple and browser-based: Bookmark Y2Mate or SnapSave.io

Whatever you pick, make sure you’re staying safe, not breaking any laws, and using these tools responsibly.

Happy downloading!

Have questions, tips, or favorite tools we didn’t mention? Drop them in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!