Many Internet users want to download Youtube videos. Downloading the videos can be beneficial in several ways including the option to play the video at any time without having to access the Youtube website on the Internet. It can also save bandwidth and be used to transfer the Youtube videos to devices like cell phones, media players or gaming systems that are usually not connected to the Internet or that do not offer the speed needed to enjoy the videos.
There are basically three ways of downloading Youtube videos: Using a web service, a web browser add-on or a standalone software program. All methods have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. Web services for example are usually independent of operating systems and can be used instantly without having to install software.They do usually lack the ability to download multiple Youtube videos at once.
Web browser plugins require installation. They have the advantage that they work directly on the site which is very comfortable for the user. They also usually do not provide the means to add multiple videos at once to a download queue.
Software programs that download videos from Youtube usually come with the option to add multiple video links to the queue before starting the download. They do need to be installed on the other hand and lack a solid Youtube browser sometimes.
Online services to download Youtube videos:
Web services are websites that provide the means to download videos from Youtube to a local computer system. Some offer advanced features like converting the video to another format. The list has been limited to ten free services that provide options to download Youtube videos.
1. Keepvid: A straightforward service. The user needs to paste the url of the Youtube video in the form provided on the website. Keepvid will then offer low quality and high quality downloads of the video. Works with other video portals like MySpace video or Dailymotion as well. Offers a bookmarklet which works more comfortably than copying pasting Youtube urls.
2. Zamzar: A file conversion service that can not only download Youtube videos but also convert the videos into different formats. Great for users who need the video in a different format and do not want to convert them on their computer system.
3. KCoolOnline: Currently supports 231 video portals including Youtube. It has a basic interface. All that needs to be done is to paste a video url in the form to download the Youtube video. Users who like to download videos from many different video portals might like this as it supports a lot of them.
4. Video Downloader: Another basic web interface that allows users to download and convert videos from sites like Youtube, Dailymotion or MySpace. Nothing much to say about this service except that it offers downloads in the original flv format but also in mp4 out of the box.
Video Downloader
5. SaveVid: Offers Youtube videos in original flv or mp4 format. Displays a live list of videos that get downloaded by users on the website which can be a great source of videos as download links are displayed directly. Offers top 10 lists, archives and categories as well.
6. Vidgrab: Vidgrab offers a web form that can be used to paste Youtube videos into it. These videos can then be downloaded in their original format. One interesting aspect of Vidgrab is the list of popular videos that are displayed on the website. These can also be downloaded directly to the computer system.
7. Vixy: Vixy is a video converter that supports Youtube videos. It does not offer the means to download Youtube videos in their original format. Videos can be converted into various formats including avi, 3gp, mov or mp4.
8. KeepTube: Online service to download Youtube videos with preview and options to download the video in various formats including normal and high quality flv, 3gp and mp4. Offers additional ways of downloading the videos including a bookmarklet and a very ingenious way by adding keep- after the www. of the youtube url.
9. KissYoutube: Offers a similar service as Keeptube by allowing users to add the word kiss after the www. of the youtube url to download videos directly without having to visit the KissYoutube website manually. Comes with the usual form to download videos from Youtube as well.
10. Video Getting: Another service that combines video downloading and conversion in one interface. Users can paste Youtube videos in the form and download them in eight different formats.
Web Browser Add-ons to download videos from Youtube
The following list contains ten web browser add-ons and plugins for popular web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer that allow users to directly download videos from video portals like Youtube. These add-ons have the advantage that the videos can be downloaded directly without having to visit another website to do so.
1. Video Download Helper (Firefox): One of the most popular Firefox add-ons. It supports many different video portals including Youtube. The add-on will change its icon in the status bar whenever a website with media links is visited.
2. NetVideoHunter (Firefox):
NetVideoHunter: Will recognize Youtube videos and add them to its queue with the possibility to download the videos immediately or at a later time. Videos can also be played in the interface as well.
3. Viloader (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera): A plugin that installs itself in three different web browsers. It offers a download video right-click context menu option that can be used to download the videos from Youtube and other video portals.
4. IE7Pro: IE7Pro supports Internet Explorer 8 as well despite its name. It comes with a userscript engine and a script pre-installed that can download Youtube videos. The browser plugin will display a download video link in the video description on Youtube.
5. Flash Video Downloader (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera): Flash Video Downloader operates a web service to download videos and an add-on that can be installed in Firefox, Internet Explorer and Opera. The Opera is one of the few Youtube video download widgets that currently work with Opera 10.
6. Google Chrome Bookmarklet: Users can use a bookmarklet to download videos in the Google browser. All they need to do is to create a new bookmark in the web browser and add the following JavaScript code as the url:
javascript:window.location.href = 'http://youtube.com/get_video?video_id=' + swfArgs['video_id']+ "&fmt=18" + "&l=" + swfArgs['l'] + "&sk=" + swfArgs['sk'] + '&fmt_map' + swfArgs['fmt_map'] + '&t=' + swfArgs['t'];
A click on the bookmark on any Youtube video page will download that video in the Google Chrome web browser.
Software Programs to download Youtube videos
The following list contains software programs for all popular operating systems that allow a user to download videos from Youtube.
1. TubeQueue (Windows):
TubeQueue: A program for the Windows operating system that can queue, convert and download multiple Youtube videos. The program comes with its own search interface making it completely independent from the Youtube website.
Update: TubeQueue is no longer available. I have uploaded the latest version to the Ghacks servers. You can download the program from this link: TubeQueue (231)
2. Free FLV Converter (Windows):
Free FLV Converter: A software program that can search for, download and convert Youtube videos and videos from other web services. It’s biggest strength is the search that can easily handle thousands of results providing comfortable options to download multiple videos at once from Youtube.
3. Orbit Downloader (Windows) : Orbit is a very popular download manager that supports a variety of popular media sites out of the box including Youtube, MySpace or Pandora. It integrates with web browsers and comes with the Grab++ module that can be used to catch and download media files.
4. Youtube-DL (Linux, Windows): A command line program to download videos from Youtube
5. Abby and CCLive (Linux): Abby is a frontend for CCLive that can be used to download videos from various popular video hosting websites including Youtube.
6. GetTube (Mac): An application for Apple Mac computers that can be used to download Youtube videos.
There are literally dozens of other applications, web services and browser plugins that can be used to download videos from Youtube. Please leave a comment if you think we should add another free services, plugin or software to the list.
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1. TubeMaster++ (tubemaster.free.fr). It worked best for me when other measures didn’t.
2. Since some version popular Flashgot FF extension can do it too.
Roman i’m real Happy for you and I’ma let you finish, but https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/12984 made one of the best Video Downloaders of all time. OF ALL TIME!
Kayne, thank so much for you addon suggestion. Indeed it is the best.
Great addons for firefox. Does anybody know a similar extension for Chrome ? ( I start using it and it’s fast)
Great add ons. Thanks for it.
A really detailed article i still prefer the online websites which provide the conversions and downloads there rather installing addon. I know they are a little slow but it works fr me :P
Thanks for the list. A lot of people with kids has been bugging me for this info.
you forgot one of the easiest ways.
just add “pwn” in front of any youtube url.
example “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J—aiyznGQ”
becomes “http://www.pwnyoutube.com/watch?v=J—aiyznGQ”
afterwards you have flv and mp4 download options
THIS was the bomb! Great option! Thank you, juergen!!!
I’m using this userscript for Greasemonkey: http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/31864
Automatically makes videos HQ/HD and provides direct download links. It’s supposedly buggy for some people and definitely needs an update soon.
You forgot the best Firefox addon for this, just check the ratings and user comments, Easy YouTube Video Downloader :
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10137
Yousable tubefix script is what im using at the moment. In combo with downthemall, it is unbeatable. Haven’t had any problems as of yet.
Get it at http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/13333
I use the same script for firefox as well. But I primarily browse and use Opera so am using the userscript port for Opera and definitely works like a charm, perhaps even better than the greasemonkey script which at times would bug out somehow.
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/36453
DamnVid. Windows/Mac OS X/Linux, downloads and converts videos from YouTube and other dozens of sites: http://code.google.com/p/damnvid/
Download for Youtube Videos…
Great article! 10x a lot for collecting all that stuff on one place!
Cheers
Al
i will like to download vedio
Are you aware that YouTube appears to be trying to prevent these download tools from working? They’ve made changes to the YouTube website to disable some of them. It’s resulted in millions of people getting the error message; “no flash video found”. Full details on my blog. http://www.centreforjournalism.co.uk/blogs/kersh-media
The software companies are fighting back by rushing out updated software to get around the problem. Basically it’s an attempt by YouTube to monetize its vast video library.
Hi, there is also Greatnews for download video on Youtube!
Still download in flv format but I hope that soon also mp4 (ipod) format.
video
cool is cool
i was wondering how to copy videos from you tube
i dont have the information bar above the vidios
In Ubuntu, videos are saved in /tmp, once the video has been played fully you can then move it to a location of your choice, thus having it saved.
Can Youtube Downloader provide high quality downloads as well?
I am not too sure since I’ve been using youtube downloader for the past few months and the downloads have always been blurred and of low quality compared to what is shown when I play the video itself on youtube.
I fully agree with you Evelyn as I have found the same… blurred and low quality copies. Have you found any solution? Best, Nicholas
can anybody download videos from website that uses Adobe Flash Player 10 such as the WIRED Videos section on wired.com
You could try tvgini, a browser display app that does this easier.
http://www.tvgini.com
You could search & download the videos and its free.
you can also Download Youtube as well as google videos in FLV,HD,MP4,3gp format
from electrogeek.info
download
I was using Firefox , Win XP .
few months ago , I added a plugin , I think
The best plugin or software to save videos.
On youtube , I selected a video
Play with youtube screen
then moving the mouse to the top border of the screen
a small screen appared asking me to save the video
I was able to download, several videos at the same time.
I got problems with the HP Pavilion, and reinstalled all software, but I don’t know the name of the software to download videos , with no need of copy and past video address.
very bad
my choice http://youtvideo.com/
free, fast and easy youtube video downloader.
hello good morning
hey folks, wanted2 let ya know that KeepTube (.) com is offline. i’m so sorry!!!
you tube
Hello
I want script download from youtube like videogetting
thank
down load songs and vidoes
Hello, I think I was the first to schedule something that can download videos from Youtube Vevo, I’ve finished for the early hours of this year has been my
best start of 2010.
I added a plus, can be downloaded in the original flv (very good quality), MPEG (the most popular format), 3GP (mobile) in MP4 (mobile phones, ipods, psp),
MP3 (audio only) and AAC (audio quality).
is free.
http://www.nobilesoft.com/youtube_search.php