YouTube Downloader

CNET Editors' review

by: Jaymar Cabebe on June 16, 2011

YouTube Downloader is a popular, free program that enables you to download and convert online videos (legal content, to which you have the rights) for later viewing on your desktop or mobile device. It can convert files to MOV, MP4, 3GP, WMV, AVI, or MP3.

The name "YouTube Downloader" is terribly misleading because the program, in fact, downloads a whole lot more than just YouTube videos. On the developer's site, you can find an extensive list of additional supported sites including Facebook and Vimeo. This wide net of support easily pushes YouTube Downloader to the top of its category.

When you find a video you'd like to download, copy the URL of the video page and open YouTube Downloader. From there, you'll notice that the program automatically pastes the URL into the appropriate field. Choose your desired Download quality (Best Available is a nice option) and your destination folder, then hit Download. Once your download is finished, hit the Play tab to watch. The Convert tab lets you export to a different file format for playing elsewhere, and gives you a convenient mini editor for making minor alterations before your export. You can change video volume (or remove audio altogether) and splice footage by setting specific start and end times.

One thing that disappointed us was the absence of a one-step download-and-convert function in the free version. If you want the one-step convenience, you'll have to upgrade to Pro ($19.90), which also gives you the capability of downloading multiple videos at once. Also, it would've been nice to be able to name files before downloading them, but that's certainly not a deal-breaker.

For online video enthusiasts looking to download non-copyrighted or personally owned videos, YouTube Downloader appears to be a near-perfect tool. Sure it's missing a few minor conveniences, but its simplicity and the fact that it casts such a wide net of support for online video sites make it virtually unbeatable.

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Publisher's Description

From Biennesoft:

YouTube Downloader allows you to download videos from YouTube, including HD and HQ videos, Facebook, Vevo, and dozens of other video sites and convert them to other video formats. The program is easy to use--just specify the URL for the video you want to download and click the Download button. The program also allows you to convert downloaded videos for iPad, iPod, iPhone, PSP, Cell Phone, Windows Media, XVid and MP3, or play video that you have previously downloaded or converted.

The YouTube Downloader interface includes a tabbed format for easy downloading, converting, and playing, and a new Activity tab allows you to keep track of multiple downloads and conversions in real time. The program has the ability to download full playlists as opposed to just one video. YouTube Downloader is available in English, Albanian, Arabic, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Chinese Simplified, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Kurdish, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish. A premium version ($19.90) will unlock enhanced features such as faster download times or multiple concurrent downloads.

What's new in this version: Version 3.6 allows you to convert files to upload on your iPad. If you have the PRO license, you can now select more videos to convert at the same time. We also support new languages: Albanian, Belarusian, Estonian, Kurdish, and Turkish.

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All User Reviews

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All versions:
3.5 stars
out of 3,336 votes
- 5 star:1190
- 4 star:917
- 3 star:355
- 2 star:172
- 1 star:702
Current version:

3.3 stars

out of 57 votes
- 5 star:18
- 4 star:13
- 3 star:6
- 2 star:9
- 1 star:11
My rating:

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Results 1-10 of 57

5.0 stars

"Incredible.."

May 14, 2012 | By ongjunhao1997

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

Fast and can download multiple videos at one time. You can go to sleep while downloading.

Cons

Sometimes can be quite slow.

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4.0 stars

"Does what it says."

May 14, 2012 | By Tracie365

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

Uber-simple to use and has easily utilized options.

Cons

A little slow, but then again, I have DSL....

Summary

Perfectly happy with this tool.

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3.0 stars

"Does the job."

May 14, 2012 | By TheRichardMoore

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

It can download YouTube videos.

Cons

Free version isn't too fast and can't download simultaneously.

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2.0 stars

"YouTube By Click .com is better"

May 14, 2012 | By olegrsho5096

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

Very stable, doesn't crash and a very nice design

Cons

Not intuative: hard to work with this program.
The average user will go made because of all the options.
downloads very slow

Summary

I prefer to use
YouTube By Click .com
it much easier to use and downloads much much faster

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5.0 stars

"Works as advertised"

May 14, 2012 | By serge_cbs

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

Seemed easy to use

Cons

Upgrade installs browser toolbar without permission

Summary

Works as advertised

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2.0 stars

"FreeYoutubeDownloaderPro.Com is 200% better"

May 13, 2012 | By Jeff5665

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

It's a good piece of software but FreeYoutubeDownloaderPro.Com runs alot smoother, has better quality videos, and is just easier to use in my opionion.

Cons

Multli Threading was not available

Summary

Okay program but there's better software out there!

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1.0 stars

"Does not work after a few days."

May 12, 2012 | By qpyrk

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

Seemed easy to use.

Cons

After the first time I used it ,I tried to use a couple of days later and I got nothing but error notices.

Summary

This download was a wast of my time! It did not work after initial installation.

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2.0 stars

"good software, shame about the spyware"

May 11, 2012 | By Northender70

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

YouTube Downloader works well, but ...

Cons

... "Widgi Toolbar" spyware was also installed on my computer - only found it by accident, but was able to delete it with ESET NOD32 anti-virus.

Summary

I would avoid downloading this.

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5.0 stars

"Worked quickly and easily"

May 11, 2012 | By rookiegadgetuser

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

Worked as intended, very user friendly.

Cons

None that I know of, but I am not a frequent or expert user. For my limited needs it does the job perfectly and as intended.

Summary

Excellent download for me--worth it!

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5.0 stars

"does everything it says and more"

May 9, 2012 | By mizlin

Version: YouTube Downloader 3.6

Pros

easy to use, converts videos quickly

Cons

none that I've seen

Summary

highly recommend

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