Best YouTube Downloaders for Mac in 2026
Download YouTube videos for offline viewing, research, or content creation. These are the most reliable tools that actually work in 2026.
yt-dlp
Top PickFree (open source)The most powerful command-line video downloader. Supports YouTube, Bilibili, Twitter, and 1000+ sites.
yt-dlp is the gold standard. It's actively maintained, handles age-restricted videos, supports 4K/8K, downloads subtitles in any language, and can extract audio only. If you're comfortable with the terminal, nothing else comes close. Here's a quick-start workflow:
Install: brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg
Download best quality: yt-dlp URL
Download with subtitles: yt-dlp --write-subs --sub-langs en,zh-Hans URL
Audio only (MP3): yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 URL
1080p max: yt-dlp -f 'bestvideo[height<=1080]+bestaudio' URL
Bypass age restriction: yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome URL
Download playlist: yt-dlp --yes-playlist PLAYLIST_URL
All downloads go to your current directory. Add -o '~/Downloads/%(title)s.%(ext)s' to customize output path.
Pros
- + Free and open source
- + Supports 1000+ sites (YouTube, Bilibili, Twitter, etc.)
- + 4K/8K quality
- + Download subtitles in any language
- + Extract audio only (MP3/M4A)
- + Bypass age-restriction with cookies
- + Playlist & channel batch download
- + Actively maintained (weekly updates)
Cons
- − Command-line only (no GUI)
- − Requires terminal knowledge
- − Need to install via Homebrew or download binary
- − Occasional breakage when YouTube changes API (fixed within days)
Downie
$19.99 (one-time)Native Mac app — paste a URL, click download. Supports 1200+ sites with a clean interface.
If you don't want to touch the terminal, Downie is the best GUI option on Mac. Drag a link from your browser, it downloads. Supports playlists, subtitles, and format conversion. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Pros
- + Beautiful native Mac UI
- + Drag-and-drop from browser
- + Playlist support
- + Built-in format conversion
- + One-time purchase
Cons
- − Paid ($19.99)
- − Mac only
- − Occasional site breakage (updates fix it)
4K Video Downloader
Free (limited) / $15 one-timeCross-platform downloader with a simple interface. Good for batch downloading playlists and channels.
Best option if you need to download entire playlists or channels at once. The free version has a daily limit, but the paid version is a one-time purchase with no restrictions.
Pros
- + Simple GUI
- + Batch playlist download
- + Cross-platform (Mac/Win/Linux)
- + Free tier available
- + Subtitle download
Cons
- − Free version has daily limits
- − Slower updates than yt-dlp
- − Slightly bloated installer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to download YouTube videos?
Downloading for personal offline viewing is a gray area. YouTube's Terms of Service prohibit it, but many countries don't enforce this for personal use. Never re-upload or monetize downloaded content.
How do I install yt-dlp on Mac?
Run `brew install yt-dlp` in Terminal (requires Homebrew). Or download the standalone binary from GitHub. You'll also need ffmpeg for merging audio/video: `brew install ffmpeg`.
How to download a YouTube video with yt-dlp?
Basic: `yt-dlp URL` downloads best quality. For specific format: `yt-dlp -f 'bestvideo[height<=1080]+bestaudio' URL`. For audio only: `yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 URL`.
How to download subtitles with yt-dlp?
Add `--write-subs --sub-langs en,zh-Hans` to download English and Chinese subtitles as SRT files alongside the video.
How to download an entire YouTube playlist?
Just paste the playlist URL: `yt-dlp PLAYLIST_URL`. Add `--yes-playlist` if it asks. Use `-o '%(playlist_index)s-%(title)s.%(ext)s'` for numbered filenames.
Which tool is best for downloading YouTube playlists?
yt-dlp for power users (handles any playlist size), 4K Video Downloader for a GUI experience with batch downloads.
yt-dlp says 'Sign in to confirm your age' — how to fix?
Use `--cookies-from-browser chrome` to pass your logged-in YouTube cookies. This also helps with region-restricted videos.