Do you love watching videos on YouTube? Have you ever wished you could save them to watch later without the internet? Well, you’re in luck! There are special tools called YouTube to MP4 converters that can help you do just that. In this article, we’ll look at 10 great free options to turn YouTube videos into MP4 files you can keep on your computer or phone.
What is a YouTube to MP4 Converter?
A YouTube to MP4 Converter is a conversion utility that transforms YouTube videos into downloadable MP4 files. Through this process, one had the ability to download goods, which involved the transformation of streaming media into personal copies of goods. MP4 stands for MPEG-4 Part 14, a digital multimedia format that is greatly used due to a good compromise between quality and file size.
It uses a container format MP4, in which video, and audio data, taken from YouTube servers, are repackaged. This way, it enables the users not only to download the content from the site but also to view it when the Internet connection is off or when its speed is very low. The technology makes it possible to archive the most favorite videos, back up crucial content, or simply gather personal playlists.
Online YouTube to MP4 converters come in all categories, including web apps, desktop software, and web browser add-ons. These tools typically include additional features, such as the ability to select a quality pump, to select a segment within the video, or to select multiple videos for batch processing. Some advanced ones even allow extracting only audio as MP3 files for people mainly interested in music or podcasts.
Example: However, it is important that users take into consideration that although these are easily available and very usable tools, downloading copyrighted content from YouTube may be an infringement of the creator’s rights and against YouTube’s terms of use. In general, responsible use translates to converting only movies that are in the public domain, have been licensed for reuse, or for which permission by the content creator is explicit.
Pros and Cons of YouTube to MP4 Converters
Pros of YouTube to MP4 Converters
1. Offline viewing
The converters will allow you to download videos and play them offline, which is very helpful while traveling, having limited data on the phone, or simply in any area where there’s poor internet coverage. Now you can save your videos and watch them anytime and anywhere; no more worrying about buffers or poor connections. This can prove very useful in the case of long videos, tutorials, or educational content that you might want to view several times without depending on a stable internet connection.
2. Saves space
An MP4 file holds less space as compared to streaming video. When you stream a video, the data is temporarily held in your device; this data can build up and end up using storage. You can compress the file size when converting YouTube videos to MP4 without necessarily compromising the quality. You would be able to store more videos on your device with less space, which is very helpful for those who have limited storage on their smartphones or tablets. It enables them to keep a video library without always deleting other content.
3. Save your favorite content
Some videos may be removed from YouTube in the course of time due to copyright issues, channel deletions, and so on. When you convert and download the video that interests you, you will always have it. This is specifically valuable in rare content, oft-referred-to tutorials, or even videos of sentimental value. It gives one a feeling of security—you know that even when the original uploader removes the video or the whole account, you will still have a copy of this dear content.
4. Video editing
Downloaded MP4 files can be easily edited with any editor, which would be useful for content creators, students, or anybody who would want to remix or repurpose the video for something else. You can cut sections, add some effects, incorporate a number of videos into one, and remove the audio if you like. You cannot get this freedom with online streaming. Compilations, reaction videos, and use in professional or educational presentations come out particularly well in this format.
5. Avoid advertising
It will stall out the ads that pop up before or during YouTube videos. This allows the possibility for a viewer to comfortably watch any long video or just various short videos in a consecutive row. It saves time and is much less annoying, especially for those users for whom frequent ad interruptions really become a nuisance. Just remember that ad support is what content creators rely on, so try to support your favorite channels in other ways.
Cons of YouTube to MP4 Converters
1. Legal issues
Downloading videos from YouTube is often contrary to copyright laws and YouTube’s terms of service. Most videos are copyrighted, and downloading them without permission is illegal. It can bring about legal implications if you are distributing or using it commercially. In the case of music videos, movies, and TV shows, that becomes especially a problem. Always make sure that you have the right to download and further use the content, or keep to videos that are explicitly marked for free use.
2. Poor Quality
Some YouTube to MP4 converters are free, but give you reduced quality for your videos while converting them. You thus might lose clarity, color accuracy, or smooth motion in the downloaded video. The drop in quality is typically way more apparent in high-definition videos or with sophisticated visuals. While most converters do try to maintain the quality, it may not turn out as sharp and vivid as streamed videos directly on YouTube, especially for 4K or HDR content.
3. Security Risks
Those are unofficial converter websites and software, usually linked to insecure malware, virus-infested websites, and even phishing sites. You may end up downloading viruses if you download and install converter software from these unreliable sources. Always use reputable converters, and update your antivirus regularly. Most importantly, never visit any site asking you to turn off your antivirus or download extra software to access the converter.
4. Time-consuming
One downloads videos and it takes a longer time compared to just streaming them. One is bound to wait for the converting process to complete, then and only then will you be able to watch the video. This can be very annoying for long videos or if you are in the mood to watch something instantly. The process gets even lengthier as you download more than one video. The download time may be even longer period-wise than the video itself for people with slow internet connections.
5. Space for storage
While one individual MP4 file may not be a very large file, lots of them can clog very quickly the storage of the device. It’s more problematic on devices with very limited space, such as smartphones or tablets. High-quality videos, especially, can really fill up storage. And you end up basically managing your storage, forever deleting old videos to let new ones in. This can quite be annoying and may restrict the number of apps one can have on the device, among other files.
10 Free YouTube to MP4 Converters
1. Wave.video
Wave.video is one of the good options in case you are looking for an easy and secure way. There is no need to download any software as it works inside your web browser. You’ll just paste the link from YouTube, and in return, you will get an MP4 file. But here is the best part: this tool is completely free and has no ad heckling you. You can also use some basic editing tools that can be used to change your video after you download it.
Pricing:
| Free | Streamer | Creator | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $20 | $30 | $60 |
2. YTMp3
The other friendly option is YTMp3. It works on computers, tablets, and even phones. You have the ability to turn YouTube videos into MP4, which is a video, or MP3; the latter is just the audio alone. The catch to this free service is it only works for videos that are 90 minutes long or less. Some people say that when they convert with this tool, the sound isn’t too great, but still a good free choice.
Pricing:
Free
3. iTubeGo
iTubeGo is more like the Swiss Army knife for video downloaders. It will download videos from YouTube and a bunch of other sites, saving them in high quality. Then, if you don’t want a whole video, it can save parts. Of course, it isn’t fully featured in the free version, but still good enough if you want to do basic downloads.
Pricing:
| 1 Month Plan | 1 Year Plan | Lifetime Plan | Family Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| $9.95 | $25.95 | $39.95 | $59.95 |
4. 4K Downloader
The name suggests that 4K Downloader is great for high-quality videos. You can download YouTube videos in really nice quality—even 4K and 8K if the original video allows it. It’s free to use, with an option to pay for extra features. One cool thing is that you’re able to download whole playlists or channels with just one click. The free version, however, has some limits and shows ads.
Pricing:
| Lite | Personal | Pro | Bundle |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15/ year | $25/ lifetime | $45/ lifetime | $65/ lifetime |
5. Snap Downloader
With faster and high-quality downloads of large videos, Snap Downloader supports over 900 sites—not just YouTube. You can download multiple videos at once, so that is a plus. You may even download videos blocked in your country. The downside is that the free trial only lasts 48 hours.
Pricing:
| Monthly Subscription | 3 Months Subscription | Annual Subscription | Personal License | Family Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $7.99 | $16.99 | $29.99 | $39.99/ lifetime | $69.99/ lifetime |
6. ByClick Downloader
ByClick Downloader comes in as the easiest to use and can download entire YouTube video playlists or channels on demand. It also offers a good variety of choices for video quality and file types. It goes as far as suggesting videos that you may like as seen by what you’ve downloaded in the past. Now, the bad news is that it only works on Windows computers and the free version doesn’t have all the features unlocked.
Pricing:
Free Download
7. 2CONV
2CONV is the best if you want something to work on any device. You can use it on your computer or phone without downloading any software, and it’s very fast. It supports the conversion of up to 99 files at once. The only problem with this converter is that it does not support videos that are more than 60 minutes long.
Pricing:
Pricing is not available
8. WinX HD
Other than YouTube, WinX HD works great with Facebook Vimeo, and other such places. You can even save live streams from YouTube with it. It is also user-friendly, where you just need to paste the video link, and then let it figure out the different options for quality. The downside is that you need to install it on your computer, and a free version has some limits.
Pricing:
Free
9. VidJuice
VidJuice hosts content from approximately 1000 different sites. There’s the factor of high-quality videos, even in 8K. You can easily save channels and playlists and do it very user-friendly. Works for multiple types of videos, but only with computers, not telephones. Unfortunately, all features are not turned on in the free trial.
Pricing:
| Lifetime Plan | 1 Month Plan | 1 Year Plan | Family Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29.95 | $9.95 | $19.95 | $39.95 |
10. Converto.io
It is very easy to use. You paste your YouTube link, click a button, and wait for it to finish. Then you can download your video. It works with different kinds of videos, but it can’t handle files bigger than 100 MB. Some people also don’t like the pop-up ads it shows.
Pricing:
Free
To Sum Up
These 10 free YouTube to MP4 converters give you lots of choices for downloading your favorite videos. Each one has its own good points and bad points, so you can pick the one that works best for you. Remember to only download videos when you have permission, and enjoy watching your favorite content anytime, anywhere!
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