This article was originally posted on VPNandGo.
YouTube contains literally billions of hours of video content, on most occasions users will watch the videos there and then, but, there are some occasions when users want to download one of the videos they are watching.
This can be to watch later, or move to their mobile device and watch on the go to save their data allowance.
The main problem is, YouTube has been designed in such a way that users are only able to watch any of the videos on the YouTube website. This makes it hard for users to get there fix without a connection.
This is a similar problem to taking videos and moving them to a mobile device. But, downloading a video from YouTube is much easier than people think, and all it needs is the right tools for the job.
There are also two other elements in play at this point, one, there might be blocked YouTube videos because of the region, or because the content is deemed unsuitable for that area. Lastly, there is also the area of copyright.
This is laid out in black and white in the Google ‘Terms of Service,’ in their own words, it reads:
“You shall not download any Content unless you see a ‘download’ or similar link displayed by YouTube on the Service for that Content.”
Much of this is because users who save videos from YouTube are taking money from Google. Most of the content creators make a living by making the content, not to mention the ads which are placed before most videos.
There are a couple of ways to download these videos that we will look at. We will also explain how you can bypass and access any blocked video while making sure no one can see what you are doing while online.
We will now look at three of the easiest ways you can save YouTube videos.
Methods of Downloading YouTube Videos
Downloading with 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is free and available on a Windows PC. It is capable of downloading a complete playlist along with 3D and 360-degree HD videos.
It is easy to use as you can see from these straightforward instructions.
Open your browser and find the file you wish to download
Copy the YouTube URL from the address bar
In the 4K Video, the app hit the green ‘Paste Link’ button in the top left
The software does its thing and retrieves the video info. You are then presented with some options for quality and file format.
You can choose many video formats as to how you wish to save the file. Once you have ticked all the boxes, you hit the ‘Download’ button.
If video files aren’t your thing, you can even convert the file from YouTube to MP3. If you are wondering how to download YouTube video with subtitles, then this great app has you covered, and there is a checkbox for this below your download options.
Online Video Downloader
This can be even easier to use than the 4K app because there is nothing to install. This can be one of the easiest ways how to download videos from any website, and not just YouTube.
To use, all you need to do is head to the company website: https://www.apowersoft.com/online-video-downloader and follow the straightforward instructions.
You have a search box where you paste the link for the video file.
Click the download link for the following steps
Select output format and the quality level and then click ‘Download.’
This is compatible with any browser and platform. It does have a downloadable app, but with the above so easy, there is no reason to bother.
Savefrom.net
This site is very similar to Online Video Downloader above, and if you think things couldn’t be simpler, then this site will prove you wrong.
Steps are the same, but you don’t have to hit the download button before you are presented with any file format options.
This video downloader is automatic and shows you the formats that are available, it does lack on video output options and is limited to 720 Mp4 files when you convert video.
All of the above options can play videos that have been downloaded using the renowned VLC media player.
The only problem with these options, they don’t allow you to save videos from free online streaming services, although, there are options that will enable you to save from some sites.
Unblocking the blocked with a VPN
Most VPN’s will unblock geo-restricted content from streaming sites. Online YouTube videos are blocked in the same way in specific regions.
By using one of these services, you can access these videos and download them using the above methods.
The main problem is there are now plenty of ISP’s that are into data retention of their users, and agencies who are tracking piracy and counterfeiting.
When you download YouTube videos, your ISP can see precisely what you are doing.
They have no qualms about blocking connections or handing over to these piracy agencies, so using a VPN is essential.
Here is a very brief rundown of VPN’s that might fit your bill. It should be noted, not all VPN’s are equal, and ones connected to the USA and any 5-eyes jurisdiction might be in a position where they retain data and hand it over if requested.
StrongVPN: Located in USA (5-eyes), average download speeds and customer support, and doesn’t offer a 30-day money back guarantee. Small global network, and overall the service needs a refresh.
NordVPN: The VPN side of things is located outside of the USA. Unfortunately their payments go through a US (5-eyes) company.
This could be a weak point for user privacy. It delivers high-end security and a decent sized network with above average download speeds.
The 30-day money back guarantee is slow and could take another month before receiving a refund.
ExpressVPN: Based in the BVI and outside of any global jurisdiction. Has an extensive network full of optimized servers, and can make it the fastest VPN by far. ExpressVPN can also bypass any geo-blocked content easily.
Customer support is instant with live chat, and many of the company features set the standards for other VPN providers to follow.
With strict zero logging, any user is safe when downloading any YouTube videos, and even ISP’s are unable to see what is happening.