Updated October 2026: we retested all 17 sites from the earlier version of this list. Only three are still working as YouTube converters. Y2Mate, GenYouTube, FLVTO, OnlineVideoConverter, Youzik, ListenVid, VideoGrabby and MP3-YouTube.Download are offline. YouTubePP now shows a music-industry (IFPI) notice instead of a converter, 2Conv has turned into an image converter, and TelechargerUneVideo returns an error. This version keeps the working sites and adds the official and desktop options that last.
A quick word on the rules first. YouTube’s terms of service do not allow downloading videos except through features YouTube provides, and copying copyrighted music or films can break copyright law. That is why converter sites keep disappearing: rights holders and courts have shut down several of the best known ones. Downloading your own uploads, Creative Commons videos, or content you have permission to keep is a different matter.
The official way: YouTube Premium downloads
YouTube Premium lets you download videos and music in the YouTube and YouTube Music apps for offline viewing. Downloads stay inside the app rather than becoming files, but they are high quality, legal and do not depend on a site staying online. If you only want your own videos, YouTube Studio lets creators download the original files they uploaded.
Web converters that still work (October 2026)
SaveFrom.net
SaveFrom has been running for well over a decade. Paste a video link, choose a format and quality, and download. It also works with several other video sites. The main address now forwards to a regional version of the site.
ClipConverter.cc
ClipConverter converts a video link to MP4 or audio formats such as MP3, M4A and AAC, and can also convert a file you upload from your own computer. It shows several quality options when more than one is available.
Yout.com
Yout calls itself “the Internet DVR”. You can paste a link, or edit a YouTube address by removing the letters “ube” from “youtube” so it points at yout.com, and it opens the video ready to record as video or audio.
Desktop and open-source options
4K Video Downloader Plus
4K Video Downloader Plus is a desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that downloads videos, playlists and channels from YouTube and other sites. The free version has daily limits, and paid licences remove them. Desktop apps tend to outlast converter websites because they do not depend on a single domain.
cobalt
cobalt (cobalt.tools) is an open-source downloader with a clean, ad-free web interface. Paste a link and it saves the video or audio. Its source code is public, so you can see exactly what it does.
Sites that no longer work
| Site | Status in October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Y2Mate | Offline |
| YouTubePP (youtubeconverter) | Shows an IFPI notice |
| GenYouTube | Offline |
| FLVTO | Offline |
| 2Conv | Now an image converter |
| OnlineVideoConverter | Redirects away |
| Youzik | Offline |
| ListenVid | Offline |
| VideoGrabby | Offline |
| MP3-YouTube.Download | Offline |
| TelechargerUneVideo | Returns an error |
Be careful with new domains using these names. When a well-known converter closes, look-alike sites appear quickly, and many exist only to show ads or push unwanted software.
How to stay safe with converter sites
- Never install a “codec”, “player” or browser extension a converter asks for.
- Close pop-ups and new tabs that open when you click Download. The real button is usually next to the box where you pasted the link.
- Do not allow browser notifications from these sites.
- Scan downloaded files if your device offers it.
On a phone, see our lists of video downloader apps for Android and video downloader apps for iPhone.
FAQs
What is the best YouTube video downloader in 2026?
YouTube Premium is the only fully official option. Among third-party tools still working in October 2026, 4K Video Downloader Plus on desktop and SaveFrom.net on the web are the most established.
Is Y2Mate still working?
No. Y2Mate’s main domain did not respond in October 2026, and its partner site YouTubePP now shows an IFPI notice.
Is it legal to download YouTube videos?
YouTube’s terms only allow downloads through YouTube’s own features. Downloading copyrighted content without permission can also infringe copyright. Your own uploads and Creative Commons videos are generally fine.
Why do YouTube converter sites keep shutting down?
Music and film rights holders pursue them through the courts and by blocking domains, so many close or change address every year.
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