Best Free Video Downloader Apps for iPhone and iPad in 2026 (Verified)

Updated October 2026: we checked every app from the earlier version of this list against the App Store. Six of the ten names could not be found at all, so this version is shorter and every app in it is a real, current listing. It also covers the built-in iPhone features that make a separate downloader unnecessary for many people.

Why video downloaders are limited on iPhone

Apple’s App Store rules do not allow apps that save or download media from third-party services such as YouTube without the service’s permission. So App Store apps cannot offer a one-tap YouTube download button. What they can do is give you a browser with a download manager and a place to store files, which works for video files linked directly on websites. For services like YouTube, Netflix or Spotify, the reliable route is the service’s own offline feature.

Built-in options first

Safari downloads

Safari has its own download manager. When a website offers a video file, tap and hold the download link and choose Download Linked File. The file lands in the Downloads folder of the Files app, and from there you can share it to Photos. This is how web-based tools such as our SSSTik guide work on iPhone.

Official offline modes

YouTube Premium, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and most other streaming apps let you download videos for offline viewing inside their own app. TikTok has a Save video option on videos where the creator allows downloads. These are the only routes that are fully within each service’s rules.

Screen recording

Control Center includes a screen recorder. It captures anything playing on screen, which is a last resort for short clips you have the right to keep.

Video downloader and file manager apps on the App Store

1. Documents by Readdle

Listed on the App Store as Documents – File Manager by Readdle Technologies, with more than 600,000 ratings in the US store. It combines a file manager, a media player and a built-in browser. When you open a page with a downloadable video file in its browser, it can save the file into the app, where you can play it offline or move it to Photos.

2. Total files

Total files by App Ideas S.r.l. is a file manager with a built-in browser and download manager, plus a media player. It handles common video formats and connects to cloud storage, so you can save a file and move it to iCloud Drive or Dropbox. A paid Total files pro version removes ads.

3. Browser and Documents Manager

Browser and Documents Manager by Eilvera UAB is a private browser with a download manager and a file area. Downloads stay inside the app, where you can play, organise and share them.

4. Video Saver PRO+ Player

Video Saver PRO+ Player by WebMelbourne Pty Ltd focuses on saving and playing video files offline, with a built-in browser for finding them and folders for organising them.

How to choose

• Check the developer name. Copycat apps reuse popular titles. Match the name and developer above before installing.
• Read recent reviews. Downloader apps change often, and features can disappear after an update.
• Watch for subscriptions. Many “free” downloaders push a weekly subscription on first launch. You can usually close it and keep the free version.
• Keep it legal. Download only videos you are allowed to keep. Saving someone else’s content does not give you the right to repost it.

If you also use Android, see our Android video downloader list, where the rules are looser. For YouTube specifically, read our YouTube downloader roundup.

FAQs

What is the best free video downloader for iPhone?

Documents by Readdle is the most established option, with a built-in browser, download manager and player. For many people, Safari’s own Download Linked File option is enough.

Can I download YouTube videos on iPhone?

App Store rules do not allow apps that download from YouTube without permission. The supported way is YouTube Premium, which lets you save videos for offline viewing inside the YouTube app.

Where do downloaded videos go on iPhone?

Safari saves them to the Downloads folder in the Files app. Downloader apps keep them inside the app until you share or save them to Photos.

Are video downloader apps safe on iPhone?

Apps from the App Store are reviewed by Apple, so malware is rare. The bigger risks are copycat apps and aggressive subscriptions, so check the developer name before installing.