Internet users have plenty of options when it comes to the downloading of videos. From online services over browser extensions to programs.
Problem is: not all of them have the best interest of the user in mind. Some may be riddled with ads, track users, or limit downloads in one way or another.
You may be especially wary when it comes to programs to download. There are malicious programs out there that claim to be downloaders.
My favorite program is Internet Download Manager, but it is a commercial application. 4K Video Downloader+ offers an alternative. This review looks at the feature set and compares it to Internet Download Manager.
4K Video Downloader+ is the successor of 4K Video Downloader, which has been retired this year. The version has been around for some time. It is a freemium program that limits free use, but it does not contain any ads.
Let’s talk about the limitation first: you can use it to download 10 videos per day. All paid versions do away with the limits. A lifetime version is available for about $30.
Why download videos? Downloading videos offers several advantages:
- Offline playback: watch videos, even if there is no Internet.
- Backup: videos may get pulled or deleted, but offline copies remain.
- Bad Internet reception: if Internet connectivity is not great, you may have a bad experience with stutters and pauses.
- Save bandwidth: watch videos over and over again without using bandwidth.
4K Video Downloader 4K+: the features
The video downloader is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. You can start using it right after installation and do not need to create an account first. I used the Windows version exclusively for this review.
As far as features are concerned, there are plenty. You can paste video URLs into the interface or use the integrated browser to pick videos while you browse.
The app supports “all popular sites” according to the website. This includes YouTube, but also sites such as Facebook, SoundCloud, and others. The list of supported sites is relatively short and there is just one adult site supported. Limited support may not be a problem for some users, but it may be a dealbreaker for others.
The default configuration downloads video in best quality. You can modify the preference, for instance by switching to audio-only or a specific quality that you want downloaded to the local system.
Apart from the base functionality, 4K Video Downloader+ supports a few nice-to-have features.
Here are the highlights:
- Subscribe to YouTube playlists or creators, and download new videos automatically as they are published.
- Download entire YouTube playlists or channels.
- 3D Video download support.
- Support for login-protected media (by signing in).
- Extract annotations and subtitles and download them along with YouTube videos.
- Download dubbed audio on YouTube.
Free users are limited to downloading 10 videos per day. If that is not enough, you either have to wait a day or purchase a license to download an unlimited number of videos.
Verdict: 4K Video Downloader+ is an easy to use download app. The integrated browser makes downloading videos a breeze, as you do not have to juggle around with video URLs. Main downside is the 10 video limit for free accounts and the fairly limited list of supported sites.
Lack of site support is a deal-breaker for my use cases. Internet Download Manager supports hundreds if not thousands of video and audio sites. But, if all you need is support for a site that 4K Video Downloader+ supports, then it may be worth a try.
Now You: do you use video downloaders at all? If so, which is your favorite app or extension for the job and why?
ClipGrab
“Watch videos over and over again without using bandwidth”–the ultimate solution to Camus and ennui! Nietchze did say “art” was one’s salvation from “dread and angst.”
Ten videos a day–where do people find the time to watch 300 videos/month. Quality stuff or a mind numbing wall: “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day; Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way.”
Hard to believe, but “one day you find ten years have got behind you.”
In reality, though, I have watched some great movies and series in the last ten years, “art” that has changed my perspective and enriched what little time one has while encased in this mortal coil.
Thanks!
I’m pretty sure that the #1 reason anyone uses a ‘video downloader’ is to avoid ads.
I use a command line tool for the above reason.
Most downloaders and d/l sites are crapware. My first choice these days is cobalt.tools, which is FOSS and has a proper privacy policy.
Second choice is whatever’s currently reccommended on the r/piracy megathread. These change all the time as they inevitably become enshitified and/or vanish.