9 Best YouTube to MP4 Converters (Free & Online)

The best YouTube to mp4 converters are 4K video downloader, SnapDownloader, and iTubeGo.

These are desktop apps. If you’re looking for a free YouTube to MP4 converting option then go for Statcher.

Most free YouTube to mp4 converters have viruses and pop-up ads that redirect to websites with viruses. At the same time, some paid converters weigh down your machine and convert very slowly.

So in this post, I’ll share the safe and effective YouTube to mp4 converters that I’ve tried (and how to get started with each).

But before diving in, let’s clarify where YouTube stands in saving videos off the platform.

YouTube Terms of Service – Copyright Information

YouTube restricts users from downloading any content on the platform. Their definition of content is videos, music and other sounds, graphics, photos, comments and scripts, trade names, logos, and everything else on the platform.

The platform states explicitly that “using the Service does not give you ownership of any intellectual property rights in the Content you access.”

But check this out.

YouTube has complete rights to use the content uploaded by creators. That’s why you have the download option at $11.99/month (YouTube Premium users). But YouTube premium is not available in every country.

Plus, you can download YouTube videos for free and send them to other devices. When you use YouTube content for such personal reasons, YouTube can’t possibly hunt you down for copyright infringement.

But when you upload the content on your channel without the creator’s permission, YouTube will terminate your account after three notices. YouTube has software that identifies copyrighted videos, and content owners can also report copyright infringement.

What are the Best YouTube to MP4 Converter Apps?

Converter	Easy to use	No ads (adblockers sort this)	Allows Batch downloads	Basic Video editing	Fast conversion
4K Video Downloader	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
SnapDownloader	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
iTubeGo	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Stacher.io	✅	✅	✅	✖	✅
IDM	✅	✅	✅	✖	✅
y2mate	✅	✖	✖	✖	✅
Loader.to	✅	✖	✖	✖	✖
Acethinker	✅	✅	✖	✖	✖
noTube.net	✅	✅	✖	✖	✖

1. 4K Video Downloader (Best Overall)

Best For Downloading YouTube Video Playlists (High-Quality)

4K Video Downloader is a desktop app that downloads entire YouTube playlists. It also downloads and embeds subtitles.

It’s the best YouTube video converter if you often download multiple videos from playlists or subscriptions.

Key features

• Downloads YouTube playlists and subtitles
• Downloads parts of a video if you don’t care about the entire YouTube video
• Ultra high-quality options (4K, 2K, etc.)
• Downloads multiple videos from subscriptions
• Downloads videos from Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Soundcloud, and other popular sites
• Compatible with macOS, Windows and Ubuntu
• YouTube to mp3 converter

Pros

• Fast conversion
• Download multiple videos simultaneously
• No pop-up ads
• No viruses
• No credit card or registration needed for the free trial
• No watermark on the free trial

Cons

• You have to download the software in your computer
• 4k and 2k videos are available in AV1 codec, so you’ll need a player that supports that

Pricing

• Personal license – $15 per month for three simultaneous downloads, unlimited single downloads and unlimited videos per playlist together with subtitles.
• Pro license – $60 per month for seven simultaneous downloads, downloading from YouTube channels, Premium HQ audio, and everything in the Personal license.
• Bundle license – $65 to access all 4K Video Downloader applications and functionalities.

The free version allows only 30 video downloads per month and ten videos per playlist

How to convert YouTube video playlists with 4K Video Downloader:

• Download and install the app on your computer (you’ll have to restart your computer to use it).
• Launch the app and agree to the terms of service.
• Copy and paste the YouTube playlist link on 4k video downloader

• Give the app a moment to parse.
• Unselect any videos you don’t want from the playlist
• Choose the video format (H264) and storage location, then click Download..

2. Y2mate

Best Free Online YouTube to MP4 Converter

Y2mate downloads single videos from YouTube in two clicks and converts them quickly. It’s free to use, and you don’t need to register to use the web-based converter.

But like other free converters, it has pop ads. So install an adblocker in your browser before using it.

Key features

• In-built search function to search for YouTube videos within y2mate.
• Different possible conversions – YouTube to MP4 or AVI, YouTube to MP3 or m4a, etc
• Compatible with macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, anything on any device
• A Chrome extension that’s complicated to install (never worked for me)

Pros

• Free
• Simple to use
• Fast conversion
• Online – no need to install another app in your computer
• No watermark

Cons

• Pop ads that could redirect to sites with malware. Enable your adblocker extension before using it.
• Limited conversion options. Though the app claims to download to any format, I only ever see .mp4 and .3gp options.
• You can’t download an entire playlist in one click.
• Offers lower-quality download options. (I had the option to download a video 1440p video on Loader.to, but the same video’s highest quality on y2mate was 720p).

How to convert a YouTube video to mp4 on Y2mate:

• Install an adblocker like AdBlockPlus (ABP)
• Copy the YouTube video URL and paste it on the Y2mate YouTube converter. You’ll see the available .mp4 and .3gp formats. The quality mostly ranges from 144p to 1080p.

• Choose the highest mp4 quality by clicking the Download button next to it.
• Y2mate will immediately convert the video. Then another Download button will pop up. Click on that to download.

3. Stacher.io (YouTube-dl’s graphical version)

Best Converter for Tech Enthusiasts

Stacher is the desktop app version of YouTube-dl (command line-based video converter). It’s free, fast, and easy to use.

And it only has the features you need to download a YouTube video in mp4 (and other formats). It’s light a light program for the average computer.

Key features

• Import URLs from a list
• Auto detects YouTube playlists
• Downloads video thumbnails and subtitles
• Writes video descriptions and metadata
• Best video and worst video format options
• Compatible with Windows and macOS
• A support subreddit (r/StacherIO/)

Pros

• Free
• Fast and light
• Clean interface – straightforward to use
• Cool features for techies (setting proxy information, custom commands,)
• No malware
• No ads
• No watermark
• No bundled software

Cons

• Tiny fonts

How to use Stacher to convert YouTube videos:

• Download Stacher from here, install and launch.
• Before downloading your video, choose where Stacher should store the downloads (image below). Click on the settings icon, then go to General > Downloads > Download Location > folder icon > select your storage folder > click Cool, I’m done here.

• Paste the YouTube video link on the bar at the top

• Choose mp4 format
• Click the download icon next to MP4.
• If the video is part of a playlist, a window will pop up for you to unselect the videos you’re not interested in.

4. Loader.to

Best y2mate Alternative (For Higher Quality Videos)

Loader.to is a web-based tool for converting YouTube videos. It offers more video formats and quality options compared to y2mate. But it’s slower at converting the videos. It’s also an easy alternative to Acethinker.

Key features

• Besides YouTube videos, you can also download videos from Facebook, Twitter, IMDB, Vimeo, Soundcloud, Twitch, and TikTok videos.
• YouTube playlist downloader that doesn’t seem to work. I tried to download a YouTube playlist, but I ended up downloading the first song in the playlist every time.
• YouTube to WAV converter
• YouTube 4K downloader
• A chrome extension that’s as complicated to install as y2mate’s
• A mobile app for android
• Compatible with all browsers

Pros

• Free to use
• No registration or installation required
• High-quality 8k and 1440p videos
• No malware
• No watermark

Cons

• Pop ads. So install an ad blocker.
• Slow. Loader could convert faster compared to the best YouTube to mp4 converters

How to convert YouTube videos with Loader:

• Copy and paste your video URL on Loader’s YouTube to mp4 converter
• Choose your format and click Download
• Wait for the video to convert, then click Download again.

5. Acethinker

Best Free Converter Without Pop-up Ads

Acethinker is a free online YouTube to mp4 converter with limited features (I’d choose y2mate over it).

But it has a paid desktop app (Video Keeper) with more functionalities like batch downloads, high-quality videos, and extracting mp3s from YouTube videos.

Key features

• Search for YouTube videos within the website
• Convert YouTube videos to mp3
• Downloads videos from popular video websites
• Video Keeper for batch downloads and playlists
• Both website and desktop versions available
• Compatible with all the standard browsers on Windows and macOS

Pros

• Free
• Easy to use
• No pop-up ads
• No virus
• No watermark
• No installation or registration needed.

Cons

• Slow on the free version
• Low video quality on the free version
• Automatically names videos as “video playback” instead of the video title

How to download mp4 YouTube videos on Acethinker:

• You can either search for the YouTube video on Acethinker or paste the video link
• Click on the download icon in the search bar
• Click the Download button next to the video

• Choose the video quality. For higher quality videos, you’ll need Video Keeper (desktop app)
• The app will redirect to a different page. Click on the video’s three-dot menu icon at the bottom right corner.

• Select Download and Enjoy

6. Internet Download Manager

Best For One-Click Video Downloads, Especially if You Download Videos a Lot

IDM is a desktop app that works with the IDM extension. Once you install the IDM extension, you’ll see a “download this video” button on any video on any website.

It’s the cheapest YouTube to mp4 converter that can do so much. But it’s only available for Windows computers.

Key features

• Batch downloads
• Categories to organize your downloads
• Download scheduler – IDM can download a file at a scheduled time and shut down your PC after it’s complete.
• Customizable theme, icons, and fonts
• Compatible with all popular browsers

Pros

• Downloads videos on any site
• Fastest download speed compared to other mp4 converters
• You can recover and resume interrupted downloads
• 30-day free trial
• No malware, popup ads, or watermark

Cons

• You have to install IDM in your computer
• The app will pop-up whenever you want to download anything – can get annoying. This guide shows you how to stop that.

Pricing

• $11.95 – One-year license for 1 computer
• $24.95 – Lifetime license for 1 computer
• $9.95 for each computer – One-year license for unlimited computers
• $19.95 for each computer – Lifetime access for unlimited computers

How to convert YouTube videos with IDM

• Download and install the IDM desktop app and install the extension on your browser
• Go to the YouTube video. You’ll see a Download this video button. Click on it to choose the mp4 video format

7. noTube.net

Best Acethinker Alternative (Free & Online)

noTube is a free web-based platform that converts YouTube videos in three clicks. And it doesn’t have pop-up ads.

It’s similar to Acethinker’s free mp4 converter, but noTube names the videos according to their original title. The downloads are easier to trace than when using Acethinker.

Key Features

• Convert to MP4 HD, MP3, FLV, 3GP, and M4A
• Download from YouTube, Twitch, Tiktok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other popular sites
• Compatible with mobile phones, tablets, and computers

Pros

• Free
• Easy to use
• No installation or registration needed
• No virus
• No watermark
• No popup ads

Cons

• Slow conversion
• No option to choose video quality (720p, 1440p, etc)
• Can’t download playlists in one click

How to convert YouTube videos to mp4 on noTube:

• Copy the YouTube video link and paste it on noTube
• Select the mp4 format and click OK

• Wait for noTube to convert the video
• Click Download.

8. iTubeGo

Best For 1-Click Downloads

iTubeGo is a YouTube video converter available for Windows, macOS, and Android users.

On the free version, you can download YouTube playlists in one click, access YouTube from within the app, and convert at high speeds.

Key features

• In-built browser – access YouTube from the iTubeGo desktop app
• Batch downloads
• Downloads from other popular sites – Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, Tiktok, Soundcloud, etc.
• Autodetects YouTube playlists (though sometimes the playlist is off)
• Downloads subtitles
• Supports high-quality videos
• YouTube to mp3 converter, and unlimited output formats on the paid version
• In-built video trimmer to cut sections of a video before downloading
• Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android devices

Pros

• Fast conversion
• Light program
• 1-click downloads
• No virus, popups or watermark on the free version

Cons

• You need to install the app in your computer
• It’s not as straightforward to use as you’d expect. (more on how to use it below)
• 3 maximum daily downloads on the free version

Pricing

Windows

• $19.95 per computer per month (currently discounted to $9.95)
• $49.95 per computer per year (currently discounted to $24.95)
• $89.95 per computer lifetime plan (currently discounted to $29.95)
• $99.95 per 2 to 5 computers lifetime plan (currently discounted to $39.95)

macOS

• $19.95 per computer per month (currently discounted to $12.95)
• $49.95 per computer per year (currently discounted to $24.95)
• $89.95 per computer lifetime plan (currently discounted to $34.95)
• $99.95 per 2 to 5 computers lifetime plan (currently discounted to $44.95)

Android

• $19.95 per phone 3-month plan (currently discounted to $9.95)
• $49.95 per phone per year (currently discounted to $19.95)
• $79.95 per phone lifetime plan (currently dicounted to $29.95)
• $99.95 per 2 to 5 phones lifetime plan (currently dicounted to $39.95)

How to download free YouTube videos with iTubeGo (using the in-built browser):

• Download iTubeGo, install and launch
• Go to Online > select YouTube.

• Find your YouTube video, cut a section if needed, then click Download.

If you have the YouTube video URL, download by navigating to Paste URL at the top bar on iTubeGo. Paste the URL, choose your settings, and download.

9. SnapDownloader

Best For Downloading Private YouTube Videos

SnapDownloader is a desktop YouTube to mp4 converter. It’s easy to use, safe, light and has almost every feature you’d need to download a YouTube video. Check them out below.

Key Features

• In-built browser – search for your video within the app
• High-quality videos (8k, 4k, etc.)
• In-built video trimmer
• Bulk downloads – you can paste 100 URLs at once
• One-click mode – save your format and quality settings to use on every video
• Downloads private videos through the in-built browser
• Downloads YouTube playlists and videos from subscriptions
• Downloads subtitles
• Downloads YouTube chapters separately
• In-built proxy setup to bypass restrictions
• Converts to mainstream file formats (MP4, AVI, MP3, AAC, MOV, M4A, WAV, etc.)
• Downloads from 900 video sharing websites
• Compatible with Windows and macOS devices
• Get notifications once downloads are complete

Pros

• Easy to use
• Light program
• Super fast
• No virus or ads
• 24/7 customer support
• No registration on the free trial

Cons

• You have to download the app in your computer

Pricing

• $7.99 per computer per month
• $16.99 per computer for 3-month plan
• $26.99 per computer per year
• $39.99 per computer for lifetime access
• $69.99 for 3 computers’ lifetime access

How to convert videos on SnapDownloader

• Download SnapDownloader, install and launch
• Copy and paste your YouTube video link on bar at the top of the app

• Choose your download settings. You can trim the video, schedule the download for later, or download it right away.

If you want to download private YouTube videos, follow this guide.

What is a YouTube to MP4 Converter?

A YouTube to mp4 converter is an application for downloading YouTube videos in mp4 format to view offline and send to other devices.

YouTube to mp4 converters are usually desktop apps, mobile apps, or web-based platforms. Some converters are compatible with all devices.

You’d typically paste a YouTube link in the converter, and then it automatically converts to mp4 before downloading.

Top Features For a YouTube to MP4 Converters

• Supports mainstream mp4 codec formats (H264, AAC)
• Enables basic video editing (e.g., cutting a section of a video)
• Downloads high-quality videos (1440p, 2k, 4k, 8k, etc.)
• Desktop video converter app contains no bundled software and is lightweight.
• Online video converter has no pop-up ads. (Always have an adblocker extension to avoid pop-up ads, and block notifications on your browser)
• Has no viruses. (Scan suspicious URLs on VirusTotal before opening them).
• Easy to use. Most converters have a two-step or three-step process for converting YouTube videos.
• Fast conversion
• Allows batch downloads and playlist downloads.

FAQs – YouTube to MP4

Is it legal to download or Convert YouTube Movies to MP4?

It is illegal to download copyrighted YouTube movies because it breaches YouTube’s Terms of Service. But if the movie is under the Creative Commons license, then it’s completely fine to download, convert, edit or reuse it.

YouTube allows creators to license their original content as Creative Commons (CC). It means that they permit the YouTube Community to use their content. You can find such videos using the YouTube Search filter “Creative Commons.”

YouTube movies under the CC license will have the label in the description.

Nonetheless, if you don’t upload the videos without attributing the creators, you’re safe downloading YouTube videos. YouTube will not hunt you down for having illegally downloaded movies on your devices.

Stay Safe While Exploring YouTube to MP4 converters

There’s no need to download an app that your firewall rejects or extensions that your browser warns you that they’re harmful. Opt for safe alternatives (e.g., the ones I’ve covered above).

Most free YouTube downloaders are supported by pop-up ads. While the converters are safe, the ads redirect you to external websites where no one guarantees their safety.

So, before checking out converters, do these things:

• Scan the URL (before opening) on VirusTotal
• Have an ad blocker installed on your browser
• Turn on your computer’s firewall or your mobile device’s inbuilt security features.

Download YouTube Videos to MP4

The best YouTube to mp4 converters are safe, fast, and support mainstream video formats.

They also offer high-quality video download options. And downloading playlists and basic editing features are a plus. Therefore, 4K Video Downloader is the best.

But that doesn’t discount other top converters like Snap Downloader and Snatcher. These three are desktop applications.

The best free online YouTube video converter is y2mate because it’s the fastest. Though you need an adblocker to avoid the popup ads.

Related Information Like This:

• YouTube to MP3 Converters
• YouTube to WAV Converter
• Instagram Story Viewer Apps
• How to Download TikTok Videos
• How to Download YouTube Videos
• YouTube Subtitle Downloaders
• YouTube Playlist Downloaders
• Free Video Converter Software
• MOV to MP4 Converters
• AVI to MP4 Converters