Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' note: The Download Now link will download a small installer file to your desktop. Remain online and double-click the installer to proceed with the actual 9.3MB download.
CNET Editors' review
We love YouTube downloaders because they make it so easy to grab and save video from YouTube's inexhaustible, ever-expanding supply. Whatever you like, if it's on video, it's probably on YouTube in one form or another. HOW's Free YouTube Downloader is one of the easiest tools for that job we've found. It not only downloads videos from YouTube but also converts them and files from your hard drive into formats you can play on your iPad, iPhone, and similar devices. It offers several quality levels, including HD quality, and plays your converted file when the job is done, if you want it to.
Convert YouTube videos to multiple formats
Ads pay the bills for freeware, and though Free YouTube Downloader contains no adware, we had to click through several screens to get to the actual program's download. It's worth the effort, though, since Free YouTube Downloader's easy settings and minimal user interface (think media player) let you quickly configure downloads and keep an eye on them in a corner of the screen while you do other things. We browsed to a YouTube page and copied and pasted its URL into Free YouTube Downloader's entry field (you can also browse to and add your own files). We selected Windows Media Video from an extensive drop-down list of Output Format options. We also selected the highest output quality, Full High Definition (1080p). We clicked Settings, too; these let us set always-on-top, a default output folder, simultaneous download and conversion, and language options. The browser-based Help file uses screenshots to make each step clear.
Once we'd made our selections, we pressed Download. Free YouTube Downloader began downloading and converting our video almost instantaneously (your connection will affect the speed) and finished by asking if we wanted to view our video. The video opened and played normally in our default media player. After that, we started downloading and saving videos we wanted to watch later. We like the way Free YouTube Downloader lets you choose a device-specific format for conversions, too. Don't forget to watch some of those videos you'll be saving with Free YouTube Downloader!
Publisher's Description
From HOW:
Would you like to watch your favorite videos from YouTube whenever and wherever you please? All this and more is possible with Free YouTube Downloader. With this download manager you can save YouTube videos in various video and audio formats. We support standard quality, high quality and even Full High Definition video.
What's new in this version: Version 3.5.136 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 910 votes
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Current version:
1.7 starsout of 38 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"beware of adware"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
It starts off free but you have to buy it to download more than one an hour.
Cons
lots of adware that comes with the software, beware
Summary
Find a clean solution like VideoZonk or MelodyQuest.
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"Consider your self lucky if you read this..."
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
None I can think
Cons
this program contains a MALWARE which is very hard to uninstall... I cannot believe cnet fooled me on this one. I am very disappointed and will see which legal steps I can take towards this situation
Summary
Stay away. Use open solutions like VideoZonk or MelodyQuest.
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"cool program"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
converts very nicely
Cons
none so far, only had for a couple days
Summary
does the job and it's free so can't complain
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"fdgdfgdfg1fdgdfgdfg1"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
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Cons
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Summary
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"beware of adware"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
none that I can think of
Cons
lots of adware that comes with the software, beware
Summary
be careful when installin
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"Consider your self lucky if you read this..."
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
none really
Cons
Spyware, steals private data. Do not install!
Summary
Stay away. Use open solutions like VideoZonk or MelodyQuest.
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"Need to be careful to detick boxes before installing"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
Job gets done. fast too.
Cons
Should make it easier for newcomers to de tick the boxes if they do not want the other softwares!
Summary
There are no malware. I used malwarebytes, Avast and Trend separately to confirm this.
I read that IDM is behind all these scare tactics here and other website. -
"TOO MANY USELESS CRAP AND ALL"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
----------------------------------------
Cons
too many ads and popups which are hard to remove this some are even malware and some are considered virus. I am warning you guys.
Summary
THIS CONTAINS A LOT OF MALWARE!!!!!!!
Updated on Jun 4, 2013 -
"Avoid this one comments in "CONS" are all correct!!"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
none none none
Cons
The upgrade option is a scam, once clicked the downloads ties up your PC for approx 15 minutes. When it's finished you'll find a LOT of useless junk, pop ups and too many programs running. It took approx 7 hours to remove, using five different programs and hunting inside register, several safe mood boots. I wasted way too much time.
Summary
It's a shame download.com did not catch this.
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"Really bad, just try ChrisPC YouTube Downloader"
Version: Free YouTube Downloader 3.5.136
Pros
I've used this soft 1-2 years ago, it was working fine, but starting a few months ago it's really bad :( Now I found a better downloader that suits my needs ChrisPC Free YouTube Downloader Converter. It can download full playlists from YouTube and can customize the file name of your videos and save them in folders as you want based on channel name and playlist name, which for me is a must!
Cons
Doesn't work like it should.
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