We tested the five most popular YouTube downloaders for macOS. Here's how they compare on features, pricing, quality, and real-world experience.
A quick-glance comparison of features, pricing, and capabilities.
| Feature | Star Video Downloader #1 Pick | 4K Video Downloader | Downie | ClipGrab | yt-dlp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + $5 one-time | Free + $15/yr or $45 | $19.99 one-time | Free (open source) | Free (open source) |
| Supported Sites | ✓ 1,000+ | ~50 | ✓ ~1,000 | ~10 | ✓ 1,000+ |
| Max Quality | ✓ 8K | ✓ 8K (paid) | ✓ 4K | 1080p | ✓ 8K |
| Video Conversion | ✓ Built-in (Pro) | ✗ Not included | Basic (MP4 only) | Basic (MP4/MP3) | Via ffmpeg flags |
| Video Repair | ✓ Built-in (Pro) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Native macOS App | ✓ Swift | Qt-based | ✓ Native | Qt-based | Terminal only |
| Batch Downloads | ✓ Pro | ✓ Paid | ✓ Yes | ✗ | ✓ Yes |
Star Video Downloader is a native macOS app built in Swift that wraps the powerful yt-dlp engine in a clean, drag-and-drop interface. The free tier gives you 5 downloads per day with no account required. The Pro upgrade is $5 one-time — no subscription, no renewals, no hidden fees.
What sets it apart from every other app on this list is the combination of features you get for that price: 1,000+ supported sites, up to 8K quality, built-in video conversion (MP4, MKV, MOV, WebM, MP3, FLAC, WAV and more), a video repair tool for corrupted files, SponsorBlock integration, subtitle downloads, and chapter support. No other Mac downloader offers all of these at any price, let alone $5.
Best for: Most Mac users who want a simple, affordable, all-in-one solution.
4K Video Downloader is one of the most well-known names in this space. It has a polished interface and reliable downloads. The free tier allows 30 downloads per day, which is more generous than most.
The downsides: the paid plan is $15/year (or $45 for a "lifetime" license), it only supports around 50 sites, and it lacks video conversion, video repair, or SponsorBlock. Over three years, you'll pay three times more than Star Video Downloader's one-time price for fewer features.
Best for: Users who want more free daily downloads and don't need conversion or repair tools.
Downie is a well-regarded native macOS app with its own download engine. It supports around 1,000 sites and integrates nicely with Safari and other Mac browsers via a browser extension. The UI is clean and feels native.
The trade-off is price: $19.99 one-time — four times more than Star Video Downloader Pro. It lacks video repair, SponsorBlock, and its format conversion is limited to basic MP4 output. There's no free tier either — you get a trial, then you must pay.
Best for: Users who want a premium Mac-native experience and are willing to pay more.
ClipGrab is a free, open-source downloader with a straightforward interface. It does one thing: downloads videos from a handful of sites and can convert to MP4 or MP3. It's easy to use and costs nothing.
The limitations are significant: only about 10 supported sites, max quality capped at 1080p, no batch downloads, no playlist support, and no advanced features. The Qt-based interface also doesn't feel native on macOS. ClipGrab can struggle with YouTube changes since it relies on its own parsing rather than yt-dlp.
Best for: Users who need occasional YouTube-only downloads at 1080p or below and want something completely free.
yt-dlp is the open-source command-line tool that powers Star Video Downloader (and many other apps). It supports 1,000+ sites, handles virtually every video format, and is the most actively maintained download library available. It's completely free.
The trade-off is usability: yt-dlp runs entirely in Terminal. You need to know command-line flags, install dependencies (Python, ffmpeg), and manually manage output formats. There's no GUI, no progress bar (beyond text), no drag-and-drop, and no visual queue. If something breaks, you're reading error logs.
Best for: Developers, power users, and anyone comfortable with Terminal who wants maximum control.
For most Mac users, Star Video Downloader offers the best balance of features, price, and usability. It matches yt-dlp's site support (since it uses the same engine), beats every other app on features per dollar, and wraps everything in a native macOS interface. At $5 one-time for Pro, it's less than a single month of most streaming services.
If you need more free daily downloads and nothing else, 4K Video Downloader's free tier is generous. If you want a premium Mac-native experience and don't mind paying $20, Downie is solid. If you're a Terminal power user, yt-dlp gives you total control. And ClipGrab works fine for simple, occasional downloads.
But if you want one app that does it all — downloads, conversion, repair, SponsorBlock, batch processing — for $5 one-time, Star Video Downloader is the clear winner.
Star Video Downloader offers the best free tier for Mac users with 5 daily downloads, 1,000+ supported sites, and up to 8K quality. The Pro upgrade is just $5 one-time with no subscription.
Yes. Star Video Downloader, 4K Video Downloader, Downie, and yt-dlp all support 4K and 8K YouTube downloads on Mac. ClipGrab maxes out at 1080p.
Not necessarily. Star Video Downloader and ClipGrab have no subscriptions. 4K Video Downloader offers annual plans. Downie charges a one-time fee but at a higher price point. yt-dlp is completely free and open-source.
Star Video Downloader and yt-dlp both support over 1,000 websites since Star is built on the yt-dlp engine. Downie supports around 1,000 sites with its own engine. 4K Video Downloader supports roughly 50, and ClipGrab around 10.
Star Video Downloader: 1,000+ sites, 8K quality, conversion, repair. Free tier available. Pro is $5 one-time.
macOS 14+ • Apple Silicon & Intel • No subscription