Looking for a modern ClipGrab alternative for Mac? Here's how Star Video Downloader compares.
Star Video Downloader vs ClipGrab — side by side.
| Feature | Star Video Downloader Winner | ClipGrab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + $5 one-time Pro | Free (ad-supported) |
| Bundled software / ads | ✓ No bundleware, no ads | ✗ Bundles Opera browser in installer |
| Native macOS app | ✓ Native SwiftUI, Apple Silicon optimized | ✗ Qt-based, not optimized for Mac |
| Supported sites | ✓ 1000+ via yt-dlp | Limited — YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, a few others |
| Max video quality | ✓ Up to 8K (Pro) | Up to 4K (when available) |
| Video format conversion | ✓ Full converter (MP4, MKV, MOV, WebM, AVI…) | Basic — limited format options |
| Video repair tool | ✓ Pro — fixes corrupted files | ✗ Not available |
| Batch downloads | ✓ Pro — queue multiple URLs | ✗ One video at a time |
| Playlist support | ✓ Full YouTube playlist download | ✗ No playlist support |
| SponsorBlock | ✓ Pro | ✗ Not available |
| Download history & stats | ✓ Built-in | ✗ Not available |
| Active development | ✓ Regular updates | Infrequent — slow update cycle |
| Apple Silicon native | ✓ Native ARM build | ✗ Runs via Rosetta |
ClipGrab is technically free, but its macOS installer bundles the Opera browser and may include other third-party software offers. This is a common monetization strategy for free apps, but it's a dealbreaker for many Mac users who want clean, trustworthy software. Star Video Downloader has no bundled software, no ads, and no hidden installs.
ClipGrab supports YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and a limited number of other sites. Star Video Downloader uses yt-dlp as its engine, which supports over 1000 websites including TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X, Reddit, Twitch, Facebook, and many more. If a site hosts video, Star probably supports it.
ClipGrab is built with Qt, a cross-platform framework. It works on Mac, but it doesn't look or feel like a Mac app — the UI uses non-standard controls, doesn't support native macOS features like drag-and-drop from Finder, and runs through Rosetta on Apple Silicon Macs. Star Video Downloader is built with SwiftUI and runs natively on M1/M2/M3/M4 chips.
If you only need to download occasional YouTube videos and want a completely free solution (and don't mind the bundled software), ClipGrab will get the job done. But for anything beyond basic YouTube downloads, Star Video Downloader is a significant upgrade.
Star Video Downloader is the better choice for Mac users: native SwiftUI app, 1000+ site support, no bundled software, and features ClipGrab can't match. The free tier lets you try before buying, and Pro is just $5 — less than a coffee.
No bundled software. No ads. Free tier available. Pro upgrade is $5 one-time.
macOS 14+ • Apple Silicon & Intel • No subscription