Do you want to download video from the internet? If you see a video you like on Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, or any of the other leading video sites, you might want to create a copy so you can keep it forever.
Thankfully, downloading videos off the internet is surprisingly easy. And here are the free ways to download any video off the internet.
App-Specific Tools
Let’s begin with some service-specific web apps that specialize in a single website before moving onto generic video downloaders later in the article.
1. SaveFrom
SaveFrom is a YouTube downloader, but with a difference. If you are watching something online and you want to save it, just enter “ss” before “YouTube” in the URL. It’s a web trick to download video.
For example:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS01LwpC23g
Would become:
- https://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=aS01LwpC23g
2. FastestTube
The other free YouTube downloader (and there are a number of free YouTube downloaders worth considering) on the list is arguably the simplest. FastestTube is a browser extension that add a physical download button to YouTube. You can find it in the bottom right-hand corner of a video.
It works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer.
3. DownloadTwitterVideo
Sticking with the premise of site-specific tools, DownloadTwitterVideo lets you pull any video off the world’s favorite transient social network.
Paste in the URL of the tweet which contains the video you want, then select whether you want to save it as an MP3, MP4, or MP4 HD.
4. Instagram Downloader
Instagram forged its reputation as a photo-sharing service, but with the introduction of Instagram Stories, it has positioned itself as a Vine replacement. Instagram Downloader lets you download Instagram videos.
5. FB Down
FB Down is a tool for downloading video off Facebook. It also comes with a Chrome extension, meaning you don’t need to leave the social network’s homepage if you find something you want to save.
6. FB Down Private
FB Down Private is a subsection of FB Down, but we feel it deserves its own mention. The app lets you grab videos from accounts that users have set to private, even if you can’t see the video on Facebook natively.
To download a private video, go to the video’s page on Facebook, press CTRL + U to view the source code, then paste the code into the downloader.
Download Internet Videos Using Web Apps
As you progress through this portion of the list, you’ll notice a commonly recurring theme: most of the video downloaders work with the same set of sites.
7. KeepVid
KeepVid supports 28 sites. It covers educational resources like Lynda, news outlets like ABC and NBC, and popular amusement sites such as Ebaumsworld and Break. Unfortunately, KeepVid no longer lets you download YouTube videos.
Once you’ve copied and pasted your link into the site, you can choose to save your downloaded file in more than 150 different formats.
8. VideoGrabby
VideoGrabby is a simple-to-use web app that lets you download videos from the internet. And it supports the majority of the most popular video sites. Simply type the link and hit Go.
9. YooDownload
YooDownload is another competitor to the likes of KeepVid and VideoGrabby. It works with YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vid.me, and SoundCloud.
10. ClipConverter
ClipConverter works with almost any website you can think of (subscription streaming services notably excluded). It can even grab videos off the world’s most thriving social network, MySpace!
The developers offer a browser add-on for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
11. OnlineVideoConverter
Because many of these web apps are so similar, I’m only going to introduce you to one more.
OnlineVideoConverter works with YouTube, LiveLeak, TeacherTube, VK, College Humor, and more.
Download Internet Videos Using Desktop Apps
Sometimes it’s better to use a desktop app than a web app. They can offer features which web apps cannot replicate. And here are the best desktop apps to download videos off the internet.
12. VLC Media Player
Clearly, VLC does a lot more than merely downloading videos. The beauty of using VLC is it’s a program a lot of users will already have installed on their machines, and it negates the need for third-party apps.
A step-by-step guide is beyond the scope of this article, but you can find more information in our piece revealing the VLC features you might not know about.
13. Video Grabber
Video Grabber has three key features; downloading video, converting video, and recording your screen. Even though it initially looks like a web app, it is actually a desktop program.
The screen recording feature can be really useful in certain situations. More on that shortly.
14. FLVTO
FLTVO has a web app and a desktop version. The desktop version lets you queue videos for download from multiple sources and automatically download new videos as they become available.
Screen Recorders
We’re closing out our list with a pair of screen recorders. These tools let you record whatever is playing on your computer, making them a good solution when you have exhausted all other possibilities.
15. Open Broadcaster Software
OBS studio is unquestionably the best free screen recorder app on the web. It’s available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and includes a powerful editing tool.
16. CamStudio
CamStudio doesn’t look as slick as OBS and doesn’t boast as many features, but it’s simpler to use. Thus, it’s perfect for someone who just wants to click Record and forget about it.
We covered these two tools in much more detail when we discussed the best free screencasting tools for Windows.
Downloading Internet Videos? A Word of Warning…
Please remember that all of the tools listed in this article are for creating recordings of free online videos for personal use. They should not be used to save and distribute copyrighted material; doing so could get you in serious trouble with the law. You have been warned!
If you would like to learn about more places to download video from the internet, check out our articles detailing how to download video off Instagram and how to download videos from DailyMotion.
Read the full article: 16 Free Ways to Download Any Video Off the Internet
