Quick Answer:
The most reliable way to download YouTube videos without YouTube Premium is using a desktop app like SurFast Video Downloader:
1. Copy the video URL.
2. Go to SurFast Video Downloader and put the URL into the address bar.
3. Select the video format and quality you need.
4. Click Download.
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Can You Download YouTube Videos Without Premium
Yes, you can.
YouTube Premium is the official paid subscription service offered by YouTube. With a YouTube Premium subscription, you will be able to enjoy premium features and benefits, including downloading YouTube videos for offline watching. Therefore, when you need to download YouTube videos to iPhone, Android, or computer, using YouTube Premium is a solution.
However, YouTube Premium is not so user-friendly, especially for you who want to keep the downloaded videos permanently: you can only keep the videos downloaded for 29 days. Given that, you may want to download YouTube videos to PC, Mac, or mobile device without the paid service.
Then can you download YouTube videos without Premium? Fortunately, YouTube Premium is not the only workable way to download videos from YouTube. There are other tools or services to help, including desktop programs, mobile apps, online services, and browser extensions. If you want to know how to download YouTube videos without upgrading your plan, read on to check the details.
How to Download YouTube Videos Without YouTube Premium
As mentioned above, there are four types of tools you can apply, depending on the device you use:
Download YouTube Videos Without Premium Using Desktop YouTube Video Downloader
If you want to download YouTube videos to PC or Mac without YouTube Premium, you can try a safe and reliable video downloader – SurFast Video Downloader. With this app installed on your computer, you can download videos from YouTube to your computer permanently, without worrying about buffering or internet connectivity issues. In addition, it also allows you to:
- Download YouTube videos to MP4, WebM, and more in 8K, 4K, 1080p…
- Download YouTube playlists or channels
- Convert YouTube to MP3 or WAV in 320kbps, 256kbps, or 128kbps
- Download music from YouTube Music
Besides YouTube, SurFast Video Downloader also supports TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and 1000+ video and audio sites.
To download YouTube videos without YouTube Premium:
Step 1. Launch SurFast Video Downloader and paste the video link. Then wait for the program to load the video.
Step 2. Check the download option you prefer and then click Download to start downloading the YouTube video to your computer.
Step 3. Wait for the video download process to finish.
Using SurFast Video Downloader is the optimal choice when you need to download multiple YouTube videos at once or download YouTube videos with subtitles.
Download Videos on YouTube Without Premium via Mobile App
If you want to download YouTube videos on Android without Premium, you can use a mobile app for YouTube video download. Such an app allows you to download YouTube videos on phone directly without a computer and frees you from YouTube Premium subscriptions.
For Android users who want to download YouTube video to Android phone without a subscription plan, you can use apps like TubeMate, VidMate, and Snaptube. Here I’d like to show you how to use TubeMate.
To download videos on YouTube without Premium on phone:
Step 1. Download TubeMate from its official site and install it on your Android phone.
Step 2. Open the app and search for the YouTube video you want to download.
Step 3. Click the video, tap the Download button, and select the format and quality you prefer.
Step 4. Wait for the video download process to finish.
For iPhone users, there are no such apps available on the App Store that allow you to download YouTube videos to iPhone. You need the help of the Documents app (by Readdle) and an online YouTube video downloader to save videos from YouTube to your iPhone. For more details, check the guide on how to download YouTube videos on iPhone without Premium.
Download YouTube Videos Without YouTube Premium Online
Online YouTube video downloaders can be a great option for downloading videos without the hassle of redirects and ads. They are often free and easy to use, making them a viable alternative to YouTube Premium for those who prefer not to pay for a subscription.
Besides, online services are generally cross-platform. You can use them on different operating systems and browsers. After trying out a few different options, I would like to recommend the YT1S YouTube video downloader. While it still has some redirects, it has far fewer than its competitors and is much more straightforward to use. For these reasons, it is a worth-trying choice for anyone looking to download videos on YouTube online without a subscription.
To download videos on YouTube without Premium:
Step 1. Copy the video URL from YouTube.
Step 2. Open a browser and visit YT1s YouTube Video Downloader.
Step 3. Paste the video URL into the search bar and wait for the website to load the video.
Step 4. Select the video format and quality and then click Download to download the YouTube video to your computer.
Download Videos from YouTube Without Premium Using Extensions
The last tested solution is using a browser extension. By adding the YouTube video download extension to your browser, you can download YouTube videos free for offline watching without leaving the YouTube website.
However, in recent years, Google has been cracking down on extensions that allow users to download YouTube videos on Mac or PC, making it harder to find reliable options. However, if you’re looking for a browser extension, I highly recommend YouTube Downloader from Addoncrop. While it does require an additional app, it is completely free and straightforward to use and is compatible with various browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, and more.
To download YouTube videos without Premium:
Step 1. Download Addoncrop YouTube Video Downloader and its companion app to your browser.
Step 2. Visit YouTube.com and play the video you want to get.
Step 3. Click the icon of the YouTube downloader extension from the toolbar.
Step 4. Click the download option you need to start downloading the video to your computer.
How to Download YouTube Videos: FAQs
There are some frequently asked questions that may help when you download YouTube videos:
To download YouTbe videos for free, you can use an online service like YT1s:
1. Copy the video URL from YouTube.
2. Go to YT1s YouTube video downloader and paste the link in the box.
3. After the video is loaded, select the video format you need to download.
To download YouTube videos to PC without subscriptions, you can use a free online YouTube video downloader like Y2Mate:
1. Get the video address from YouTube.
2. Go to the video downloader and paste the link.
3. Select the video format and quality you need and click Download.
To download YouTube videos to PC for free, you can use a free online YouTube video downloader like Y2Mate:
1. Copy the video URL and paste it into the search box.
2. Select the download option you need.
3. Click the Download button next to it.
The Bottom Line
While YouTube Premium is a popular option for downloading videos for offline viewing, it’s important to know that it’s not the only, nor necessarily the best, solution out there. There are many cheap and user-friendly tools available that can help you download YouTube videos for offline viewing. Pick up the one you like from the recommendations above to download YouTube videos with ease.