4K Video Downloader for Mac and the best alternatives: Pulltube & Downie

Every power user needs a reliable YouTube 4K video downloader for Mac. Quickly edit videos on your computer, save content from social media, or watch movies offline — video downloaders solve many jobs. One of the best 4K video downloaders is called...well, 4K Video Downloader. While it has everything you need, the free version is very limited. 

In this article, we talk about what you can do with 4K Video Downloader and how to find a proper alternative you can use for free without limitations. 

Don’t want to read the whole article? Check out our free custom GPT 4K Video Downloader assistant. It will quickly suggest the right tool based on your exact use case.

4K Video Downloader: main features and capabilities 

4K Video Downloader is a Mac app that lets you download videos and playlists in one click and gives you full control over quality and format. The macOS version is optimized for ease of use while still giving you lots of advanced features. 

The downside is that the free plan is limited to 10 single video downloads per day (and only 5 videos per channel). On top of that, the free version allows just one download at a time, which can be annoying if you want to download several videos.

The paid plan starts at $17 per license for three devices. If you decide to upgrade, you’ll be granted access to the full set of features, including: 

• Save videos from YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, Facebook, Reddit, and many other sites.
• Download videos with subtitles.
• Download playlists or entire channels.
• Automatically download videos from YouTube channels you’re subscribed to.
• Enable Smart Mode to always download videos in the same quality and format to the same output directory. Think of it as presets for video downloads.
• Download private content you have access to from YouTube channels.
• Convert video to other formats such as MKV, MP4, and FLV, or extract audio from video.
• Tweak video quality and format (4K Video Downloader can download video in up to 8K).

Here’s how to save videos with 4K Video Downloader on Mac:

1. Open 4K Video Downloader on your Mac.
2. Copy the video link from your browser.
3. Click Paste Link.

The one-click option is turned on by default, but you can disable it to customize the download quality and format.

As of now, there's no 4K Video Downloader for iPhone.

Best 4K Video Downloader alternatives 

While 4K Video Downloader is quite popular, its best features aren’t available with the free version. The download limits and paid-only features mean it's only suitable for occasional use, so power users will need to look for alternatives. 

Luckily, there are several 4k Video Downloader Mac alternatives you can install. Here are a few that offer the best value for money and provide a Mac-native design and experience.

Pulltube 

Pulltube is a great 4K downloader with extra features that might substantially improve your flow. 

Apart from its key purpose — saving videos from sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Facebook, and 1000+ more — Pulltube has a trimming tool that lets you trim video before you download them. You can also customize quality, extract audio, or add subtitles with a click. 

You can even convert your video to other formats! If you ask me, this is Pulltube’s best superpower.

Here’s how it works:

1. Paste the link to your video into Pulltube.
2. Click on HQ in the bottom right corner to see the available formats. 
3. Pick the one you need, and Pulltube will do the conversion automatically. 

No need to use online converters or other third-party tools to tweak video format, Pulltube has it covered. 

Price: Free for 7 days with Setapp

Best for: 

• Downloading a specific part of a video instead of the whole thing.
• Saving videos with subtitles from a variety of sites.
• Converting downloaded videos to other formats. 

Check out the comparison of the 9 best YouTube video downloaders for Mac.

Downie: 4k downloads from 1000+ sites

Downie wins in the nomination “most flexible 4K video downloader.” It can save videos from 1200+ sites. This means whether you Google “4K video downloader Reddit” or “download video from Taiwan’s most popular social network,” Downie will most likely fit the need. 

Best of all, it’s very easy to use and gets the work done. Downie offers many ways to save a video — drag and drop it onto the app window, paste the link from your browser, or use the built-in search or browser extension. 

You can also extract audio from video, customize quality, and track download progress in the menu bar. 

Price: Free for 7 days with Setapp

Best for: 

• Downloading videos from various sites — video platforms like Vimeo and YouTube, or social media like Instagram and Reddit. 
• Extracting audio only

Read also:

• Youtube to Gif
• Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Mac
• Alternative to Notepad++ for Mac
• Download Subtitles for Movies on Mac

How to choose the best 4K video downloader for Mac

The good thing is that there are many video downloader apps out there. The key is to choose the one that's suitable for you. 

Here’s a quick guide to choosing the best 4k video downloader for Mac:

• Free vs. paid: Free options are always tempting, but you’ll have to deal with low video quality, feature limits, and even ads. Paid apps offer more efficiency but add to your budget. If you're an occasional user, a free app might do the trick. But if you're downloading videos often, then consider investing in a paid tool. 
• Works well on macOS: Many video downloaders are made for cross-platform compatibility, but most feel clunky on a Mac. Go for one that feels native on your Mac, as it'll be easier and faster to use.
• Ease of use: Saving a video shouldn’t take more than a couple of clicks, even if you want to customize the quality and format.
• Extra perks: Maybe you like trimming videos to only the parts you need or want to download with subtitles. These little add-ons can help you avoid juggling between multiple tools. 

Best 4K Video Downloader alternatives: Final words

If you love 4K Video Downloader, we get you. It’s quick, convenient, and does what it says. But just doesn’t make sense to buy one-purpose apps if you can have access to every video downloader, converter, Mac cleaner, and any other essential utility with Setapp. 

What’s Setapp? It’s a subscription service that opens access to 250+ Mac and iOS apps, including Pulltube, Downie, and CleanMyMac, which I’ve discussed in this article. Best of all, it doesn’t simply give you tons of apps; it suggests proper solutions based on your context and flow. 

The best part is that you can try all the apps for free for 7 days.

FAQ:

What is the best free 4K video downloader for Mac?

The best free 4K video downloader for Mac is Downie orPulltube. If you're looking for an option that lets you download more videos at once, you can check out these tools.

Can I download videos from any website using 4K Video Downloader?

No, you can't download videos from any website using 4K Video Downloader. 4K Video Downloader officially supports 17 websites. The list includes big names like YouTube and Vimeo. If you’d like a more comprehensive video downloader, Downie supports 1,200+ sites, which makes it more reliable for niche sites.

How do I save videos in different formats on a Mac?

Pulltube allows users to choose the destination format before downloading a video, and it even lets you trim the video to only the section you want.

Is it legal to download videos from YouTube or other sites?

In most cases, it’s legal to download videos from YouTube and other sites. If you're doing it for personal, non-commercial use, you’ll be fine. Otherwise, make sure you check the T&Cs and copyright terms before saving and using downloaded videos.