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• Best Video Downloaders for Windows

Best video downloaders for Windows 10 in 2024

Looking to download videos from sites like YouTube, Facebook, and other video streaming platforms? Video downloaders for Windows make it quick and easy to save videos, often in a format of your choice.

Not all video downloaders are made the same, and while there are a ton of options out there, both free and paid, many make for a frustrating experience. In this post, we reveal our favorite video downloaders for Windows 10.

Disclaimer: When downloading videos, check the hosting site’s terms of use. We do not encourage or condone copyright infringement and recommend you only download videos that are in the public domain or owned by you, or if you have permission from the hosting site or copyright holder.

If you don’t have time to read the full post, here’s a quick list of our favorite video downloaders.

Best Video Downloaders for Windows:

• VideoProc Converter AI   : Our top-rated downloader for Windows 10/11. Downloads up to 8K from tons of sites and includes an editor, converter, recorder, and three cutting-edge AI tools to improve video and image quality. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• SnapDownloader : A fantastic option for anyone looking to grab interesting content from smaller sites. 8K support and lots of advanced features.
• 4K Video Downloader : A low-priced tool tailored for YouTube fans who don’t want to miss their favorite streams.
• Allavsoft Video and Audio Downloader : This freemium tool works on Windows and MacOS and is compatible with a ton of sites.
• ByClick Downloader : A well-priced software that enables batch downloading plus conversion within a modern interface.
• YTD Video Downloader : A freemium software that works on Windows desktop and mobile.
• Freemake Video Downloader : Easy-to-use app that allows for batch downloading.
• aTube Catcher : Includes a converter, screen recorder, and DVD creator.
• Any Video Converter : Comes with an editor and converter and boasts lots of format options.

Choosing the right Windows 10 video downloader isn’t always straightforward. The one you pick will depend on your specific needs, as well as other factors such as price and features. Here are the main criteria we considered when selecting the best video downloaders for Windows:

• Solid performance
• Compatibility with multiple sites
• Ease of use
• Features like batch downloading and conversions
• Value for money

Best video downloaders for Windows 10

Here is our list of the best video downloaders for Windows 10:

1. VideoProc Converter AI

(Windows, MacOS)

VideoProc Converter AI by Digiarty is a full-featured video editing tool that includes a great downloader. This is a paid software but the price is very reasonable and you can try it out with a 7-day trial before you commit.

VideoProc is super simple to use and supports more than 1,000 video streaming sites , including YouTube, Vevo, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and Facebook. You can download video and music streams, live videos, playlists, and channels.

This software supports 8K video, which is becoming a bit more common, but most competitors still only support up to 1080p or 4K. A built-in video converter means you can convert your downloads to over 70 formats, including AAC, MP3, MOV, and AVI.

On the editing side, VideoProc comes with all the features you need to create professional-looking videos, including file-merging, subtitles, effects, deshake, and denoise. There’s also a built-in recorder in case you want to shoot your own video or screen captures from within the app. On that note, if you’re looking to download a live video, you can set the start time and duration to record it.

Additionally, it incorporates three AI tools to enhance the quality of downloaded content, videos, recordings, DVDs, and so on. It can upgrade them from SD to 4K at 60 FPS and beyond for playback on larger screens. The tools are also great for restoration, and are particularly adept at bringing out crisp details in aging photos and low-quality images,

Some of the benefits of a paid tool are you don’t have to deal with ads and upsells, and it doesn’t try to sneak additional software onto your device. Plus, you get great support in the form of comprehensive web tutorials and an email contact form.

• Beginner-friendly
• Supports tons of streaming sites and video formats
• Includes a full editor, converter, and recorder
• Inexpensive for what you get
• Good support
• Three AI tools to improve video/image quality
• May be more than some users need

Price: An annual plan for one PC costs $25.95. for the first year. This comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also save at least 50% by using the coupon on VideoProc Lifetime license.

2. SnapDownloader

( Windows, MacOS )

SnapDownloader is perfect for anyone who wants a simple, straightforward way to archive online videos. You can either type in a link directly or navigate to a specific page using the built-in web browser. Once you’re done, you can either download it immediately or trim portions off so that you’re only saving the relevant parts. Users can also choose their preferred video quality, file format (there are 10 available), and included subtitles.

Let’s talk about advanced functionality . This app has a One-Click mode that starts downloading videos the second you paste the URL. It can backup playlists, whole YouTube channels, and even private videos (only yours, though). You can also schedule downloads so that they happen when nobody else is in your home needs to use the internet.

For the time being, SnapDownloader is only available on Windows and Mac. However, the site mentions that Ubuntu support is coming soon. This service offers free customer support over email, as well as a short FAQ section that addresses some of the most common enquiries.

Price: SnapDownloader has a fully-featured free trial, and you can take advantage without even providing payment information. After this expires, you can pay $7.99 per month , $29.99 per year, or $39.99 for a lifetime subscription.

• Gives you tons of control over how you download content
• Streamlined interface
• Affordable lifetime plan
• Supports over 900 websites
• We’d like to see the website’s support section expanded a little

3. 4K Video Downloader

(Windows, macOS, Linux)

4K Video Downloader is ideal for avid YouTube fans who don’t want to miss any of their favorite content. It looks a little dated, but it’s really easy to use. 4K Video Downloader enables you to save individual videos or full playlists from YouTube, and you can even set it to automatically download new videos from your favorite channels. It also works with TikTok, Facebook, Vimeo, and other video sharing sites.

This freemium software limits users on the free plan in terms of number of playlists, channels, and subtitles. Upgrading to premium means these features are unlimited , plus you get a channel subscription feature, no ads, and priority support.

As its name suggests, this software supports 4K video, but it supports 8K as well. Features include bulk downloading, YouTube subtitle extraction, access to private YouTube content, 3D and 360° downloads, and an in-app proxy (for unlocking blocked content). The formats you can save to are limited to MKV, MP4, MP3, OGG, and M4A.

Looking for a tool that speaks your language? 4K Video Downloader supports over a dozen languages including German, Spanish, and Japanese. There are plenty of setup and troubleshooting guides available on the website, and you’ll find an option to send an email if needed.

Price: A limited version is available for free forever, but the premium software costs a one-time fee of $15 for a maximum of three simultaneous downloads. Plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

• Ideal for frequent downloading
• Easy to use
• Decent free version
• More than a dozen languages available
• May be less useful for sites other than YouTube

4. Allavsoft Video and Music Downloader

Allavsoft is a handy freemium downloader that can handle video and audio files. The aesthetic is fairly basic but this tool is very easy to use. It can help you download files from more than 1,000 sites including YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, DailyMotion, SoundCloud, Deezer, Tidal, and more.

The free version allows you to download a maximum of five videos and convert or merge videos of a maximum of five minutes in length.

Allavsoft comes with a built-in converter and can handle a variety of formats including MP3, M4A, Apple Lossless, WAV, MOV, MP4, and AVI. It supports HD 1080p and 4K. You can add multiple URLs to batch download and convert videos.

This software comes with a built-in screen recorder so you can create and convert your own videos. And a built-in player enables you to playback and preview your downloaded files. There’s also a feature that allows you to pause and resume downloading. There aren’t editing tools included which may be disappointing for some users.

Some users have reported issues with initial setup, but Allavsoft technical support is highly responsive and ready to help via email support around the clock.

Price: There’s a free trial version that limits the number of downloads and length of conversions. The full software costs $29.99 per month but is often on sale for $19.99 per month. This is reduced dramatically if you go for an annual plan (currently on sale for $29.99) or a lifetime deal (now priced at $59.99). Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Download from a ton of sites
• Built-in recorder and converter
• Support all popular formats
• Pricey compared to competitors

5. ByClick Downloader

ByClick Downloader definitely steps things up a notch when it comes to aesthetics. It has a well-designed, intuitive interface that makes it easy to download videos and playlists. It is compatible with a range of sites including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitter, YouKu, Dailymotion, and more. You can download full YouTube playlists and channels as well as entire Instagram pages in one click.

This is paid software. You’ll see a free version, but this is only available for one day, after which you’ll be prompted to pay for the premium plan to continue using the software.

This downloader includes a converter too, which supports a variety of formats, including MP3, MP4, WMV, AVI, FLV, 3GP, and M4A. There are no editing tools that some users may miss. ByClick Downloader supports up to 4K and can handle long videos (over an hour in length). You can download YouTube subtitles with your video, and names and titles are automatically attached to MP3s. Dozens of videos can be downloaded at the same time.

You have two options for downloading. You can either paste the URL or use the one-click download mode. In the latter, you simply navigate to the video and a popup will ask if you want to download it. Another neat feature of this downloader is that it provides personal recommendations for videos at the bottom of the interface. You can also link your video sharing site accounts to download your private videos.

The interface is available in 23 languages, including Spanish, German, and Turkish. A thorough FAQ section on the ByClick Downloader website should help you solve most issues, but there is an email contact form should you need further assistance.

• Batch downloading
• Built-in converter
• Available in 23 languages
• Personal recommendations
• Doesn’t include editing tools

Price: The free version of ByClick Downloader has limitations and can only be used for one day. The full software costs $40 for a lifetime ( currently discounted to $19.99 ). If you want to upgrade to use the client on three PCs, you pay an extra $20 (currently discounted to $9.99). This provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee .

6. YTD Video Downloader

(Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS)

YTD Video Downloader is another freemium software with a limited free version. You can try out the premium tool with a 7-day free trial, but note the free and pro versions are separate pieces of software. Like the previous app, YTD Video Downloader has a bit of a dated aesthetic, but it’s straightforward to navigate.

This tool lets you download videos from many sites, including YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo. YTD Video Downloader has a built-in converter and supports conversion to several formats, including MP3, MP4, AVI, MOV, and 3GP. Premium users can download and convert multiple URLs all in one step , enjoy faster download speeds, and use the software free from ads and upsells.

If you run into issues, you can submit a ticket, although YTD strongly encourages users to consult the fairly comprehensive FAQ section first.

Price: The basic version is free but paid plans cost $9.99 per month on a monthly basis and $71.76 (effectively $2.99 per month) for a two-year plan.

• Works with many platforms
• Premium version makes fast work of batch downloading
• App is easy to use
• The Pro version is fairly pricey

7. Freemake Video Downloader

Freemake Video Downloader is a popular software used for downloading, converting, and editing. It’s a freemium tool, although the free version has a major downside: there’s a large watermark in the middle of downloaded videos, making some unwatchable. That said, it does include a converter and several editing features (including cutting and rotating).

The Freemake app is primarily intuitive and has a bright, fun aesthetic. It comes in 18 different languages, including Italian, Portuguese, and Vietnamese. Freemake supports 4K resolution and lets you download videos from over 10,000 sites .

You can save to various formats, including AVI, MP3, MP4, and MPEG. Other features include batch downloading, the option to curb bandwidth consumption (handy if your internet is already slow), cloud uploading, and parental controls.

The premium version of this software branded the “Freemake Mega Pack,” offers faster conversion speeds, logo removal, additional editing features such as subtitles, custom watermarking, and a DVD burner.

Freemake has a dedicated support site that caters to users of all its products. If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, you can submit a request form which will be responded to via email.

Price: The cost of the premium version of Freemake is $39.95 per year or $59.95 for an unlimited license.

• Works with lots of sites
• Offers batch downloading
• Simple to use
• Large watermark with free version

8. aTube Catcher

aTube Catcher boasts lots of features in one tool, and it’s totally free. Aside from the downloader, you have a screen recorder, video converter, DVD creator, and audio capture tool.

The downloader is compatible with thousands of video streaming sites. It allows you to download and convert in one step and offers a ton of conversion options. Supported formats include 3G2, 3GP, AVI, MP4, MP3, XVID, GIF, MOV, and many more. That said, conversions can be slow.

One issue with aTube Catcher is it installs multiple programs on your device. It also tries to install AVG Free Antivirus, although it does ask permission for this. Even if you decline, it will still install Music Search MP3, a music downloader. While some users might find this useful, we’re generally wary of tools that install additional software, as this can sometimes result in malware finding its way onto your device.

You have around a dozen options for the interface language, including French, Italian, and Turkish. While this downloader is simple to use, there isn’t much in the way of support material on the website. You can contact the team via a web form if needed.

Price: aTube Catcher is free, but you have the option to donate to the project.

• Multiple tools in one
• Budget-friendly option
• Supports lots of sites and formats
• Installs additional software
• Slow conversions

9. Any Video Converter

(Windows, macOS)

Any Video Converter (AVC) is primarily a video converter software but it comes with a downloader built-in. It has a free and premium version (both including a downloader), with each requiring a separate install.

AVC works with more than a hundred video streaming sites, including Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube, and Metacafe. As expected (since conversion is the primary focus of this software) there are ample format options (17 in total), including AVI, MOV, and MP4.

Aside from downloading, the free version enables you to perform basic edits, convert between video and audio formats, burn video to DVD, and play videos and DVDs with a built-in player. Upgrading to the ultimate plan means you get a DVD converter, video and screen recorders, and DVD templates. Both handle up to 4K resolution but the Ultimate version is much faster for downloading and converting.

Apps are available in more than a dozen languages, including French, Polish, Korean, and Thai. AVC offers lots of how-to articles and video tutorials and you can email support if you need additional help.

Price: AVC Free is completely free while AVC Ultimate requires a one-time payment of $49.95 . The company extends a 30-day refund policy.

• Works with many video streaming sites
• Includes a converter
• Has plenty of format options
• Ultimate version is expensive
• Free version is slow

Our methodology for finding the best video downloader software

As you’ve already discovered, there’s a lot of competition in the video downloader space, so before adding our recommended providers to our list, we have a list of considerations we use to make sure they’re the best of the best:

1.  How quickly do they let you download?  This is one of the most critical factors when selecting a video downloader, and it’s easy to determine which services we recommend for this category. First, we look for providers with large numbers of streamable media content available on their site, check out the download time listed on the streaming content, and then compare them against each other.

2.  What device compatibility do they offer?  Many video downloader services are very limited in device compatibility, but you should ideally be looking for a provider that offers support for a wide range of devices, such as smartphones (both Android and iOS), tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, and even web browsers.

3.  Is the service easy to use?  Even if you find a video downloader with all the features you need, it can be challenging to use that software if it’s not very user-friendly. Instead, we look for providers that offer an intuitive interface and simple controls so that anyone can easily download videos from any web page on their own.

4.  How much does it cost?  While there’s no denying that some video downloader services are a lot more expensive than others, you shouldn’t necessarily let price be your only determining factor when choosing between providers. We try to strike a balance between the cost and the features you’re getting for your money.

5.  Can they handle all of the main file formats?  There’s a wide range of different video file formats out there, so it’s crucial that the video downloader software you choose can support all of the main file formats, including MP4, MOV, AVI, and more.

6.  Can you save videos in different resolutions?  If you’re planning on watching your downloaded video on a large-screen TV or computer monitor you’ll need various resolution options. This may not be as important to you as someone more concerned with saving storage capacity on their smartphone or tablet.

7.  Does it support subtitles?  This is a less common feature but can be very useful for anyone who wants to watch foreign language videos or videos with embedded subtitles.

FAQs about video downloaders for Windows 10

Can i use a windows 10 video downloader on macos.

Generally, Windows 10 video downloaders are built for Windows operating systems, and not all will work on macOS devices. However, several of the apps on this list, including  YTD Video Downloader  and  Any Video Converter , will work on a Mac.

Should I use a free video downloader for Windows 10?

It is perfectly safe to use a free video downloader for Windows 10. However, some free providers bundle additional software (bloatware) like AVG free in exchange for using their product for free. Premium video downloaders are typically the better choice as they remove annoying ads, include other valuable tools, and do not (usually) install bloatware.

Will a video downloader slow down my PC?

Most video downloaders have little to no impact on system resources, with the exception of some free apps that slow down your computer to try and entice you into purchasing their premium product.

Can I download copyrighted videos using a Windows 10 video downloader?

Downloading copyrighted videos using a Windows 10 video downloader without explicit permission from the copyright holder is a big no-no. This would amount to a violation of copyright laws and could result in severe legal consequences, including but not limited to lawsuits, fines, and even criminal charges.

To avoid such sticky situations, we should always strive to respect the intellectual property rights of content creators and owners. Therefore, obtaining the necessary permissions or using legal means, such as licensed streaming services, to download or use copyrighted material is crucial. After all, it’s only fair that we show appreciation for the hard work and creativity put into producing the content that we enjoy.

In a nutshell, aim to stay on the right side of the law and respect the intellectual property rights of creators and owners by obtaining their express permission or using legal means to access copyrighted material.

8 Comments Leave a comment

Any Video Converter work perfectly!

does video proc allow any url

As with other downloaders, it may not be compatible with every site. You can quickly find out if VideoProc will download by entering the URL and clicking Analyze.

I’m normally like you and don’t like anything that installs other software but I make an exception for aTube installing Music Search MP3 I just love that program it’s fantastic at finding songs. I’d actually uninstalled aTube a while back as I found it wasn’t as good as I thought and it also uninstalled Music Search MP3. I spent ages searching the web for the program or anything similar but I couldn’t find any music search and downloader programme that measured up to it so I’ve reinstalled aTube just to have the extra programme of Music Search MP3. Is this sort of thing something you’ve come across before where the added program is better than the original, as I’ve never found that before?

This is pretty unusual but thanks for the tip!

Does any video downloader program download the captions ?

You can search for .srt files (subtitles) on a variety of sites including Yifi (good selection, multiple languages)

VideoProc allows you to extract and add caption transcripts.

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15 BEST Online Video Downloaders You Should Be Using Now

• How To Download Videos
• TECH REVIEWS
• Digital Media & Creative Tech
• Video & Music Streaming
• online video downloader

Video downloaders are a wonder especially when it’s an obvious struggle to find the exact videos you spotted earlier on social media like Facebook or Instagram. Whether it’s a cute puppy, a make-up tutorial, or even a compilation of memes, these videos evoke all sorts of emotions. When that happens, your best bet is to download the videos and save them to your devices for safekeeping.

However, downloading videos isn’t as easy as downloading photos. Most of the time, right-clicking on the content and hitting the “Save” option just doesn’t work. So, here is a list of the best online video downloaders you can use to download videos in just a few easy steps.

When You Should Use an Online Video Downloader

Please note that this guide is only intended to teach you how to download videos online — for your personal consumption only. We do not encourage downloading content for redistribution, especially for commercial purposes. Sharing other people’s content on social media and video-sharing platforms typically violates privacy policies and is also unethical. This guide is meant to help you download videos if you are not able to watch them online at a specified time.

For example, you may not always have a stable internet connection to stream live videos. Or you may want to rewatch the video at a later time for research purposes. It is also worth noting that you should only download videos that you have already purchased, are free and accessible to the public, and/or are specifically shared with you.

Difference Between Online Video Downloaders And Software

When downloading videos, there are two kinds of tools. You can use online video downloaders or software. So, what’s the difference between the two? Online video downloaders, also known as online video grabbers, are free online websites that let you download videos from various platforms by just copying and pasting the video link. You needn’t install the service. Just visit the online website and you can start downloading videos. What’s more, the service is mainly free of charge. In exchange, however, you need to endure ads scattered across the site. 

On the other hand, video-downloading software functions the same as online video downloaders. They just need to be installed on your computer for the service to work seamlessly. Once installed, you can launch the software anytime to download videos. Some software needs to be purchased while the others are free to install, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe to use.

Sometimes, the free ones are paired with malware and viruses that could harm your computer. This is why it’s better to look for a safe and reliable one before downloading anything.

1. Savefrom.net

• Simple interface
• Can download different formats
• Format is reliant on original upload

Established in 2008, Savefrom.net is among the best video downloaders trusted by millions of users worldwide. Unlike most of the free video downloaders available on the internet, the site touts a clean and straightforward interface without the hassle of undesirable ads, including the pop-up ones. In other words, it’s 100% safe and functional. It’s even checked and approved by Norton Safe Web.

The service supports several video qualities. You can download videos in MP4, SD, HD, Full HD, 2K, or 4K formats. However, the output quality always depends on the uploaded file. So, if the owner uploaded a video in 1080p, it will be saved into your device in the same quality. Additionally, you can access the service using different browsers. It doesn’t matter if you’re using Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or a Chromium-based web browser, there’s no problem converting and downloading videos, and the experience remains well-tailored and simple. 

The process of downloading videos using Savefrom is pretty simple. Just go to the video that you want to download, copy the video link, open savefrom.net on another tab, paste the copied link in the appropriate box, and hit Download. In seconds, the content will automatically be saved into your device. 

2. 4K Video Downloader

• Access content anytime, even offline
• Can include subtitles
• Free version is limited

Downloading Youtube videos is something everyone likes to do. It lets you access the content at any time, even without an internet connection. While most video downloaders simply do the trick, it’s not the same when you prefer to include the subtitles as well. Luckily, the 4K Video Downloader is here to the rescue. It’s one of the noteworthy online video downloaders that allow you to download Youtube videos at the highest possible quality without a fuss. Just install the software and you have the magic to download all kinds of videos, 3D format included. 

The software offers a free version. However, it comes with limited features. For instance, you can download Youtube playlists but it only works for those with 24 videos or fewer. Also, you can’t download playlists with subtitles or full channels. If you opt to perform such actions, you need to pay a one-time fee which costs $15. Availing one makes the service available on three computers. 

4K Video Downloader is easy to use. All you need is to install the software into your computer, copy the video link from your address bar, click Paste Link, choose the output quality, then hit Download. You might wait for a few seconds until your file is complete. Learn the alternatives on how to download Youtube videos here.

3. Freemake Video Downloader

• Easy to use interface
• Download video and audio files in 500 different formats

With over 93 million users worldwide, it’s not hard to see why Freemake Video Downloader makes it to our list of 15 best online video downloaders. From download options to the interface, the software remains to be as superior among others. That said, you can download videos and audio in more than 500 formats, including WebM, 3GP, Flash, and FLV. As for the interface, you won’t have a problem using and locating operations as these are portrayed in visible fonts against a clean background. 

Similar to most video downloaders, Freemake is free to download. And you can use the free version any time as you please without commitments. However, expect to access limited features. These include a branded splash at the beginning and end of your downloaded video and a three-minute video limit. Bummer, we know. If you want to use the program without these, upgrade to Freemake Premium Pack which costs $9 for a year or $19 for a lifetime.

The download process only takes a few steps. First, install the software. Next, copy the video link from the address bar. Then, launch the program and paste the copied link in the appropriate field. Finally, choose your desired output quality and hit Download.

4. ClipGrab

• Download videos as you watch them
• Built-in search engine
• Formats aren’t tas expansive as other downloaders

Don’t you just wish to watch videos and download them at the same time without opening another program or tab on your browser? If you’re in the same boat, check out ClipGrab . It’s a free video downloader that gives you the freedom to download and convert videos into multiple formats. What separates it from other video downloaders is its built-in search engine. This means you can search and watch videos on the program without having to switch browsers the entire time – a feature many software of the same type lack. 

There’s no limitation as to where you can grab videos. It supports big video-hosting platforms such as Youtube, Vimeo , and Dailymotion . Other than MPEG4, you can download videos into different formats, including WMV and OGG. Likewise, videos can be converted to MP3 files as well. ClipGrab does this by adding ID3 tags using the video metadata. 

ClipGrab doesn’t stop there. There’s also a feature called clipboard monitoring which allows you to copy a video link to the clipboard and the program automatically downloads video associated with it. It saves you from the hassle of manually copy-pasting individual videos’ links which could take you a long time to do. 

5. Winx Youtube Downloader

• Download multiple videos at once
• User-friendly interface

Looking for software that can download multiple videos at once? Try Winx Youtube Downloader . Boasting a sleek and user-friendly interface, you can download as many videos as you want by just copying and pasting the link into the program. These are added on top of each other and you can preview them using the little player located at the top left. Akin to most video downloaders, you can choose the output quality before downloading. Whether it’s MP4, WebM, 3GP, or 4K, you can have it all here.

Also, the service works reasonably for a free video downloader. You won’t get watermarks on downloaded videos and the application itself isn’t bombarded with ads (although you may see some occasionally as a prompt to upgrade for the premium version). 

Winx also works like the abovementioned programs. First, you need to install the software. Then, copy and paste the video link into the app. After which, choose your desired output quality then hit the Download button.

6. Any Video Downloader

• Slick interface
• Does not support multiple downloads
• Extra software bundled during installation

At first glance, you may think that Any Video Downloader simply does a single function: download online videos. While this is true, you haven’t seen the full magnitude of it. In fact, it’s among the best Youtube video downloaders on the market for many reasons. With a slick interface, varied input and download options, impressive conversion of audio and video formats, and a built-in video editor, you’ll find yourself satisfied using the software. 

As a free software, however, you should expect a few drawbacks. For instance, it doesn’t support multiple video downloads. That means you may have to manually download all the videos in a single playlist. Next, the program is bundled with extra software upon installation. However, you can choose not to install the software by selecting “Click here to customize the installation” then uncheck the box. 

7. JDownloader

• Downloads other forms of media
• Fast downloads

JDownloader isn’t just your typical video downloader. In fact, it’s classified as a download manager since it caters to all types of content, including documents, software, and media. Millions of users love JDownloader as it’s free, and makes the download process faster and easier. That means, downloading huge files from Rapidshare and MEGA isn’t a problem anymore. 

Just copy the video link and it will automatically appear under the Link Grabber option of the service. After which, select what video quality you prefer to have, right-click and choose “Continue with the selected file”. Wait until your content is finished downloading. It also works with other files, including audio and images. 

8. aTube Catcher

• All-in-one downloader
• Excellent format support
• Interface might need some getting used to

Everyone prefers an all-in-one video downloader that doesn’t only download videos but also records your computer activities, burns DVD, BluRay, or CD, and edits videos. Thankfully, aTube Catcher offers the same features. Of course, it downloads videos from huge platforms such as Youtube, Dailymotion, and Metacafe. But the way the software performs isn’t like any other video downloaders. In fact, it touts excellent format support, including a useful batch processing and automatic program updater. 

The interface may not be for everyone’s eyes but for a free tool, it’s decked out accordingly. Rather than scouring your way through the program’s buttons, the major buttons are big enough to see which provides instant access for all kinds of conversion. The feature that separates aTube Catcher from others is the screen recorder. This way you can record streams that aren’t available for download. 

Just make sure to keep an eye on during the installation process to not install extra software that may hamper your computer’s performance. 

9. Free Youtube Download

• Audio-only download available
• Can only download from one website

Based on its name, you probably know what Free Youtube Download does. This is a simple and aboveboard free Youtube downloader that downloads videos without any fuss or distraction. All you have to do is to copy the Youtube video link and paste it into the program. Within seconds you’ll have the content stored on your device. If you’re someone who prefers to download videos automatically, just enable the Auto-Download option from the app’s settings and you’re good to go. 

You can download videos in different formats, but it usually depends on the quality of the original video. Additionally, an audio-only download is available if you wish to obtain the file minus the footage. Like Freemake Video Downloader, Free Youtube Download has a three-minute limit when it comes to videos. If this isn’t a problem for you, then this program suits your preferences.

10. iTubeGo Youtube Downloader

• Batch downloading
• Easy-to-use interface
• Useable on mobile devices

iTubeGo Youtube Downloader is a simple video downloader that comes with extras. It lets you queue up multiple videos or audio links for batch downloading and it even features a user-friendly interface with responsive buttons. There’s also an option to download Youtube subtitles in the specified language in the settings. 

Similar to other video downloaders, iTube Go Downloader converts your videos into different useful formats. You can choose from MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, FLV, and 3GP. As for the device compatibility, the service works well on iPhone, iPod, iPad, Android Phone, including Android Tablets.

11.YoutubeMP4

• Can be used on your computer, phone, or tablet
• Browser-based

A list of the best online video downloaders isn’t complete without YoutubeMP4 . Whether you’re using a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you won’t have a problem accessing the service as it’s optimized to ensure user satisfaction. And since it runs on a browser, you can download videos directly on the site without downloading any third-party application. 

YoutubeMP4 is pretty simple to use. Copy the video link and paste it on the website. Wait for the generated links, then click the quality you prefer to have. You can choose from MP4, M4A, and WEBM. 

12. Catchvideo.net

• Download and convert videos

Catchvideo may not be everyone’s cup of tea but this online video downloader sure gets the job done without any hassle. Download videos from Youtube, Facebook, Dailymotion, Vimeo, and others and convert them into your desired quality. If you don’t have enough space on your device and would want to download large videos, convert them into lower video quality using Catchvideo. This way, you’ll still view the video without busting up your device’s memory.

In exchange for being a free service, there are ads scattered across the site. The pop-up can annoy you the most since it appears frequently when you hit a button. 

13. DownloadGram

• Easy to use
• Can only download from one source

Apart from Youtube and other video-streaming platforms, Instagram is also a major source of funny and inspiring clips. So, what happens if you want to download videos from Instagram ? Simply turn to DownloadGram . It’s an online video and image grabber that boasts a slick interface with only the link box and the Download button on the screen. 

By now, you probably have an idea of how to download videos using online video downloaders. The process of using DownloadGram is no different. Just copy the video link and paste it in the appropriate then hit Download. That’s that. In addition, DownloadGram is completely free and you don’t need to install the service. You can download videos directly on the site. 

14. FBDown.net

• Save for Later function
• Can only download on one source

Viewing videos on Facebook is a fun activity. You can watch millions of videos across the world using its recently launched feature: Facebook Watch. But how can you download Facebook videos that are close to your heart? You can use Facebook’s Save For Later function or just use FBDown to fully store the content on your device for offline viewing. 

As a free online video downloader, there’s no need for installation. Simply open FBDown on your browser, copy and paste the Facebook video’s link into the site, and click Download.’Be wary, though, that the site uses ads to feed its servers. If you don’t like seeing one, you can enable AdBlocker on your browser. 

15. VidtoMP3

• Lacking in other formats

As the name implies, VidtoMP3 converts videos into MP3 in just a few simple steps. Just copy the video link and paste it into the website. The service is completely free and it doesn’t require registration. However, the website is full of ads as a way to keep the service and alive and free of charge. 

Is It Legal To Download Videos Online?

Now that you know how to download videos using online video downloaders, you must be wondering if is it legal to download all the videos that you encounter. The answer is no. Generally, famous video streaming platforms such as Youtube, Vimeo, and others uphold a policy that no content shall be copied, distributed, and sold without the consent of the uploader or the company itself. Thus, anyone who violates this standard shall be subjected to proper sanctions. 

But if you intend to download a video for personal use only (offline viewing and such), you are free to do so. Avoid reuploading and crediting it as your property to prevent any violation.  

Learn the in-depth ways on how to download videos with different methods. Whether it’s Youtube videos, TikTok videos, Vimeo, or more.

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How to Check the Quality of a Movie Before Downloading

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Checking the quality of a movie means two different things: the literal quality of the copy you're downloading, and the critical quality of the movie itself. In this article we help you check both.

When you download films from the web, you'll find yourself faced with a long list of confusing terms and acronyms about the movie quality. Telecine, workprint, WEBDL... what does it all mean? How can you make sure you end up with a watchable version of the movie you want?

And what about the other definition of movie quality? At the very least, you should always check critics' and cinema-goers' reviews. This will help you avoid the wasted time and bandwidth of downloading bad movies.

Keep reading to learn more about how to check movie quality. We're going to explain what all of the terms mean, and then look at the best sites for checking movie ratings.

Movie Quality Ranking

We begin with the literal quality of movie downloads. We'll work through the various formats in reverse order, starting the worst quality and ending with the highest.

Depending on the site you use, this information can pop up in a few different places. It might be in the file name, in an adjacent information box, or in the NFO file (more on that later). Remember, you can often download the NFO file without downloading the entire movie if you cannot find the information anywhere else.

A workprint is a pre-release version of a movie. It's akin to a first draft in writing terms---it's not a finished product. You might find pre-dubbed sound, placeholders, missing special effects, and other issues.

Cam quality refers to a copy of a movie that someone has created by filming the screen in a movie theater using a recording device. The copies are normally illegal and suffer from low quality. Avoid.

Like cam quality, telesync movies have been illegally recorded in the movie theater itself. However, unlike cam quality, people use professional recording equipment to make the recording. Usually, the recording takes place in the projection booth.

The first semi-decent quality movie format worth downloading is Telecine. They are created using old Telecine machines, which can produce digital copies of movies from analog film reels. The movie quality is slightly worse than DVD thanks to lower-quality source reels.

DVDscr is short for DVD Screener. It is a copy of a DVD that the studio has sent out for promotional purposes. Because it's a copy of a promotional DVD, it will not contain the usual DVD extras such as director's cuts and additional scenes. It might contain serial numbers, counters, and other information on the screen.

SDTV is a copy of a movie that's been created from a TV recording. It is part of a wider TVRip category. Depending on where the recording was made, it will either be in 576i (North America and parts of South America) or 480i (rest of the world) resolution.

Now we are moving onto the best movie quality rankings. DVD copies come in two forms, DVD-Rip and DVD-R.

A DVD-Rip is a final retail version of a movie, but it will not have all the extras that you typically get on a DVD. DVD-R versions are copies of entire DVDs; you will get the extras. As a consequence of the extra material, DVD-R versions of films are often 5GB or more in size.

Read our list of the best tools for ripping DVDs if you would like to learn more.

WEBDL copies of movies have been ripped directly from a streaming service or downloaded from an online digital store like iTunes or Amazon.

To check the quality of a WEBDL movie before downloading it, pay attention to the accompanying resolution information. There are four common WEBDL resolutions: 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 2160p. 480p and 720p are the most common.

As the name suggests, Blu-ray quality movies have been created from Blu-ray discs. Once again, you will come across several different resolutions. They are 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080p, and 2160p. Blu-ray movies in 480p, 576p, and 720p have been manually encoded to a lower resolution than the original source in order to make the file size smaller.

Alongside SDTV, HDTV is the other movie quality format to fall under the TVRip umbrella. The source for an HDTV movie is HD television. Most cable providers will broadcast in 1080p; however, many HDTV movies are encoded to 360p, 540p, or 720p, so are not full HD movie downloads.

A raw-HD movie download uses uncompressed HD footage. The resolution can vary, but the video is completely lossless. Raw-HD recordings typically come from the studio. A resolution indicator might sometimes accompany a Raw-HD download. If there is no resolution indicator, it is often better to select a different format to ensure you get a full HD movie download.

( NB: The exact wording and formatting of the movie quality information will vary from site-to-site. Make sure you fully research a site's terms for movie quality before downloading anything to avoid disappointment.)

Where to Check Movie Ratings

We now move onto the critical quality of movies. And in the world of movie ratings, there are three big sites worth checking: Metacritic, Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb.

1. Metacritic

Metacritic gives each movie a score out of 100 based on an aggregate of scores from dozens of other reviewers, sites, newspapers, and blogs. For each aggregated score, there's a link to the original review so you can read it in full. The scores are also categorized into positive, mixed, and negative. It gives you an easy way to tell whether a couple of outliers have influenced the overall average.

Separate from the critic reviews, Metacritic also has user reviews. When you click on a movie, you can give a score of 1-10 with a single click. Like the critic's reviews, you can see an average of all user scores.

2. Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes uses its "Tomatometer" to let you know whether a movie is worth watching. When at least 60 percent of reviews are positive, a movie gets a red tomato and is considered "Fresh". If the score falls below 60 percent, it gets a green splat and a "Rotten" rating.

The highest accolade is "Certified Fresh". A movie gets that top rating when it scores above 75 percent and has at least five reviews from "Top Critics".

As on Metacritic, audience scores and reviews are also available.

Lastly, you should check out IMDb. The scores on IMDb are entirely user-generated; every film has a rating out of 10. All you need to do to add your own rating is register on the site.

IMDb typically has the most audience reviews from the three sites, so you can be more confident that the average score you're seeing is representative of the movie's true quality.

More Movie Metadata to Check

Making sure you have a high-quality movie is only half of the battle. There are lots of other bits of movie metadata you also need to keep an eye on if you want to make sure you download the best version of the video for your needs:

• Date: The date of the movie's original release. Useful in the case of remakes, trilogies, and films that share the same name.
• Languages: A list of which language audio tracks are available in the download.
• Subtitles: A list of available subtitles in various languages.
• Genres: Which category does the movie fall into?
• JPG: Many movie downloads will include at least one JPG file. It is a screen capture of the movie and helps you to ensure you are grabbing the right file.
• NFO: An NFO file might contain some of the details we've already discussed, as well as information about the video bitrate, audio bitrate, codecs, screen resolution, and more. You can often download an NFO file separately from the main movie file. You should do so if a movie's resolution is not apparent from the format information.

Beware of Movie Piracy

As should be apparent from reading the article, many of the movie quality formats are most commonly found when downloading pirated material. It's improbable that you will ever stumble across a legitimate cam recording or WEBDL format, for example.

MakeUseOf does not condone piracy. Remember, downloading pirated movies could land you in serious trouble with the authorities. You have been warned.

If you would like to learn more about legally downloading films to watch, make sure you read our article detailing how to download movies and TV shows from Netflix .

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7 Best Video Downloader Extensions for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge

Do you want to download the video you just saw on your laptop? Gone are the days when downloading a video was a tiresome task involving spending a hefty amount. With the assistance of video downloader extensions , you can easily download videos, save them, and more.

Browser extensions are excellent software solutions that enable users to gain access to high-quality videos quickly. The ease with which one can download videos, along with safety, makes them highly popular. You can add different types of extensions to your default browser, making it more efficient.

In this article, we will discuss the 7 best video downloader extensions for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. Keep in mind that all Chrome extensions can be installed on the Edge browser .

What to Consider While Choosing a Video Downloader Extension?

While there are several video downloader extensions available, choosing the best extension is essential. Here are a few factors to consider before installing a video downloader extension on your computer:

• Safety: Privacy is one of the most crucial aspects of using any software. Choose an extension that doesn’t violate your privacy or share/collect personal information.
• User interface: If you are using extensions for the first time, a user-friendly interface is critical. If it is too complicated, there is no use choosing it.
• Speed: Make sure to opt for a video downloader extension that can offer services quickly. If it slows down the system, don’t go for it.
• Compatibility: It is vital to ensure the extension you choose is compatible with Chrome/Edge and the system you use.

1. Video downloader – CocoCut

Credited as one of the best video downloader extensions for Google Chrome and Edge, CocoCut enables users to download music and videos. The extension is available for free and boasts a user-friendly interface. You can use this video downloader extension to get any video you want from a wide variety of websites.

What do I like?

Using Video Downloader – CocoCut was a great experience. Firstly, the interface of the extension is extremely user-friendly, making it perfect for beginners too. Another fact I loved is that there is no need to create an account.

Plus, you can download videos and audio in different formats with this extension. Another interesting factor is the recording mode. That means you can download videos that are difficult simply by recording them.

What do I dislike?

One of the major disadvantages of using Video Downloader – CocoCut is that you cannot download videos from YouTube. If you want that, you will need to look elsewhere.

2. Video Downloader professional

Do you want to create a video list but not download them? With the Video Downloader professional, that is possible. It is a widely popular video downloader extension and comes with a wide variety of features. For example, you can download and save videos from various websites with ease.

What I liked the most about Video Downloader Professional is the video list. You can add videos from different websites to this list and play them later. There is no need to download and occupy the space on your system.

It is also easy to select between various resolutions while downloading the videos. The extension is easy to use and doesn’t cause unexpected complications. You can also send the videos to the Chromecast player .

The only con of using Video Downloader Professional is that it doesn’t support HLS streaming videos. If that’s not your requirement, you can go ahead with this video downloader extension.

3. Video DownloadHelper

Available on Windows, Linux, and Mac, the Video DownloadHelper is an all-rounder when it comes to video downloading. The extension boasts a wide range of features and is highly popular. With this extension, you can save the downloaded videos to the local disk. Apart from that, users can download image galleries while smart naming video files.

What do I Like?

One of the most exciting aspects of Video DownloadHelper is the support for HLS streaming videos. There are not a lot of extensions that support this feature. So, it instantly got me hooked. You can also download DASH videos with this video downloader extension.

The extension also has this amazing feature where it can prevent ads from cropping up. The extension blacklists domains where detected videos have ads.

The complicated user interface is jarring. If you are using it for the first time, you will find it challenging to navigate the extension.

4. FetchV Video Downloader

If you are on the lookout for a free yet reliable video extension downloader, choose FetchV video downloader. It downloads various types of videos available online. These include HLS, m3u8, mp4, blob, etc. If you are eager to download videos in HD quality, this extension is perfect for you.

FetchV video downloader is free and there is no need to install external software. That makes it safer compared to extensions that need third-party installations. Another intriguing feature is the multi-thread download mode. Using this feature, you can download movies of around 1GB within 10 minutes.

The extension also offers the support recording mode. You can record videos that are difficult to download.

The ads kept popping out of nowhere all the time, making it extremely distracting. It was difficult to use the extension. Also, the lack of a preview image while downloading made it difficult to understand if I was downloading the correct video.

5. HD Video Downloader

HD Video Downloader is an effective yet reliable video downloader extension. It allows users to save and download videos from different platforms. It offers the fastest and easiest way to download videos you want and see later. Moreover, you can download and play the videos offline at your convenience.

HD Video Downloader is available for free and doesn’t need any registration. Also, you can download HD resolution with ease. That erases the worry of the downloaded video being low-quality. Saving your video files is easy and users can review them later without hassle.

While the video downloader extension does work on some websites, it doesn’t work on all. I did find some videos that displayed the message – “Video not found.” Also, upon investigation, I found that several users have reported that the extension doesn’t work properly.

6. Video Downloader – Social Video Save

For downloading videos from social media platforms, choosing the Video Downloader – Social Video Save is an excellent idea. The video downloader extension is easy to use and allows users to download MP4, MOV, FLV, and WEBM files. However, you cannot download streams. You can also opt for the support recording mode to record videos that are difficult to download.

The super-fast user interface is what makes Video Downloader – Social Video Save an excellent extension. It is available for free and aids in downloading videos without much hassle. Moreover, you can play the saved video whenever you want. There is no need to have an internet connection for that . The best part is that you will get a blue indication when the extension detects a video that can be downloaded.

Ironically, Video Downloader – Social Video Save doesn’t work with Facebook reels. I tried several times, but it failed to work.

7. Video Downloader for Chrome

Known as a one-click extension for videos, the Video Downloader for Chrome is efficient and user-friendly. It detects downloadable videos from the internet and displays them on the popup menu. It is easy to save the downloaded videos and play them later.

What I liked the most about Video Downloader for Chrome is the ease with which one can download videos. All you have to do is find the video you want, add the extension, and click the Download button. Plus, you get to choose the quality of the videos – standard or high-definition quality. The extension allows users to download videos in various formats, such as MP4, F4V, FLV, HLV, WEBM, MOV, and MKV.

While the extension worked well on TikTok, it didn’t work on Facebook. It was difficult to ascertain the reason, but it doesn’t work on all websites or platforms.

Downloading videos is now easy and hassle-free with video downloader extensions. However, choosing the best one is crucial. Make sure to understand your requirements and the features of the extension to make your decision.

For example, if you want a super-fast video downloader, choosing Video Downloader – Social Video Save is a great idea. On the other hand, if you can handle a complicated user interface, Video DownloadHelper will offer a great experience.

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Yogesh Mankani

Yogesh Mankani is a tech blogger for more than a decade. His passion for blogging, giving words to his ideas and thoughts is what makes him fall more in love with his profession which he takes very personally. He loves to surround himself around new gadgets which gives him peace in life.

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Top 10: 4K UHDs of 2021

Updated: Dec 12, 2022

TRUE 4K MASTERING / HDR FRAME SHOTS

THE LIST of movies is the very best in 4K viewing from disc or streaming. The criteria required the original source to be mastered in 4K and nothing less.

No upconversion from 2K to 4K on this list.

Daniel Craig returns for his fifth and final appearance as James Bond. Madeleine (Léa Seydoux) is frightened as SPECTRE assassins blast Bond’s DB5 with bullets.

(Click an image to scroll the larger versions)

“NO. 1 - “NO TIME TO DIE”

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital copy; 2021; PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, brief strong profanity, and some suggestive material; Streaming Amazon Prime Video (4K), Apple TV (4K), Vudu (4K), YouTube (4K)

Best extra: The 45-minute documentary “Being James Bond” (4K disc only)

AFTER THREE delays and 18 months, Daniel Craig finally returned for his fifth and final appearance as James Bond. Moviegoer’s response was remarkable. “No Time to Die” became a blockbuster making over $770 million worldwide – 80 percent from overseas.

I saw “No Time to Die” on a large IMAX screen and found, with its varying aspect ratios, the best movie experience I’ve seen since Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk.” Both films were captured on larger format IMAX cameras and 35mm, and were mastered in True 4K.

For Craig, Daniel Craig, it all started 15 years earlier, when Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli selected the 37-year-old actor for the role, the first blond to play the world’s most famous secret agent. Hundreds of actors were considered including Clive Owen, Hugh Jackman, and Colin Farrell to become the next 007.

Fukunaga and cinematographer Linus Sandgren ( “La La Land,” “American Hustle”) decided to capture Bond in the biggest format possible, with the first 24-minutes filmed on large-format IMAX cameras. All footage on IMAX, 65mm and 35mm was in True 4K providing the highest resolution and clarity possible. There’s a slight disappointment that the IMAX scenes are not presented in the theatrical 1.90:1 aspect ratio, with extra framing above the actors’ heads and below. Sandgren composed the frame with the intended 2.39:1 ratio from the 35mm Panavision cameras and anamorphic lens. The natural film grain is intact and organic, most evident on the 35mm film stock, and much smaller and refined in the IMAX scenes.

HDR10 and Dolby Vision grading bring lush colors from the warm tones of Matera and Jamaica, to the cool blues and whites captured in the dead of winter in Norway. The greens and browns of the Scottish Highlands are well saturated, with a panoramic backdrop for an off-road chase scene. Night scenes are full of deep shadows and inky blacks, while holding plenty of detail. Highlights are controlled, without blown-out hot spots.

The 4K disc and 4K digital include the eight-channel Dolby Atmos enveloping environment, with clear dialogue, powerful explosions and gun effects bouncing around the room, and a deep, punchy bass response. Hans Zimmer handles the score with a nice touch of brass and strings, and it’s a nice surprise to hear John Barry’s classic love theme from Bond film No. 6 “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969).

— Bill Kelley III, High-Def Watch producer

Original Review

Suitor John Willoughby (Greg Wise) escorts Marianne Dashwood (Kate Winslet) on a countryside walk near the Barton Cottage, a small home where Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters lived after being evicted from Norland Park.

NO. 2 - “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY”

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital copy; 1995; PG for mild thematic elements; Streaming Amazon Prime Video (4K), Apple TV (4K), Movies Anywhere (4K), Vudu (4K), YouTube (4K)

Best extra: “Adapting Austen” featurette

WHEN SONY announced the second installment of its Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD series everyone assumed Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” (1976) would score the finest 4K restoration. But, I quickly discovered “Sense and Sensibility,” the adaptation of Jan Austen’s often-forgotten first novel was actually the set’s crown jewel with spectacular clarity and striking HDR grading.

The adaptation was from Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson (“Howards End”) and Taiwan-directed Ang Lee ( “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Life of Pi,” Brokeback Mountain”), which was his first English language film. It ended up on more than 100 10-best lists and received seven Academy Award nominations with Thompson winning an Oscar for her screenplay.

Producer Lindsay Doran had read Austen’s novel in the early 1970s while living in England. “I “loved it. It’s my favorite book,” she says during the featurette “Adapting Austen.” Early on she always thought of it as an obvious movie, and once becoming a movie producer she searched for more than a decade to find the right writer. She demanded it to be written in the Austen style and language, plus it would have to “make me really laugh,” she said.

Much of the classic tale follows the two older Dashwood sisters: Elinor played by 36-year-old Thompson and the younger and more romantic Marianne played by Kate Winslet. The available bachelors include Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant), Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman), and John Willoughby (Greg Wise).

The original 35mm camera negative (1.85:1 aspect ratio) was recently remastered in 4K with remarkable results. It features some of the richest greens you’ll ever see with superb facial clarity, as the natural film grain dances across the screen. Sony also produces a new eight-channel Dolby Atmos soundtrack with its romantic orchestrations and vocal solos by soprano Jane Eaglen.

Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Indiana Jones, a professor of archaeology at a small New England college. He’s recruited by U.S. Army Intelligence to locate a sacred artifact before Nazi agents seize the all-powerful relic.

NO. 3 - “INDIANA JONES and the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK”

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital copy; 1981, PG for violence and profanity; streaming via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (4K), Vudu (4K), YouTube (4K)

Best extra: The creation of “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

TO CELEBRATE the 40th anniversary of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Paramount meticulously remastered each of the four franchise films. The original 35mm camera negatives were scanned in 4K, with HDR10 and Dolby Vision grading applied to give each adventure new life. Oscar-winning sound designer Ben Burtt also created a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Sorry, but the original soundtracks are not included.

“Raiders” was the top-grossing film of 1981, which received eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. It won four Oscars for Best Sound, Film Editing, Visual Effects, and Art Direction. And, it was selected No. 66 in the American Film Institute’s 100 Years 100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition of America’s Greatest Films.

Thank goodness for Steven Spielberg approving this TRUE 4K restoration (2.39:1 aspect ratio). He believes in keeping natural film intact, as we see in varying levels depending on the film stock used in different scenes. Grain is more evident in the highlights – especially in the sky from a Cairo rooftop where we meet Egyptian Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), who becomes Indy’s right-hand man in extracting the Ark of the Covenant from the Well of Souls.

The new 4K master provides a major bump in resolution, with expanded clarity in Douglas Slocombe’s Oscar-nominated cinematography on distant buildings, trees, mountains, and the cast of thousands in the desert. The same with facial detail as you can see every freckle on Marion’s face (Karen Allen) and the same with the whiskers on Indy.

The new eight-channel Dolby Atmos soundtrack provides a nice boost to height speakers creating a more enveloping environment, but strangely, we found a slight decrease in bass response compared to the DTS-HD soundtrack on the previous Blu-ray. The audio is still balanced from front to back and side to side. It’s energetic throughout with sound effects and John Williams’ fantastic score!

Original review

Clint Eastwood plays veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan, who battles a trained government killer Mitch Leary played by John Malkovich, who threatens to kill the U.S. President.

NO. 4 - “IN THE LINE OF FIRE”

4K Ultra HD & Digital copy; 1993; R for violence, profanity, and sexuality; streaming via Amazon Prime Video (4K), Apple TV (4K), Movies Anywhere (4K), Vudu (4K), YouTube (4K)

Best extra: Commentary with director Wolfgang Petersen (“Air Force One”)

PRODUCER JEFF Apple had been inspired by the story of a guilt-driven Secret Service agent since his teenage years. Decades later in 1990, he commissioned novice screenwriter Jeff Maguire to finalize the premise: Veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan (Clint Eastwood), who failed to protect JFK from assassination, gets a chance to redeem himself when trained government killer Mitch Leary (John Malkovich) threatens the current president.

This is clearly one of Sony’s best 4K remastering jobs of the year. The original camera negative was captured on Panavision cameras (2.39:1 aspect ratio) and fitted with anamorphic lens from cinematographer John Bailey (“Silverado”). It was scanned in TRUE 4K, where the digital files were graded for the expansive HDR10 and Dolby Vision (digital). From the opening frames to the final image, the movie is unbelievably sharp, with natural film grain and bright, crisp grading, controlled highlights, and deep dark shadows.

Since the launch of the 4K format, most of the 4K/HDR presentations from all the studios have been darker than its HD counterparts. Sometimes they’ve been way too dark. Here, the picture is perfectly balanced. Facial toning is natural and rich, offering superb clarity, extracting every mark on the actors’ faces, as well as the finest of detail and texture in their costumes. Exterior scenes are particularly detailed, as in showing thousands of onlookers during a presidential motorcade in Washington D.C. There’s also a campaign rally in Denver, where Petersen used footage from a Clinton/Gore rally, and digitally inserted his own president. Now the Clinton/Gore signs are readable because of the 4K resolution.

Sony has also created a new eight-channel Dolby Atmos soundtrack. It’s also first-rate from the effects to the music cues of Morricone’s score. Overall fidelity is top-notch in bass response, as in the passing motorcycles and gunshots. The front and center dialogue is never lost. Strings, electronic keyboard, and brass all ring true.

“In the Line of Fire” was highly praised by critics and received three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for John Malkovich, Best Screenplay for Jeff Maguire, and Film Editing for Anne V. Coates.

Newcomer Franco Nero plays a former Union soldier, now a gunrunner, who rescues Maria (Loredana Nusciak) from Mexican revolutionaries and a small army of red-hooded Confederate miscreants.

NO. 5 - “DJANGO: TWO-DISC LIMITED EDITION”

4K Ultra HD, 1966, unrated, violence, mild sexuality and language

Best extras: A new commentary with author-historian Stephen Prince

MADE about the time that the great Sergio Leone was completing his Man With No Name trilogy, “Django” made Franco Nero a star and ushered in a new concept of Westerns and anti-heroes that is still influencing filmmakers today. (Nero had a small role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.”)

Arrow, which scored big a few months back with “Tremors,” goes two-for-two with “Django” (1.66:1 aspect ratio). The original 35mm camera negative was restored and remastered in 4K, delivering a reference-quality print that’s, in a word, exceptional.

Detail in the costumes, worn faces, and exteriors and interiors (“Django” was filmed in Spain and outside Rome) is sharp throughout and a thin layer of grain is fittingly cinematic. Blacks are deep and the whites brilliant, too, and let’s hear it for Dolby Vision HDR toning – the array of colors, from the saturated red scarves and hoods of Jackson’s degenerates to Django’s Union blue, are a true feast.

The original audio was also remastered to create the robust, lossless, DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track. Dialogue is clean and clear courtesy of the center speaker and the gunfire packs plenty of punch. One more word about the dialogue: By all means, choose the original Italian and English subtitles. The dubbed track is gawdawful.

— Craig Shapiro

Tom Hanks stars as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a newsreader who travels from town to town giving the news. Along the way, he encounters an untamed, 10-year-old girl Johanna (German actress Helena Zengel) raised by the Kiowa tribe after her German parents’ farm was ambushed.

NO. 6 - “NEWS OF THE WORLD”

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital copy; 2020; PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, thematic material and some language; Streaming via Amazon Prime Video (4K), Apple (4K), FandangoNOW (4K), Google Play (4K), Vudu (4K), YouTube (4K)

Best extra: Paul Greengrass Makes “News of the World” featurette

THREE MONTHS before the first case of COVID-19 hit the U.S., writer/director Paul Greengrass and actor Tom Hanks were in the high desert of New Mexico re-creating the mood and texture of Texas during post-Civil War Reconstruction with the absorbing Western “News of the World.”

Last year, it was recognized by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with Oscar nods for cinematography, sound, production design, and original score.

The 4K Ultra HD disc serves up a beautifully crafted film with exquisite 4K visuals and enveloping Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Greengrass and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (“The Martian,” “Crimson Tide”) captured the dusty landscape near Santa Fe on 4.5K ARRIRAW digital cameras (2.39:1 aspect ratio), which extract exceptional contrast latitude from highlights to shadows with minimal light.

The 4K (disc and digital) is sourced from a true 4K master – the clarity and sharpness are top-notch, from facial close-ups and costumes to distant forests and mountains. The upgrade over the Blu-ray is quite noticeable. The disc has been coded with standard HDR10 and the more controlled metadata HDR10+, but, unfortunately, it's viewable only on Panasonic and Samsung 4K TVs. Multi-handheld cameras are used throughout, but without Greengrass’ s hacky imagery and rapid-fire editing, a trademark of his three Jason Bourne films and “United 93.”

The eight-channel soundtrack is a treat, echoing throughout the mountains, valleys, and your home theater. Gun blasts reverberate from corner to corner, while the lovely, mostly quiet score by nine-time Oscar nominee James Newton Howard (“Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Defiance,” “The Fugitive”) builds from a small ensemble to a full orchestra as the story unfolds. The music was recorded during the pandemic, which presented a challenge with social distancing. The bigger numbers were recorded twice to create the sound of a 90 piece orchestra.

Tim Robbins plays Maine banker Andy Dufresne. Sentenced to two life terms for the murder of his wife and lover, he still pleads innocent. Oscar-nominated Morgan Freeman for his role as Ellis “Red” Redding, the prison black-market supplier.

NO. 7 - “THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION”

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital copy; 1994; R for profanity and prison violence; streaming via Amazon Prime Video (4K), Apple TV (4K), Movies Anywhere (4K), Vudu (4K) YouTube (4K)

Best extra: “Hope Springs Eternal” featurette

AUTHOR STEPHEN King had a hand in “Shawshank’s” director/writer Frank Darabont’s early career when the filmmaker selected his short story “The Woman in the Room” (1984), a 30-minute short, to be his first film. Darabont went on to write scripts for and direct TV series episodes and adapted and directed “The Green Mile” and “The Mist,” films that were also based on King’s work.

But, “The Shawshank Redemption” kept speaking to his heart. “Many considered it not very cinematic,” Darabont says in the featurette “Hope Springs Eternal” (disc & digital). “But, to me, it seemed the most cinematic because it dealt with the human heart.” King gave Darabont his blessing and the rights for a $1, wondering if it would ever be made. When “Shawshank” appeared in theaters, the author felt it was a first-rate adaptation, “Just amazing.”

Millions of viewers agree.

Darabont was determined to maintain the “voice of the author” through the character Ellis “Red” Redding, the prison black-market supplier, who continues to face an unforgiving parole board. It’s another exceptional performance by Morgan Freeman.

“Shawshank Redemption” was filmed at the abandoned Mansfield Reformatory prison in Mansfield, Ohio, during a four-month production period. The story spans 1946 to 1967, illustrating how a powerful and layered friendship grows between Red and Maine banker Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins. Dufresne was sentenced to two life terms for the murder of his wife and her lover; he continues to maintain his innocence as the years crawl by.

Cinematographer Roger Deakins (“1917,” “Blade Runner 2049,” “Skyfall”) received his first Oscar nod for Darabont’s adaptation. He captured the film’s sweeping imagery on Arriflex 35mm cameras (1:85:1 aspect ratio), with gorgeous composition and lighting. The original camera negative was scanned in 4K and mastered in the higher resolution by the folks at Warner Bros.

The HDR10 grading features deep-deep blacks with controlled mid-tones and bright highlights. Overall, the color palette is cool, using every shade of blue and gray imaginable, with only a few moments of warm tones.

There is no Dolby Atmos upgrade included here, but it features an excellent six-channel uncompressed DTS-HD soundtrack balanced between quieter dialogue moments and Thomas Newman’s fully orchestrated Oscar-nominated score, the first of 15 he’s received.

Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble the Justice League: Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Flash (Ezra Miller), Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa).

NO. 8 - “ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE”

4K Ultra HD; 2021; R for violence and some language; Streaming via Amazon Prime Video (4K) HBO Max

Best extra: 24-minute “Road to Justice League”

HOW OFTEN do movie fans force a Hollywood studio to re-edit and re-release the original theatrical cut of a movie?

They weren’t happy with the third installment of Zack Snyder’s DC Universe trilogy “Justice League” that hit the multiplex in the fall of 2017. They demanded Warner Brothers scrap the Joss Whedon edit, and finish the original by Zack Snyder. The campaign was relentless.

Snyder had filmed 100 percent of his version, as well as set up two versions – a rough five-hour edit, and a three-and-a-half hour director’s cut. But when tragedy hit Snyder's family in the spring of 2017, he and his producer wife Deborah stepped back from the picture. While they grieved the loss of their daughter Autumn, 20, Warner Bros. asked writer/director Joss Whedon to complete the film.

Whedon gave the film a much lighter touch. It only ran two hours, using a fraction of Snyder’s original footage. The original score from composer Junkie XL (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”) was replaced with a new score from Danny Elfman (“Men in Black,” “Corpse Bride,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas”).

But when “Justice League” premiered in 2017, it was a box-office disaster, and fans were furious. At first, Warner denied the “Snyder Cut” existed, though, in the end, they had to ‘fess up. Eventually, Warner allocated $70 million so Snyder could complete his vision, adding more visual effects and several minutes of new footage filmed during the COVID-19 quarantine.

“I’m excited for fans to get to see this giant, four-hour movie that’s completely singular to their investment. If you followed the first two movies, this movie really kind of takes you into an immersive scope and scale.” — Zack Snyder, director

Snyder has completely reshaped the norm by framing his version in the old-school square-shaped 1.33:1 aspect ratio. TRUE 4K mastering delivers jaw-dropping visuals, which were captured on traditional Super 35 film, with one scene from an 8K digital camera. This is only a guess, but the ongoing FX shots are more likely in 2K. Total FX rendering time alone would have easily taken more than a year.

Overall clarity is superb – especially the details on actors’ faces – since the framing is so much tighter compared to the super widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1.

The eight-channel Dolby Atmos soundtrack is nice. It’s balanced from front to back, with effects and music cues from Tom “Junkie XL” Holkenborg going to height speakers. A number of songs are included in this cut: two from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “There is a Kingdom” and “Distant Sky”; Rose Betts' cover of Tim Buckley’s 1970 “Starsailor,” and a traditional Icelandic song “Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu.”

Noble knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) arrives back in his home country after a decade away during the Crusades.

NO. 9 - “THE SEVENTH SEAL”

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, 1957; unrated

Best extra: Commentary with Kat Ellinger, film critic and editor-in-chief of Diabolique Magazine.

WHEN “The Seventh Seal” premiered in Sweden in 1957, it received mixed reviews from Swedish critics. But as has it rolled out around the globe, it developed a “series of slow-acting explosions” among the international intellectual moviegoers that established Ingmar Bergman’s reputation as the “pre-eminent cinematic visionary of his time,” says Variety critic Jessica Kiang in her enclosed essay. Another Bergman favorite “Wild Strawberries” was released just eight months after “The Seventh Seal,” which didn’t hit U.S. art house theaters until October 1958.

Bergman the son of a stern and abusive Lutheran minister examines man’s most internal conflicts of “light and dark, God and doubt, purity and corruption, innocence and cynicism,” says Kiang. The stark black and white frames open on a rocky shoreline in medieval Sweden, as noble knight Antonius Block played by the late Max von Sydow, and his squire Jons (Gunnar Bjornstrand) return home from the violent Crusades and find their country ravaged by the Black Plague. The knight is confronted by the embodiment of Death and challenges him a game of chess.

The release from the British Film Institute is their first 4K Ultra HD disc, with more promised in the future. The Australian western “The Proposition” (2005) has been scheduled for February 21. The Swedish Film institute scanned the original camera negative (1.37:1 aspect ratio) in 4K, and removed all scratches, marks, and film flutter. The results are striking, with an expanded HDR10 grayscale from controlled highlights to detailed mid-tones and deep dark shadows without crushed blacks.

Overall clarity is superb with good dose of natural film grain and the enclosed Blu-ray also sources from the new 4K master. The Swedish audio has also been restored and remastered 2.0 mono track and includes English subtitles.

New best friends Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay) finally get airborne with their scrap scooter by riding down an island hillside.

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital copy; 2021, PG for rude humor, mild profanity, some thematic elements and brief violence; streaming via Amazon Prime Video (4K), Apple TV (4K), Movies Anywhere (4K), Vudu (4K), YouTube (4K)

Best extra: “Our Italian Inspiration” featurette

ONLY SEVEN weeks after its exclusive run streaming on Disney+, Pixar’s 24th animation feature “Luca” jumped onto 4K Ultra HD on physical disc and digital for purchase and rent. The warmhearted charmer set in the late 1950s-early ‘60s is a summer coming-of-age tale of two boys on the Italian Riviera.

Some Pixar staffers were unhappy over Disney’s decision to forgo “Luca’s” theatrical release. One anonymous Pixar artist told IndieWire, “These movies are crafted for the big screen. We want you to watch these movies with no distractions, no looking at your phone.”

In the featurette “Our Italian Inspiration,” director Enrico Casarosa says “Luca” was inspired by his childhood in Genoa on the Italian Riviera. “I spent many summers on these beautiful beaches on the coast,” he says. Casarosa left his home country to chase his animation dreams in the U.S. “You miss your home, but with this [Luca] I’m trying to embrace my roots … and the memories of running around as a kid.”

The Cinque Terre – five small towns along the coast in Northern Italy – provided his visual backdrop. “The towns come out of the sea like little prehistoric sea creatures hanging onto the rocks,” Casarosa says. Quaint buildings and homes are sandwiched between steep mountains and the sea, preserving timeless communities.

Using the latest computer technology, Casarosa and Pixar mastered the animation in TRUE 4K (1.85:1 aspect ratio). That’s been the Pixar standard since “Toy Story 4” and the results are STUNNING! The added resolution provides the finest detail and texture for the distant hillside homes, close-ups of town residences, and Luca’s 3,436 scales. The director was inspired by Japanese woodblock prints that recall the look and feel of Studio Ghibli. Most of the final animation was done by the artists at home during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The HDR10 and Dolby Vision (digital) is graded with intense, varying postcard colors of blue, turquoise, yellow, orange, and green. Under the sea, the palette is much bolder and more saturated, while the daylight scenes on land are brighter and softer.

The 4K (disc & digital) features the eight-channel Dolby Atmos soundtrack, with height speakers delivering a sprinkle of effects and a perfect Italian-themed score from composer Dan Romer (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) showcasing accordion, mandolin, guitars and pizzicato strings. Romer provided many of the guitar and accordion sequences.

Honorable Mention

In alphabetical order:

(1) “Anatomy of a Murder” (1959) , (2) “Gattaca” (1997) , (3) “The Green Knight” (2021), (4) “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) , (5) “Misery” (1990), (6) “My Fair Lady” (1964) , (7) “ A Quiet Place: Part II” (2021) , (8) “Soul” (2020), (9) “The Red Shoes” (1948) , (10) “Taxi Driver” (1976), (11) “The Ten Commandments” (1956) , (12) “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971)

• Frame Shots

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I love that you only include true 4k in your list. I hate that two out of your top 3 have to be purchased in sets with discs I simply don‘t want to own, much less watch.

keep up the great work!

Sorry I thought Lawrence had been released. I know Dr. Strangelove is out. 2022 will be the 60th Anniv. for Lawrence so I expect it will get a single version release.

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Best Free Movie Websites in 2020

Nobody wants to pay for content; everyone loves watching movies and TV series for free. That’s why we in 4K Download prepared a list of the best free movie streaming websites 2020 that you can enjoy anytime. So grab your coffee, popcorn, and enjoy watching your favourite movies without paying a penny for it.

Watch Series

Watch Series is a free TV series streaming service. Surely, you will not find movies there, but you can watch literally every popular TV series - both classic and trending ones like the Witcher, Vikings, Game of Thrones, and many others. Watch Series uploads all new episodes recently released, so you can make sure you will not miss an episode of your favourite story.

Apart from mentioning recent TV series episodes, Watch Series also shows genres and TV schedule so that you could watch the episodes on TV.

As this free movie streaming website says, there you can watch movies for free and with no ads. The content is offered in the highest quality. Go Stream offers it all - Oscar-winning movies, action-packed blockbusters, hilarious easy comedies, easy adventures, cold-hearted thrillers, and any other genre you can imagine.

Once you open a movie to watch, the streaming service offers similar pictures you may like.

This is another top free movie streaming service. PutLocker divides its content based on the genre, country of origin, alphabetical order, and ratings on IMDb, making it easy for you to navigate through the variety of movies and find ones you like.

One drawback the website has is that it has a lot of pop-up ads, so you need to be patient while watching the movies.

Tubi TV has all the movies that are purchased legally through partnerships with over 200 production companies around the world.

It is one of the best free streaming movie sites since it lets you stream the movies and TV series on almost all gadgets, namely Android phones, iPhones, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Amazon Fire TV, and the internet.

You have to register on the website and then use your login details on different devices you use, so all your films and TV shows are syncronised.

AZMovies offers the best collection of award-winning movies from around the globe. Films are uploaded on the website within a month after they are aired online or in the theatres. This free movie streaming website has a special section called Featured, where you can watch the most popular movies of the year.

Popcornflix

Popcornflix is yet another free movie streaming service that has a large variety of content - from trending pictures to classic series like Friends. If you want to watch the best movies of all times, visit the Staff Picks section on the site. All the movies and TV shows are divided according to their genre - comedy, documentary, drama, adventure, etc.

The service is compatible with all iOS and Android devices, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon, and even Xbox.

5 Movies is a free movie streaming service that allows you to watch movies without signing up on the website. All movies are available in HD quality and collected based on a genre, country of origin, year of the release. Some of the interesting sections are anime and Asian dramas, so if you love that kind of content, you should check this website out.

The website also has a nice collection of TV series, but it does take time to upload the latest episodes, so you have to be waiting for a couple of days to watch them.

Snagfilms is a free movie website which is good to watch classic movies online. It also has a collection of documentaries and videos of genres such as drama, family, kids, world history, environment, wildlife, foreign movies, award winners, politics, etc.

Not a drawback but a feature of the service is that it doesn’t offer the latest TV series and movies. Snagflims has a rare classic films collection, so if that’s your thing, you should be visiting the website right away.

This free movie streaming site lets you watch movies without signing up.

The only flaw of the website is that it doesn’t let you tailor the video quality and depending on your internet speed, the quality may improve or degrade throughout the watching process.

Yes Movies is another nice free online movie streaming site because it has not many ads. If you can’t find a movie or TV series you’re looking for, you can request it, and in a few days, the content will be uploaded. If you love watching documentaries, Yes Movies is the right place to visit.

YouTube and Vimeo

These two websites need no introduction. Surely, you can watch your favourite TV series and movies on free video hostings like YouTube or Vimeo. And the 4K Video Downloader app will assist you if you want to save any episode or the whole picture for offline, download a trailer, or any other related video, channel, or the whole playlist.

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The best free video converters for your PC and Mac 2024

Convert that difficult video with ease, and for free

The best free video converters will let you change a video's format without costing you a dime. And there are quite a few options at your fingertips so whatever you need a video converter for, you'll find one that's ideal for you. In fact, there’s one for just about every use, whether you’re trying to keep your entire video collection in one format, change a video’s format to something more shareable, or shrink the size of your file to something a little more manageable. 

Just because it's free though, We've tested and used quite a few of them, and we know which ones are the best. The one that rises above the rest in our opinion is the Any Video Converter Free , which can convert videos from your laptop or desktop to whatever format you need as well as let you to save videos from the most in-demand video hosting sites.

Keep in mind when using the latter feature though that downloading anything from YouTube is against its terms of service as well as potential copyright infringement. So  be sure to check first that the video you're downloading and converting is public domain or you have the expressed permission from the copyright holder.

If Any Video Converter isn't what you're looking for, there are other options as well. We found the best free video converters and gathered them all below for your convenience so you'll spend less time looking and get right to converting.

Also take a look at our YouTube downloader for PC list for help. And, if you’re looking to get audio files, consider the best free YouTube to MP3 converters . 

The best free video converters 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

1. Any Video Converter Free

Specifications, reasons to buy.

For something with an excellent selection of supported file formats, Any Video Converter Free certainly doesn't disappoint.

Hands down the best free video converter right now, it handles online as well as offline files, meaning that if you like the look of some videos on YouTube, you can quickly and easily convert them into a format suitable for offline viewing on your mobile without worrying about your data allowance.

It’s not just for YouTube, either; you can also download and convert videos from Facebook, Vimeo, Metacafe and more, and Any Video Converter Free also features the option to rip audio from CDs and DVDs.

You'll find support for all of the video formats you can shake a stick at, including ready made profiles for different devices, and editing options such as trimming, cropping and rotating allow for basic cleanup tasks. If you want to get creative, you can experiment with video effects to achieve a unique look as well.

If you need more options, Developer Anvsoft also offers a premium video converter, Any Video Converter Ultimate, which can remove DRM protection, convert videos in batches and burn videos to disc.

• Read our full review: Any Video Converter Free .

2. Freemake Video Converter

Reasons to avoid.

Freemake has built up something of a name for itself for producing powerful yet easy to use software, and making it available free of charge. Freemake Video Converter is no exception, continuing the company's enviable track record.

The free video converter can not only convert files from your hard drive to almost any format, it can also be used to download and convert online videos from the likes of YouTube.

With simple editing tools to trim unwanted footage, the ability to add subtitles, and convert to and from DVD, Freemake Video Converter has all of your everyday conversion needs covered – and more.

When you first install Freemake Video Converter, some features (including converting YouTube videos) will be locked. After three days you'll receive a free Web Pack as a gift, which will lift this restriction. Look out for a notification in the System Tray telling you when the Web Pack is available.

• Read our full review: Freemake Video Converter .

3. Free HD Video Converter Factory

Free HD Video Converter Factory prides itself on being so easy to use that its website features a 10-second guide to getting started. This might seem like an exaggeration, but it's actually true. You can drag and drop a video onto the program interface, or use the selection menu, select the format or destination device and hit the Run button. That really is all there is to it. 

This is the best free video converter for you, if you value simplicity and seamlessness. And, you'll be pleased to know that the software's convenience doesn't come at the expense of features. While you can start the conversion process in a matter of seconds, you may wish to spend a little more time customizing the output.

Cutting, cropping and impressive special effects are all on hand to give your videos the look you want, and the way destination formats are presented is highly intuitive.

Beginners can select a profile tailored to a specific playback device, while more advanced users can make a manual selection and customize things further.

• Read our full review: Free HD Video Converter Factory .

4. HandBrake

HandBrake is a free video converter that's well known to Mac users, but less famous in the world of Windows. It is worth noting that this is still something of an experimental program and it hasn't even reached version 1.0 in its Windows incarnation, but that doesn't mean it should be overlooked.

Available for Mac, Windows and Linux, Handbrake is a great choice for anyone who works on multiple platforms, but is also great for anyone who is dedicated to Windows. 

A slight word of warning: the other programs featured in this roundup have very approachable interfaces, but the same cannot really be said of HandBrake. The program is powerful, but utilitarian.

There are a lot of features that allow for precise control of video conversion, including cropping, advanced filtering and frame rate adjustment, as well as presets for those who just want quick results. Handbrake may take a while to get used to, but the output is worth it.

• Read our full review: HandBrake .

5. Free Video Converter

DVDVideoSoft is known for its superb free media software that performs exactly as advertised, and Free Video Converter is no exception. Among the best free video converters with an interface that’s clean and uncluttered, it can convert batches of videos with ease.

Free Video Converter has a small set of output options (MP4, AVI, MPEG and MP3 are available, plus an option optimized for iOS devices), but that might be plenty if you're not used to working with video files, and the likes of Handbrake or MediaCoder look excessively complicated.

There's a choice of quality settings, and you can merge several clips into a single file while they're converted.

It's a shame that videos converted with Free Video Converter are watermarked. The mark isn't terribly intrusive, but it prevents this otherwise excellent software ranking higher in this list.

• Read our full review: Free Video Converter .
• Find out our list of the best free YouTube downloaders

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Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he's written a book, ' The Making of Tomb Raider '. His second book, ' 50 Years of Boss Fights ', came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ' Springboard '. He's usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that's about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

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