YouTube is a video file sharing website that millions of people around the world use at no charge. It allows users to watch and post an unlimited number of videos, create a user profile, and comment on videos they like. However, YouTube does not offer a means to download or save a YouTube video. Instead, users must depend on a variety of free and commercial programs that third party companies provide in order to download their favorite videos. Several free services for doing so are listed below.

 

KeepVid

KeepVid is a website that allows users to enter a video’s URL into a field that finds that video, streams it to the KeepVid server, and allows the user to download it. KeepVid downloads any video on the Internet, but only from webpages that have a single video. Because of this, YouTube videos are of the most popular type of video downloaded.

 

YouTube Downloader

YouTube Downloader is similar to KeepVid, but it is an actual program that the user must download. Once installed, YouTube Downloader allows users to enter a URL for a specific YouTube video and download it to their computer. While the basic version of YouTube Downloader is free and does not require registration, it is highly limited. For example, the basic version of YouTube Downloader only allows users to download videos in their original format, which is usually FLV, while the premium version allows users to convert videos to MOV, which allows the user to watch the video on an iPod. YouTube Downloader also includes a file converter, activity control panel, and a built-in media player.

 

Mozilla Firefox Video Downloader

While these other options are programs or third party services that allow users to download YouTube video, the Mozilla Firefox browser allows users to download a plug-in that automatically downloads YouTube videos. With Mozilla Firefox Video Downloader, users are able to download any video from the Internet by simply clicking on it. Unlike the other options listed here, however, Mozilla Firefox Video Downloader does not include options for converting or playing videos that it downloads and users must be using the Mozilla Firefox browser.