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Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-06, 17:06
by firefoxed
Hi there,

I'm looking for a new YouTube download extension as:
- Complete YouTube Saver is known to not work with PM 28 :(
- Video Downloader Professional is not working on some YT pages (version 1.97.37.1-signed)

Is there an extension for this purpose that the rest of you are currently happy with?

Update: Video DownloadHelper 6.3.1 seems to be working. However, for "ADP videos" (those that get rebuilt from distinct video and audio streams, typically of higher quality that other available options), it leaves a watermark on the video unless you pay a $28 license. Not a huge deal, but still interested in alternatives!

Thank you in advance for any recommendations. :thumbup:

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-07, 00:35
by therube
If all you need is to MUX the audio & video streams together...

MUX: Video Joiner - for Youtube Dash Videos


As far as "quality" is concerned, that is in the eye of the beholder.
Generally, I find YT webm to be (slightly) > an equivalent sized YT mp4.
And on odd times I've found a larger VP8 webm to be > a smaller VP9 webm / mp4.


If you want something outside the browser, the command-line youtube-dl is fine.
I've not found a GUI that I have liked.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-07, 01:29
by Moonraker
I have used Netvideohunter in palemoon before and it worked perfectly..it was a while ago i should add.
http://netvideohunter.com/

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-07, 08:50
by Kane_the_black
I use Ant Video Downloader 2.4.7.50 - so far it does not disappoint me on Palemoon v28

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-07, 09:53
by hujan86
Kane_the_black wrote:I use Ant Video Downloader 2.4.7.50 - so far it does not disappoint me on Palemoon v28
Where to download the extension?

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-07, 09:56
by New Tobin Paradigm
Off-topic:
Walks by disapprovingly muttering something about piracy.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-07, 10:13
by firefoxed
hujan86 wrote:
Kane_the_black wrote:I use Ant Video Downloader 2.4.7.50 - so far it does not disappoint me on Palemoon v28
Where to download the extension?
Here (great repo of FF extensions).

For me, that extension doesn't seem to work as well as Video DownloadHelper. Maybe I'm not properly understanding how to configure it.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-07, 10:29
by jars_
distillvideo.com ;)

Code: Select all

https://distillvideo.com/?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrOSyDIQzSM

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-09, 02:09
by hujan86
firefoxed wrote: Here (great repo of FF extensions).
Thanks. Able to download from Youtube again. :thumbup:

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-02-14, 17:48
by firefoxed
UPDATE: For anyone on the same track, I want to update my status with this quest.

- Not fully satisfied with Video DownloadHelper 6.3.1 because of the QR code it burns on high-quality videos. For medium quality videos it's perfect — I like that it gives you options
- Don't like Ant Video Downloader. It doesn't give you options for possible streams to download, and the interface doesn't really let you know what is happening in a given tab

Stand-Alone Programs
To complement the Video DownloadHelper extension, I ended up installing two stand-alone programs:
  • youtube-dl-gui: a GUI wrapper on the youtube-dl command-line program mentioned above. Supports LOADS of sites, but hard to select which videos you want.
  • 4K Video Downloader: my current favorite. Nice interface with good control of what you get to download. I understand that to unlock certain feature you need to pay a small license fee, but so far I haven't needed it, and if it works I don't mind paying it. As far as I know, only works on YouTube.
That's it for now... Monitoring the situation. :)
If you have anything to share, really interested to hear your thoughts.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-03-12, 07:16
by context
Since I've been working quite a bit in this area, lately, I'd like to offer two additional bits of information:

There's a tiny GUI for youtube-dl available on Softpedia: https://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Download-Managers/youtubeDLFrontEnd.shtml "youTubeDLFrontEnd" ... about 140KB, and very capable for most uses.

Although I, too, like 4K Video Downloader, there's an even simpler one—Wise Video Downloader—that's portable software: https://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/Internet/Others/Wise-Video-Downloader-Portable.shtml

Both are also available from MajorGeeks.

What I've concluded is that, as videos have increased in complexity, browser extensions have become more cumbersome and prone to problems ... while utilities like the above have become more capable and easier to use.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-03-19, 02:26
by lihatt
What features of 4K Video Downloader are for pay only?

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-03-19, 16:51
by Admin
This is a general reminder that downloading streaming videos is almost never legally allowed because they operate under different licenses (streaming vs. permanent storage). Even if downloading is allowed, another hurdle is using the downloaded video for anything other than personal viewing (including showing to friends).
So be aware of the consequences of using any of these downloaders, people!

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-06-09, 17:03
by dalek
https://qdownloader.net/

has just been permanently disabled :(

Does anyone have a good alternate?

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-06-10, 12:44
by firefoxed
dalek wrote:
2019-06-09, 17:03
Does anyone have a good alternate?
Yes.
Since started this thread, I invested in a license in 4K Video Downloader and haven't looked back.
After having to switch extensions for many years, it's nice to have something that works spectacularly well and can be expected to be stable.
Money well spent IMO.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-06-10, 13:14
by rabnbeinn
I use WinX You Tube Downloader, it's not an extension as such but a stand alone app. Just copy and paste and it does it's thing. I too had trouble finding an extension that would work.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-06-10, 13:55
by jars_
Extension for youtube is a bad way, i think. Especially in the case of using our browser PM.
About two years I use it Ummy Video Downloader for YouTube: Mp3, MP4, HD From YouTube & ↑distillvideo.com if i need a 2-4K videos(very rarely).

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-06-10, 15:23
by back2themoon
firefoxed wrote:
2019-06-10, 12:44
dalek wrote:
2019-06-09, 17:03
Does anyone have a good alternate?
Yes.
Since started this thread, I invested in a license in 4K Video Downloader and haven't looked back.
After having to switch extensions for many years, it's nice to have something that works spectacularly well and can be expected to be stable.
Money well spent IMO.
Compare this to this.

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-06-10, 17:09
by firefoxed
back2themoon wrote:
2019-06-10, 15:23
Compare this to this.
But that's also GUI vs. command-line, right?

Re: Which extensions to download YouTube videos currently work?

Posted: 2019-06-10, 18:32
by New Tobin Paradigm
More illegal discussion.