We make video2mp4, so we are not neutral. To keep this fair, every claim about another tool comes from that tool's own website or code repository, checked on October 9, 2026, and our own limits are listed as plainly as everyone else's. Links to the sources are at the end.
Quick answer
- No install, all the big platforms, on a phone or computer: video2mp4 or cobalt.
- Many videos at once, or audio as MP3, on a computer: 4K Video Downloader Plus.
- Maximum control and the widest site list: yt-dlp, if you are comfortable in a terminal.
- TikTok only: SnapTik or SSSTik.
Comparison table
| Tool | Type | Sites | Price | Audio only | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| video2mp4 | Website | YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest | 3 free downloads (1 a day), 5 more with a free account, then 1 free a day; optional download packs from $2.99 or lifetime $99 | Yes (MP3, 192 kbps; not for Facebook) | Free downloads stop at 1080p; one link at a time |
| cobalt | Website, open source | YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest and more | Free, no ads, no account | Yes (not for Facebook) | Describes X support as possibly unreliable |
| 4K Video Downloader Plus | Desktop app | YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and more | Free Starter tier with a limit; paid from $15/year | Yes (MP3, M4A, OGG) | Must be installed on Windows, macOS or Ubuntu |
| yt-dlp | Command line, open source | Thousands of sites | Free | Yes | Needs Python and a terminal; ffmpeg recommended |
| SnapTik | Website and mobile apps | TikTok (and Douyin) | Free, no account | Audio of a video, not MP3 | Shows ads and asks you to turn off ad blockers |
| SSSTik | Website | TikTok (links to separate Instagram and X tools) | Free, no account | Yes (MP3) | TikTok only on the main page |
video2mp4
A website: paste a link to a public video from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X or Pinterest, pick one of the MP4 qualities the source offers, and the file saves through your browser. It works the same on iPhone, Android and desktop, with no pop-ups or redirects.
Good for: saving a single video quickly on any device, and pages written for each platform, including YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels. It can also save a video's sound as a 192 kbps MP3 (see URL to MP3) and convert a local MOV, WebM or MKV file to MP4 without uploading it.
Falls short on: volume. Without an account you get 3 free downloads and a free account adds 5, then 1 a day; free files stop at 1080p. More downloads and 2K or 4K need a one-time download pack (never expires) or lifetime membership. MP3 comes in one bitrate only (192 kbps), Facebook links can't be saved as MP3, and there are no playlist or channel downloads.
cobalt
An open-source website (AGPL-3.0) that anyone can also host themselves. It supports all six platforms above and more, says it has no ads, trackers or paywalls, and offers audio-only downloads for most services. Its own documentation warns that X support may not be fully reliable, and it only handles public content.
Good for: people who want a free, ad-free web tool and like open source. Falls short on: nothing major for casual use; check that the service you need is working on the instance you use.
4K Video Downloader Plus
A desktop app for Windows 11, macOS 12 or later and Ubuntu 22.04 or later. It downloads from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and other sites, up to 8K, and can save audio as MP3, M4A or OGG. The free Starter tier has a download limit; paid licences start at $15 a year, with lifetime licences at $25 and $45.
Good for: playlists, channels and regular downloading on one computer. Falls short on: phones, and anyone who does not want to install software.
yt-dlp
A free, open-source command-line program that supports thousands of sites and can extract audio. It needs Python 3.10 or newer; ffmpeg is strongly recommended, and full YouTube support now also needs a JavaScript runtime. It is updated often.
Good for: developers, archivists and anyone who wants scripts and exact control over formats. Falls short on: ease of use. There is no button to press.
SnapTik and SSSTik
Two free websites focused on TikTok. Both say they remove the TikTok watermark and need no account. SnapTik also has mobile apps, shows ads and asks visitors to switch off ad blockers; it saves a video's audio but says it does not provide MP3. SSSTik offers MP3 and links to separate tools for Instagram and X.
Good for: TikTok without a watermark. Falls short on: other platforms.
Tools to avoid
Y2Mate. IFPI announced in October 2025 that y2mate.com and 11 other stream-ripping sites were shut down. Sites using similar names today are not the original, and security scanners have flagged several of them.
SaveFrom.net in the US. Visitors from the United States are shown a notice that the service stopped operating there in 2020. Its browser extension is still listed in the Chrome and Firefox stores.
How to choose
- Where are you? On a phone, use a website. On a computer you use every day, an app or yt-dlp can save time.
- How many videos? One now and then: any website here. Whole playlists: 4K Video Downloader Plus or yt-dlp.
- Video or audio? All of these except SnapTik can save MP3. video2mp4 offers one 192 kbps MP3 per video (not for Facebook); for other bitrates or formats such as M4A and OGG, pick 4K Video Downloader Plus or yt-dlp.
- Watch for fake buttons. Any download site that opens new tabs, asks you to install something unexpected, or wants notification permission is not worth the risk.
A note on rights
Every tool here can save videos you do not own. Download your own work or videos you have permission to keep. Platform terms and copyright law still apply, whichever tool you use.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free video downloader?
- It depends on how you work. For a browser tool with no install that covers the big social platforms, video2mp4 or cobalt. For bulk downloads on a computer, 4K Video Downloader Plus. For full control and thousands of sites, yt-dlp. For TikTok only, SnapTik or SSSTik.
- Which free downloader works on iPhone without an app?
- Browser tools such as video2mp4 and cobalt work in Safari on iPhone. Paste the link, save the MP4, and find it in Files under Downloads. Desktop apps and yt-dlp do not run on iPhone.
- Is Y2Mate still working?
- No. The music industry group IFPI announced in October 2025 that y2mate.com and 11 similar sites were shut down. Many look-alike domains copy the name; security scanners have flagged several of them, so avoid them.
- Is it legal to download videos?
- Saving your own videos, or videos you have permission to keep, is generally fine. Downloading other people's work can break a platform's terms or copyright law. Every tool on this page leaves that responsibility with you.
- Do free downloaders remove watermarks?
- SnapTik and SSSTik say they remove the TikTok watermark. video2mp4 adds no watermark of its own, but it does not promise to remove one the platform added.
Sources
Checked on October 9, 2026. Tools change; tell us at hello@video2mp4.com if something here is out of date.