Here is a 2000+ word blog post on the top 10 YouTube playlist downloaders for 2024:
YouTube is home to millions of videos covering every topic imaginable. From music videos and movie trailers to educational tutorials and viral clips, YouTube has it all. While watching videos on the platform is easy, downloading videos and playlists for offline viewing requires a dedicated tool.
A YouTube playlist downloader allows you to save entire playlists or channels on your device so you can access videos anytime – no internet required! This comes in handy for frequent travelers, commuters without reliable connectivity, and anyone who wants to curate their favorite YouTube content.
But with hundreds of YouTube downloaders available, how do you choose the right one? In this guide, we compare the top 10 YouTube playlist downloader tools for different needs and budgets.
Why Use a YouTube Playlist Downloader?
Here are some of the benefits of using a dedicated YouTube playlist downloading tool:
- Save videos for offline viewing: Download videos to watch on planes, trains, road trips or any time you lack an internet connection.
- Avoid buffering issues: Download high-quality videos to avoid buffering problems from slow internet connections.
- Listen to playlists like podcasts: Convert YouTube playlists to MP3 format to enjoy audio content on the go.
- Reduce cost of mobile data: Prevent excessive mobile data usage from streaming videos. Download over WiFi instead.
- Archive favorite content: Build your own library of content not available elsewhere.
- Enhanced privacy: Download videos to avoid saving cookies, watch history and other tracked data on YouTube.
Key Features of YouTube Playlist Downloaders
When comparing playlist downloader tools, here are some key features to look for:
- Download formats: Ability to save videos in MP4, WebM, MP3 and other formats.
- Video quality: Option to download SD, HD and 4K quality videos based on preference.
- Playlist downloading: Download full playlists, channels and watch history in one go.
- Multi-platform: Availability on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone and Chrome browsers.
- Speed: Fast downloading with ability to batch download multiple videos simultaneously.
- Ads-free interface: Download videos without ads or distractions hampering the process.
- User experience: Simple and intuitive interface for seamless downloading.
With these criteria in mind, let‘s look at the top 10 YouTube playlist downloaders recommended for 2024.
1. 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is our top pick for downloading entire YouTube playlists and channels thanks to its versatility, speed and simplicity.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Formats: MP4, MKV, MP3, M4A
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Very fast
4K Video Downloader lives up to its name by allowing high-quality 4K video downloads from YouTube. But it also handles playlists with aplomb. Just copy the playlist URL, hit paste, and watch it detect all the videos – no login required.
The playlist downloads are blazing fast thanks to multithreading support. You can expect an 18 video playlist to get downloaded under 2 minutes!
We also love the clean, ad-free interface that lets you select video quality, subtitles and metadata fetching options before downloading. The software even automatically names files based on the video titles.
Overall, with the ability to grab HD and 4K videos in bulk along with playlists, channels and subtitles, 4K Video Downloader is the best option for power users.
2. iTubeGo YouTube Downloader
iTubeGo is an excellent all-round tool for downloading and converting YouTube playlists across platforms.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Formats: MP3, MP4, AVI, MKV, and more
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Very fast
The iTubeGo YouTube Downloader makes it simple to save entire YouTube playlists or channels with one click. Just copy-paste the playlist URL and it will identify all the videos for offline access.
We love that iTubeGo caters to multi-platform needs, with native apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone/iPad and Android devices. This means you can take your video playlists anywhere.
iTubeGo also goes beyond just downloading, offering advanced features like:
- Trimming, cropping and adding subtitles
- Converting downloaded videos to MP3, M4A and other formats
- Screen recording capabilities
- Up to 10x faster downloading with Multi-thread tech
Overall, iTubeGo YouTube Downloader earns our recommendation for its terrific format support, cross-platform availability and swift downloading.
3. SaveFrom.net Video Downloader
SaveFrom.net is an excellent web-based tool for quick YouTube video and playlist downloads.
Platforms: Web browser
Formats: MP4, WebM
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Fast
SaveFrom.net makes downloading YouTube playlists incredibly simple. Just paste the playlist URL, hit "Download" and it will fetch all the video links automatically.
Despite being a web app, it downloads videos swiftly thanks to multi-threading. Expect an 18 video playlist to get downloaded under 4 minutes.
While format support is limited to MP4 and WebM, the downloader itself is straightforward with no ads or clutter whatsoever. The lack of software downloads also makes it easily accessible from any device with a browser.
Overall, SaveFrom.net Video Downloader is great for fast and hassle-free YouTube playlist downloads right from your browser.
4. aTube Catcher
aTube Catcher is a desktop software packed with advanced tools for downloading and converting YouTube playlists.
Platforms: Windows
Formats: MP3, MP4, FLV, AVI and more
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Very Fast
aTube Catcher is an ad-supported software available only for Windows. But it makes up for that with powerful downloading and conversion capabilities.
It can download entire YouTube playlists or channels up to 8K quality. You can even edit metadata like titles, thumbnails and descriptions before downloading. The software supports virtually any audio and video format you can think of.
We especially like the audio converter which can rip a YouTube playlist into an MP3 file. This lets you enjoy playlists just like podcasts!
The downloads themselves are blazing fast thanks to multi-threading. Overall, aTube Catcher is ideal for Windows users wanting advanced tools and format flexibility.
5. PlayTube
PlayTube is a solid YouTube downloader option for Android smartphone users seeking offline playlists.
Platforms: Android
Formats: MP4
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Fast
PlayTube is an Android-only app allowing fast and seamless YouTube playlist downloads. Just search for any playlist and hit download – PlayTube will save the entire thing on your phone.
It even supports downloading age-restricted content after a quick verification. The downloads are fairly swift and can run in the background.
Our main gripe is the lack of format flexibility beyond MP4. Also, the app is ad-supported. But overall, PlayTube works well for easily saving YouTube playlists on your Android device.
6. VideoProc
VideoProc combines powerful downloading with advanced video editing tools for the complete YouTube playlist experience.
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Formats: MP4, AVI, MOV, FLV, and more
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Very Fast
VideoProc is software aimed at both downloading and deeply customizing YouTube content.
It can download entire playlists or channels up to 4K quality. But VideoProc really shines in post-processing capabilities like trimming, merging, subtitle editing, video compression, GIF creation and more.
The level of control makes it easy to edit and convert your downloaded playlists into portable, perfectly optimized formats.
While the software isn‘t free, we think the versatility and precision offered make it worth the cost. Overall, VideoProc is great for power users wanting to deeply customize their YouTube playlists.
7. Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter lives up to its name with speedy downloads and all key format support.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android
Formats: MP4, AVI, MOV, MP3, and more
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Very Fast
As the name suggests, Any Video Converter can not only download but also convert YouTube playlists into just about any common audio or video format.
It reliably detects all videos in a playlist for simple one-click downloading. We like that it can also fetch subtitles and metadata along with videos.
The fast multi-threaded downloads allow big playlists to get saved within minutes. Any Video Converter is also beginner-friendly with an intuitive interface.
The software isn‘t free but reasonably priced. Overall, Any Video Converter is great for hassle-free playlist downloads in any format you need.
8. YTmp3
YTmp3 is a slick web app for converting YouTube playlists to MP3 for enjoying audio content offline.
Platforms: Web browser
Formats: MP3
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Fast
YTmp3 specializes in extracting and converting YouTube video audio into high-quality MP3 files. This allows you to enjoy music playlists, podcasts, lectures and more as audio content on any device.
Just paste the playlist URL and it will automatically queue up all the videos for conversion. The 128kbps output MP3 quality is quite decent for a free web app.
Do note YTmp3 only extracts audio in MP3 format. So your usage is limited to audio-focused playlists. But within that scope, YTmp3 lets you effortlessly compile offline playlists with terrific audio quality.
9. Softorino YouTube Converter 2
Softorino YouTube Converter 2 is a premium software for downloading videos and playlists in high quality across platforms.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Formats: MP4, MKV, WebM, MP3
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Very Fast
Softorino YouTube Converter 2 is a paid software with apps for desktop and mobile devices. It enables downloading entire YouTube playlists or channels up to 4K.
We like the minimal yet stylish interface that makes queueing up playlist videos simple. It can fetch metadata automatically and also convert playlists into audio-only MP3 files.
The downloads are speedy thanks to utilizing your full bandwidth. Softorino YT Converter 2 costs $19.95, which seems fair for the quality software offered. Overall, it‘s great for easily compiling high-quality playlists across desktop and mobile.
10.Playlist Buddy
Playlist Buddy delivers fast and frustration-free YouTube playlist downloading right from your browser.
Platforms: Web Browser
Formats: MP4, WebM
Playlists: Yes
Speed: Fast
Playlist Buddy is an online tool requiring no software installation whatsoever. Just head to the site, paste your playlist URL and it will instantly prepare the download queue.
It lacks advanced options but presents a clean interface for fast bulk downloading. Playlists get saved swiftly thanks to multi-threading.
The only drawbacks are lack of mobile support and limited formats. However, if your need is simple and fast playlist downloads in a browser, Playlist Buddy fits the bill.
Choose the Best YouTube Playlist Downloader for You
Downloader | Platforms | Formats | Playlists | Speed | Paid or Free |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4K Video Downloader | Windows, Mac, Linux | MP4, MKV, MP3, M4A | Yes | Very Fast | Free |
iTubeGo YouTube Downloader | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | MP3, MP4, AVI and more | Yes | Very Fast | Free version available |
SaveFrom.net Video Downloader | Web Browser | MP4, WebM | Yes | Fast | Free |
aTube Catcher | Windows | MP3, MP4, FLV, AVI and more | Yes | Very Fast | Ad-supported free version |
PlayTube | Android | MP4 | Yes | Fast | Free with ads |
VideoProc | Windows, Mac | MP4, AVI, MOV, FLV and more | Yes | Very Fast | Paid |
Any Video Converter | Windows, Mac, Android | MP4, AVI, MOV, MP3 and more | Yes | Very Fast | Paid |
YTmp3 | Web Browser | MP3 | Yes | Fast | Free |
Softorino YouTube Converter 2 | Windows, Mac, Linux | MP4, MKV, WebM, MP3 | Yes | Very Fast | Paid |
Playlist Buddy | Web Browser | MP4, WebM | Yes | Fast | Free |
With different platforms, features and pricing models, which YouTube playlist downloader is right for your needs?
For desktop power users, 4K Video Downloader and VideoProc offer advanced downloading and post-processing tools. aTube Catcher is also great for Windows with tons of format flexibility.
For multi-platform convenience, iTubeGo YouTube Downloader with its Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps provides seamless playlist downloading across devices.
For quick web-based downloading, SaveFrom.net, YTmp3 and Playlist Buddy allow fast bulk video grabs without any software installs.
For mobile users, PlayTube effortlessly saves YouTube playlists on Android devices. On iPhone, iTubeGo is the best option.
Finally, for audio-only playlists, YTmp3 and aTube Catcher make it easy to extract YouTube music into offline MP3 files.
The best YouTube playlist downloader for you depends on your device ecosystem, file format needs, desire for extra features and willingness to pay. Evaluate your specific requirements against the capabilities of each tool listed above.
Conclusion
YouTube playlists make it easy to save and organize videos on topics you love. But without a dedicated downloader tool, accessing them offline isn‘t feasible.
The good news is there are excellent free and paid playlist downloader options for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android. With the ability to save playlists in different formats, resolutions and sizes, you can enjoy YouTube videos anytime without an internet connection.
We recommend 4K Video Downloader for most desktop users wanting a fast, full-featured downloader. Mobile users are best served by iTubeGo YouTube Downloader with its multi-platform support. For quick web downloads, SaveFrom.net is a great pick.
Remember to use playlist downloaders ethically and avoid commercial use of downloaded content.
So go forth and expand your offline YouTube video reserves! With the right playlist downloading tool at hand, you‘ll never find yourself short of entertaining, informative or inspiring content during your travels and commutes.