Top 10 Free and Paid YouTube to MP4 Converters

Why Do You Need a YouTube to MP4 Converter?

We can’t imagine our lives without YouTube nowadays. Entertainment, education, makeup courses, gardening, cartoons, sketches, and other vlogs help us to learn something new or just have fun. There is only a drawback in such cases – YouTube cannot download its online videos to a desktop as a local video file. Yes, the users of YouTube Premium accounts can download videos but only for offline watching from the hosting’s application or browsers. You may need a service that works as an intermediary – to download and convert from YouTube to MP4. Our guide will review the most reliable services that help to solve this issue successfully.

These are the reasons why you may need to convert YouTube to MP4 with the help of services: 

1) Offline Playback

That’s the most obvious one. People use third-party services for quick YouTube-to-MP4 download to watch the videos later from any device. Whether you are traveling, on a plane, or in a place with a poor Internet connection, this option can come in handy.

2) Saving the Mobile Traffic

Streaming videos takes quite a ton of data. To prevent such a problem you may convert a YouTube video to MP4 and save on your mobile traffic plan. Download once, view as many times as you want without overpaying. Also, you may forget about data drain and buffering in the rooms with thick walls or underground.

3) MP4 is a More Universal Format

YouTube videos have a special format while MP4 is playable almost by any free or default media player. By the way, some popular media players like VLC have an in-built option of converting YouTube clips to MP4. If you use the videos in MP4 format play them anywhere without any compatibility issues.

4) With Archiving Purposes

YouTube channel owners may delete their videos online accidentally or by purpose. To save your favorite video for good, for the sake of good memories, or as proof of something, you can archive your favorite YouTube videos in MP4 format on your local device – PC or smartphone.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons to convert YouTube to MP4. Luckily, there are many methods to do the conversion quickly. 

How to Pick the Best YouTube to MP4 Converter?

Before reviewing the platforms, apps, and services that help to convert YouTube to MP4 videos, we need to specify the main criteria for picking a reliable converter.

Privacy and Safety Should Come First

Foremost, consider your safety and privacy. Most free online converters can become threats like malware or intrusive advertisements. You should download a YouTube-to-MP4 converter from a trusted source with the guarantee of data security.

Look for platforms with a clear privacy policy. Be suspicious if they ask for irrelevant permissions or access to your personal/sensitive information. Go for ad-free converters – or use a paid version – if they offer more security levels than a Youtube-to-MP4 converter free. Also, consider using online services where you should download only the converted videos in MP4 format without the necessity of installing an app launcher.

The Service Has to Support Various Video Formats

A good YouTube to MP4 converter should do more than just convert the YouTube formats to MP4. Some can even support a few video formats for conversion – like AVI, MOV, or MKV, to name a few. The converter also has a nifty ability to extract the audio from a YouTube video as MP3 or as any other audio format. You can check our guide dedicated to the YouTube-to-MP3 conversion with the list of services that offer this option.

The Support of HD and YouTube-to-MP4 4K Conversion 

Quality is important. If you are doing the video conversions for personal viewing, you would like the videos to be in high definition, even on small screens. Check if the YouTube-to-MP4 converter supports HD for the downloaded videos – a bare minimum of 720p and 1080p. It is a must-have feature if you are going to watch the downloaded and converted videos on large screens.

Due to the same reasons, you are to use a YouTube-to-MP4 downloader that supports 4K. But this feature is required only if you prefer watching all your videos in 4K resolution on TV screens or monitors.

Summing up, if you have never used an online YouTube-to-MP4 converter before, it is better to stick to the services that do not require downloading any software on your device. Safety and privacy should be the main concerns. The websites or apps you use should have easy-to-understand interfaces and the support of downloading videos in 4K/HD. Do not pay for the features that you can get free in a safe way. Also, make sure the picked converter from YouTube to MP4 has other handy tools and abilities you can use like extraction and downloading of YouTube’s audio in MP3.

Top 10 Greatest Free and Paid YouTube-to-MP4 Converters

Now it is high time to share our list of top converters that help to transform a YouTube link to MP4. These services are mostly free but some have paid options. Make sure to check what you are paying for.

1. 4K Video Downloader – 4K and 8K Support

4K Video Downloader is a powerful service that supports high-quality video downloads, from YouTube and similar platforms. You can download the video in 4K and 8K resolutions. There are premium features as well. The user reviews claim the service is safe to apply.

Pros:

• Supports 4K and 8K resolution;
• You can download the entire playlist or even channel at once (premium);
• No watermarks or ads (premium);

 Cons:

• The free version supports only a few formats;
• The speed decreases when you download very large playlists;

2. Wave. video – No Installation Required 

Wave. video is more than a YouTube-to-MP4 converter. This is a full-fledged video platform with the support of editing, live streaming, and cloud storage in one place. And it doesn’t require installation, so one can convert videos right in their browser.

Pros:

• Web-based, no installation required;
• Supports cloud storage and basic video editing;
• Ad-free;

Cons: 

• Downloading only one video per time;
• Not many conversion options;

3. MyConverters – For Multiple Video Downloads

MyConverters is an all-in-one converter that supports multiple video downloads, in 8K video quality. Basically it is a batch-processing tool that helps to download whole channels or even websites (supports more than YouTube).

Pros:

• Bulk downloads;
• Download videos up to 8K quality;
• It supports over 1,000 sites with videos, including YouTube;
• 8K support;

Cons:

• Quite slow if you download many videos at the same time;
• The desktop app is more reliable than the online service;

4. VidJuice – Various Formats for Conversion

VidJuice is good for bulk downloads from several websites in 8K resolution. You can export the converted files in various formats. It is a safe and reliable tool you can use from any device.

Pros:

• Supports bulk downloads from over 1000 websites;
• Export the converted files in MP4, AVI, and MOV;
• Support of 8K HD quality;

Cons:

• Complicated user interface;
• Only for desktop downloads;

5. ytmp3 – Good for Casual Users

ytmp3 is an online converter that became well-known because of its beginner-friendly interface. The tool helps to convert YouTube to MP4/MP3 formats quickly, without an overloaded interface and advanced features. The best advantage of using ytmp3 is simplicity.

Pros:

• Fast and intuitive interface, perfect for beginners;
• Quick conversions;
• Converts MP3 and MP4 formats;
• Works on mobile and desktop devices in the same way;

Cons:

• Converts only the videos less than 90 minutes long;
• The audio may go out of sync after the conversion;

6. Fireflies.ai – For AI Enthusiasts

Fireflies.ai is an AI-driven tool that does way more than just video conversion. You can also add the transcription and summaries to your videos. Fireflies.ai uses AI tools to boost the conversion’s productivity and offers a few extra features.

Pros:

• AI-powered interface with subtitles/transcripts and summary features;
• Highly secure, GDPR and HIPAA compliant;
• It supports bulk conversion;

Cons:

• No native integration with YouTube;
• AI function may be difficult for casual users;

7. Snap Downloader – The Proxy-Protected Conversion

Snap Downloader is quite fast and versatile. You can download videos from over 900 websites, including YouTube. You can convert from YouTube to MP4 to 8K resolution and use advanced features. You can also set up proxies and schedule the bulk downloads.

Pros:

• Quick conversion and downloads;
• Supports up to 8K/HD resolution;
• Supports over 900 sites;
• Proxy protection;
• Scheduled downloads;

Pros:

• The free version allows downloading only for 48 hours per account;
• Requires installation on desktop;
• The browser extension is lagging;

8. Airy – Very Simplistic Interface 

Airy is a minimalistic YouTube-to-MP4 downloader. It has a very clean interface that allows downloading and converting videos without any complications. It is easier to download many videos in one go.

Pros:

• Clean interface;
• A browser extension for quick access;
• Supports multiple downloads;

Cons:

• Slow downloads;
• The free version is limited;

9. 2CONV – Download Up to 99 Videos At Once

2CONV is a fast and user-friendly converter that works properly on all devices. Perhaps the most striking feature of this tool is the support of the simultaneous download of 99 videos at once.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface for easy conversions;
• Has web, mobile, and desktop versions;
• Download up to 99 videos;

Cons:

• You can’t download the videos longer than 60 minutes;
• The web version is quite unstable;
• Download failures are possible;

10. iTubeGo – Good for Downloading Live Streams

iTubeGo is a powerful desktop program that helps to convert and download high-quality videos from YouTube to MP4 format. Download playlists, channels, and even live streams. iTubeGo is perfect for users who are looking forward to a fast and reliable converter.

Pros:

• Helps to download playlists, channels and even live streams on YouTube;
• Very quick downloads of short videos;
• Can download the video subtitles as well;

Cons:

• Only the desktop application;
• The free version is limited. Most features are behind the paywall;

The Comparison Table of Youtube-to-MP4 Converters

To ease up your process of choosing the best YouTube-to-MP4 converter we prepared a comparison table with the major features of each service. Compare and pick the platform you need.

Converter	Main Feature	Free or Paid	Resolutions	Formats	Price
4K Video Downloader	Playlist/Channel downloads	Both	Up to 8K	MP4, MKV, MP3	$ 15 per year
Wave. video	Web-based, Editing tools, Cloud storage	Free	Up to 1080p	MP4, AVI	Free
MyConverters	Multi-site support, 8K Quality	Both	Up to 8K	MP4, MKV, MP3	$ 19.95/mon
VidJuice	Bulk Downloading, Multi-Format Support	Paid	Up to 8K	MP4, AVI, MOV	$ 29.95/year
ytmp3	Fast Conversion, Mobile Compatible	Free	Up to 4K	MP4, MP3	Free
Fireflies.ai	AI-Powered, Transcription & Summaries	Paid	Up to 1080p	MP4, MP3, WAV	$ 10/user/month
Snap Downloader	High-resolution, Multi-site support	Free/Paid	Up to 8K	MP4, MP3, AVI	$ 7.99/month
Airy	Simple interface, Multi-download	Paid	Up to 1080p	MP4, MP3	$ 19.99/device
2CONV	Batch downloading, Multi-platform	Free	Up to 1080p	MP4, MP3, AVI	Free
iTubeGo	Playlist/Channel support, Turbo speed	Paid	Up to 8K	MP4, MKV, MP3	$ 9.95/month

Have you tried using any YouTube-to-MP4 1080/4K converters from this list? Share your favorite platforms or apps that offer conversion services. Feel free to check for other options on this Reddit thread where real users discuss the greatest converters and downloaders of YouTube videos in MP4 format. 

How to Convert from YouTube to MP4 – General Guidelines

The best thing about modern converters of audio/video available online is that they mostly work in the same way. We gathered a few basic steps of how to use any (almost!) YouTube converter to MP4 format so it could be easier for you to get the required video faster:

Step 1: Select the YouTube-to-MP4 Converter App

First, choose the YouTube to MP4 converter. Your choice will vary among web-based tools, desktop applications, and AI-based solutions. The service has to support the YouTube-to-MP4 HD conversion and quick, unlimited downloads.

Step 2: Paste the URL/Link of the YouTube Video

Open YouTube and find the video that you want to download. Copy the URL from the top of your browser’s address bar. You need the YouTube link for MP4 conversion. Open the website of a converter. Find a text box marked something like “Paste URL here” or “Enter video link”. Paste the copied YouTube URL into this box.

Step 3: Choose the Output Format and the Quality of the Video

Most of the converters will allow you to select the format of the output before the conversion (MP4, in this case). While some allow you to choose the quality from standard definition (SD) to high definition (HD) or even up to 4K or 8K if supported. Some services like 4K Video Downloader or VidJuice include the option of adding YouTube subtitles to the converted video with the ability to extract audio into MP3 format. Also, some converters offer the option of downloading entire playlists.

Step 4: The Conversion Process

When setting the preferences, you can click “Download” or “Convert”. Clicking on either button will start the process of converting video by the converter. This should only take from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the video’s length and quality. During the video download from YouTube and the following conversion to MP4, the capture tool will offer to save the converted file to your device.

 Step 5: Save the Converted Video

After completing the conversion, the tool offers to download the MP4 video to the device. Click on a part of your PC or mobile device where you will store this file. Double-check where you save the converted file on a local file. The default folder is usually called “Downloads”.

Step 6: Check the Downloaded Video

Finally, open the MP4 file from the saved location to ensure the successfully downloaded and converted video without any issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it legal to use YouTube-to-MP4 converters?

Well, it is not forbidden to use converters for personal use, like watching video offline from any device. As long as you don’t violate the copyright laws regarding the YouTube content and use the videos without the author’s consent. Double-check the copyright and YouTube’s Terms of Service if you are going to upload the downloaded and converted videos to any other third-party platform.

2. Why do some YouTube to MP4 converters work faster than others?

The conversion speed depends on so many factors, such as the converter’s server performance, the length and quality of your video, and your Internet connection’s speed. Desktop applications mostly process faster than web tools, especially if you need to download a few videos at the same time.

3. Can I download and convert entire YouTube playlists into MP4 with converters?

Yes, some top-notch converters, including 4K Video Downloader and iTubeGo, do allow a user to download and convert the entire YouTube playlist to MP4. This feature is especially helpful when you want to save multiple videos in one go. However, some tools may limit the number of videos you can convert in a single batch without a premium subscription.

4. Are there any risks associated with using free YouTube to MP4 converters?

Most YouTube to MP4 converters available for free may run risks: too many ads, unclear privacy policy, and the risk of installing malware. The paid versions are more risk-free since their ad-free versions have enhanced features and better customer support.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide helped you to find out how to convert YouTube to MP4 for offline playback from any device. Before using any new service or app make sure to double-check their privacy policy and free features. Do not hurry up to share your credit card credentials and just be careful because many middlemen services for conversion can fool you. However, there is a bunch of really trustworthy services we’ve mentioned that you can use safely. Downloading YouTube videos with the following conversion to MP4 will be easier!