Best YouTube Downloaders Recommended by Reddit (2026)

Reddit consistently recommends YT-DLP as the #1 YouTube downloader—it's open-source, frequently updated, and handles edge cases better than any alternative. For users who prefer a GUI, 4K Video Downloader is Reddit's go-to desktop application. I analyzed posts and comments from r/software, r/DataHoarder, r/Piracy, and tech subreddits to compile this guide of Reddit-approved YouTube downloaders.

Key Takeaways

• YT-DLP is Reddit's unanimous #1 choice (open-source, most reliable)
• 4K Video Downloader is the preferred GUI option
• Redditors strongly warn against online converters (malware risk)
• NewPipe is the favorite for Android users
• Cobalt is gaining popularity as a clean web option
• Community consistently recommends open-source over proprietary tools

Reddit's Top YouTube Downloaders Ranked

Based on analysis of thousands of Reddit posts and comments:

#1 Reddit Pick: YT-DLP

YT-DLP is mentioned more than any other YouTube downloader on Reddit, with near-universal praise from technical users.

Why Reddit Loves YT-DLP

From r/DataHoarder:

From r/software:

Key Features Redditors Highlight

• Actively maintained: Updates faster than YouTube can block it
• Handles everything: Playlists, members-only content, live streams
• Quality control: Precise video/audio quality selection
• Sponsorblock integration: Auto-skip sponsors (optional)
• Metadata preservation: Keeps titles, thumbnails, descriptions

Quick Start Guide

# Install (Windows - use winget)
winget install yt-dlp

# Install (Mac)
brew install yt-dlp

# Install (Linux)
sudo apt install yt-dlp

# Basic download
yt-dlp URL

# Best quality
yt-dlp -f best URL

# Audio only (MP3)
yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 URL

Reddit-Recommended Configurations

From r/Piracy wiki:

# Download best video + audio merged
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo+bestaudio" --merge-output-format mp4 URL

# Download with SponsorBlock (skip sponsors)
yt-dlp --sponsorblock-mark all URL

# Archive mode (download everything, skip existing)
yt-dlp --download-archive downloaded.txt URL

GUI Frontends (For Non-Technical Users)

Reddit recommends these YT-DLP GUIs:

• Stacher: Modern interface, easy to use
• Tartube: Feature-rich, cross-platform
• Video Downloader Plus: Simple browser extension

#2 Reddit Pick: 4K Video Downloader

For users who prefer graphical interfaces, 4K Video Downloader is Reddit's clear favorite.

Why Reddit Recommends 4K Video Downloader

From r/software:

From r/youtube:

Features Redditors Appreciate

• Clean, ad-free interface
• Actually downloads 4K/8K (unlike many alternatives)
• Smart Mode for one-click downloads
• Playlist and channel downloads
• Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Reddit's Tips for 4K Video Downloader

1. 1.Use Smart Mode: Set your preferred quality once, then paste links
2. 2.Free tier is enough: 30/day handles most users' needs
3. 3.Skip the subscription: One-time $15 purchase is better value
4. 4.Download from official site only: Fake sites distribute malware

#3 Reddit Pick: NewPipe (Android)

For Android users, NewPipe dominates Reddit discussions.

Why Reddit Chooses NewPipe

From r/Android:

From r/fossdroid:

Key Features

• No Google account required
• Ad-free YouTube viewing
• Background playback
• Video/audio downloads
• Subscription management (local)
• Completely free and open-source

Installation

NewPipe isn't on Google Play (Google's policy). Get it from:

• F-Droid: f-droid.org
• Official site: newpipe.net

#4 Reddit Rising Star: Cobalt

Cobalt is gaining popularity on Reddit as a clean, ad-free web downloader.

Why Redditors Like Cobalt

From r/software:

From r/Piracy:

Features

• No ads or tracking
• Clean interface
• Open source
• Supports multiple platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, etc.)
• No account required
• Quality selection

Usage

1. 1.Visit cobalt.tools
2. 2.Paste YouTube URL
3. 3.Select quality
4. 4.Download

Tools Reddit Warns Against

Online Converters (Risky)

Reddit consistently warns against most online converters:

From r/techsupport:

Common complaints:

• Fake download buttons
• Malvertising
• Browser hijackers
• Quality not as advertised
• Frequent domain changes (red flag)

Specific Warnings

Outdated Tools

youtube-dl: Reddit now recommends YT-DLP instead

Any tool not updated in 2024+: YouTube frequently changes, outdated tools break

Reddit's Advice for Choosing a Downloader

From r/software

Top-voted advice:

1. 1."Use YT-DLP if you can handle command line"
2. 2."4K Video Downloader if you need GUI"
3. 3."Never trust online converters with ads"
4. 4."Open source > proprietary, always"
5. 5."If it's free and has no ads, question how they make money"

Red Flags Redditors Identify

• ❌ Requires software download from online converter
• ❌ Has multiple "Download" buttons
• ❌ URL changes frequently
• ❌ No GitHub/open source presence
• ❌ Heavy advertising
• ❌ Asks for notifications/permissions

Green Flags

• ✅ Open source with active GitHub
• ✅ Recommended on r/Piracy megathread
• ✅ No ads or minimal ads
• ✅ Mentioned positively on multiple subreddits
• ✅ Regular updates (check last update date)

Platform-Specific Reddit Recommendations

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

iOS

Reddit acknowledges iOS limitations:

• Use Documents app + web downloader
• Shortcuts with API access
• Limited options compared to Android

Subreddits for YouTube Downloader Discussions

The community strongly advises against most online converters due to malware risks, with Cobalt (cobalt.tools) being the notable exception for web-based downloading.

For mobile users, NewPipe (Android) is the overwhelming favorite, offering an ad-free YouTube experience with download capabilities.

Whatever you choose, Reddit's advice is consistent: stick to open-source, actively maintained tools, and avoid anything with heavy advertising or sketchy behavior.

Related Resources:

• Best YouTube Downloader in 2026
• Safe YouTube Downloaders Without Virus
• How to Download YouTube Videos