8 Best YouTube to MP4 Converters for Mac (Inc. Free)

Cisdem Video Converter definitely steps things up a notch when it comes to the best YouTube converter for Mac. It’s also compatible with more sites, like Dailymotion, JW Player, Bandcamp, Facebook, Vimeo, Brightcove, etc.

Many online YouTube to MP4 converters for Mac don’t support or have problem downloading large YouTube videos. Especially videos more than 2 hours long. In my test, Cisdem Video Converter succeed every time in downloading large size or long hour YouTube HD videos.

As a professional toolbox, it integrates video conversion/download/compression, and DVD/Blu-ray ripping. Plus, it boasts quite a few customization options: trim parts of the YouTube video to MP4, crop the black bar at the top or bottom, add special effects/subtitles, manually configure output parameters, etc.

How to convert YouTube video to MP4 on Mac in original quality:

Step 1. Run the software

Download Cisdem Video Converter for Mac. After installation, run it.

Free Download macOS 10.13 or later

Click on the main dashboard to switch to the download interface.

Step 2. Copy & paste URL

Search a YouTube video you wish to download and copy its URL. Then go back to the Cisdem Video Converter, and paste the link into the URL box at the bottom. Click “+” or press “Enter” key to parse the URL.

Note: To parse multiple URLs in one go, click "File > Input URLs..." at the top main menu, then paste all the URLs to the pop-up window.

Step 3. Batch download and convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac.

Open the “Format” list and you will see all the video and audio tracks included in the YouTube video. Based on the encoder and resolution, choose one of the MP4 videos you need. Usually the first one is the original video.

Click to start downloading YouTube to MP4.

Tip 1. Download an entire YouTube playlist to MP4

The steps to download YouTube playlist to MP4 are the same as downloading an individual YouTube video. Just paste the YouTube playlists’ URL into Cisdem Video Converter.

If a playlist have many videos, it can take a long time to download them all. Nonetheless, I’ve successfully downloaded a whole YouTube playlist which contains of 123 videos with Cisdem Video Converter.

Tip 2. Convert YouTube video to MP3 or others

The default output format for YouTube is MP4, WebM, and M4A. Cisdem Video Converter allows you to convert it to MP3, MOV, MPEG, FLAC, AAC, etc.

Once the download is complete, click icon to locate the downloaded file. Drag it to the "convert" section. Feel free to choose any target format there.

 

Best Online YouTube to MP4 Converter for Mac

#1 Converto.io

YouTube downloader that can cut MP3 and edit ID3 tags

Coming with a simple design, Converto.io will help you convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac online without fuss. Moreover, it serves as an excellent solution for converting YouTube content to MP3 files, granting you the ability to preserve desired audio segments while also providing options to modify artist, title, album, and cover art. Like most online tools, it doesn't have a lot of formats to choose from.

1. On your computer, open a browser and go to converto.io.
2. Copy and insert the URL of the video to the site.
3. Now you should see all the format options. Select MP4 (video).
4. Click the “gear” icon to pick the quality, then “Save”.
5. Download and convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac.

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#2 FastConverter.net

Online YouTube to MP4 converter that downloading in 1080p

FastConverter.net is a YouTube to MP4 converter for Mac online that has been around for nearly 10 years. Once it finishes analyzing the video URL you’ve entered, it will list all the formats and video resolutions available for conversion and download. It’s convenient. It will also offer brief information like video title, duration, thumbnail, and size. With it, your favorite video is just a click away. As of now, it only supports MP4 downloads from the YouTube platform.

1. From your computer, go to the website fastconverter.net .
2. Paste the link of YouTube media file into the search box. The online converter will automatically analyze and load the video.
3. Choose an MP4 resolution. Click “Convert”.
4. Download YouTube as MP4 on Mac.

#3 Clipconverter.cc

YouTube to MP4 converter for Mac that supports converting a specific part of a YouTube video

Clip Converter is an easy-to-use YouTube to MP4 HD converter for Mac. When you click the Continue button, it will start detecting media files available. When the process is finished, you will be presented with a list of available quality levels ranging from SD to HD, such as 480p, 720p, 1080p/60fps, 2K 1440p, and 4K 2160p. In addition to MP4, it also supports 3GP, AVI, MOV, and MKV as video conversion formats.

It's also worth mentioning the cutter feature. It lets you convert part of YouTube video to MP4 or another desired format.

1. Add YouTube video URL to Clipconverter.cc, and then click “Continue”.
2. The page will show you the quality options it detects. Simply select one.
3. Pick the conversion format.
4. Click “Start”. When the conversion is finished, download your media.

#4 FLVto.biz

Mac YouTube to MP4 converter that sends file to Dropbox

FLVTO, developed by the Russian-based firm Hotger, is the name of music-file conversion software. This best online YouTube video converter is too limited in its output formats. You can merely download and convert YouTube to MP4, MP3, and AVI.

One interesting thing, it offers some videos as “Most Watched Today” below, if you are interested in them, have a watch.

Note that the service also provides a desktop version. If you install it on your Mac, you will have access to more conversion formats such as WAV, AAC, MOV, WMV, and WMA.

1. Paste the link of the YouTube into the FlVTO download box.
2. Select and click the MP4 file format.
3. Hit the “Convert” button.
4. Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” to save your desired MP4 file.

#5 KeepVid

YouTube to MP4 converter that supports video recording

KeepVid enables you to convert YouTube to MP4 Mac free online with the minimum of hassle. It also offers a free version and commercial version app for your desktop. The Lifetime License for one Mac price is at $29. There are lots of definitions for the output you can choose. But it only supports download YouTube to MP4, M4A, 3GP, WEBM, MP3, ever Download its SRT subtitles.

1. Search for the video from YouTube that you expect to download, and copy its link.
2. Insert the link into the text box on the Keepvid site.
3. Choose the video format.
4. Download the file and wait until the conversion is done.

 

Best Browser Extensions to Convert YouTube Video to MP4 on Mac

#1 SaveFrom.net Helper

Best Chrome YouTube video converter for Mac to download 720p videos to MP4

Download MP4 from YouTube is against the YouTube Policy. Chrome, which is a Google-owned platform like YouTube, cleaned up the Chrome Web Store of plugins related to YouTube downloads back in 2014.

Fortunately, you can add a download button to YouTube via a user script (a.k.a .user. js). The OrangeMonkey script "SaveFrom.net Helper" is one of the Chrome extensions that lets you convert YouTube video to MP4 on Mac.

It will fetch and download videos on Chrome quickly. You can convert the downloaded YouTube videos to several media formats, including MP4, WebM, Audio OPUS, Audio AAC, so that you can enjoy them on the MP4 or audio players.

1. Search for OrangeMonkey in the Chrome Web Store, then add and install it to Chrome.
2. Pin OrangeMonkey to make it visible in the Chrome toolbar.
3. Click the extension icon and head to Script Store.
4. Find SaveFrom.net Helper in the Script Library. Click “Install”.
   Note: If the installation fails in this way, click “my scripts” in the left navigation > “Install from URL”. Input https://download.sf-helper.com/chrome/helper.user.js?ts=1715135904, click “OK”.
5. Confirm installation.
6. Open the YouTube video or music page that you want to convert into MP4.
7. Under the video, there is a green “Download” button, click it to save YouTube as 720p MP4.

#2 Easy Youtube Video Downloader Express

Firefox YouTube to MP4 Converter without installing user scripts.

Easy Youtube Video Downloader Express, powered by Dishita, works phenomenally well with Firefox browser. It is a reputable YouTube to MP4 converter for MacBook, with over 500,000 users to date. Basically, once you install it, you'll know how to use it without much introduction.

Since 2018, however, YouTube has adopted a new technology that separates video and audio streaming to handle higher quality formats. Thus, Easy YouTube Video Downloader Express needs to rely on its own servers to process YouTube 1080p MP4 video and 256kbps MP3 audio. This feature is currently available for a fee, ranging from $10-$30, and you can pay as much as you like for a reasonable price.

1. Search for Easy Youtube Video Downloader Express in addons.mozilla.org and add it to Firefox.
2. Go to play the YouTube video you desire to save to your Mac.
3. When the green “DOWNLOAD AS” button appears, click on it to display the format list.
4. Choose MP4 and resolution, then download the YouTube video to your Mac.

 

FAQs

What is the best YouTube to MP4 converter for Mac overall?

If you are looking for a comprehensive and safe YouTube to MP4 converter for Mac, I highly recommend you download and test Cisdem Video Converter. It allows you to download YouTube videos or playlists to whatever formats (preserving the original quality). It can also do other upper-level media processing and rip DVD movies. It genuinely 24/7 customer support and 30 days money-back guarantee.

What's the best free YouTube to MP4 converters for Mac?

If you've decided to go with a free option, then use online options to download and convert YouTube videos to MP4. They do not require installation of software that takes up the Mac's memory.

But some things are missing when compared to their desktop alternatives:

• Do not support wider output formats and 4k resolution
• No output preferences setting
• Lack of advanced and personalized features like edit, trim, create special effects for the downloaded videos
• No batch conversion
• Not safe, which may steal account passwords or private data

What is the best YouTube to MP4 converter for beginners?

Most of the programs and online sites list above are suitable for beginners.

Here are our top picks:

• Cisdem Video Converter
• Converto.io
• FastConverter.net
• Clipconverter.cc

Downloading YouTube videos in MP4 (vp09/avc1/av01) vs Webm (vp9) which is better?

YouTube's MP4 videos completely beat WebM videos in terms of quality and compatibility.

For playing MP4 vp09 and MP4 av01 videos on a Mac, it is necessary to have VLC installed, whereas MP4 avc1 videos can be played directly using QuickTime.

If you download YouTube videos with Cisdem Video Converter, you get the best control over output. It sets the highest quality video as the default output option, and you can manually change the option according to your individual needs as well.

Which YouTube to MP4 converters works with Apple M3?

It’s been a while since Apple released its M3 Macs. and all the programs in this list works perfectly fine on an M3 Mac.

Can I use the YouTube to MP4 converters to download YouTube shorts as MP4?

Yes, you can definitely download YouTube shorts videos the same way.