The main ways to download YouTube videos on your phone
You can download YouTube videos to your phone using a third-party app, a web-based downloader, or by using YouTube Premium's built-in offline feature. The method you choose depends on whether you want to pay for a subscription, how much control you want over video quality, and what phone you use.
YouTube Premium is the official option — it costs $13.99 per month and lets you download videos directly within the YouTube app to watch later without an internet connection. Third-party apps and websites work on any YouTube video but operate in a legal gray area, since downloading copyrighted content without permission violates YouTube's terms of service.
Android phones have more third-party options than iPhones because Apple restricts what apps can do. iPhone users who don't want YouTube Premium are limited to web-based downloaders accessed through Safari, which save files to your phone's Files app or cloud storage.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium ($13.99/month) is the only method YouTube officially supports — it downloads videos within the YouTube app and works on both iPhone and Android.
- Third-party Android apps like TubeMate, Snaptube, and VidMate download videos but are not available in Google Play Store and may contain ads or require manual installation.
- Web-based downloaders work on any phone through a browser but require you to paste the video URL and may have limits on video length or quality.
- Downloaded videos typically stay on your phone until you delete them, but some apps and services expire downloads after a set time period.
- Downloading copyrighted music videos, movies, or TV shows without permission violates YouTube's terms of service, even if the download succeeds technically.
Using YouTube Premium to download videos
YouTube Premium is the straightforward route if you want a service YouTube itself maintains. Open the YouTube app, find the video you want to download, tap the download icon (a downward arrow) below the video title, and choose your quality. The video saves to your phone and you can watch it in the YouTube app without an internet connection.
Downloaded videos stay on your phone for 30 days. After that, YouTube removes them automatically and you need to download them again if you want to watch offline. YouTube Premium also removes ads from videos, lets you play videos with the screen off, and includes YouTube Music as part of the subscription.
The trade-off is cost — $13.99 per month adds up if you only download a few videos occasionally. But it's the only method that doesn't violate YouTube's terms of service and won't expose your phone to apps that may contain malware or aggressive advertising.
Downloading videos on Android using third-party apps
Third-party apps for Android include TubeMate, Snaptube, VidMate, and Videoder. These apps let you download videos at various quality levels and save them as MP4 files to your phone's storage. You can then watch them in any video player, not just the YouTube app.
These apps are not available in Google Play Store because they violate YouTube's terms of service. Instead, you download them from the app's own website or third-party app stores like APKMirror or APKPure. The installation process requires you to allow your phone to install apps from unknown sources, which you enable in your phone's security settings.
The main drawbacks are that these apps often contain ads, may ask you to complete surveys before downloading, and occasionally bundle other software you didn't ask for. They also don't receive updates through Google Play, so you have to manually check for new versions. YouTube can also block these apps periodically, which means a download tool that worked last month may stop working without warning.
Downloading videos on iPhone using web-based tools
iPhone users cannot install third-party download apps because Apple restricts what apps can do. Your option is to use a web-based downloader through Safari. Common services include Y2Mate, SaveFrom, and Keepvid — you visit the website, paste the YouTube video URL into the text box, choose your quality, and tap download.
The downloaded file goes to your phone's Files app or to cloud storage like iCloud Drive or Google Drive, depending on which service you use. From there, you can move it to your Photos app or a video player app. The process takes a few extra steps compared to a native app, but it works on any iPhone without jailbreaking.
Web-based downloaders often have limits — some cap video length at 30 minutes, others reduce quality for longer videos, and many show ads or ask you to disable your ad blocker. These services also change frequently because YouTube actively works to block them, so a downloader that works today may not work next week.
What to know about video quality and file size
Downloaded videos take up storage space on your phone. A one-hour video at 720p (standard definition) is roughly 500 MB to 800 MB. The same video at 1080p (high definition) is 1 GB to 2 GB. At 480p (lower quality), it's around 200 MB to 400 MB.
Most third-party apps let you choose quality before downloading, so you can pick lower quality if storage is tight. YouTube Premium defaults to a quality based on your phone's screen size and your internet speed, but you can change it in the app's settings under "Downloads."
If your phone is running low on storage, downloaded videos are the first thing to delete since you can always download them again. Moving videos to an SD card (on Android phones that support it) frees up internal storage but may make the video slower to play.
Legal and safety considerations
Downloading videos of copyrighted music, movies, TV shows, or other protected content without permission violates YouTube's terms of service and may violate copyright law in your country. YouTube's own terms state that you can only download videos for personal, non-commercial use if the creator has made that option available.
Third-party apps and web-based downloaders operate in a legal gray area — they are not illegal to own or use, but using them to download copyrighted content is. YouTube regularly sends takedown notices to downloader services, which is why they disappear and reappear under new names.
From a security standpoint, third-party apps carry more risk than YouTube Premium or web-based downloaders because they require you to install software on your phone. Before installing any app, check recent reviews for mentions of ads, pop-ups, or unexpected behavior. Stick to apps with recent updates and avoid apps that ask for permissions unrelated to downloading video (like access to your contacts or location).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download YouTube videos to watch on a different device?
Yes, if you download the video as an MP4 file using a third-party app or web-based downloader, you can move it to a computer or tablet using a file manager or cloud storage. YouTube Premium downloads only work within the YouTube app, so you cannot transfer them to other devices or apps.
What happens if YouTube blocks a downloader I'm using?
If a downloader stops working, it usually means YouTube has blocked it. You can try a different downloader — there are dozens of alternatives — but YouTube will likely block those eventually too. YouTube Premium is the only method that won't be blocked because it's YouTube's own service.
Do downloaded videos take up space even if I'm not watching them?
Yes, downloaded videos occupy storage space on your phone until you delete them. You can check how much space they use by opening your phone's storage settings. Deleting a downloaded video frees up that space immediately.
Can I download videos from YouTube if the creator has disabled downloads?
YouTube Premium respects the creator's download settings — if they turned off downloads, you cannot download their video even with Premium. Third-party apps and web-based downloaders ignore these settings and will download the video anyway, but doing so violates the creator's wishes and YouTube's terms of service.
Is it safe to use web-based downloaders on my phone?
Web-based downloaders are generally safer than installing third-party apps because you are not installing software on your phone. However, some downloader websites contain aggressive ads or may ask you to complete surveys. Avoid sites that ask for personal information beyond the video URL, and use an ad blocker if ads are intrusive.