# What is the best program to download a local copy of youtube vids? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222 "2015-05-17T05:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/1 "2015-05-17T05:11:48Z")
My son likes watching vids of garbage trucks and some other ones of vehicles over and over on youtube, and even though we now have cable internet it sometimes gets choppy and they buffer and it gets him upset. What is the best program to download a local copy of the flv file, freeware a plus. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/2 "2015-05-17T05:30:34Z")
I use Firefox and the add-on named [Download YouTube Videos as MP4](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/download-youtube/). It adds a download button to the YouTube page. Despite the name, it will also save videos as FLV. It has worked well for me recently. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/3 "2015-05-17T11:08:32Z")
The one I use, for Firefox also, is [Video DownloadHelper](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/). Adds a button/menu to the Firefox main toolbar. It works for maybe 95% of videos on YouTube, and works on Vimeo, Facebook and similar services too (no, not Netflix!). Can get confused when many tabs are open. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/4 "2015-05-17T11:54:09Z")
Another DownloadHelper. Always and only used that. It saves them all to it’s own directory: the only thing to notice is you have to select the button in the first few minutes otherwise it fades out. Also it presently saves the videos as .webm files. Used to be .flv files of course. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/5 "2015-05-17T13:18:19Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > I use Firefox and the add-on named [Download YouTube Videos as MP4](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/download-youtube/). It adds a download button to the YouTube page. Despite the name, it will also save videos as FLV. It has worked well for me recently. Second this. It’s very convenient just to have the button right on the YouTube page. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/6 "2015-05-17T17:04:20Z")
A third cheer for Video DownloadHelper. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/7 "2015-05-17T17:23:08Z")
I had the other but like[this one](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/download-flash-and-video/) better. It has a thing on the tool bar and I think it offers more download options (possibly. Youtube may just be giving more options now.) ---
**Author:** ![stirdontshake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@stirdontshake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stirdontshake)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/8 "2015-05-18T15:27:46Z")
I think Orbit Downloader! > **[New Wallpapers For FREE | Wallpapers.com](https://wallpapers.com/new)** > > 1000+ high-quality New wallpapers to download and use! Customize and personalise your desktop, mobile phone and tablet with these free wallpapers! Multiple sizes available for all screen sizes. New wallpapers added daily! It works. The problem with the downloaders is that they might contain adware . I used to have Flashget, but this one recently is loaded with adware and even a virus. So, unless you have agood antivirus program to detect those little “bugs”, I would stick to ORBIT downloader. ---
**Author:** ![stirdontshake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@stirdontshake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stirdontshake)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/9 "2015-05-18T15:29:22Z")
I think Orbit Downloader! > **[New Wallpapers For FREE | Wallpapers.com](https://wallpapers.com/new)** > > 1000+ high-quality New wallpapers to download and use! Customize and personalise your desktop, mobile phone and tablet with these free wallpapers! Multiple sizes available for all screen sizes. New wallpapers added daily! It works. The problem with the downloaders is that they might contain adware . I used to have Flashget, but this one recently is loaded with adware, lots of ads and even a virus. So, unless you have a good antivirus program to detect those little “bugs”, I would recommend ORBIT downloader. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-program-to-download-a-local-copy-of-youtube-vids/720222/10 "2015-05-18T16:13:07Z")
Thanks guys!