Grabnode
YouTube Downloader

YouTube video downloader

Save any public YouTube video or Short in HD MP4 or extract the audio as MP3. Fast, free and works on any device without an app.

  • No signup
  • No watermarks
  • MP4 · MP3 · HD
  • MP4 1080p
  • MP4 720p
  • MP4 480p
  • MP3 320kbps
  • Shorts
  • Playlists

How to download YouTube videos

1

Copy the YouTube URL

Tap Share on any YouTube video or Short and copy the link, or copy it from your browser address bar.

2

Paste into Grabnode

Drop the link into the box above. Grabnode detects the URL automatically and starts fetching download options.

3

Pick quality and save

Choose an MP4 resolution or MP3 audio track, then save the file straight to your device.

YouTube quality & format options

QualityFormatNotesPlan
360pMP4 (H.264)Smallest file, fine for data-saving on mobileFree
480pMP4 (H.264)Good balance for phone playbackFree
720p HDMP4 (H.264)Sharp on most phones and tabletsFree
1080p Full HDMP4 (H.264)Best free quality — included at no costFree
1440p / 2KMP4 (VP9)Available when the uploader published itPro
2160p / 4KMP4 (VP9/AV1)Large files, desktop recommendedPro
Audio onlyMP3 up to 320kbpsExtracted from the source audio trackFree

What works on YouTube — and what doesn't

Supported

  • Standard watch URLs (youtube.com/watch?v=…) and short links (youtu.be/…)
  • YouTube Shorts in their native vertical resolution
  • Public playlists, listed video by video
  • Live streams that have finished and been archived publicly
  • Audio-only extraction to MP3 from any of the above

Not supported

  • Private, unlisted-with-login and members-only videos
  • Age-restricted videos that require a signed-in account
  • Videos with region blocks that apply to our servers
  • Live streams while they are still broadcasting
  • DRM-protected YouTube Movies and rentals

YouTube downloads on every device

iPhone & iPad

  1. 1.Open the YouTube app, tap Share, then Copy link.
  2. 2.Open grabnode.app in Safari and paste into the box.
  3. 3.Tap the quality you want — the file lands in Files, then move it to Photos.

Android

  1. 1.Tap Share under the video and choose Copy link.
  2. 2.Open grabnode.app in Chrome and paste the URL.
  3. 3.Tap Download; the MP4 saves to your Downloads folder.

Windows, Mac & Linux

  1. 1.Copy the URL from your browser address bar.
  2. 2.Paste it into Grabnode — extraction starts automatically.
  3. 3.Click a quality button to save the MP4 or MP3 locally.

Everything you should know about saving YouTube videos

Why YouTube quality options look the way they do

Above 720p, YouTube stops shipping a single combined file. Video and audio are stored as separate adaptive streams, which is what lets the player switch resolution mid-playback without reloading. A downloader therefore has a choice: hand you a progressive file that tops out at 720p, or hand you the separate high-resolution tracks.

Grabnode lists what YouTube actually exposes for the specific video, in plain language, so you can see at a glance whether a 1080p option exists for that upload rather than being promised a resolution the source never had. Older uploads frequently max out at 480p or 720p simply because that is what was uploaded years ago.

Codecs: why the same resolution can be two very different files

YouTube stores modern uploads in both H.264 and VP9, and increasingly AV1. VP9 and AV1 produce noticeably smaller files at the same visual quality, but H.264 is the format that plays on everything — old smart TVs, editing timelines, PowerPoint, WhatsApp. When both are available, taking the H.264 MP4 avoids a conversion step later.

Frame rate matters too. Gaming and sports uploads are often 60fps, which roughly doubles the data of the same clip at 30fps. If the file size looks surprisingly large for a short video, the frame rate is usually the reason.

What cannot be downloaded, and why we do not pretend otherwise

Private and unlisted-but-restricted videos, age-gated content that requires a signed-in session, members-only uploads, purchases and rentals, and anything geo-blocked in our server region will not extract. Live streams only become available once they finish processing into a normal video.

The practical rule is simple: open the link in a private browsing window while logged out. If it plays there, Grabnode can reach it. If it does not, no tool can, and anything claiming otherwise is asking you to hand over your account credentials.

YouTube downloader FAQ

How do I download a YouTube video in 1080p?

Paste the video link, press Grab, and pick the 1080p MP4 entry in the results list. 1080p is included on the free plan; 2K and 4K streams are Pro.

Can I download YouTube Shorts?

Yes. A Shorts URL works exactly like a normal watch URL — paste it and Grabnode returns the vertical MP4 at its native resolution.

Does Grabnode work with YouTube playlists?

Paste a playlist URL and Grabnode lists the videos it can reach so you can grab them one after another. Very large playlists may be truncated by the source.

Why is there no audio in some 4K downloads?

YouTube serves high-resolution video and audio as separate streams. Grabnode returns the merged file where the source provides one; when only a video-only stream exists, download the MP3 alongside it.

Can I download age-restricted or private videos?

No. Grabnode only reaches publicly accessible videos. Age-restricted, members-only, unlisted-with-login and private videos are not supported.

Is there a download limit?

There is no per-user quota, but the extractor applies a short-term rate limit to keep the service available for everyone. If you hit it, wait a minute and try again.

Do I need to install anything?

No. Grabnode runs in your browser on phone, tablet and desktop. There is no app, no extension and no signup required.

Is downloading YouTube videos legal?

Download only videos you own, videos licensed for reuse, or content you have permission to save. Downloading copyrighted material without permission breaches YouTube's Terms of Service.

Related downloaders

YouTube to MP3YouTube Shorts downloaderDownload YouTube on AndroidInstagram downloader