KeepVid was the bookmark everyone had: paste a URL, get the video. Its web service was shut down back in 2019, and half the "KeepVid alternatives" you'll find in search results are either dead links or ad farms wearing its clothes. I've kept this list current since 2021, checking which tools actually still work — all 12 below were live and functional when this guide was updated in September 2026.
One honest note before the list: most downloaders violate the terms of service of platforms like YouTube, and saving DRM-protected streams is illegal outright. Use these for content you're allowed to keep — your own uploads, Creative Commons material, or platforms that permit saving — and read the fine piece at the end about where the lines sit.
Quick Answer: There's no single KeepVid replacement, but 4K Video Downloader is the best free starting point, By Click Downloader the easiest on Windows, and iTubeGo or VidJuice the strongest paid picks. All 12 tools below still work in 2026 — just keep your downloads to content you're allowed to save.
The 12 Best KeepVid Alternatives at a Glance
| # | Tool | Type | Free option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iTubeGo | Desktop app | Trial | Playlists + subtitles |
| 2 | AceThinker Video Keeper | Desktop app | Trial | Format control |
| 3 | By Click Downloader | Desktop app | Free tier | One-click Windows use |
| 4 | Downvids | Web | Yes | Quick YouTube grabs |
| 5 | ClipConverter | Web | Yes | MP3 + audio extraction |
| 6 | VidJuice | Desktop + mobile | Trial | 8K + bulk downloads |
| 7 | OnlineConverters | Web | Yes | WAV/MP3 conversion |
| 8 | 4K Video Downloader | Desktop app | Free tier | Best overall free pick |
| 9 | Zamzar | Web | Yes (size cap) | File conversion |
| 10 | FastestTube | Browser extension | Yes | In-page YouTube button |
| 11 | Video Grabber | Web + app | Yes | All-in-one incl. screen record |
| 12 | Catch.Tube | Web + extension | Yes | Newer, growing tool |
1. iTubeGo
iTubeGo is the strongest all-rounder here: it downloads video and audio from over 10,000 sites, saves entire playlists in one pass, and converts to 4K, HD MP4, or MP3 as it goes. The feature I actually use most is automatic subtitle hunting — for TV shows and movies it fetches matching subs alongside the file, which almost nothing else does reliably.
Heads-up for 2026: the free version is a trial with limits; the full version is a one-time or yearly license, so check current pricing before committing.
2. AceThinker Video Keeper
AceThinker's Video Keeper gives you the most control over output format of any tool on this list — AVI, WMV, MOV, MP4, and MP3 conversions, with batch downloading on both Windows and Mac. You can paste a URL like the old KeepVid days, or use its built-in browser to detect videos as you browse. If you want a NewsTrail-style walkthrough of the basics, this guide to downloading YouTube videos covers the general workflow.
3. By Click Downloader
By Click Downloader is the most Windows-friendly option here — it watches your clipboard and browser, detects the video you're watching, and offers a one-click download popup before you've even asked. It handles playlists and entire channels, grabs subtitles, supports up to 8K where available, and adds ID3 tags to MP3 rips. There's a functional free tier; the paid tier unlocks the bulk features.
4. Downvids
Downvids.net is the closest thing to KeepVid's old simplicity: paste a URL, pick 480p/720p/1080p, download. It handles YouTube playlists, converts to MP3, and supports Facebook, Instagram, and Vimeo. Web tools like this one live and die by their ad load — Downvids is usable, but keep an ad blocker on.
5. ClipConverter
ClipConverter has survived every purge of online downloaders and still converts YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion URLs into MP4, MP3, OGG, WAV, and more. Note its own rule: it refuses videos flagged as copyrighted, which is why it outlived so many competitors. For pulling the audio from a lecture or interview, it remains my default.
6. VidJuice
VidJuice downloads from 1,000+ sites with a built-in trimmer, subtitle grabbing, batch downloads, and conversion up to 8K — with audio rips at up to 320kbps. Desktop apps for Windows and Mac, plus mobile versions, make it the pick if you save straight to a phone.
7. OnlineConverters.org
A slightly different beast: OnlineConverters.org is a free web converter family, and its WAV to MP3 converter is the specific tool worth bookmarking. It converts fast, processes files without upload fees or signup, and handles the audio-format chores the downloaders above don't.
8. 4K Video Downloader
If you only install one tool from this list, make it 4K Video Downloader. The free tier is genuinely useful — a daily quota of full-quality downloads — and paid licenses unlock unlimited playlist and channel saves. It downloads up to 4K (and handles 3D and 360° video), pulls audio for YouTube Music listening, and the copy-paste workflow is exactly the KeepVid muscle memory you already have. This is the tool I point friends to first.
9. Zamzar
Zamzar has been converting files since 2006 and now supports over 1,200 format combinations. Its URL-download feature works, but the free tier has a file-size cap (historically around 50MB, so full movies are out), which repositions Zamzar as a converter first: upload or link a video, get it back in whatever format you need, usually within minutes.
10. FastestTube
FastestTube takes a different shape: it's a browser extension that adds a small download button directly under the YouTube player, supporting Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera. One click and the video saves — no copy-pasting at all. Output formats are more limited (MP4 and FLV) than desktop apps, but the convenience is unmatched for frequent YouTube use.
11. Video Grabber
Video Grabber bundles a URL downloader, a converter, and a screen recorder in one free web tool with an optional desktop app. Early versions had quality complaints; the current app converts to virtually any format without the quality loss. The built-in screen recorder is the sleeper feature — handy for capturing streams, calls, or anything a downloader can't touch.
12. Catch.Tube
Catch.Tube is the youngest entry here: a web downloader with a browser extension that keeps adding supported sites to its database. No registration, no fees. It's earned its place by being fast and current — though as with any younger web tool, keep backups of anything important and an ad blocker running.
Free vs Paid: What Actually Changes
Two free tools cover most people: 4K Video Downloader for desktop-grade quality, and ClipConverter for quick browser jobs. If you live in the terminal, yt-dlp — the open-source engine many of these apps are built on — does everything the paid tools do, at the cost of a command line. Paying (iTubeGo, VidJuice, By Click) mainly buys playlist/channel bulk downloads, no quotas, faster rips, and format control. Decide by volume: occasional single videos stay free; archiving whole channels is worth a license.
Are Video Downloaders Legal?
The tool is legal; what you point it at may not be. Downloading a video generally breaks the host platform's terms of service (YouTube's included) even for personal use, and Circumventing DRM — Netflix, Disney+, paid streaming — is illegal in the US and many other countries regardless of intent. Redownloading and re-uploading someone else's video is copyright infringement, full stop. The safe zone: your own content, Creative Commons and public-domain material, and platforms that explicitly allow saving. When in doubt, our plain-English take on what a YouTube converter does and its limits is worth two minutes.
FAQ
Is KeepVid coming back?
No. KeepVid's web downloader was discontinued in 2019 and the domain now points elsewhere; the company behind it moved on to other products. Any site currently using the KeepVid name is an unrelated clone, and given the brand's history of ad-injection, treat those with suspicion. The 12 tools above are the working replacements.
What is the best free KeepVid alternative?
4K Video Downloader is the best free option — real 4K downloads, playlist support, and a daily quota generous enough for normal use. If you don't want to install anything, ClipConverter in the browser handles single videos and audio extraction. Between those two, most "I just want to save this video" cases are covered for exactly zero cost.
Are online video downloaders safe to use?
The established ones on this list are, within reason — the risk with web downloaders is the advertising, not the tool. Sketchy downloader sites run misleading "Download" buttons that install adware, fake codec alerts, and redirect chains. Use an ad blocker, never click the big green button when the real one is small, and prefer desktop apps for anything you do weekly.
Can these tools download videos in 4K or 8K?
Yes, where the source actually has it: iTubeGo, VidJuice, By Click Downloader, and 4K Video Downloader all save up to 8K when the original upload supports it. What no tool can do is invent quality — a 1080p source downloads at 1080p no matter what the settings claim. Higher resolutions also mean much larger files, so check free disk space before batch-saving playlists.
Why does my downloaded video have no sound?
You grabbed video-only or audio-only streams, which modern platforms serve separately (the DASH format issue). Desktop tools like 4K Video Downloader and iTubeGo merge the streams automatically; basic web tools sometimes don't. Re-download with a quality setting marked as "with audio," or run the file through Zamzar or OnlineConverters to mux the tracks properly.
Related Reading
- Facts You Need to Know About a YouTube Converter
- How to Save Your Favorite Telegram Videos
- Instagram Story Viewer and Video Downloader Guide
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This list was originally contributed by freelance writer Kacee Christian — co-founder of Exclusiverights, whose work also appears on Voiceofaction, Techrab, Worldtech24, Newsstoner, and Worldnewsinn — and has been fully retested and rewritten for 2026. If a tool above stops working on you, say so in the comments and I'll retest it the same week.
One last practical note: if you download on shared or public networks, a VPN adds a layer of privacy — deals trackers like VPNBlade's ExpressVPN coupon page discount the big names, though no VPN changes what content you're allowed to save.
