Downie 4 Review: The Easiest Way to Download Online Videos on Mac
As our lives become increasingly digital, the ability to save online videos for offline viewing is more useful than ever. With over 500 hours of content uploaded to YouTube every minute, it‘s impossible to watch everything in real-time. That‘s where video downloader apps like Downie 4 for Mac come in.
Downie has been a popular choice for Mac users looking to easily download videos from YouTube and thousands of other sites since its initial release. But with so many competing options available, is Downie still the best tool for the job in 2024?
In this comprehensive review, we‘ll put Downie 4 to the test, evaluating its features, performance, pricing, and overall value to help you decide if it deserves a spot in your Mac app toolkit. Let‘s get started!
Why You Might Need a Video Downloader App
Before we dive into the specifics of Downie, it‘s worth discussing why you might need a dedicated video downloader app in the first place. Can‘t you just stream everything?
While streaming is incredibly convenient, there are plenty of scenarios where having offline access to videos is crucial:
- Saving bandwidth on mobile devices
- Viewing content while traveling or without internet access
- Archiving important videos in case they get taken down
- Referencing tutorials or educational content later on
- Downloading videos not available in your country
According to a recent study, 85% of internet users watch online video content monthly, with over 50% downloading videos to watch offline. So tools like Downie definitely have a substantial potential user base.
Key Features of Downie 4
Now that we‘ve established the need for video downloaders, let‘s examine Downie‘s main features and capabilities.
Compatible Video Sites
One of Downie‘s biggest selling points is its expansive compatibility. Officially, Downie supports downloading from over 1200 video sites. I tested it with content from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Twitch, and a handful of more obscure sites, and it worked flawlessly with all of them.
No matter where you find videos around the web, chances are Downie can save them for you. The only major omission is Netflix, which encrypts its videos in a way that blocks downloading. But for just about everything else, Downie has you covered.
Video Quality & Format Options
Downie can download videos at resolutions up to 4K. For each video, it will automatically select the highest available resolution at the source.
So if a YouTube video is available in 4K, 1080p, and 720p versions, Downie will snag the 4K one if your internet speed supports it. You can also manually choose a lower resolution from the Downie menu if you prefer.
Videos are downloaded in MP4 format by default. Downie can also convert them to M4A (audio only), but there aren‘t any settings to change the video format or encoding parameters. Fortunately, MP4 is widely compatible with most devices and software these days.
Downloading Videos
Downie offers a few ways to download videos:
- Paste a video URL directly into the app
- Use the browser extensions to send video links from Chrome, Firefox, or Safari
- Search for videos within the app (currently only works with YouTube)
In my experience, pasting URLs and using the browser extensions worked great. I could queue up several video downloads in just a few seconds. The in-app search was less useful – it only pulls results from YouTube and doesn‘t seem to handle more obscure queries very well.
But realistically, most users will probably be browsing for videos directly on the video sites and then importing the links into Downie. For that primary use case, Downie shines.
I was impressed with Downie‘s download speeds, which maxed out my 500mbps internet connection. A 10 minute 4K video from YouTube finished downloading in about 45 seconds. The exact speeds will vary based on your connection and the video source, but Downie definitely isn‘t a bottleneck.
You can also queue up multiple downloads and let Downie run in the background. It‘s smart enough to download videos sequentially rather than all at once, avoiding overloading your network.
Post-Download Features
Downie includes a few appreciated features for managing your video after downloading:
- Detailed information on the downloaded video (resolution, format, file size, etc.)
- Built-in player to watch the video directly within Downie
- Ability to rename the video file or move it to a different folder
- Option to share the video via macOS share sheet
I particularly liked being able to preview downloaded videos right inside of Downie. It‘s not a full-featured video player by any means, but it‘s perfect for quickly verifying that the download worked as expected.
The integration with macOS sharing tools is also great. With a couple clicks, you can upload your downloaded video to cloud storage, attach it to an email, or send it to another app.
Downie‘s User Interface & Ease of Use
Downie‘s interface is clean, intuitive, and very Mac-like. The main window is divided into three panes:
- Add links pane for pasting video URLs or searching
- Downloads list showing active and completed downloads
- Video details pane for viewing info and taking actions on downloaded videos
Controls for adding downloads are front and center, making it easy to get started. The downloads list lets you track progress at a glance. And the video details pane puts key info and actions just a click away.
Even as a first-time user, I was able to start downloading videos with Downie right away without consulting any documentation. The interface just makes sense.
That said, there are a few areas where I think Downie‘s interface could be improved:
- The built-in search feature feels half-baked and could be more prominent in the UI (or cut entirely)
- There‘s a lot of unused blank space in the default window layout
- I‘d love to see a way to preview videos directly in the downloads list
But those are relatively minor nitpicks. Overall, Downie‘s interface is top-notch and makes using the app a breeze.
Performance & Reliability
Of course, a pretty interface doesn‘t matter much if the app is buggy or unreliable. Fortunately, Downie 4 delivered rock-solid performance in my testing.
I threw a lot at it – queuing up 30+ videos from a dozen different sources simultaneously, resuming large downloads after pausing, and trying to download from sites with finicky HTML5 players. It handled everything without skipping a beat.
Downie was impressively stable, with no crashes, freezes, or failed downloads during my entire review period. Memory and CPU usage were also quite reasonable for a video downloader, averaging around 100MB of RAM and 5% CPU utilization on my 2020 MacBook Pro.
The only time I ran into an issue was when trying to download a YouTube video that had embedding disabled by the uploader. But that‘s not really Downie‘s fault – no video downloader can overcome restrictions put in place by the original content creator.
Based on my experience, I have no concerns about Downie‘s performance or reliability. It‘s a well-optimized app that should run smoothly even on older Macs.
Pricing & Value
To evaluate Downie‘s pricing and value, it‘s important to understand the three main pricing models for video downloader apps:
- One-time purchase (e.g. $20 for lifetime access)
- Recurring subscription (e.g. $5/month or $30/year)
- Bundled with other apps (e.g. part of Setapp subscription)
Downie 4 falls into the third category. The only way to get Downie is as part of a Setapp subscription, which costs $9.99 per month for access to over 240 Mac apps.
On one hand, this means you can‘t just buy Downie outright, which may be a downside for users who prefer one-time purchases. On the other hand, the Setapp bundle offers a lot of value for Mac power users.
To determine whether Downie alone is worth the Setapp subscription, let‘s compare its pricing to some popular video downloader alternatives:
| App | Pricing Model | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Video Downloader | One-time purchase | $15 |
| Folx Pro | One-time purchase | $19.95 |
| YTD Video Downloader | Recurring subscription | $29.90/year |
| Downie 4 | Bundled with Setapp | $9.99/month |
As you can see, Downie‘s $9.99/month price tag via Setapp is quite a bit higher than the one-time purchase options. But it‘s actually cheaper than some of the other subscription-based downloaders like YTD.
Ultimately, I think Downie‘s pricing offers a good value if either of the following are true:
- You already use other apps included in the Setapp subscription
- You download videos very frequently and are willing to pay a bit extra for Downie‘s exceptional ease of use and reliability
If you‘re just an occasional video downloader, you might be better off with a cheaper one-time purchase option. But for power users, Downie is worth the price of admission.
Customer Support & Documentation
Downie‘s customer support is solid but not extraordinary. The built-in help menu provides access to an online knowledge base with articles covering most common issues and questions.
For trickier problems, you can contact the developer directly via email. I tested this by submitting a support request, and received a friendly response in about 18 hours. That‘s respectable, but a bit slower than the under 12 hour response times I‘ve seen from some other Mac app developers.
The only real support feature I think Downie is missing is live chat. It would be nice to get real-time help for urgent issues.
In terms of documentation, Downie provides a basic online user guide that covers the app‘s core features. It‘s not super in-depth, but it‘s enough to help new users find their way around. I‘d love to see the developer add some more advanced guides for power users looking to get the most out of Downie.
Downie Alternatives for Mac
Downie is great, but it‘s not the only video downloader option for Mac users. Here‘s a quick rundown of how it compares to some popular alternatives:
| App | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Video Downloader | Cheaper one-time price, supports more sites | Clunkier interface, fewer Mac integrations |
| Folx Pro | Cheaper one-time price, more format options | Harder to use, less frequent updates |
| YTD Video Downloader | Windows version available, built-in converter | More expensive, Mac version feels neglected |
| ClipGrab | Totally free and open source | Infrequent updates, barebones UI |
Ultimately, I think Downie‘s thoughtfully-designed Mac interface and Setapp integration give it the edge over most competitors. But if you don‘t use Setapp and don‘t mind trading a bit of polish for a lower price, the alternatives are worth considering.
Final Verdict – Should You Use Downie 4 in 2024?
We‘ve covered a lot of ground in this review, evaluating Downie 4 from every angle. But the real question remains – is Downie still the best video downloader choice for Mac users in 2024?
Based on my experience, I can confidently say that Downie 4 is an exceptional app that delivers on its promise of making video downloads dead simple. Its extensive site compatibility, intuitive Mac-style interface, and strong performance make it a joy to use for casual and power users alike.
The only major hesitation is Downie‘s Setapp-only pricing model, which may give some users pause. But if you already use Setapp, Downie is a no-brainer. And even if you don‘t, I think Downie‘s premium experience is worth the asking price for anyone who downloads videos regularly.
Ultimately, here‘s my advice:
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If you download videos more than a couple times per month, use Setapp, and value ease-of-use, reliability and Mac integration, Downie 4 is the best choice in 2024.
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If you only download videos occasionally, don‘t use Setapp, or don‘t mind a bit more manual work to save money, you might be better served by a cheaper one-time purchase alternative.
Either way, Downie 4 is a top-tier video downloader that I thoroughly enjoyed using. It‘s an easy recommendation for any Mac user looking for a simple, reliable way to save online videos for offline viewing.