Key Points
- YouTube makes money from ads, giving them incentive to limit downloading
- Savefrom.net was shut down in 2020 due to copyright issues
- 6 top alternative sites provide similar video downloading capabilities
- Safety and longevity of alternatives remain open questions
YouTube was launched in 2005 by three former PayPal entrepreneurs and bought by Google the following year for $1.65 billion. With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube has become the second most visited website globally.
But YouTube’s business model depends on running ads on videos to generate revenue. This gives them incentive to limit easy downloading of videos, instead driving viewers to the ad-supported site.
Enter Savefrom.net in 2008 – a platform that allowed easy downloading of YouTube and other videos. At its peak, Savefrom.net had over 100 million monthly visitors. But after multiple copyright infringement notices, the site was discontinued in 2020.
For those still looking to download videos, several alternative sites have emerged to fill the void left by Savefrom.net. Let’s explore the top options.
1. Super Parse
Launched in 2020, Super Parse lets users download video files up to 720p resolution from sites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and more.
To use:
- Copy video URL
- Paste into Super Parse search bar
- Click generated download link
- Save file
With easy-to-use design and broad site support, Super Parse stands out as a top Savefrom.net alternative.
2. PasteDownload
Similarly, PasteDownload allows downloading videos and images from Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and other sites – also free of charge.
To download:
- Copy video URL
- Paste at PasteDownload.com
- Click “Download” icon
- Select “Download” from menu
Files are limited to 720p quality. Backed by a US-based company, PasteDownload offers a safe downloading experience.
3. Free Video Downloader
Managed by Indian ed-tech company The Tech Learn, Free Video Downloader lives up to its name by providing free access to download videos from platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and more.
With the tool’s straightforward design, simply copy and paste a video URL to generate a download link for files up to 1080p resolution.
4. Fileconverto
As a converter and downloader of files from various sources, Fileconverto’s sparse but functional interface focuses solely on enabling downloads rather than complex features.
To start, paste a video URL and click “Submit Now” for available download links up to 720p quality. As Fileconverto has expanded its capability since 2017, it remains a versatile Savefrom.net alternative.
5. FDown.net
For downloading Facebook videos specifically, FDown.net offers a straightforward option, allowing downloads in either normal or high definition quality.
As its name indicates, this site’s sole focus is providing an easy way to save Facebook videos to your device or computer.
6. SaveTweetVid
Similarly dedicated to a single platform, SaveTweetVid does exactly as its name suggests – it lets users download Twitter videos by pasting the tweet’s URL for saving MP4 or MP3 files.
While limited in scope, SaveTweetVid provides reliable performance for archiving Twitter video content.
Safety and Longevity Concerns
Using any third-party downloading site does involve some risks. Be sure to have updated antivirus software before visiting these sites.
Additionally, as most of these platforms are free to use, they may offset costs by selling data about visitors and download behaviors.
And like Savefrom.net learned the hard way, growth in popularity for these downloading tools could put targets on their back for legal action. For now, the sites profiled above provide solid alternatives – but ongoing access remains uncertain.
For guaranteed reliable downloading, platforms like YouTube offer paid premium options including saving videos offline. But with the right precautions, Savefrom.net’s successors fill a void for free video downloading.
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