Best YouTube Playlist Downloaders - September 2026 (Maintained Tools)

The best YouTube playlist downloader is one that is still maintained. YouTube changes how its site works from time to time, and a downloader that nobody updates will eventually stop working. So this guide ranks tools by what their developers publish: recent releases, what they support, and what they cost.

Only download playlists you own or have permission to use. YouTube’s Terms of Service do not allow downloading content unless YouTube offers a download option or gives written permission. YouTube Premium members can download playlists in the YouTube app to watch offline (YouTube Help).

Vendor information last verified: 18 September 2026. The picks are editorial judgement based on each vendor’s own pages. We did not run a hands-on test.

What Makes a Reliable YouTube Playlist Downloader?

A downloader keeps working when someone keeps fixing it. These are the signs we looked for on each project’s own pages:

YouTube Playlist Downloaders: Vendor Status, September 2026

Green means the developer published a release or updated installer in 2026. Yellow means the product is still offered but the vendor page shows no release date, so we cannot confirm it is maintained. Red means the tool is gone. Sources: yt-dlp releases, JDownloader download page, NewPipe releases, 4K Download downloads page, SnapDownloader pricing, DVDVideoSoft. We did not test downloads ourselves.

Top 3 Most Reliable YouTube Playlist Downloaders

Our editorial picks: free, open source, and updated by their developers in 2026.

1. yt-dlp - The Command-Line Powerhouse (Active, September 2026)

yt-dlp is a free, open-source command-line downloader. It handles whole playlists and channels from one URL, and the command line makes it easy to script and re-run.

Why we rank it first:

• Open source (Unlicense), with the code public on GitHub
• Six releases between March and August 2026; the latest is 2026.08.19 (releases)
• Supports thousands of sites beyond YouTube, per its README
• No ads and no paid tier

Best for: Windows, Mac, Linux users who are comfortable with the command line

Cost: Free

Setup challenge: You need a terminal, and the README says full YouTube support also needs a JavaScript runtime such as Deno plus the yt-dlp-ejs component.

2. JDownloader 2 - The Graphical Alternative (Active, September 2026)

JDownloader describes itself as “a free, open-source download management tool” (JDownloader). It is a separate project from yt-dlp, with a graphical interface, a download queue, and bandwidth limits.

Why we picked it:

• Free and open source
• Installers for Windows, macOS and Linux; the Windows installer page says it was updated on 4 September 2026 (installer page)
• Graphical interface with batch downloads
• Plugin system for extra sites

Best for: Windows, Mac, Linux users who prefer a graphical interface

Cost: Free

Watch out: The default Windows installer page says it includes “optional software offers”. The download page also lists an alternative installer without them; use that one.

3. NewPipe - The Android Option (Active, August 2026)

NewPipe is a free, open-source YouTube client for Android. You get it from F-Droid or its GitHub page, not Google Play. Its site lists downloads of video, audio or captions, background play, and local playlists (NewPipe). Its site does not list whole-playlist downloads.

Why we picked it:

• Open source (GPL-3.0); latest release v0.29.1 in August 2026 (releases)
• No ads and no proprietary Google APIs
• Audio-only downloads and background play

Best for: Android phone and tablet users

Cost: Free

Setup: Install from F-Droid or the official GitHub releases page

Online vs Desktop Downloaders: Which Fits Your Needs?

Installed apps (yt-dlp, JDownloader, NewPipe, 4K Video Downloader Plus) have public release histories, so you can check when they were last updated. Choose these if you download playlists regularly.

Online tools are easier to start with, but many do not say who runs them, and some have disappeared. YoutubePlaylist.cc now redirects to a different service. We do not list an online playlist downloader.

Why Tool Decay Matters

Downloaders depend on how YouTube’s site works, and YouTube changes it. When that happens, a tool keeps working only if someone ships a fix. Projects with a large community or a paying customer base (yt-dlp, JDownloader, 4K Video Downloader Plus) tend to ship fixes; small web tools often do not.

What this means: Before you rely on a tool, check the date of its last release on the developer’s own page.

According to Statista, over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. YouTube’s motivation to block downloaders is strong and continuous.

How to Download YouTube Playlists: Universal Method

Regardless of which tool you choose, the basic process is consistent:

Step 1: Copy the Playlist URL Navigate to your target YouTube playlist and copy the URL from your browser’s address bar. The URL should contain “playlist?list=” followed by the playlist ID.

Step 2: Launch Your Downloader Open your chosen downloading tool and locate the URL input field. Most tools prominently display this option on their main interface.

Step 3: Configure and Download Paste the URL, select your preferred format (MP4 for video, MP3 for audio), choose quality settings, and initiate the download process.

Tools We No Longer Recommend

These tools were in earlier versions of this guide. Here is what their own sites show on 18 September 2026.

What Changed

YoutubePlaylist.cc: The address now redirects to ypbackup.com, a backup service for your own YouTube, TikTok and SoundCloud uploads with a free 3 GB plan (ypbackup). It is no longer a general playlist downloader.

DVDVideoSoft Free YouTube Download: Still offered for Windows and Mac, with playlist and channel downloads listed (DVDVideoSoft). The page shows no version number or release date, so we cannot confirm it is actively maintained.

SnapDownloader: Still sold for Windows and macOS, with batch downloads, a scheduler and 900+ supported sites listed (features). It costs $29.99 a year or $39.99 for a lifetime license after a 48-hour trial (pricing). We removed it from the top picks because it is paid and publishes no release dates, not because we tested it.

Why Online Tools Are a Risk

Online playlist downloaders run on servers you cannot see:

• Many do not name who runs them
• They often rely on ads, including ads styled as download buttons
• They can disappear or change owner without notice

Installed tools with a public release history are easier to check.

Paid Desktop Option: 4K Video Downloader Plus

4K Video Downloader Plus

Status: Active. Version 26.3.3 is dated 16 September 2026 on the vendor’s downloads page.

A desktop app for Windows 11, macOS 12 and newer, and Ubuntu 22.04 and newer. The vendor lists one-click downloads of whole playlists and channels, 4K and 8K quality, and subtitles (product page). The free Starter plan has a daily download cap; paid plans are $15 a year (Lite), $25 lifetime (Personal) or $45 lifetime (Pro, shown as 25% off) (store). The original 4K Video Downloader was discontinued on 1 February 2026, so get the Plus version.

It is a good fit if you want a graphical app with playlist support and do not mind paying to remove the daily cap.

Safety and Legal Considerations

Choosing Safe Download Tools

The Federal Trade Commission emphasizes the importance of downloading software only from official websites to avoid malware and phishing attempts.

Safety Checklist:

• Download only from official developer websites
• Avoid sites with aggressive popup advertisements
• Use reputable antivirus software to scan downloads
• Check community forums for recent reports
• Be cautious of “free” tools that require excessive permissions

Understanding Copyright and Terms of Service

YouTube’s Terms of Service prohibit downloading copyrighted content without proper authorization. Always ensure you have the right to download content, whether through:

• Personal ownership of the uploaded content
• Explicit permission from the content creator
• Educational fair use provisions (where applicable)
• Creative Commons or similar open licensing

Important: Only download content for personal, offline use when you have the legal right to do so.

Platform Guide: Choose Your Tool

Windows Command-Line Users: yt-dlp (most powerful)

Windows GUI Users: JDownloader (easier than command-line, same reliability)

Mac Users: yt-dlp for power, JDownloader or 4K Video Downloader Plus for GUI

Linux/Ubuntu Users: yt-dlp (native support, updates included)

Android Users: NewPipe (our editorial pick; whole-playlist download not listed)

iOS Users: YouTube Premium’s download button in the YouTube app (YouTube Help). We do not list an iOS downloader app.

Browser Extension Users: The Chrome Web Store program policies do not allow extensions that facilitate downloading YouTube videos, so skip this category

Troubleshooting Common Issues

”Video Unavailable” Errors

This typically occurs when:

• Videos are region-restricted in your location
• Content has been removed or made private
• YouTube has implemented new security measures blocking your tool

Solution: Update your downloader to the latest version. If it still fails, try a different tool from the green rows in the status table.

Slow Download Speeds

Multiple factors affect download performance:

• Your internet connection speed
• YouTube rate limiting
• Peak usage times

Solution: Desktop tools generally perform better than online alternatives. Pausing and resuming large playlists can also help.

Incomplete Playlist Downloads

When downloaders miss videos from a playlist:

• Some videos may be unavailable in your region
• Private or deleted videos won’t download
• Age-restricted content may require authentication

Solution: Check the downloader’s log files for specific error messages. This tells you which videos failed and why.

Making the Most of Downloaded Content

Content Organization

Create a logical folder structure based on:

• Content type (music, education, entertainment)
• Source channels or creators
• Date downloaded or topic categories
• Quality levels (4K, 1080p, audio-only)

Backup and Storage

Downloaded content consumes storage space. Consider:

• External hard drives for large collections
• Cloud storage for important content
• Regular backups to prevent data loss
• Compression for older or less-frequently accessed files

Content Analysis

For educational or professional content, ScreenApp’s tools can help you analyze downloaded videos. When reviewing lengthy educational content, AI note-takers can automatically generate comprehensive notes from your downloaded lectures or tutorials, saving time while ensuring you capture key insights.

For audio-heavy content like podcasts or interviews, audio analyzers can help identify key segments and themes within downloaded audio files, making content review more efficient.

Recording Instead of Downloading

If you want notes from a playlist of lectures or talks rather than the video files, you can import a YouTube link into ScreenApp and get a transcript and summary. ScreenApp imports one link at a time, not whole playlists, and downloading the imported MP4 needs a paid plan. Recording or importing a video does not change copyright: the same rules about owning the content or having permission apply.

What you get:

• A transcript and AI summary of each video
• Nothing to install; it runs in the browser
• Free plan: 2 transcriptions, up to 45 min each

Bottom Line: Focus on Reliability

The best YouTube playlist downloader is one its developers still maintain. Our editorial picks:

1. yt-dlp: command-line, free, latest release 2026.08.19
2. JDownloader 2: graphical, free, installers updated September 2026
3. NewPipe: Android only, free, latest release August 2026

If you want a paid graphical app, 4K Video Downloader Plus is also actively updated.

Pick a tool from the green rows, keep it updated, and only download playlists you have the right to save.

How we put this together: this is a comparison based on each vendor’s published documentation and pricing pages, checked on 18 September 2026. We did not run a hands-on benchmark for this article.