4K Video Downloader Discontinued: 5 Best Alternatives for Mac in 2026

If you've been using 4K Video Downloader for years, early 2026 brought some unwelcome news: the app was officially discontinued. The developer has moved on to a paid successor called 4K Video Downloader Plus — and your existing license doesn't carry over. So whether you wanted a fresh start or not, you've got one.

I went through the main alternatives to figure out what's actually worth switching to. Here's the honest breakdown.

1. Fetchii — My Pick

$19.99 one-time · 14-day free trial

Fetchii is what I use. It's a native Mac app built around the idea that downloading and converting should happen in one place — which sounds obvious until you realize most alternatives make you buy a second app for the conversion part.

It covers 1,000+ sites (YouTube, Bilibili, Twitch, TikTok, X, Instagram), goes up to 4K 60fps, and handles format conversion, audio extraction, and subtitle downloads without any additional software. The SponsorBlock integration is one of those features that seems minor until you actually use it — sponsored segments just aren't in your downloaded video.

2. Downie

$19.99 one-time (also on Setapp)

Downie has been the go-to Mac video downloader for years, and it's still excellent at what it does. The community is large, updates come regularly, and it supports Firefox extensions — something Fetchii doesn't, which matters if Firefox is your primary browser.

The catch is conversion. Downie does basic post-processing (auto-convert to MP4 on download), but for anything more flexible — audio extraction, custom quality settings, different container formats — you need Permute, the developer's separate $14.99 converter. The two together cost $34.98, which is $15 more than Fetchii for the same functionality. If you already own Downie, that calculus changes. If you're starting fresh, it's worth thinking about.

One genuine advantage: iCloud sync for your download history across Macs. If you work on multiple machines, that's handy.

3. yt-dlp

Free

yt-dlp is in a different category from everything else on this list. It supports more sites than any GUI app, handles edge cases that dedicated downloaders choke on, and it's completely free. The standalone binary works without installing Python — just download it and run it.

The limitation is real though: it's a command-line tool with no visual interface. If you're comfortable in Terminal, it's excellent. If you're not, you'll spend more time debugging flags than actually downloading videos.

4. 4K Video Downloader Plus

~€25 lifetime

The official successor from the same developer. It adds 8K support and AI audio enhancement, and runs on both Mac and Windows under one license. That cross-platform angle is actually its strongest selling point — none of the other apps here do that.

Just keep in mind that your old license doesn't carry over. You're buying new regardless of how long you used the original app.

5. VDown

Free

VDown is basic by design — 900+ sites, clean interface, no format conversion, no advanced options. It works fine for the occasional download where you just need the video and don't care about anything else. Not a power user's tool, but a reasonable free option.

How They Stack Up

Which One Should You Get?

• Want everything in one app at the lowest price: Fetchii ($19.99)
• Already own Downie, or need Firefox extension support: Stick with Downie (add Permute if you need conversion)
• Comfortable with terminal and want maximum flexibility for free: yt-dlp
• Need Mac + Windows on one license: 4K Video Downloader Plus
• Just want something free and simple: VDown