I sometimes feel that to download videos Youtube should have come come up with a button besides the video as well.. Of all the HD (or non HD) Youtube videos I see, I wish I was able to download them with ease rather than using any third-party software or plugin. One day, I found out the two most effective ways to download Youtube videos from the net and save it to my computer without the added hassles – one web based (KeepVid), and the other one software based (Real Player).

KeepVid (a web based Youtube Downloader)

To download videos from Youtube or any other online source straight to your computer, simply go to Keepvid..

Now, you should copy theYoutube Video URL (which you want to download) and paste it in the URL bar of Keepvid.

Then click on download. Keepvid’s online Youtube downloader functionality will then generate links for you, and you can easily download the Youtube video to your computer. Use “Save Link as” to save the video in the format you’d like to have.

You’d need a Java plugin for the download to start. Do not worry – even if you won’t have it, the website will give you the download link for the java plugin there itself. I tried downloading in Firefox and had no problem whatsoever.

Real Player

If you want a permanent solution to all of this, and want a simple download tab whenever you see some nice video why don’t you download the new Real Player. Whenever a video is played, a download tab (when you take the mouse cursor on the video) is displayed which asks for whether you want to save the Youtube video to your computer or not. Check screenshot below to know more.

I hope these two methods bring about a permanent end to your Youtube video download woes. Have fun In case you want to check the top ten web browsers of all time to use when downloading Youtube videos, click here.