Downie Video Downloader Review: Best for Mac Users?
Summary: Downie allows you to download videos from sites like YouTube, but at present, Downie only offers Mac version. Does it worth consideration for Mac users? How about Win users? This review will let you know.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Downie is one of those handy little video downloaders made just for Mac—it’s like a private club for Apple fans. It works with YouTube and, get this, over a thousand other sites (who’s counting after 50?)
Using it is a breeze: you just copy the link, maybe paste it, or even type in some keywords, and you’re downloading. What I love is the iCloud sync, so your video history quietly follows you on all your Macs. The bummer? Sorry, no Windows version. PC folks, you’re outta luck.
If you are contemplating the purchase of the Downie downloader and wish to ascertain whether its features outshine other downloaders in the market, or whether its pricing is sufficiently affordable, this article provides a detailed evaluation of Downie that will elucidate these aspects for you.
Downie Function Review
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Hello, I am Erika, an enthusiast of software, as well as a professional technical writer. The content of this review about Downie is based on my actual user experience. Additionally, I have also compared the differences between Downie and various other downloaders. This article does not employ AI-generated content, and I hope that my writing can provide valuable information to you.
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For more solutions, you can check our selection of the best streaming video downloaders.
1. Support Platforms: 4.0/5.0
Downie gets a solid 4.0 out of 5.0 from me when it comes to supported platforms. I’ve personally played around with it, tried downloading stuff from YouTube, Vimeo, and it usually works. The app boasts support for over a thousand websites. I haven’t checked each one, but for the usual suspects, it does the job.
However, if you’re hoping to grab videos from the big subscription services like Netflix or Prime Video, Downie just throws in the towel, no dice. For people glued to those sites, that’s probably a dealbreaker. That missing piece is exactly why I’m sticking to a 4.0 instead of anything higher.
2. Search Functionality: 3.5/5.0
Downie offers two methods for downloading videos.
#Method 1: simply copy the video link and paste it into the Downie interface. This approach is exceedingly straightforward, and the workflow unfolds seamlessly.
#Method 2: utilizing the built-in search feature, input the video title or keywords to pinpoint and download your desired video.
3. Video Quality: 4.5/5.0
Honestly, if you care about video quality, Downie Downloader is pretty handy. It lets you grab videos in up to 4K, which is pretty crisp.
Just keep in mind, the download quality hinges on the source video itself. If you’ve only got a 1080p original, well, that’s all Downie will give you, no magic upgrades here. Also, I found the download speed rather meh; my 4K video took about five minutes at around 1Mb/s, which was not thrilling.
4. Support: 4.5/5.0
What really makes Downie Downloader stand out from the crowd? It’s got customer support that’s, frankly, pretty hard to beat. The Downie folks actually answer you within 24 hours. I once fired off a question at midnight, and yes, by breakfast, there it was: a real reply, not just some robotic auto-responder. Whether you’re hopelessly stuck or just poking around with a curious question about a random feature, these people have your back.
And that’s only half of it. Downie keeps rolling out fresh software updates almost every week (or every two, but still.) So you’re always getting new tweaks, fixes, and features. You can enjoy a constant little upgrade surprise.
5. Price: 4.0/5.0
For a one-time fee of $19.99, users can enjoy lifetime access to the software. However, it is important to note that there is no free version available, which could be a downside for some potential users.
Additionally, users should be aware that they will need to purchase the new version of Downie when it is released annually. For example, if you purchased Downie 3, you would need to purchase again to upgrade to Downie 4.
How to Use Downie Downloader
The operation steps of Downie downloader is simple and easy for beginners:
It is worth noting that we can also sync Downie browsing history between devices through iCloud. This is particularly convenient for Apple users.
Shortcomings of Downie: No Windows Version
Here’s what really bugs me about Downie: nope, there’s just no Windows version. As I said before (maybe even ranted a bit), Downie is top-notch when it comes to downloading videos on Mac: fast, super easy, almost fun, if downloading videos can actually be fun? But for Windows? Nothing. Zip. It’s just not there, which feels like a big miss. If you’re loyal to Windows and still want Downie, I get why you’d be a bit cranky.
More importantly, Downie itself doesn't support streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. In other words, it's essentially a "general video downloader" rather than a comprehensive tool. If you're a Mac user and your daily needs are downloading YouTube, Vimeo, or Bilibili, then it's sufficient. However, if you're looking to expand your platform or primarily use Windows, Downie is completely useless.
Better Alternative: StreamFab Video Downloader
Because Downie doesn't have a Windows version, I later looked for several cross-platform tools, and ultimately, the one I found most comfortable using was StreamFab Video Downloader.
The biggest difference between it and Downie is that it supports both Windows and Mac. I use my iMac at home and continue on my Windows laptop after getting off work, and it's no problem at all.
Wider support than Downie: download streaming content from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. I even downloaded an entire season of an HBO series in one go, with resolutions up to 4K, and it even preserved multiple audio tracks and subtitles.
- Batch Download: Queue entire seasons with just a few clicks.
- Auto-Catch: Subscribe to a series, and new episodes will automatically download as they become available.
- Ad-Free: I've downloaded YouTube videos and had them automatically stripped of ads when I saved them.
- Multi-Language Subtitles: You can choose to embed or export separate SRT files, making them perfect for study materials.
- *For more details: StreamFab review
The experience is essentially the same as Downie: paste a link or open a video in the built-in browser, StreamFab will automatically recognize it, and you can download it with a single click. The difference is that it covers almost all my needs, whether I'm using Mac or Windows.
So, if you only occasionally download videos on your Mac, Downie is sufficient; but if, like me, you need higher quality, faster speeds, and support for streaming platforms, I'd highly recommend StreamFab.
In comparison to Downie, StreamFab supports a greater number of sites, of higher quality, and also offers exclusive automatic download functionality. Additionally, it provides support for both Windows and Mac systems. With a one-time purchase, lifetime free updates are included.
If you are hesitating about whether to choose Downie, you may consider giving StreamFab a try, comparing the two before making a final decision.
Conclusion
For Mac users, Downie is a great downloader that supports a wide range of websites, including popular ones like YouTube, Vimeo, and Bilibili. It can even achieve a maximum quality of 4K, catering to the needs of most users.
However, if you desire additional streaming service download support, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, or if you happen to be a Windows user, then Downie may not meet your requirements. In that case, you may want to consider trying out StreamFab. For more context on alternatives, check the Acethinker review.
