- Customers have noticed a brand new function that permits free YouTube customers to obtain movies for offline viewing
- It is the primary main improve totally free customers – the function has been unique to YouTube Premium subscribers till now
- Nonetheless, it comes with a number of limitations, together with video obtain high quality
I’ve been utilizing YouTube totally free for years whereas harboring a lingering want to improve to YouTube Premium, and now the platform has quietly rolled out a function to free customers that’s been unique to paying subscribers for years.
The video-sharing service has launched a brand new obtain function, which is the primary main improve totally free customers. It was first noticed by a consumer on Reddit (see under), and permits free customers to obtain YouTube movies and watch them with out an web connection.
New function permitting customers to obtain movies with out premium (At not the very best quality) from r/youtube
In addition to video downloads, YouTube Premium subscribers have had entry to a plethora of further advantages, corresponding to entry to ad-free content material and picture-in-picture playback. The corporate additionally just lately relaunched its YouTube Premium Lite tier, which solely presents subscribers ad-free viewing.
Should you use YouTube’s free model and have been contemplating upgrading to Premium as I’ve, this function may very well be a very good cause to stay with the free plan for somewhat longer. Nonetheless, the brand new downloads function within the free model does include a number of catches.
Video high quality limits is the largest setback
Regardless of it being an enormous improve totally free customers, the largest limitation to the function is the obtain high quality. Should you’re utilizing the free model of YouTube you may solely obtain movies at 360p and 144p, which is borderine insulting in comparison with YouTube Premium’s 1080p and 720p decision choices – but it surely doesn’t finish there.
Paying YouTube subscribers can reap the good thing about limitless downloads, however if you happen to’re utilizing the free model there’s a capped restrict on what number of movies you may obtain, though what this cover can be is not but clear.
For the reason that YouTube Premium Lite tier solely presents ad-free viewing for some movies and never an choice to obtain movies, signing as much as the most affordable plan would not at present grant you obtain entry – though provided that restricted downloads are being rolled out totally free customers, YouTube may additionally be planning to roll out the function to Premium Lite subscribers.
The ultimate catch is that music movies are excluded from free downloads, and also you’ll nonetheless be required to improve to YouTube Premium if you wish to make the most of this function. That is significantly disappointing, particularly if you happen to depend on YouTube for music video playback versus music streaming companies, which I personally do.
With that stated, the setbacks that include YouTube’s newest improve don’t come as an excessive amount of of a shock, even when they’re moderately restricted. YouTube needed to begin someplace with its first main improve totally free customers, and I’m hoping it’s going to enhance it is providing over time.
Is that this sufficient so that you can follow YouTube’s free model? Or will you continue to think about upgrading to Premium? Tell us within the feedback.
