Pulltube: This Video Downloader That Checks All the Boxes
Our content consumption patterns have skyrocketed in the past two decades. A lot of people spend hours on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Yet, most of these platforms, especially YouTube, have made it difficult to access content offline.
YouTube, for instance, doesn’t allow you to download videos to watch later—unless you are ready to pay a monthly subscription. Even then, you don’t get control over download quality or the ability to play content on other devices.
This is where Pulltube, an online video downloader for Mac, makes all the difference.
What Is Pulltube?
Pulltube is essentially an online video downloader that lets you download video, audio, playlists, and even subtitles from video streaming sites. While it supports many sites, Pulltube offers better compatibility with YouTube, allowing you to download single videos or playlists containing multiple videos.
The developer notes:
“For a while, I was looking for a reliable native Mac app to download my favorite online videos. I started this app two years ago, and for some time, it has been a tool for personal use and friends only. Now I’ve decided to share it with the world. It also includes trimming capabilities, allowing you to grab a small section from a large video. This is PullTube—the only media downloader you’ll ever need.”
Features Highlight
- Download any video, audio, playlist, subtitles from over a 1000+ websites!
- Trim Youtube videos on the fly or just save audio streams to MP3 or M4A.
- 8K, 4K and 60 fps videos are supported.
- Supports HEVC (h265), VP9/8, AV1 video codecs
- Smart browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari
- HTTP/SOCKS proxy support for location restricted downloads
- Gesture and shortcut friendly interface is super easy to use!
Is Pulltube Worth It? A Hands-On Look
We need to download hundreds of videos every month for both work and personal needs. Sometimes, it is for a personal library; sometimes, it’s for a video we’re creating. Either way, we value having a proper workflow that integrates with our Mac and web browser.
Considering that Pulltube claims to offer both, we’re excited to test what this video downloader has to offer. For over a couple of years, it has been our go-to YouTube downloader. In this review, we will share how great Pulltube is with other apps and workflows.
While doing so, we will also talk about its performance, speed, and customization features.
Installation and Setup
Setting up Pulltube is a straightforward process, and you can download the installer from the official website. If you are using something like Setapp, the installation does not take more than a few minutes.
We have to add that the installer for Pulltube is around 400 MB, and you need a faster internet connection to get the best out of this tool. Right after the installation, Pulltube shows its fully-fledged interface.
We liked that it doesn’t require any additional permissions. However, it offered to set up web browser add-ons for easy downloads.
In short, installing and setting up Pulltube on a Mac feels like a breeze.
User Interface & User Experience
Unlike the many YouTube downloaders we have come across, Pulltube finds a balance in its UI design. It is not too minimal, nor is it complex. Instead, Pulltube makes it easy for everyone to get started with and master downloading videos from anywhere on the web.
You get three ways to download a video through Pulltube:
- You can copy the URL of the video and paste it into the Pulltube app. This method allows you to add multiple URLs at once.
- If you want an easier option, you can drag and drop links from YouTube into the Pulltube app.
- You can also install a web browser add-on to start a schedule from the browser interface itself.
Something we liked is that the videos don’t need to be from the same website. For instance, you can drag and drop video URLs from YouTube, Vimeo, and Instagram at the same time.
Before you hit Download, you can choose the options for FPS, quality, and subtitles. You can either choose a common setting for all videos or make individual choices. By default, Pulltube will download videos at the highest available quality, going up to 8K.
Once you click the Download button, Pulltube will start downloading the videos and converting them into the format you have selected.
Video Downloads and Conversion
We will now explore the options for downloading and converting videos using Pulltube.
- Downloading Videos
For starters, Pulltube lets you download videos from almost every content-sharing platform you may come across. However, you get maximum control options when downloading videos from Vimeo or YouTube. For instance, you can choose the desired quality for the download—up to 8K. Pulltube also lets you download a video in audio-only mode: either M4A or MP3.
These options are great when you have specific needs, such as downloading music. When you slide right on the task, you also get additional options like Scheduling for later, Copying the video URL, opening the video URL, duplicating the task, and adjusting where Pulltube would save the video.
Notably, if Pulltube detects that a video is part of a playlist, it offers to download the entire collection by fetching data for each entry and managing the downloads consecutively.
Pulltube also offers plenty of control over subtitles and video quality. For one, you can pick the language and format for subtitles. Pulltube can download auto-generated captions or the ones added by the uploader.
When it comes to quality control, you can choose options for FPS and quality. Depending on the video, you’d have two or more options: 30fps and 60fps. Once again, you can select a common quality preference for all pending/scheduled tasks.
When a download is going on, you have a few other options. For instance, you can skip a task or save one of the thumbnails.
- Download Speeds
We tried multiple download quality options through Pulltube, and the results were impressive. The average download speeds from the app seem great, especially when downloading 4K or 8K videos. Because it allows a few options, like saving the thumbnail, while the download is in progress, you may find the process faster than it actually is.
- Built-in Conversion
Pulltube is designed to download videos in the source format. Therefore, you may end up having MKV, FLV, or WebM files. But these formats are not the most compatible options out there. In these instances, a built-in conversion module will help.
However, the conversion module only allows you to choose between two codecs.
The H.264/AVC codec is a great way to ensure compatibility across your Apple devices. It also works through Quick Look.
The H.265/HEVC codec, on the other hand, offers better compression without quality loss. However, it may need additional extensions if you use an older version of macOS.
Video Trimming
Sometimes, you don’t want the entire YouTube video, right? You may need only a few seconds of content from a video. Normally, you have to download the entire video and trim it afterward. However, Pulltube has a built-in video trimming utility that may help you in this regard.
The steps are simple.
Before you start downloading a video, you can click on the Scissors button next to the thumbnail. It will take you to the Trimming Mode, where Pulltube first offers a preview of the video.
In this step, you can trim the area of the video that you want to download. You also have an option to trim a video by selecting the time frame from the meta-data. It may be a quicker option when you want to get a predefined portion from a video.
This feature alone will help you stay away from wasted resources and time. Because you get to do this from a single tool, that’s one less app in your workflow.
Other Features
Here are some other features we liked on Pulltube:
The Settings pane of Pulltube offers plenty of customization options. For instance, you can change the folder for downloads, choose MP4/M4A bitrate, and control behavior with preferences and video URLs. It also lets you control how Pulltube works with playlist folders, renaming options, and custom filenames.
You also get some scheduling options. For instance, you can ask Pulltube to quit the app when it finishes all downloads. Or, you can open/AirDrop download files instantly. If you already have a workflow, these handy features will make things quicker.
Pulltube offers extensions for Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. The next time you want to download a YouTube video, you can directly launch Pulltube from the right-click menu. You can either start the download instantly or schedule it for later.
Lastly, Pulltube works with proxy servers as well. If you live in an area with no access to YouTube, this option may come in handy.
Overall, the feature set of Pulltube is comprehensive enough to meet your workflow demands. It surely was for us, and that’s one reason Pulltube remains the go-to video downloader most of the time.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Pulltube offers a simple interface for downloading.
- It convert the downloaded video to commonly-used formats.
- It trims videos and grabs playlists as well.
Cons
- Some may find it a little pricey.
- It could offer better export (conversion) options.
Is Pulltube Free?
Pulltube is not free. It is a paid app that offers a fully functional 7-day free trial.
A Standard license for Pulltube will cost you $19.99, it offers all future updates, and you can use it on 2 Mac computers (1 license = 2 Macs).
Another easier option is to get the Setapp subscription, whose library includes Pulltube and 250+ other apps.
Is Pulltube Safe to Use?
The application is generally considered safe to use if downloaded directly from its official website or Setapp site. Users should avoid other third-party sources, as they may bundle the software with malware or adware.
Regarding privacy, the developers state that users are not tracked, and the application does not collect any data on what, where, or when content is being downloaded or converted.
What Platforms and OS Does It Support?
Pulltube is an application designed exclusively for macOS (version 11.0 or later). There are no official versions available for Windows, iPhone, or Android. For a cross-platform alternative, check SYC Pro from Softorino.
- MacOS 11 or higher;
- Tahoe Compatible;
- Support Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, Dailymotion, Soundcloud, Instagram, Bandcamp, Cloudmix, IQIY, Youku, Bilibili, and many more.
What Types of Formats Does It Support?
Pulltube allows users to download content in very high quality, including resolutions up to 8K and frame rates of 60fps. For saving and converting media, the application supports:
- Video formats: Primarily MP4 (as an output option) and supports various codecs such as HEVC (h265), VP9/8 (Webm), and AV1.
- Audio formats: MP3 and M4A.
- Subtitles: Subtitles (including YouTube auto-generated ones) can also be downloaded along with the video.
Footer Notes
Pulltube offers a 7-day free trial, giving you full access with no download limits or feature restrictions. The utility can handle videos of any duration or size and integrates with the Notification Center to send completion alerts.