Formats and Quality
Choose the format that suits your needs: video to watch anywhere, audio to listen to. This guide summarizes the options, resolutions, and when to use each.
Available formats
| Format | Type | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 | Video + audio | General use; the most compatible with almost any device and player. |
| WEBM | Video + audio | An efficient web alternative; good quality-to-size ratio, slightly less universal. |
| MP3 | Audio only | Music, podcasts, or when you only need the sound. Compatible with everything. |
| M4A | Audio only | Better quality-to-size than MP3; ideal for Apple and mobile devices. |
Video resolutions
A higher resolution means more detail and a larger file size. Choose based on your screen and connection. File sizes are approximate and vary widely depending on the video (motion, codec, duration).
| Resolution | Quality | Typical use | Size per minute (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 144p | Very low | Slow connections or audio-only | 2–4 MB |
| 360p | Low | Mobile with limited data | 5–10 MB |
| 480p | Standard (SD) | Quick viewing on mobile | 8–15 MB |
| 720p | HD | Good quality-to-size balance | 15–30 MB |
| 1080p | Full HD | Large screens and most use cases | 30–60 MB |
| 2160p | 4K Ultra HD | Maximum detail, TV and editing | 120–350 MB |
The maximum resolution depends on the source video: you can only download up to the quality offered by the source. For video, try YouTube to MP4 or 4K.
Audio (MP3 and M4A)
If you only need the sound, extract the audio in MP3 or M4A. Audio quality depends on the original track. Try YouTube to MP3 or TikTok audio.
Subtitles and thumbnails
Beyond video and audio, you can download YouTube subtitles in SRT or VTT and YouTube thumbnails in high resolution.
Mobile compatibility
Everything works in the browser, including on iPhone and Android, with nothing to install. MP4 and MP3 are the most compatible formats for any phone.
Limits and availability
Format and resolution availability depends on the platform, the source format, and technical restrictions. See what each platform supports at supported platforms.