PullTube 1.8.6 — macOS

PullTube is a macOS app that downloads online video and audio from supported websites, giving you control over format, quality, and file naming.

How does PullTube handle playlist downloads?

When you paste a link to a playlist, PullTube detects it automatically and offers to download the whole thing. You can pick individual videos or grab them all at once. The app shows each video’s title, duration, and thumbnail before anything starts.

Can I extract audio without the video?

Yes. PullTube can save only the audio track as MP3 or M4A. You set this before the download begins, and the app handles the conversion. This is useful for podcasts, music, or any situation where you only need the sound.

What options are there for file names and output quality?

You can choose the output resolution or bitrate, and PullTube can append the quality info to the file name automatically. This keeps your downloads organized without extra renaming. The app can also quit itself once all downloads finish.

PullTube works well for a few distinct types of Mac users, but it isn't for everyone. If you regularly save YouTube tutorials, Vimeo behind-the-scenes clips, or Instagram stories for offline reference, the app saves time over browser-based downloaders. People who manage media libraries — podcast editors, video compilers, social media schedulers — get consistent results because the output quality stays predictable. Playlist downloading is particularly useful for educators who collect a semester's worth of lectures or musicians grabbing a full setlist. On the other hand, if you only need one video every few months, the installation steps (mounting a disk image, running a Terminal command) may feel like more effort than just watching online.

Avoiding the Gatekeeper bypass step that trips up new users

New users sometimes trip over the Gatekeeper bypass step. When you mount the disk image and run the opening command, Terminal will ask for confirmation. Press Enter as the instructions say. If nothing happens, check that you mounted the image first — double-click the .iso file, wait for it to appear in Finder, then proceed. No visible progress is normal.

Another frequent hiccup: pasting a link and seeing nothing detected. PullTube relies on the page being accessible. If the video is private, age-restricted, or region-locked, the app cannot pull it. Make sure the video plays in your browser first. Also, some playlist links from certain sites may show as a single video; try the direct video link instead of the channel or user page.

Download stopping partway through happens sometimes with very long videos or unstable network connections. PullTube handles retries on its own, but if it stalls, cancel the download and start again. For big playlists, consider downloading in smaller batches — the app does not have a built-in resume feature for individual files after you exit.

Output file names occasionally cause confusion when the "append quality" option is on. Turning this off in the settings gives you just the original video title. If you download the same video at different resolutions, turning it on helps tell them apart.

How PullTube compares with similar Mac apps

For context, it helps to look at two other approaches Mac users often try: browser extensions and dedicated downloaders like 4K Video Downloader or Folx.

Browser extensions

A browser extension is quick to install and works right inside Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. But extensions break when the browser updates, and many can't handle playlists at all. They also lack the ability to quit after finishing or to append quality info to file names. PullTube runs as its own app, so it stays separate from browser changes.

4K Video Downloader

This is probably the closest comparison. 4K Video Downloader also handles playlists, audio extraction, and multiple quality levels. The main difference in practice is how they handle the link import. PullTube supports drag and drop of links onto its window, which can be faster than pasting. Both work on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.

Folx

Folx is primarily a download manager for all file types, not just video. It can grab online media too, but its video detection is less reliable for playlist-style content. Folx is better if you already use it for other downloads. For dedicated video work, PullTube is more straightforward.

First-day tips for getting the most out of PullTube

• Keep a backup of your Downloads folder before you start piling up videos. A five-playlist binge can fill a surprising amount of space.
• Test with one short video first to verify the output quality and file naming are what you expect. A two-minute clip is enough to confirm everything works.
• Set the app to quit after finishing if you plan to let it run overnight.
• Use drag and drop from your browser's address bar straight onto the PullTube window. It is often faster than copying and pasting, especially for several links in a row.
• Check the language setting early if English is not your first language. The app supports Russian, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (Simplified), and French. Change it once and the menus stay consistent.
• Organize your output folder by quality before you start. If you tell PullTube to append quality info, you can sort by file name and see which versions are 4K versus HD without opening each one.

Once you have the basics down, PullTube becomes a reliable tool for pulling online media into your local workflow. The first day is mostly about getting past the Gatekeeper step and confirming your settings.

• macOS 11 or later
• Apple Silicon or Intel Mac
• Interface languages: Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (Simplified), French