Downie

Downie is a macOS video downloader built for saving online video content to your Mac by sending a page link into the app and letting it handle the rest.

It is a good fit for anyone who wants a straightforward way to keep offline copies from a wide range of websites, and it also has enough depth for people who like format handling and automation.

Sending videos to the app feels direct

Downie’s core workflow is intentionally simple: you can drag a link onto the app, or send it over using its browser extensions. Those extensions add a toolbar button for passing the current page to Downie, plus right-click options that can send a link with specific postprocessing choices. This mix of drag-and-drop and browser actions keeps the app quick to use without forcing a single workflow.

Site support is broad, with a safety net for edge cases

In Preferences, Downie includes a list of sites with explicit support. The app also acknowledges that many additional sites can work either directly or through User-Guided Extraction, which is helpful when a page does not behave like a typical video host. There are also controls around adult sites, including an option to show them in the supported-sites view and a separate setting to block downloads from them.

Queue controls and per-download adjustments

When you send links to Downie, it processes them and builds a queue. By default it starts automatically and picks the best available quality, but you can change that behavior in preferences. Before a download starts, Downie lets you adjust resolution or format, and it supports per-item actions like setting download priority and renaming, along with the ability to cancel link processing.

Postprocessing that ranges from basic to customizable

Downie includes built-in postprocessing for common needs, including converting downloaded files into a format that plays well in QuickTime Player and downloading as audio-only. For people who want tighter control over conversion, Downie can integrate with Permute, and it can also run custom postprocessing via a shell script. The scripting option is powerful, but it runs within Downie’s sandbox, which limits access to some operating system features.

Privacy-minded controls and continuity

Downie is sandboxed, and it includes administrator-unlocked parental controls for privacy-related restrictions. It can also synchronize download history over iCloud between devices, and it offers an option to run as a menu-bar-only app for a lighter footprint.