VidSnag
Home/YouTube Shorts Downloader
Free YouTube Shorts Downloader
Paste a YouTube Shorts link and download it in full HD as MP4, or choose MP3 if you only want the audio. VidSnag is a free desktop app that runs on your own computer with no ads, no pop-ups, and no sign-up, and it never adds a watermark.
Shorts are fast, vertical, and easy to lose the moment you scroll past them. The online tools that promise to save them usually stamp a watermark across the frame, squeeze the quality, or send your link off to some unknown server. VidSnag skips all of that: it pulls the real vertical file at its original quality, straight to a folder you pick.
Download VidSnag free for Windows
Free YouTube Shorts downloader. No ads, no pop-ups, no account.
Download VidSnag freeWhat you can save from Shorts
VidSnag runs on the open-source yt-dlp engine, so a YouTube Short comes through clean and complete:
- HD vertical MP4. The full portrait video, sized exactly as it was uploaded, ready to replay or repost.
- MP3 audio. Love the track or voiceover behind a Short? Save the sound on its own and leave the video behind.
- Original quality, no watermark. VidSnag never stamps a logo on top and never re-encodes down to a blurry copy.
How to download a YouTube Short
- Get VidSnag. Download and open the app. There is no account to create and nothing to sign up for.
- Copy the Shorts link. Tap Share on the Short, or copy the URL from your browser's address bar.
- Paste and choose MP4 or MP3. Drop the link into VidSnag, then pick full HD MP4 video or MP3 audio only.
- Download. The vertical Short saves to the folder you choose, with no redirects and no extra tabs.
Online Shorts sites vs VidSnag
| Online sites | VidSnag | |
|---|---|---|
| Watermark on the video | Often added | Never |
| Quality | Frequently downscaled | Original HD |
| MP3 audio | Sometimes | Yes |
| Privacy | Link sent to their server | Runs on your PC |
| Price | "Free" with upsells | Actually free |
Why download Shorts with a desktop app
The ad-funded Shorts sites earn money two ways: pop-ups crowded around the download button, and a watermark baked into your video that quietly advertises them everywhere you post it. A local app cuts out both. Your link never leaves your machine, the file arrives exactly as uploaded, and nothing gets tracked. For the longer walkthrough see our guide on how to download YouTube videos, and if you also grab full-length clips the YouTube downloader page covers those.
Frequently asked questions
Is this YouTube Shorts downloader really free?
Yes. VidSnag is completely free, with every feature included and no trial or paywall. It is funded by optional donations, not ads.
Does it add a watermark to the Short?
No. VidSnag saves the vertical video exactly as it was uploaded and never stamps a logo or watermark onto the frame.
Can I get just the audio from a Short?
Yes. Choose the MP3 option instead of a video format and VidSnag saves the sound on its own as an MP3 file.
Does it keep the original HD quality?
Yes. VidSnag pulls the real file at the quality it was uploaded in, so the Short is not downscaled or re-encoded.
Does it work with regular videos too?
Yes. The same paste-and-download flow handles full-length YouTube videos, music videos, and Shorts alike.
Is it safe?
Yes. It runs locally, bundles no adware, and is open source on GitHub with a published SHA-256 checksum and a clean VirusTotal scan, so you can verify it yourself.
Do I need an account or YouTube Premium?
No account, no sign-up, and no Premium. Open the app, paste a public Shorts link, and download.
Is downloading YouTube Shorts legal?
You are responsible for what you download. Respect copyright and YouTube's terms, and only save content you have the right to keep.