4K Video Downloader vs. 4K Video Downloader Plus: Detailed Comparison

As you know, we’ve recently released 4K Video Downloader Plus, a new app that exceeds 4K Video Downloader in different facets and has features that are impossible to implement in the classic app due to technical limitations.

The old 4K Video Downloader was released in 2013, so it’s been supported, modified, and updated throughout these thirteen years. Now, since the old code base doesn’t allow us to implement new features in the old app, we’ve released the next generation of it.

Note that we discontinued the support of the classic 4K Video Downloader in January 2025. The latest version available to update to and install is 4.33.5. All the features in this release will remain available in the current state, but no new ones will be added and no fixes will be implemented in 4K Video Downloader. To enjoy new features or continue using the usual functionality without bugs, please switch to 4K Video Downloader Plus.

In this article, we’ll compare the two apps in more detail.

General Differences Between 4K Video Downloader Plus & 4K Video Downloader

Let’s take a closer look at how the new 4K Video Downloader Plus is different from the classic version you already love.

• Different code base. To roll out 4K Video Downloader Plus, we refactored the code completely. It enables us to implement certain features that 4K Video Downloader lacks.

Code refactoring => more features are possible to implement => more content you can download.

• Different features. Some of our users claim the apps are identical. If they were, they’d have the same pack of features and the same code base. The code refactoring and, thus, the implementation of new features took us 1.5 years.

• Extended functionality. Let’s take Bilibili as an example. Both 4K Video Downloader and 4K Video Downloader Plus can save Bilibili videos. However, it’s technically impossible to download them in a quality higher than 480p in 4K Video Downloader because Bilibili lets only registered users save high-quality content. The in-app browser, implemented in the new app, allows you to log in to your Bilibili account and, thus, download videos from Bilibili in 1080p or better resolution.

Thanks to the in-app browser and login within the app, more private content can be downloaded (we’ll talk about it below).

• Faster downloading: Now, you don’t have to wait for the entire channel or playlist to be parsed. 4K Video Downloader Plus lets you save individual videos even while the channel is being parsed with no need to wait till its finish.

Features That 4K Video Downloader Plus Has But 4K Video Downloader Doesn’t

Now let’s talk about the functional differences in detail.

In-App Browser

4K Video Downloader Plus

This is the first thing you see when launching 4K Video Downloader Plus. This feature became possible to implement entirely thanks to the code refactoring we told you about above.

How does the in-app browser help you?

1. The in-app browser allows you to search and download audio and video right within the application with no need to open your computer browser. Simply press on the site icon and find the video by entering a query into the search field.

2. It lets you sign in to a platform that allows you to download more content. With the in-app login, you can download private content and have more resolution options (like in the case of Bilibili).

As a result of the in-app browser implementation, you can download more private content and sometimes download videos of higher quality than the old app allows.

However, in 2026 you no longer have to sign in to Bilibili to download an HD video. Starting with version 25.0 , BiliBili content can now be downloaded in HD without requiring an account login.

Besides, the new browser is made specifically to keep up with YouTube’s constant security changes.

Old 4K Video Downloader

The old 4K Video Downloader doesn’t have this feature because the code base in that app doesn’t let us roll it out.

You may disagree and say that the in-app login to YouTube works in the old 4K Video Downloader, too. That’s correct. But the old 4K Video Downloader supports only the in-app login to YouTube.

4K Video Downloader Plus, in turn, lets you log in to Bilibili, SoundCloud, Facebook, Vimeo, and more sites to download videos and audio without leaving the application, thus giving access to the content on these platforms that is hidden behind the login.

Smart Mode

Both apps have Smart Mode, but there are differences as well.

4K Video Downloader Plus

In the new app, Smart Mode is a menu with the download settings that can be turned on or off with a single switch.

Let’s take a look at each setting in the new Smart Mode that you can set up prior to downloading.

• Content type: Video, Audio, Subtitles, Audio Tracks

4K Video Downloader Plus lets you save both audio and video content as well as subtitles in 80+ languages and audio tracks with different voice-overs. Simply choose the required content type in Smart Mode before pasting the link in the app.

• Quality: this setting differs depending on the content type you choose.

Choose the content type first and then select the required resolution before pasting the link within the app.

• Format: accessible formats depend on your content type, too.

Before pasting the link into the 4K Video Downloader Plus, make sure you’ve set the desired resolution, bitrate (available only when you select Audio in the Download tab), frame rate, codec, and format parameters in Smart Mode.

Tip: If you don’t know which formats your OS can support and play, simply choose OS in the Format tab. For instance, if you download a video to play it on your Android or iPhone later, select iOS or Android.

• Output folder: right in Smart Mode, you can set the desired output folder to save content in. If you don’t, 4K Video Downloader Plus will create the folder on its own and will save all the content there.

Note that when you set specific parameters, they’ll automatically apply to your next downloads, so make sure you choose the settings before pressing Paste Link.

Good to know: Frequently used subtitle languages appear at the top of the list in Smart Mode.

Old 4K Video Downloader

Smart Mode in the old app can be accessed by pressing the lamp icon in the top left corner next to the Paste Link button.

The settings you can select here are similar to 4K Video Downloader Plus but not entirely identical. In the old 4K video Downloader, you can also choose a content type together with the format (chosen simultaneously), quality, and output folder.

What Smart Mode in the old 4K Video Downloader lacks is the ability to choose frame rate when downloading videos and your operating system as well as audio tracks in a particular language.

Tip: You can learn more about how to download video or audio in the desired language with the right audio track in one of our recent articles.

Audio Processing Features (Media Tools)

In 2026, we added the ability to process audio right in 4K Video Downloader Plus. Now, right after you download a video or audio from YouTube, SoundCloud, Twitch, TikTok, Dailymotion, Facebook, Vimeo, or any other supported site, you can process it with machine learning algorithms. Here’s what you can do with Media Tools:

• Remove Vocals. Use this mode when you want to create a karaoke out of a YouTube video or a SoundCloud song as it makes a backing track by removing the vocal part.

• Extract Vocals. Select this mode when you want to leave only vocals and get rid of the instrumental part.

• Extract Voice. This tool allows you to clean up speech in a noisy video and remove all the unwanted background sounds, leaving the clean speech intact.

• Remove Echo. Apply this to recordings with lots of room and echo to get clear vocals or speech.

Here’s how to use the new tools:

1. Find the video you want to process in the downloads list.

2. Hover the cursor to the Media Tools icon as shown below.



3. Click on it, and you’ll see all the available processing options.



4. Select the one you need by clicking on it, and 4K Video Downloader Plus will start processing the audio or video you selected in step 1.

You’ll see the files processed with Media Tools in the dedicated tab as well as in the Tab All right under the original video or audio.

Note that this functionality is only available to Pro users.

Apple Silicon Chip Native Support

4K Video Downloader Plus has been specifically optimized to leverage the performance benefits of Apple’s latest chip, especially when it comes to quicker startup following each update installation. This is why we encourage all of you who still use the older generation of 4K Video Downloader on Apple devices to migrate to 4K Video Downloader Plus.

Easy Downloads Management

4K Video Downloader Plus

Thanks to the code refactoring, you’re now able to sort your downloads by date, name, and type: Video, Audio, Playlists, Channels, Subscription, and Processed. This is done to let you simply switch between the stacks if you have lots of content of different types.

In addition to the filters and sorting, 4K Video Downloader Plus has a search field that you can use if you’re looking for a particular video.

Old 4K Video Downloader

It has none of the above.

Some other perks of the new 4K Video Downloader Plus include a more convenient and quicker way to download playlists and channels (right from the context menu), a quicker way to subscribe to a channel, recommendations of similar videos, dark mode support on Ubuntu, and many more.

The biggest perk, however, is that the new app gets new features and bug fixes unlike the old 4K Video Downloader.

Table with Differences Between 4K Video Downloader Plus & 4K Video Downloader

How to Switch to 4K Video Downloader Plus

To do that, simply download the new app on your device. And yes, you can use both apps.

You can also transfer your database if you want to, including your downloads and subscriptions. Here’s how.

How to Transfer Downloads

1. Export your downloads from 4K Video Downloader:

• Open 4K Video Downloader.

• Click File -> Export Downloads.

• Save the exported file to a convenient location on your computer.

Note: This exports only your downloaded items, not your subscriptions.

2. Import your downloads into 4K Video Downloader Plus:

• Open 4K Video Downloader Plus.

• Click File -> Import Downloads.

• Select the file you exported in the previous step to restore your downloads.

How to Transfer Subscriptions

1. Export your subscriptions from 4K Video Downloader:

• Open 4K Video Downloader.

• Click File -> Export Subscriptions.

• Save the exported file.

Note: This exports only your subscriptions, not your downloaded items.

2. Import your subscriptions into 4K Video Downloader Plus:

• Open 4K Video Downloader Plus.

• Click File -> Import Subscriptions.

• Select the file you exported to restore your channel and/or playlist subscriptions.

If you have any questions or encounter issues during the transfer, please contact our support team. We’re here to help make your transition as smooth as possible!

If you’re a Lite, Personal, or Pro 4K Video Downloader user, we offer special discounts to upgrade to 4K Video Downloader Plus.

Note that the 4K Video Downloader Plus licence won’t work in 4K Video Downloader.

If you have any other questions about 4K Video Downloader Plus or licences/upgrade, please check this post —perhaps, we’ve already answered your questions there.

Published Aug. 3, 2023