How to Download Part of a YouTube Video for Free | 8 Best Methods in 2025

4K Video Downloader Plus is one of the most trusted tools for downloading videos in high resolution, including full playlists and subtitles. It supports popular formats like MP4, MKV, and more, making it a great fit for both casual and professional users. Beyond just downloading entire videos, it allows you to precisely extract a portion of a YouTube video with start and end times.

What sets it apart is its slick, minimal interface that’s free from bloatware and annoying pop-ups. It’s available across all major platforms (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and even lets you extract audio tracks in various formats. If you're someone who needs to download specific parts from different videos regularly, this is one of the most dependable options around.

How to download a section:

1. Copy the YouTube video URL.
2. Open 4K Video Downloader and click Paste Link.
3. Choose your quality and format (MP4 works best for most devices).
4. Click the Trim button and set your start/end times.
5. Hit Download and wait for it to finish.

YT-DLP is the command-line powerhouse born from the original youtube-dl project. Built for developers, tech enthusiasts, and anyone not afraid of a terminal, YT-DLP offers unmatched flexibility and power. It supports downloading full videos and subtitles, and even lets you download a section of a YouTube video using precise timestamps.

The tool supports hundreds of sites beyond YouTube and is constantly maintained by a passionate open-source community. Because it’s text-based, YT-DLP runs incredibly fast, especially on low-resource machines or servers. If you're automating bulk downloads or creating scripts for educational or archiving purposes, this is one of the best tools in existence today. Despite its learning curve, once mastered, it’s nearly unbeatable.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Install YT-DLP from GitHub.
2. Open Terminal or Command Prompt.
3. Type: yt-dlp --download-sections "*00:30-02:15" [VIDEO_URL].
4. Replace the timestamps with your desired start/end times.
5. Press Enter and let it work.

ClipGrab strikes a nice balance between power and simplicity. It's been around forever and still gets regular updates. It’s great for casual users who want a lightweight tool that still offers trimming options and format conversion in one place.

It works on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and doesn’t require a high-performance system to function smoothly. The program detects URLs from your clipboard automatically and even lets you search for videos directly from its built-in search bar.

How to trim and download:

1. Download and install ClipGrab.
2. Paste your YouTube URL in the input field.
3. Select your preferred format and quality.
4. Click Settings and enable Download only part of the video.
5. Set your start and end times.
6. Click Grab this clip to start downloading.

YT Cutter offers solid downloading capabilities. What makes it special is the multiple editing tools. You can download, trim, and take screenshots all in one place. Its clean, modern UI makes it ideal for beginners, while offering enough features to satisfy experienced users.

Download and trim process:

1. Visit the YT Cutter website.
2. Paste your YouTube URL and click Start.
3. Set the time for the start and the end of your clip.
4. Hit the Download button.

YouTube Premium isn’t just an ad-free experience. It also includes enhanced mobile functionality, like offline downloads and limited trimming. Although it doesn't allow full local exports or conversion into multiple formats, it’s the most legitimate way to download part of a YouTube video for offline viewing.

While it’s not suited for editing or sharing outside the app, its reliability and simplicity make it appealing for casual consumers who just want to rewatch their favorite moments.

Using YouTube's official method:

1. Subscribe to YouTube Premium.
2. Find your video and tap Download.
3. Open the video in the YouTube app.
4. Use the built-in trim feature to select your portion.
5. Save the trimmed version to your device.

HashCut is a browser-based solution perfect for users who want to skip the hassle of installing software. You can use it on a PC, Mac, tablet, or even a smartphone. Additionally, HashCut offers a Google Chrome extension to clip directly from YouTube. The app includes advanced trimming features so you can extract only the parts you need. After clipping your video, easily share the result on X, Discord, or Reddit.

Online trimming steps:

1. Go to the HashCut website.
2. Paste your YouTube URL.
3. Set start and end times for your portion.
4. Add text and stickers if needed.
5. Save and share the result when ready.

For iPhone users, Documents by Readdle is reliable and versatile. It's essentially a file manager with downloading capabilities. The interface is clean and iOS-friendly.

Documents offers a clever workaround that doesn’t require jailbreaking or technical skills. It's also useful for organizing downloaded files, renaming them, and transferring them to other apps like iMovie or Photos. While not a direct downloader itself, it's a critical part of the iOS download puzzle.

Mobile download process:

1. Install Documents by Readdle from the App Store.
2. Open the built-in browser.
3. Navigate to a YouTube downloader website.
4. Paste your video URL and set trim times.
5. Download the trimmed portion directly to your iPhone.

TubeMate is the go-to choice for Android users. It's been around for years and handles YouTube downloads like a champ. The interface is designed specifically for mobile use. Once your video is selected, you can choose format and quality, set start and end times, and download clips directly to your phone’s storage.

The Android interface feels familiar, and it works well even on older devices. Although it requires a manual APK installation, its feature set (background downloads, batch support, and fast processing) makes it a solid pick for anyone who frequently grabs clips on the go.

Android download guide:

1. Download TubeMate APK (not available on Google Play).
2. Install and open the app.
3. Search for your video within TubeMate.
4. Tap the download button and select quality.
5. Use the trim feature to set start/end times.
6. Download your trimmed portion.