With over 800 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is one of the most popular social media platforms for professionals. On LinkedIn, users can share written posts, images, and videos to showcase their skills, promote their business, and establish their professional brand. Downloading LinkedIn videos can be useful for gathering marketing intelligence, keeping for training or presentation materials, and more. But which app or tool is the best option for downloading videos from LinkedIn?
Why Download LinkedIn Videos?
Here are some of the main reasons people may want to download videos from LinkedIn:
- To save an insightful or educational video to view later when offline
- To use a relevant video for a presentation, training course, or other work project
- To analyze a competitor’s marketing videos and content strategy
- To repurpose clips or quotes for your own social media content
- To view or share a video that has expired or been taken down from LinkedIn
Downloading also allows you to store videos permanently rather than relying on them continuing to be hosted on LinkedIn. Overall, it gives you more flexibility and control over how you utilize LinkedIn videos.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a LinkedIn Video Downloader
With many apps and browser extensions out there claiming to download LinkedIn videos, how do you pick the right tool for the job? Here are some key factors to keep in mind:
- Download speed – Faster is better when it comes to downloading videos from any site.
- Video quality – You’ll want to download videos in their original high resolution if possible.
- Reliability – Choose an established tool with a track record of consistently working on LinkedIn.
- Adware/malware free – Don’t compromise security just to get downloads.
- Price – Paid tools often perform better but free options exist too.
- Compatibility – Make sure the tool works on your devices and operating systems.
- Ease of use – The simpler the better, you shouldn’t need technical skills.
Researching reviews and testing tools out yourself can help assess each of these factors. Striking the right balance will depend on your specific needs and preferences. For most users, speed, video quality, reliability, and ease of use tend to be the highest priorities.
5 Best Apps for Downloading LinkedIn Videos
Based on the criteria above, here are 5 of the top recommendations for LinkedIn video downloaders:
1. 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is a free desktop program available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s designed specifically for downloading video and audio from major sites like LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and others.
Pros:
- Supports resolutions up to 4K
- Fast and simple downloading process
- Allows bulk/batch downloads
- Bypasses restrictions and age gates
- Free version available
Cons:
- No mobile app version
- Need the paid version for certain advanced features
2. SaveFrom.net Video Downloader
SaveFrom.net is a free web tool that lets users paste in a LinkedIn video URL to download it. No software install needed.
Pros:
- Super easy online access
- No storage space required
- Windows/Mac/Linux/Chromebook compatible
- Supports MP4 and WebM formats
- Totally free to use
Cons:
- Slower downloads
- No mobile app
- Pop-up ads on site
3. Leonardo
Leonardo is a free Chrome extension for downloading videos on LinkedIn and 1000+ other sites. It integrates right into the browser for quick access.
Pros:
- One-click downloads
- No copy/paste of URLs needed
- HD quality
- Mobile compatibility
- Unlimited use
Cons:
- Chrome-only
- Slower speeds
- No option for bulk downloading
4. VideoHunter
VideoHunter is a premium software program with a free trial option. It works not just on LinkedIn but 1000+ sites.
Pros:
- Very fast downloading
- Highest quality outputs
- Browser integration
- Mobile app available
- Advanced settings/options
Cons:
- Expensive full purchase price
- Potential stability issues on mobile
5. SnapSave
SnapSave is a free mobile app for iOS and Android that can download videos from LinkedIn and other major platforms.
Pros:
- Simple intuitive interface
- Handy for downloading on the go
- Fast download speeds
- No watermarks on downloaded videos
- Free with no ads
Cons:
- No desktop version
- Lower HD quality downloads
- App stability issues on Android
How to Download LinkedIn Videos
The process for downloading LinkedIn videos is straightforward with the right tool. Here are the general steps to follow:
- Copy the URL of the LinkedIn video you want to download. This is found on the video’s profile page.
- Open or go to the downloader app/site you want to use.
- Paste the video URL into the app/site. Some tools will detect it automatically.
- Select your desired download options like video quality and format.
- Click the “Download” button and save the video file when prompted.
- The video will download directly to your device storage or downloads folder.
Most LinkedIn video downloaders make this just as easy as downloading from YouTube or other streaming platforms. The process takes less than a minute in most cases.
Is Downloading LinkedIn Videos Legal?
An important question around any video downloader is whether it violates the platform’s terms of service. Here are some key legal considerations on downloading from LinkedIn specifically:
- LinkedIn’s user agreement prohibits downloading or scraping videos from their platform through automated means. Manual individual downloads are not mentioned.
- You may not redistribute, resell, or reuse LinkedIn videos without permission from the copyright holder.
- Using short clips for commentary, criticism, or other transformative purposes may qualify as fair use.
- Downloading your own videos that you have uploaded to LinkedIn is permitted.
- Private sharing of downloaded videos solely for educational/informational purposes may be legally defensible.
In summary, manually downloading a few LinkedIn videos for your own private offline use is unlikely to cause legal issues in most jurisdictions. However, if done at scale through automation, redistributed publicly without permission, or used commercially, then LinkedIn could potentially issue takedown requests or pursue other civil action according to their user agreement terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to download videos from LinkedIn?
Yes, there are several third-party apps and browser extensions capable of downloading videos from LinkedIn to your device storage.
Does LinkedIn have an official option for saving videos?
No, LinkedIn does not provide an in-built tool or setting that allows users to directly download videos from the platform.
Can I download private LinkedIn videos that I don’t have access to?
No, the downloaders only work on public LinkedIn videos that you can view on the platform without special access permissions. Private restricted videos cannot be downloaded.
Will downloading LinkedIn videos impact their video view counts?
No, simply downloading a video does not register as an additional view or impact public view counts on LinkedIn in any way.
Is it illegal to download and reupload LinkedIn videos elsewhere?
Yes, downloading and reuploading LinkedIn videos to other sites or platforms without permission is an infringement of copyright and violates LinkedIn’s terms of service.
Conclusion
Downloading LinkedIn videos can be very useful for content marketing, lead generation,competitive analysis, and preserving valuable professional insights offline. However, while various apps and extensions make it easy to do, there are legal caveats to keep in mind. For occasional personal use, manual downloading of public videos is realistically low risk. But systematic or commercial reuse requires permission to avoid copyright issues.