Y2Mate has been one of the most searched YouTube converters for years. It is also one of the most cloned: there are dozens of sites with Y2Mate in the name, some of them working, many of them covered in pop-ups, and a few that serve nothing but ads. If Y2Mate stopped working for you, keeps redirecting to strange pages or got blocked by your browser, here is what is going on and what to use instead.
Why there are so many "Y2Mate" sites
The original Y2Mate became popular because it was simple: paste a YouTube link, pick MP3 or MP4, download. Popularity attracts copies. Today, typing "y2mate" into a search box shows suggestions for apps, players, video editors and converters that all borrow the name. Some are separate services, some are mirrors, and some only look like a converter.
That is why people search for "y2mate alternative": not because the idea stopped working, but because it became hard to tell which Y2Mate is the real one and which is a trap.
Common Y2Mate problems
| Problem | What is happening |
|---|---|
| Every click opens a new tab | the site earns money from pop-up ads |
| "Allow notifications to continue" | a trick to send you spam later |
| Browser shows a warning | your browser or antivirus flagged the domain |
| Conversion never finishes | the site cannot reach YouTube or is overloaded |
| MP3 is cut at a time limit | many converters refuse videos longer than an hour |
| You get an .exe or .apk instead of a file | a fake site: delete the file, do not run it |
None of this is needed to download a video. A converter only has to fetch the file from YouTube and hand it to you.
How to recognize a fake converter
- It asks you to install a "player", "downloader app" or browser extension before you get the file.
- The file has the wrong extension:
.exe,.apk,.dmgor.zipinstead of.mp4or.mp3. - It asks for a phone number, a card or a login to download a free video.
- It shows a "virus detected" warning and offers a cleaner app.
If you see any of these, close the tab. A real converter gives you an MP4 or MP3 and nothing else.
A cleaner alternative: Skachok
Skachok downloads YouTube videos and audio by link, with no pop-ups and no app to install.
- Copy the YouTube link: "Share" → "Copy link", or from the address bar.
- Open Skachok and paste the link.
- Click "Find".
- Choose the quality in the Video · MP4 tab, or MP3 in the Audio tab.
- Click "Download".
It also handles Shorts, links from YouTube Music and, on Pro and Max, whole playlists, and works the same on a phone and a computer. For Shorts, there is a separate page: download YouTube Shorts.
Video quality and audio
| Plan | Price | Video | Audio | Downloads a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | up to 720p | — | 5 (3 without an account) |
| Lite | $1.99/mo | up to 1080p | MP3, M4A | 20 |
| Pro | $3.99/mo | up to 1440p | MP3, M4A, OGG | 50 |
| Max | $5.99/mo | up to 4K | MP3, M4A, OGG, FLAC | 100 |
Plans do not renew automatically, and after registration Pro is free for 2 days: enough to try 1080p and MP3 without paying. Prices and details are on the pricing page.
Y2Mate vs Skachok at a glance
| Typical Y2Mate site | Skachok | |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-ups and redirects | common | none |
| App or extension required | often pushed | never |
| Max video quality | varies, often 720p or 1080p | up to 4K |
| Long videos to MP3 | often limited | no time limit on paid plans |
| Several links at once | rarely | 3 free, up to 50 on Max |
| Other sites | mostly YouTube | YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X, Pinterest, Twitch and more |
Downloading MP3 from YouTube
Most people use Y2Mate for music. In Skachok, the Audio tab gives you MP3 (and M4A, OGG or FLAC on higher plans) from any YouTube video or YouTube Music track. A few tips:
- Pick the official upload. Official channels have cleaner sound than re-uploads.
- For long mixes and podcasts, read the guide on converting long YouTube videos to MP3.
- For a whole album or playlist, paste the playlist link on Pro or Max, or the song links one per line on any plan: see how to download a YouTube playlist.
More on bitrate and quality: how to download music from YouTube to MP3.
Higher quality: 1080p, 2K and 4K
YouTube stores high-resolution video and audio as separate streams. Simple converters often stop at 720p because joining the two takes work on the server. Skachok joins them for you and gives you one MP4 file. If your 4K file does not play, the reason is usually the codec, not the download: see why downloads stop at 720p and 4K won't play.
What cannot be downloaded
No converter, honest or not, can download:
- private or members-only videos;
- YouTube Premium-only content and movie rentals;
- live streams that are still running (wait for the recording).
A site that promises these is usually just a page of ads.
FAQ
Is Y2Mate safe?
The idea is harmless, but many Y2Mate-branded sites are full of pop-ups, notification requests and fake download buttons. If a site pushes an app or gives you an .exe file, close it.
Why is Y2Mate not working?
The site may be overloaded, unable to reach YouTube, blocked by your browser, or simply a clone that never worked. Try another video first; if nothing converts, switch to another service.
What is the best Y2Mate alternative without ads?
Skachok has no ads on paid plans, starting with Lite at $1.99 a month, and Pro is free for 2 days after registration. On the free plan there are ads, but no pop-ups or redirects.
Can I download YouTube videos in 4K?
Yes, on the Max plan. Free downloads go up to 720p, Lite to 1080p and Pro to 1440p.
Can I convert a long YouTube video to MP3?
Yes. Paid plans have no time limit on MP3 conversion, so mixes, lectures and audiobooks work too.