RealDownloader

RealDownloader is perhaps the quickest and simplest online video-downloader for Windows that we’ve seen. Unlike many of its competitors, when RealDownloader says one-click, it seriously means just one click.

When you install RealDownloader, it integrates with your browsers (Firefox, Chrome, and IE are supported), so you don’t have to boot it up every time you want to use it. It just detects when you’re on a supported site, and pops up whenever you roll over the top-right corner of a video. From there, all you have to do is click the small pop-up button that says “Download This Video,” and you’re all set. It’s really that simple. You can download multiple videos at once, and even playback from within the program. And if RealDownloader can’t find a default video player that supports your download, it will give you the option to download a free, add-on video player. The add-on is lightweight and ensures that you never get stuck with files that you can’t access.

As a bonus, RealDownloader also comes with some sharing options. It lets you easily share the original link to any of your downloaded videos through e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or (inexplicably) MySpace.

If you upgrade to RealDownloader Plus, you’ll be able to copy your downloaded videos to any of a number of devices, including iPhones, Android phones, and more. And you won’t have to worry about file formats as the program will do all of the transcoding for you. In addition, you’ll get accelerated downloads, download straight to iTunes, and convert to audio functions. So if you want your videos viewable on the go, an upgrade is definitely worth considering.

While RealDownloader did perform impressively in our tests, we do wish it had some richer built-in exporting tools. We would’ve loved to be able to easily rename files, then export and convert to a desired file format.

Overall, if you’re looking for a quick and easy utility for downloading online videos (legal content, to which you own the rights), RealDownloader is tops. It’s quick, it supports hundreds of Web sites, and it truly does its job in one click.