How to Download Online Videos with 9xbuddy (Full Guide)

Sometimes you just want to save an online video for offline viewing — a lecture, a tutorial, or a clip you’re allowed to keep. 9xbuddy is one of the best-known free tools for this: a simple, browser-based downloader that pulls video from YouTube, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Dailymotion, Vimeo and many more, without installing anything. Here I’ll show you exactly how to use it, walk through its real drawbacks, and cover safer alternatives. See also how to download YouTube videos on any device.

9xbuddy is a free web tool with a clean, minimal interface. It changes its domain from time to time (a common trait of online downloaders that get blocked or face takedowns) — as of now, 9xbuddy.site is the working address, and there’s also a 9xbuddy app on Google Play. Its whole appeal is convenience: paste a link, get a downloadable file.

How to Download Online Videos with 9xbuddy, Step by Step

Step 1: Visit 9xbuddy.site in your browser.

Step 2: You have two options. Either copy the video’s URL from its page (from your browser’s address bar) and paste it into the 9xbuddy search bar, or type a search term directly into 9xbuddy and hit Download.

Step 3: If you pasted a URL, hit Download, then scroll down and click Extract Links. Choose the quality you want — 1080p is usually the best balance of quality and file size, where available.

Step 4: A progress bar appears. When it reaches 100%, a DOWNLOAD NOW button appears for the video.

Step 5: Click DOWNLOAD NOW and the file saves to your device. If you have a download manager such as Internet Download Manager (IDM) installed, it will usually catch the download and speed it up, but any browser will download it fine on its own.

Tip: If you searched inside 9xbuddy instead of pasting a URL, click the video’s thumbnail in the results — the same progress bar and DOWNLOAD NOW button will appear.

That’s the whole process. It works reliably for mainstream sites like YouTube, Dailymotion, Facebook, Vimeo and Twitter/X. For less common sites, it may or may not be supported — the only way to know is to try.

Is 9xbuddy Safe and Reliable?

9xbuddy is free, and it funds itself through advertising — which is where its main downsides come from. Being honest about them:

• Ads and pop-ups: you’ll hit banner and pop-up ads, sometimes with redirects to other sites. A pop-up blocker (like uBlock Origin) makes the experience much cleaner.
• Adult ads/content: some ads and results can be adult in nature, so it’s not suitable for children — treat it as an 18+ site.
• Declining reliability: through 2026, many users report Cloudflare verification loops, downloads capped at lower resolutions, or audio/video not syncing on some sources. It still works for basic clips but is less dependable than it once was.
• No DRM support: it cannot download from streaming services that use DRM (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) — no web tool can, legitimately.
• Privacy: as a free web service, it’s not transparent about how it handles the URLs and data you submit.

For occasional, lawful downloads it’s genuinely handy. For anything heavier — batches, playlists, or reliably high quality — a dedicated desktop tool is the better choice.

Better 9xbuddy Alternatives

If 9xbuddy is failing you or you want something more robust, these are well-regarded options:

• yt-dlp — free, open-source, command-line; the most powerful and reliable option, supports thousands of sites.
• 4K Video Downloader — friendly desktop app for Windows/Mac/Linux, handles playlists and high resolutions.
• JDownloader — free desktop download manager that grabs from many hosts and handles queues well.
• Official downloads — YouTube Premium, and the download buttons built into many apps, are the safest route where available.

For pulling just the audio, see our roundup of the best YouTube to MP3 converters.

How to Change the Search Site on 9xbuddy

When you search within 9xbuddy, it shows YouTube results by default. To search another platform (Dailymotion, Vimeo, etc.), open Settings in the top menu and change the Search Engine to the site you want. From Settings you can also change the language and toggle search suggestions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 9xbuddy free?

Yes — 9xbuddy is completely free, funded by ads. There’s no account or software to install; it runs entirely in your browser.

What is the current 9xbuddy website?

9xbuddy changes domains periodically. As of now, 9xbuddy.site is the working address. If a bookmarked domain stops loading, it has likely been blocked — search for the current official domain rather than trusting look-alike copycats.

Can 9xbuddy download from Netflix or other streaming services?

No. Those services use DRM encryption, which 9xbuddy (and any legitimate web downloader) cannot bypass. It works with sites like YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and Twitter/X.

Is 9xbuddy safe to use?

The download function itself is generally safe, but the site carries ads, pop-ups and redirects, and some content is adult-oriented. Use a pop-up/ad blocker, don’t click the flashy “download” ads (only the real DOWNLOAD NOW button), and keep it away from children.

What is the best alternative to 9xbuddy?

For reliability and quality, yt-dlp (free, open-source) or 4K Video Downloader are the top picks. They’re ad-free, support high resolutions and playlists, and don’t suffer the redirect issues of web-based tools.