M3U8 Downloader Review – Here are Workable Methods to Download Videos within a Playlist
Last Updated on September 20, 2025 by Jane Joe
When you need to download all music files and videos within a playlist, you can choose an M3U8 downloader to help you out. M3U8 is a UTF-8 encoded audio playlist file with plain text that is used to describe the location of the audio files and videos. What are the best M3U8 downloaders to download multiple audio files and videos in a batch, especially for DRM protection HSL files? Learn more about the review and choose the desired one accordingly from the article.
Part 1: 3 Important Tips about Downloading M3U8 Playlists
1. What is an M3U8 File?
M3U8 is a file extension of UTF-8 encoded audio playlist, which can be used to inform audio players or video players where the media files are located. Once you have imported the M3U8 playlist to the media player, you can open the M3U8 as a shortcut to play the related audio files and videos. The M3U8 file is only a plain text file for absolute paths, relative paths, and URLs to refer to specific media files of media files.
2. Can I Play the M3U8 Playlist for All Videos?
Yes. Just as mentioned above, the M3U8 contains the paths and URLs of the media files, the media player can locate the audio files and videos and play them according to the playlist. But you should make sure the paths and URLs within the M3U8 file are valid, or else, the downloaded M3U8 playlist is still not playback within the media player.
3. Should I Download M3U8 with Music Files and Videos?
In depends. If you download M3U8 files for YouTube videos, you should find the relative paths will be changed. It means you cannot play the music files or videos with the downloaded M3U8 file. But you can download the M3U8 file and change the relative paths and URLs with the videos to customize your playlist accordingly.
Part 2: 10 Best M3U8 Downloaders to Download Videos in Batch
Method 1: CleverGet M3U8 Downloader
CleverGet M3U8 downloader is a versatile media player that downloads all videos and audio files within DRM M3U8 protection with a batch process. It has a built-in browser to detect media files with multiple resolution choices. Moreover, it is the sole tool that allows you to download 8K videos with 320KBPS audio files without losing much quality.
Pros:
1. Download media files and M3U8 playlists from 1000+ streaming sites.
2. Automatic recognition of playable files from websites for downloading.
3. Password-protected function to download videos without password login.
4. Batch downloading features to get more than 5 videos at the same time.
5. No limitation for downloading size, downloading numbers, or others.
Cons:
1. Need to log in to the account to download media files or M3U8 playlists.
Method 2: StreamFab M3U8 Downloader
StreamFab M3U8 Downloader is a DRM M3U8 downloader that enables you to download videos from online streaming sites implemented with DRM M3U8 encryption. It enables you to get videos in HLS protocol and with DRM M3U8 schemes for offline viewing. It enables you to automatically detect a video in the built-in browser and download it offline.
Pros:
1. Provided the updated algorithms following the widevine DRM update.
2. Detect and download DRM M3U8 videos with a built-in media player.
3. Download videos with 1080P/Atmos with the original audio files.
4. Supports multiple video downloads and M3U8 files simultaneously.
Cons:
1. There is a quota of 50 downloads per day and 350 downloads per week.
2. Cannot always work to download M3U8 files, especially after updates.
Method 3: Leawo Prof. Media
Leawo Prof. Media is an all-in-one solution to download and play M3U8 files. It enables you to rip Blu-ray discs and DVDs with DRM protection, convert the protected videos, and download DRM M3U8 content from online streaming sites. Moreover, the M3U8 downloader also enables you to playback M3U8 playlists within the program directly.
Pros:
1. Convert DRM-protected videos and remove the restrictions from media files.
2. Provide a Blu-ray/DVD ripper, Blu-ray/DVD Creator, and Blu-ray/DVD copy.
3. Download videos, music, and M3U8 playlists from online streaming sites.
4. Play download M3U8 files, edit and customize videos/music files, and more.
Cons:
1. It is too complicated to be similar to all the features of the program.
2. Difficult to locate the desired videos without online streaming site options.
Method 4: VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is more than an open-source multimedia player. It has the features to download and play M3U8 files. Just copy and paste the M3U8 file to the media player, and you can download M3U8-related videos to your computer and save them as MP4 video files. It not only works with videos from your computer but also YouTube videos.
Pros:
1. Support multiple types of audio and video codecs and formats of M3U8.
2. Provide a powerful video decoder to support the playback of encrypted files.
3. Play movies and M3U8 files from local folders, URLs, and even ZIP files.
4. It is a completely free media player that works on computers and phones.
Cons:
1.Cannot play music files and videos from most online streaming sites.
2.Unable to download or playback the DRM videos from all websites.
Method 5: FFmpeg
FFmpeg is another M3U8 downloader that enables you to download videos, audio files, and playlists from multiple websites. It is an open-source program for professionals that familiar with codecs and needs to run the command line program from the console with the correct parameters. It can transcode, stream, and playback media files and playlists.
Pros:
1. Offer different command lines to download videos, audio, and playlists.
2. Provide a unique acceleration technology to download M3U8 playlists.
3. It is a completely free video downloader and video player for all platforms.
4. Explore and learn multiple features to manage M3U8 files and videos.
Cons:
1. Cannot download videos and playlists from most online streaming sites.
2. The compiler library of FFmpeg is complicated and unfriendly to novices.
Method 6: AnyConv
AnyConv is a simple online M3U8 downloader that enables you to download videos, audio files, and M3U8 playlists. It supports over 400 different formats for online conversion. When you need to download and convert playlist files, you can use the web-based cross-platform to get the content and M3U8 files from online streaming sites directly.
Pros:
1. Provide an online M3U8 downloader to download and convert the playlists.
2. Protect your privacy by deleting all the downloaded files within one hour.
3. Support converting 60 media files and M3U8 files per hour free of charge.
4. Convert F4V, M4V, MP4, TS, and other media files to M3U8 online directly.
Cons:
1. Provide a limited downloaded or converted size that supports only 100MB.
2. Cannot download all videos and music files within the M3U8 playlist online.
Method 7: LJ Video Downloader
LJ Video Downloader is an M3U8 and MP4 downloading app that enables you to download all videos and audio files with a single M3U8 URL. You can download M3U8, MP4, MPD, MOV, and other file formats with video URLs. It supports multi-thread downloading and converts them to MP4 file format. But it cannot download the live stream sites.
Pros:
1. Download multiple video formats of an M3U8 playlist from streaming sites.
2. Support multi-thread downloading to get all videos in a playlist in a batch.
3. Fetch and download videos via a URL with different video resolutions.
4. Merge the different downloaded and segmented videos automatically.
Cons:
1. Cannot download videos from YouTube or other live-stream websites.
2. Unable to download videos from websites with DRM or other protections.
Method 8: Video Saver & Player/ iCap
When you need to download M3U8 HSL files on your iPhone or iPad, iCap is another recommended M3U8 downloader to download both HSL and MP4 files. Moreover, it enables you to convert M3U8 HSL to MP4 in the Photos app or even copied to the File app. You can also manage and playback the videos within the built-in web browser.
Pros:
1. Provide different playback modes to watch M3U8 files and MP4 videos.
2. Remove Ads in the in-app browser and even add passcodes for videos.
3. All-in-one M3U8 downloader to save, convert, and playback media files.
4. Support picture-in-picture playback and watch the download M3U8 files.
Cons:
1. Cannot download the videos from DRM-protected live stream sites.
2. Difficult to fetch or download videos with original quality easily.
Method 9: FetchV
FetchV is a Chrome browser extension for downloading videos and M3U8 files. It supports downloading different types of web videos and is compatible with major famous browsers, in various formats, including HLS, M3U8, MP4, WebM, FLV, etc. The M3U8 downloader also enables you to automatically merge TS files and output videos in MP4 file format.
Pros:
1. Support video recording and downloading M3U8 videos on websites.
2. Capture video content through M3U8 and download the videos forcibly.
3. Breakpoint downloading, retaining progress of failed download tasks.
4. Preview the desired videos once the downloading process starts.
Cons:
1. Cannot all select video quality for recording the videos from M3U8 files.
2. Difficult to record, download, and manage the videos and audio files.
Method 10: CocoCut Video Downloader
CocoCut Video Downloader is a famous M3U8 downloader among Chrome extensions. It enables you to download multiple video files from several video platforms, including YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, and Twitter. It provides a recording mode to download almost any video from any website with the plug-in of the web browser.
Pros:
1. Support multi-threaded downloads for M3U8 files as well as video formats.
2. Download videos in MP4, FLV, F4V, HLV, WebM, MOV, MKV, and others.
3. Record the videos from online-stream sites if cannot download the files.
4. Download and capture the Live broadcasts with the desired video quality.
Cons:
1. Upgrade to more features via a subscription to the service beforehand.
2. The free version has a speed limit and is prone to audio and video desync.
Conclusion
Most streaming sites are encrypted by DRM M3U8 protocol. When you need to download content from them with the original quality, here are the best M3U8 downloaders you should try. If you need to get high-quality videos from multiple online streaming sites, CleverGet is always the optimal choice you should try.