Have you ever found a perfect movie on Pluto TV, only to have your flight take off before you could finish it? Or maybe you’ve settled in for a TV show marathon, but the constant ad breaks are ruining the mood. If that sounds familiar, this post is the best guide for you.
Pluto TV is a fantastic service with its vast library of free content. But "free" often comes with strings attached—namely, the lack of a download service and a whole lot of commercials.
What if you could snip those strings? In this guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about downloading videos from Pluto TV, so you can build your own offline, ad-free library.
Why Should You Download from a Free Service Like Pluto TV?
It might seem counterintuitive to download from a service that’s already free, but the benefits are all about one thing: control.
1. For True Offline Viewing on The Go
This is the number one reason. Whether you're on a plane, a subway, or a camping trip miles from a cell tower, having your favorite movies saved on your device is a game-changer. No Wi-Fi, no problem.
2. To Create a Commercial-Free Movie Night
Studies from 2024 show that some ad-supported streaming services can show up to 12 minutes of ads per hour. Downloading the content beforehand means you can strip those ads out completely, giving you an uninterrupted viewing experience, just like a premium subscription.
3. To Keep Your Favorite Content Before It Disappears
The Pluto TV library is constantly changing. That cult classic movie or season of a show you love might not be there next month. Downloading is the only way to archive content and ensure you can watch it years from now.
4. To Beat Annoying Buffering and Streaming Errors
Even with a great internet connection, we all face the dreaded buffering wheel. A downloaded file plays perfectly every time, with no lag or quality drops, regardless of your connection speed.
Is It Legal to Download Content from Pluto TV?
This is the most common question I see on forums like Reddit and Quora, and it's an important one. The short answer is: it's a gray area, but it's generally considered acceptable for personal use.
Copyright law is complex, but the key concept here is "time-shifting"—recording or downloading content to watch at a more convenient time.
As long as you are downloading for your own private, non-commercial viewing (i.e., you are not sharing, selling, or distributing the files), you are typically on safe ground. You already have the right to view the content for free; you're just changing how and when you view it.
Note: You can learn more about the US DMCA and your rights as a user from this guide about copyright. I'm a tech expert, not a lawyer. The information in this post is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
3 Common Methods for Saving Pluto TV Shows
So, you’ve decided you want to save a video. There are a few ways to download videos from Pluto TV successfully, each with significant pros and cons.
Method 1: Screen Recording [The DIY Approach]
This involves playing the video on your PC and using software (like the built-in Windows Game Bar or QuickTime on Mac) to record your screen.
- It’s completely free.
- Totally safe
- Poor video quality (720p in low frame rate)
- Will capture all the on-screen notifications
- Have to record all the ads
- It's time-consuming to play the entire video
For Windows, you can also use the Snipping Tool to do it. This tool is produced by Microsoft and will be installed automatically on some PCs. If not, you can download it from the Microsoft Store easily.
Method 2: Free Online Video Downloaders [A Risky Bet]
These are websites that claim to download a video if you paste in the URL. But usually, your every click here will bring a pop-up ad.
- No software installation is required.
- Most online tools are free to use
- Poor video quality (often 480p)
- Rarely work for protected streaming services
- Filled with deceptive ads and pop-ups
- Might carry malware and steal your data
Considering the safety, I strongly advise against this method. Or if you're using an old computer, and all the worries won't bother you, it can also be a nice shot. SaveFrom, MyConverters, and SaveTube fall into this category.
Method 3: Professional Pluto TV Downloader [Recommended]
Professional Pluto TV downloaders refer to third-party and specialized software. They are normally designed specifically for downloading videos from Pluto TV, thus boasting more powerful functions.
- The original video quality (HD 720p)
- Detect and remove all ads
- Support batch download
- Safer and more reliable than online tools
- Most tools are paid with a free trial
- Need to install a program
From the quality and saty dimensions, such programs can be the top choices. KeepStreams, BBFly, and StreamGaGa are all professional video downloaders that support Pluto TV.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Download Videos from Pluto TV?
To show you in detail how to download videos from Pluto TV, I'll use KeepStreams Downloader as an example, because it consistently performs well in my tests.
Here are the detailed steps to download videos from Pluto TV, based on my own usage experience:
Step 1. Download KeepStreams for Pluto TV.
Step 2. Launch the Pluto TV video downloader on your Windows or Mac computer, and then go to VIP Services > Pluto TV.
Step 3. Find and play the video you wish to download, and then examine the Video, Audio, and Subtitle settings.
Step 4. Select Download Now to instantly download the movie or TV program, or click Add to Queue to download it later.
KeepStreams names itself as a One-Stop solution. It also supports the other 3,000 streaming services and sites. You can use it to download videos from Vudu, too.
Of course, a dedicated video recorder can do the same thing. Different from the built-in screen recorders, most third-party tools can help you save videos in the background, so you don't need to worry about the interruption or the time you consume:
Take EaseUS RecExperts for example:
Step 1. After launching EaseUS RecExperts on your device, you will see two recording modes. You may pick Full Screen to record the whole screen or Region to select the recording region prior to recording manually.
Step 2. You may then select to record the Webcam, the System Sound, the Microphone, or none of the above. You can also configure Auto split and Auto stop on the interface, among other tasks.
Step 3. Then, you may start recording by clicking the red REC button. On-screen, a menu bar will appear. Click the white double vertical bar to pause the recording; click the red square symbol to stop the recording.
Step 4. After recording, the list interface will be shown. You can see and modify your recordings here. To begin a new recording, just click REC at the top of the interface. If it doesn't work, you can also read fix Pluto TV not working.
Pluto TV Downloading Methods: A Head-to-Head Comparison
To help you quickly catch the difference among all the methods mentioned above, I made a comparison table:
Feature | Screen Recording | Free Online Tools | Dedicated Downloader |
Video Quality | Medium | Low ⚠️ | High ✅ |
Ad Removal | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Batch Download | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Speed | Real-Time ⚠️ | Slow ⚠️ | ✅ |
Security | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Ease of Use | ✅ | Deceptive ⚠️ | ✅ |
Price | Free/Paid for a third-party tool with better performance | Free | Mostly Paid (KeepStreams: $23.99/mo.) |
FAQs
Q1. Can I download Pluto TV videos directly to my phone?
A1. Not possible. The standard method is to use a downloader on your PC or Mac to save videos in MP4 files, and then transfer them to your phone or tablet via a USB cable or cloud service. It's an extra step, but it's simple.
Q2. What is the best video quality I can enjoy on Pluto TV?
A2. Pluto TV allows users to stream up to HD 720p and 1080p Full HD (a small part of the videos). A professional downloader like KeepStreams can capture and save the video in this original resolution, in order to ensure the best possible picture.
Q3. What's a safe and free Pluto TV downloader?
A3. "Safe" and "free" rarely go together in the world of downloaders. While some open-source projects exist on GitHub (like YouTube-dl and its forks), they can be very technical to use. For most users, a reputable, paid downloader is the safest and most reliable option.
The Final Thought
First of all, if you only watch Pluto TV occasionally and don't mind the ads, you probably don't need a downloader.
However, if you're a frequent viewer, a commuter, a parent who needs offline content for kids, or simply someone who values their time and hates interruptions, a dedicated downloader is an absolute good choice.
For the small investment, the ability to create your own permanent, ad-free library of your favorite shows and movies is, in my opinion, absolutely worth it. If you're curious about more info, continue to read how to fix Pluto TV not working problem. Our editors also provide comprehensive steps here.