A free media downloader for anyone
SaveFrom.net Helper is a browser extension that adds instant downloads to many popular websites and social media services you visit. Once the add-on installs onto your browser, it uses SaveFrom.net’s services to provide the download links that would generally require more effort.
A faster way to download videos
SaveFrom.net Helper is a great add-on for anyone who encounters and wants to keep the gifs, videos, or pictures you normally can’t download but want to keep. The add-on is designed for Opera browser but can be made to work on Chrome.
To have this extension work on Chrome you’ll need another add-on called Chameleon, which enables the option to run the Opera browser add-ons. Without this, you’ll need an alternative application on Chrome before you start downloading files.
The add-on isn’t resource-heavy but has been added to the adware category on many sites due to its vast amount of unwanted ads that are displayed. The website requires more effort but is a safer option with fewer advertisements displayed.
Generate download links
Once you’ve gone through the installation process for the SaveFrom.net Helper add-on, you’ll see a download button displayed near any media that’s on your screen. Without the add-on you’d have to copy the direct link and past it on the SaveFrom.net website.
These shortcut buttons save you a lot of time, and you can download them at a reasonable speed equal to at least your regular internet speed. You can set multiple files to download at once.
Listed as adware
This app is often mistaken as harmful or invasive. You’ll find many people asking whether is SaveFrom.net Helper adware or if it’s safe. The necessary extension, Chameleon, is also known to produce advertisements.
The extension is noted to display annoying ads on the computer it is installed on and will redirect users to sponsored websites, becoming an inconvenience in place of a handy tool. Another main issue to be aware of is that your website traffic gets tracked.
SaveFrom.net is occasionally hidden in software packages and will install itself onto your system without notice. This often happens when you use the quick setup feature on the setup section of a freshly downloaded application.
Working websites
Unfortunately the list of websites that SaveFrom Helper works on is limited. Mostly this add-on will function with ease while browsing Russian websites and a few popular websites that are frequently visited by users globally.
A list of the websites it does work on includes the most popular social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It also works with video hosting services such as YouTube and Vimeo, as well as Break and DailyMotion. For non-supported websites, you can try the Save From.net website itself or an alternative program.
Setup process
The setup for Save From net Helper requires you first to install an extension named Chameleon if you’re running on Google Chrome. This tool will allow the Helper to run on your browser as it was originally designed for use on the Opera browser.
For the best efficiency you should consider using the Opera browser in place of Firefox or Chrome when running this add-on. This allows your downloads to progress smoother and lightens the requirements placed on your browser due to not needing an extra extension.
If you do run it on your Google Chrome browser, you’ll likely receive a popup stating that suspicious extensions are blocked. This occurs as all apps not downloaded from the Chrome Webstore, including the Opera SaveFrom.net Helper are blocked to prevent any harm or leak of personal information.
Disabling on websites
The SaveFrom.net Helper extension can be disabled on websites if you don’t plan on downloading any files or videos. Doing this can speed up the page load time and general browser speed temporarily.
When it doesn’t work
In the rare case SaveFrom.net Helper doesn’t work it can normally be fixed by downloading the updated extension or redownloading the necessary files once your browser has been updated. You can tell the add-on status through the green “on” or silver “off” symbol displayed in your extensions tab.
Alternative applications
Due to its occasional bursts of advertisements or redirect you to other websites, you may prefer to use an alternative application to download gifs and videos.
Twitter media downloader is an extension for Chrome. This add-on can be set to download almost every uploaded picture, video, or gif from a twitter profile. You can set limitations or a date to start it and end on.
Videoder is a video downloading application for your desktop or Android device. This software can download a file extremely fast by splitting it into parts and then joining it up before it finishes. You can run more than one download at a time, and queue the rest to begin downloading as soon as possible.
VidMate is another video downloading application for Windows. You can download music, videos, and movies with an intuitive interface and support for over 1000 websites including YouTube, social media, and SoundCloud.
Not the best around
SaveFrom.net Helper is a great tool, but other options outmatch it. The service is known to have ads or use an ad-supported extension if you use chrome browser. You may also find this software included in a quick install of one of your recent files.
The paid version is the only way to use the SaveFrom Helper to download videos in qualities higher than 720p. The only real issue users will encounter the limitations of which sites work, as most working websites are in Russian except for the popular social media and video hosting sites.
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