12 Best Facebook Story Downloaders (2026)

Facebook Stories disappear after 24 hours. If you want to save one before it’s gone, you need a third-party tool since Facebook doesn’t offer a download button.

We tested 12 Facebook Story downloaders in February 2026 and ranked them by speed, reliability, format support, and price. This guide covers free online tools, browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile solutions for downloading Stories, Reels, and private videos.

If you work with video from other platforms too, check out our online video downloader, TikTok downloader, or URL to MP4 converter.

Safety and Legal Basics

According to Meta’s community standards, users own their content. Download only public content or your own posts. Get permission before redistributing anyone else’s videos.

Never use tools that ask for your Facebook password. Legitimate downloaders work with public URLs only.

Comparison Table

Our pick: SnapSave for quick public downloads. FDown.net if you need private videos. ScreenApp if you want a method that never breaks.

Top 12 Facebook Story Downloaders

1. SnapSave

SnapSave is the easiest free option for public Facebook content. Paste a URL, pick your quality (up to 1080p), and download. No account needed.

It handles Stories, Reels, and regular videos. Processing usually takes under 10 seconds. The interface is clean with no pop-ups or redirect ads.

Pricing: Free, no premium tier.

Limitations: Public content only. No batch downloads. No private video support.

Good for: Anyone who needs a quick, no-fuss download of a public Facebook video.

2. FDown.net

FDown.net is one of the few tools that can download private Facebook videos. It uses a page source code method — you paste the HTML source from a private video page, and FDown extracts the video file.

For public videos, it works like any other paste-and-download tool with HD and SD options.

Pricing: Free with optional premium support.

Limitations: The private video method requires some technical knowledge. Slower than simpler tools.

Good for: People who need access to private group content they’re authorized to view.

3. SaveFrom.net

SaveFrom.net adds a download button directly inside Facebook when you browse. Install the Chrome or Firefox extension, and a green arrow appears next to every video. One click, pick your quality, done.

It also works on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and 40+ other sites.

Pricing: Free extension.

Limitations: Requires extension installation. Max 720p quality. No private video support. Some users may not want to grant browser permissions.

Good for: Frequent downloaders who want one-click convenience without leaving Facebook.

4. FBTake

FBTake is a newer tool that supports up to 4K downloads when the source video is available in that quality. It also handles story photos without quality loss. No software installation needed.

Pricing: Free, unlimited downloads.

Limitations: Public content only. No batch processing.

Good for: Users who want the highest possible resolution from Facebook content.

5. Bravedown

Bravedown is a browser-based downloader that works on iPhone, Android, and desktop without any app. Paste a link and download within seconds. Some users report it can handle stories from private groups you belong to.

Pricing: Free.

Limitations: Limited format options. No desktop software.

Good for: Mobile users who want a fast, app-free solution.

6. iTubeGo

iTubeGo is desktop software (Windows and Mac) with a built-in browser for secure Facebook login. It supports batch downloads, 4K quality, format conversion (MP4, MP3, AVI, MOV), and multi-threaded downloading for faster speeds.

Pricing:

• Free trial: 3 downloads/day
• Personal: $29.95/year
• Family (5 computers): $39.95/year

Limitations: Requires software installation and payment for full use. Overkill for occasional downloads.

Good for: Power users and content creators who download many videos regularly.

7. Friendly for Facebook

Friendly for Facebook is a mobile app (Android and iOS) that replaces the official Facebook app. It adds download buttons to every video, blocks ads, and has a dark mode. You can save videos directly to your phone’s gallery.

Pricing:

• Free version with ads
• Pro: $1.99/month (no ads, unlimited downloads)

Limitations: Replaces your main Facebook app. Some features may lag behind official app updates.

Good for: Mobile-first users who want downloads built into their daily Facebook browsing.

8. Getfvid

Getfvid is a lightweight online tool. No ads, no clutter — just a URL field and a download button. It loads fast even on slow connections and is designed for mobile-first use.

Pricing: Free, no premium tier.

Limitations: Basic quality options (HD/SD only). No batch downloads. No format conversion.

Good for: Users who want the fastest, simplest possible download experience.

9. StorySaver.net

StorySaver.net is built specifically for ephemeral content. It shows thumbnail previews of available Stories before you download, and handles both photo and video Stories while preserving the vertical format.

Pricing: Free with optional premium for batch downloads.

Limitations: Limited to Stories only. Interface feels dated.

Good for: Social media managers who need to archive Stories before they expire.

10. FBReels.net

FBReels.net focuses on Facebook Reels (short vertical videos). It preserves the 9:16 aspect ratio and keeps the original audio track. Processing is fast since Reels are short files.

Pricing: Free.

Limitations: Only handles Reels, not regular videos or Stories.

Good for: People who specifically want to save Facebook Reels content.

11. 4K Video Downloader

4K Video Downloader is premium desktop software supporting up to 8K resolution. It has a Smart Mode that remembers your preferences, auto-subscription to download new videos from pages you follow, and playlist batch downloads.

Pricing:

• Lite: $15/year
• Pro: $25/year (unlimited downloads)
• Premium: $65/year (commercial use)

Limitations: Expensive for casual users. Heavy software. Limited free version.

Good for: Professionals and agencies who need the absolute highest quality downloads.

12. Screen Recording (Built-in)

Every modern device has screen recording built in. It works with any video, including private content, and can’t be blocked by Facebook. The trade-off is larger file sizes and some manual trimming.

How to start recording:

• iPhone/iPad: Control Center > Screen Recording
• Android: Quick Settings > Screen Recorder
• Windows: Win + G (Xbox Game Bar)
• Mac: Shift + Cmd + 5

Pricing: Free (built into your OS).

Limitations: Manual process. Larger files. May capture UI elements.

Good for: A reliable fallback when other tools stop working.

ScreenApp: A Better Approach

Most Facebook downloaders break when Meta updates its platform. Screen recording with ScreenApp gives you a method that always works. Record any Facebook Story or Reel in 1080p, and ScreenApp automatically generates a transcript with AI transcription.

You can also use ScreenApp’s AI Video Analyzer to pull out the main points from any downloaded content, or the Video Summarizer to create written summaries for repurposing.

Try ScreenApp free — no broken links, no Facebook API changes to worry about.

How to Download FB Stories

The process is the same for most online tools:

1. Open the Facebook Story or Reel you want to save.
2. Tap the three-dot menu or “Share” and copy the link.
3. Paste the link into your chosen downloader.
4. Pick HD or SD quality and click download.

For private videos, FDown.net uses a different method: right-click the video page, select “View Page Source” (or press Ctrl+U), search for “.mp4” in the source code, and paste that URL into FDown’s private video input.

Download Quality Guide

Facebook compresses all uploaded videos, so the quality you get depends on what was originally uploaded.

• 720p MP4 — Good for mobile viewing. Small file size. Works on all devices.
• 1080p MP4 — Best for archiving and editing. Larger files.
• 4K MP4 — Only available from tools like FBTake and iTubeGo, and only when the source was uploaded in 4K.
• Audio only (MP3/M4A) — Useful for podcasts or voice content. Tiny file sizes.

For post-download processing, ScreenApp’s audio transcription can add searchable text to your archived content.

FAQ

Is it legal to download Facebook Stories?

Downloading public content for personal use generally falls under fair use per U.S. Copyright Office guidelines. Redistributing someone else’s content without permission can violate copyright law. Always get permission before reposting.

Can the person see if I download their Story?

No. None of these tools notify the original poster when you download their content. Facebook only shows who viewed a Story, not who saved it externally.

Why did the download link stop working?

Facebook updates its systems regularly, which breaks third-party tools. SnapSave and SaveFrom.net usually patch their tools within days. If one tool stops working, try another from this list, or use screen recording as a backup.

Can I download Facebook Live videos?

Yes. Once a Live video ends and is saved to the page, it works like any regular video. Paste the URL into SnapSave or any other downloader on this list.

How do I extract just the audio?

iTubeGo and 4K Video Downloader have audio extraction built in. For free options, download the MP4 and use a converter like CloudConvert or VLC to strip the audio track.

What’s the best tool for downloading Reels?

FBReels.net is built specifically for Reels and preserves the vertical format. SnapSave also handles Reels well. For batch Reel downloads, use iTubeGo.

Do these tools work on iPhone?

Yes. Online tools like SnapSave, Getfvid, and Bravedown work in Safari and Chrome on iPhone. Friendly for Facebook is also available on iOS. Built-in screen recording is another option via Control Center.

Can I download private Facebook videos?

FDown.net supports private videos through a page source method. iTubeGo has a built-in browser for logged-in downloads. Screen recording works with any content regardless of privacy settings.