Vimeo doesn’t offer a built-in download button for most videos you watch there, and hunting for a workaround usually lands you on a site full of ads or a sketchy download tool.

Grabio is a free iOS Shortcut that copies the link you share and sends you to a general download page that lists Vimeo and says it uses no ad networks. You need no separate app.

Why you can’t just save a Vimeo video from Safari

At a glance

How to Download a Vimeo Video on iPhone
Cost
Free, forever
Account
None needed
App Store
No install
Runs on
iPhone, via Shortcuts

Vimeo streams video rather than serving a direct downloadable file for most content, so there’s no simple long-press-to-save option like there is for a photo. Searching for “download Vimeo video” tends to surface ad-heavy converter sites, several of which are flagged for malware or misleading download buttons.

Grabio skips the search results by sending you straight to one general download page that lists Vimeo. There is also a separate guide: How to Download an MP4 on iPhone (Free, No App).

How to download a Vimeo video on iPhone with Grabio

  1. Add Grabio to your iPhone once, it’s a free Apple Shortcut with no App Store download and no sign-up. Add Grabio to your iPhone.
  2. Open the video on vimeo.com or in the Vimeo app and tap the Share icon.
  3. Tap Grabio in the share sheet. If the app does not list it, open the link in Safari and share it from there.
  4. Grabio does not recognize Vimeo links by name. It copies the link and opens a general download page, which lists Vimeo, in Safari.
  5. Tap the box, then Paste, tap Extract Formats, pick a format and download, then save the video to Photos or Files.

Is it private and free on iPhone?

Grabio itself is free with no account, no login, and no daily cap. Its own server never downloads or stores the video, it only receives a random anonymous install ID, because the link is checked on your phone before Safari opens the download page, which handles the actual download on its own site.

Use this for your own videos or content you clearly have the right to keep a copy of, not to redistribute someone else’s work.

Download a Vimeo video on iPhone: FAQ

Can I download a private or password-protected Vimeo video?

Grabio and the download page can only work with a link you’re already able to open. If a video is private or needs a password to view, this flow won’t be able to reach it.

Does this work for Vimeo videos with downloads disabled by the uploader?

Results depend on how the specific video was set up by whoever uploaded it. Some creators restrict their videos in ways that block third-party tools like the download page from pulling the file, in which case the download won’t go through.

Do I have to paste the link myself?

Yes. Grabio copies the link for you, so on the download page you tap the box, then Paste, tap Extract Formats and pick a format. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and the other main platforms use a different clean download page, where you tap Paste, pick the quality and tap Download.

Related on iPhone: download TikTok and Instagram videos, download YouTube videos, or Video & Audio Tools.

Once you have that working, it is worth seeing how it stacks up against the alternatives, the full video downloader for iPhone comparison covers paid apps, ad-heavy sites, and the free Shortcut approach side by side.