If you’re someone who enjoys listening to music or simply loves freebies, you’ve likely searched for ways to download high-quality audio from videos. That’s not surprising — with its vast collection of music, YouTube is a goldmine for discovering new tunes.
Sometimes, you just want to listen to your selection of songs offline without worrying about data usage or internet connectivity issues. But is it possible and safe to do so? In this post, we’ll discover six different methods to get MP3s from YouTube.
How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3: Overview
We’ve searched through various tools and selected the best ones for each category. You might find yourself using a couple of these, depending on the device you're currently using:
- Best overall: YouTube Premium
- Best for desktop: 4K Video Downloader Plus
- Best online tool: Wave.video
- Best browser extension: YouTube MP3 Converter
- Best for Android: VidMate
- Best for iOS: MyMP3
Now, let’s check out a description of each tool and see how to use them effectively.
A Word of Caution
It’s convenient to have options to download content in the format you prefer. However, it’s also important to be aware of the risks involved if you’re not using the right tools. Be cautious when using online video conversion sites, as some may be buggy or contain malware.
Even seemingly safe sites can become malicious. So, always use reliable and updated antivirus software before trying any conversion site.
Is there a safe YouTube to MP3 Converter?
Yes, there are a few reliable converters. In the article, we detail options like YouTube Premium, 4K Video Downloader+, Wave.video, and more.
Now, let’s explore some websites and programs that can make MP3s from YouTube videos.
Method 1. YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is a subscription service by YouTube that offers various perks like downloading videos and audio for offline use.
You can download videos with a Premium subscription:
- Find the desired video on the YouTube app or website.
- Hit the download button.
- To access your downloaded videos, tap on your profile picture.
- Choose Downloads from the list of options.
Also, with YouTube Premium, you get access to YouTube Music Premium as well. You can download and listen to over 100 million songs without ads. After you download them, they’re available for up to 30 days without an internet connection.
To download playlists or albums in the YouTube Music app, tap Menu where you see them, and choose Download. For individual songs, go to its detail page, and tap Menu > Download.
Method 2. 4K Video Downloader Plus (Desktop)
4K Video Downloader Plus is a tool that works on both PC and Android devices and lets you save high-quality videos from YouTube and other websites.
Main features:
- Converting in batches — You can quickly save audio from multiple videos all at once, like YouTube channels and playlists to MP3, M4A, and OGG formats. Simply paste several links to single videos at once.
- Original quality audio — Audio files have the same quality as when they’re stored on the website. You can also adjust the quality settings in the converter to tailor the file size to your preferences.
- Download audio on mobile — Get audio tracks, playlists, and channels directly to your phone using our Android downloader app.
- Secure private audio downloads — Save any private content that you have access to.
Here’s how to convert a YouTube video to MP3 on a PC using 4K Video Downloader Plus:
- Download and install the application on your Windows, macOS, or Linux device.
- Copy the link from the browser.
- Open 4K Video Downloader Plus and click Paste Link.
- Choose MP3 in the format section.
- Wait for the download to complete.
- To locate the MP3 file, navigate to the output directory and right-click on the item. Then, choose Show in folder.
Method 3. Wave.video (Online)
Wave.video is as easy as plug and play. If you’re short on time or don’t want to sign up, you can still download YouTube videos as MP3. Just drop the video link into the converter, and it will automatically convert and initiate the download.
Main features:
- Web-based — You can visit the converter section on Wave.video’s website without creating an account.
- Supports multiple formats — The tool is compatible with MP4, M4V, MKV, MOV, AVI, WMV, M2TS, WebM, TS, and TSV.
- Good output quality — Maintain the original quality of your video when converting.
Follow these steps:
- Place the video link into the converter tool.
- Click Download and wait a few seconds for the tool to do the work.
- The tool will then start downloading the MP3 file.
You’ll likely have to enable popups from Wave.video in your web browser.
Why Download Audio From YouTube Videos, Anyway?
Downloaded audio ensures uninterrupted playback and eliminates buffering issues common with streaming services. Think about it: you’re not reliant on a stable internet connection. You get consistent quality, with no annoying pauses ever.
Also, users save on data usage, especially when streaming music repeatedly. You only use your data once to download, or better yet, you can download using your home Wi-Fi and keep your data for other purposes. If you know you’ll be streaming a lot, why not optimize?
Finally, some users may want to create custom playlists or mixtapes for personal use by downloading audio from YouTube videos. It’s simply a matter of customizing your listening experience.
Method 4. YouTube MP3 Converter (Extension)
Because Google owns Chrome and YouTube, they don’t officially allow extensions to rip MP3 from YouTube. However, you can still use a workaround like Foxified, which lets you use Firefox extensions in other browsers. First, install Foxified to Chrome, then the YouTube MP3 Converter extension. Once installed, a new MP3 button will pop up when you open a YouTube video.
For other browsers:
- Firefox: with the Greasemonkey user script
- Edge: requires Foxified extension
- Opera: can be installed directly
- Yandex: requires Foxified
- Safari: with the Tampermonkey user script
- Vivaldi: requires Foxified
- Brave: requires Foxified
Main features:
- Converts videos to audio files up to 320 kbps quality. Options available: 64 kbps, 128 kbps, 256 kbps, and 320 kbps.
- Trim and customize MP3 files with an intuitive audio trimmer. Cut the audio to your desired length.
- Download MP3 files with ID3 tags directly from YouTube. Retrieve essential information like artist name, album title, and genre automatically.
- Enjoy ultra-fast conversions and downloads, even for lengthy audio or multiple files.
Can You Legally Convert From YouTube to MP3?
The legality of converting from YouTube is a complex issue. It’s generally considered legal to download and change videos for personal use. However, distributing copyrighted content without permission violates the platform’s terms of service and copyright laws. So, make sure to respect copyright laws and use converters responsibly.
Method 5. VidMate (Android)
VidMate is an Android app that lets you download HD videos from YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. You can download the VidMate APK for Android from this link. Keep in mind that this app works with Android 4.0 and newer versions.
Main features:
- Fast downloader even on slow internet
- Downloading multiple files at once, pausing and resuming as needed
- Streaming videos in like 1080p, 720p, and BluRay
- Supports many languages, including English and Hindi
To download VidMate for Android, follow these steps:
- Get the APK file.
- When prompted, click Settings in the dialog box.
- Enable the option Allow installation from this source.
- Tap Install and allow the process to finish.
- Once installed, open the VidMate app.
As for how to get MP3 from YouTube with VidMate, you can search for the video within the app or copy the YouTube link and place it into the search bar. Then, simply click the large download button, and you’ll have the option to save the video as either music or a video in various resolutions.
No matter how you choose to download, you can extract the MP3 audio from the original video.
Method 6. MyMP3 (iOS)
There isn’t a widely recognized dedicated app that can both download YouTube videos and convert them to audio. So, let’s follow a two-step solution. First, download the video using your preferred method, such as YouTube Premium, or download it on your desktop and send it to your mobile device.
Once it’s done, here’s what you can do with the MyMP3 app:
- Convert videos to MP3 and other audio formats
- Import audio files from various sources
- Share MP3 files with social networks and messaging apps
- Edit and customize audio files, including audio metadata
- Create and edit playlists with a built-in music player for playback
- Rearrange tracks as needed
Here’s how to convert your YouTube video to MP3 on iOS:
- Download the MyMP3 app from the App Store.
- Open the app and choose a video from your gallery.
- You can play the audio file within the app, share it via email, or save it to your iPhone’s Files.
Tips for Converting From YouTube to MP3
Before you start downloading and converting, keep these rules in mind:
- Use batch conversion — If you have multiple videos to convert, look for converters that support batch conversion to save time and effort.
- Choose the right format — Some converters offer various audio formats besides MP3. Consider your device compatibility and audio quality preferences when selecting the format.
- Test the output — Before downloading large batches of files, test the converter with a small sample to see if the output meets your expectations in terms of quality and format.
- Be cautious with ads — Some converters may contain intrusive malware. Be cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious ads or links.
- Check for updates — Have your converter up-to-date at all times to access the latest features and improvements, including compatibility with YouTube’s updates.
That’s pretty much everything you need to know about converting video to audio! Whether you were looking up how to convert YouTube video to MP3 on a MacBook or Android smartphone, Windows PC, or an iOS device, this guide should cover it all, with some extra info thrown in between.
