These days, YouTube is definitely the champion among video platforms. There’s no doubt about it — if you’re looking for a piece of video content, it’s practically on YouTube or it doesn’t exist. In the past decade, this website has also become the place where new music videos get posted; even being a place where people listen to music in general.
But from time to time, we all want to have a piece of music or a podcast available for offline listening. In that scenario, YouTube just isn’t going to cut it — after all, you have to be online to use it, and there’s no download option available for free. Luckily for you — there are tons of YouTube to MP3 converters that easily provide you with any YouTube clip, song, or interview you want to listen to at your leisure offline. With that in mind, we’ll give you some of our top picks!
1. 4K Download MP3 Converter
To start things off, we’ll go with one of the generally most useful tools you can find on the Internet — the 4K Download MP3 Converter! You should know that this isn’t a tool specifically designed to be a YouTube converter — it works with a ton of other websites as well, boasting an impressive platform versatility.
For instance, you can use it to download podcasts, playlists and songs from Soundcloud, or videos from VEVO; heck, it’s even compatible with Vimeo. Of course, it still has the basic functionality that we’re talking about here, and that’s converting from YouTube to MP3.
The other important advantage of this tool is that you don’t need any prerequisite technical expertise to use it to its full potential. It features an extremely simplistic drag-and-drop interface — you don’t even have to do any typing. Plus, perhaps most importantly for this kind of tool — you don’t have to register anywhere. All you need is an idea of what MP3 file you want, and you’ll have it delivered pretty quickly.
Pros:
- A variety of formats in which high-res downloads are available
- Once you set preferred settings, there’s a “Smart Mode” for quick and easy downloads
- Professional design
- Sleek interface
Cons:
- Paid version for advanced features
- Have to download a tool
In conclusion, this is an incredibly useful app for converting YouTube videos. The only problem we can find with it is that some of the more advanced options require downloading the paid version of the program. On the other hand, it’s not too pricey, so people who constantly convert and download videos to MP3 may find it worth their time and money. Plus, seeing as you can tweak the quality of the audio according to your needs — it’s definitely one of the better options on our list.
2. Free YouTube to MP3 Converter
Let’s face it — all of us like free stuff. And the fact that even the name of this program indicates that it’s free is definitely not a bad start. It’s definitely a handy, no-nonsense kind of software. There’s no fiddling around — you simply select all of the files that you want to convert from one format to another and press the “Convert” button. All that’s left then is to wait.
There’s an option for bulk converting, meaning that you don’t have to go video by video. For instance, if there’s a music artist or a vlogger whose content you want to listen to offline — you can select all of the videos on their channel and convert them all! Of course, bear in mind that this will take some time depending on how many videos you want to convert — but it’s still a handy feature!
All in all, the program does precisely what you expect from its name. Also, the eponymous price is definitely going to attract some attention; not many of us like paying for software when we don’t need to.
However, we do feel obligated to point out that there is an optional piece of adware in the install package of this YouTube to MP3 converter, specifically the ByteFence software. Still, it won’t be installed unless you agree to it personally — so you should just watch out for any unwanted segments during the installation process and untick them. Everything else is perfectly fine.
Once you do install this program, you’ll definitely be in for a pleasant surprise. You don’t even have to mess around with any settings before your first conversion. All you have to do is access an extremely straightforward drop-down menu. From there, you’ll be able to pick the output format and the quality of your future audio file.
When you do that, just copy and paste the link towards the input video, and click on the designated Download button. Your files will be simultaneously downloaded and converted — you basically don’t have to do anything yourself.
The premier quality of the Free YouTube to MP3 Converter is a lack of fiddling and messing about. There’s nothing that could confuse even the most novice user, and there’s no superfluous content. It comes with a single purpose, and the program does it well. We definitely recommend giving it a try.
Pros:
- Professional-looking program design
- Bulk conversion option
- Supports a variety of formats for both video and audio
Cons:
- Slightly dated interface, but still easy to navigate and usable
There’s really not too much negative to say about this piece of software. It’s not as sleek-looking as some of the other converters on this list, but it’s definitely one of the most usable we’ve come across. If you want a quick and professional conversion that’s also free — this is your stop.
3. Wondershare UniConverter
The main reason why we’d recommend the Wondershare UniConverter right out of the gate is it’s an incredibly modern interface and abundance of useful features. Just like some of the other best YouTube to MP3 converters on this list, the Wondershare option isn’t just limited to that type of conversion — nor can you only use it with YouTube.
On the contrary — it works with just about every audio and video format you can think of. Really, it’s not so much of a straight converter as it is an entire multimedia software suite. For instance, if you’ve got hefty videos that take up too much space — you can use this software to compress them. In fact, if there’s one thing that sets it apart from the other picks of ours, it’s the fact that it can be used to make DVDs!
Pros:
- One-click downloads
- Fast lossless conversion
- Plenty of formats
- The abundance of supported platforms
Cons:
- The free version is extremely limited
This is certainly one of the most professionally designed software suites we’ve come across in our search for the best converter. We’d be remiss not mentioning just how super fast it is — you can achieve a speed that’s thirty times higher than the default one without losing any sound quality. Also, the number of different formats that you can select is literally more than a thousand; basically every format you can use in digital content today.
The only problem here is the fact that the free version is severely limited in the number of formats you can pick, as well as the different conversions. All in all, if you can afford the paid version — you’ll have some of the best converter programs out there. If not, you’d be better off looking for another free program.
4. Converto
For our next pick, we’ve got a YouTube to MP3 converter that doesn’t require any dedicated software to run. In other words, Converto is a completely web-based platform. This fact has its obvious advantages — you don’t have to spend your time downloading and installing yet another small app that you’ll want to delete in a couple of days. Instead, all you need to do is visit the Converto web page. Once there, you will easily spot the box where you just paste the link to your desired YouTube video — and that’s all folks!
Once you select the format and the audio or video quality of your output, there’s nothing else to do but to click the “Convert” option. If you want a quick no-fuss converter that does a decent job, this is an excellent option.
Pros:
- No ads
- Decent conversion
Cons:
- Limited download time
- Simple conversion
At the end of the day, not everyone needs complex software for format conversion, nor do they need support for hundreds of different output formats. If you don’t require any of that, or bulk task options — Converto will definitely do a decent job. Just make sure to download any converted files right away, as the link tends to expire pretty quickly, and then you have to do it all over again.
5. Y2Mate
Our following choice of converters is another simple, yet effective web application — Y2Mate. Yep, you’ve read that right. This is also a web-based app, meaning no nuisances like downloads and installing. Of course, that comes with a price — though the app is free to use, you shouldn’t expect any huge capabilities here.
Y2Mate does one thing, but it does that task well. You can use it to convert YouTube videos to MP3, but that’s it. The novelty here is that you don’t need to know the exact link of the video that you’ll be converting, though it obviously has that option as well. Instead, you can search YouTube from within the Y2Mate website.
Once you’ve found your converter of choice, you just select it using a simple drag and drop method and commence the download. You can also download videos in the MP4 format if you want to have more than the audio.
Pros:
- Zero registration needed
- Works with popular web browsers
Cons:
- Lack of advanced options
If you’re looking for a hassle-free conversion, it doesn’t get much better than Y2Mate. And it does have a couple of nifty options too. For instance, when the conversion is finished, you don’t have to download it to your computer or phone. You can also directly upload it to Google Drive or Dropbox from Y2Mate. That makes the file easy to access regardless of which device you’re using.
On the other hand, this service is pretty lacking when it comes to support for platforms such as Dailymotion, Video, or other video streaming services. It only works on YouTube — and you should bear in mind that it gets buggy on Android phones too. Still, it’s free and easy — for people who don’t need more than that, it’s a fine option.
6. YTD Video Downloader
The following video downloader that we’ll review is not meant for MP3 downloads primarily — though you can use it as such as well. It allows you to download and save video files that are found on pretty much any website dedicated to media sharing; don’t let its name fool you, it does more than download from YouTube.
Pros:
- Both a player and a converter
- Quite stable
- Pausing and resuming downloads
Cons:
- No option for bulk downloads
- Erratic download speeds
This is a simple yet effective tool, but it does miss some key points. First of all, it has no option for bulk downloads — meaning it’s not effective for prolonged use. Also, it has a free and premium version. The former doesn’t support the simultaneous download of more than one file. The download speeds are also quite erratic, so their servers probably leave something to be desired.
7. aTube Catcher
All of us know the feeling of finding that one app that does what it does effectively, and is always a lifesaver if you need to do something quickly. On this list, aTube Catcher definitely earns such a position. The devs went out of their way to ensure maximum functionality and ease of use. Truly, the user experience is some of the best you’ll see here, even though the visual elements of the interface may seem somewhat dated.
Still, the functionality is top-notch. You don’t have to worry about anything — just throw all the links you want at this software, and you’ll be able to bulk convert them in no time at all.
Pros:
- Most video formats supported
- Intuitive interface
- Bulk conversion
Cons:
- Only converts from YouTube
The bulk conversion feature is something the majority of high-quality YouTube-to-MP3 converters have. One of the best things about this particular software is that it doesn’t require you to pay a premium subscription for the feature — something we can’t say for most other converters. There are also a few features that you don’t expect but will find highly useful — such as an audio and screen recorder. Unfortunately, it won’t convert from other media websites except for YouTube.
8. YouTubeMP3
One of the worthiest contenders on our list of converters is definitely YouTubeMP3. First of all, it’s web-based, and with an incredibly sleek interface. You’ll be amazed at just how easily you’re able to access a wide range of features. For instance, you can even fiddle around with the volume levels of your output videos. Additionally, you can choose the format too — but that’s something you expect in your converters.
Pros:
- Easily accessible features
- Wide range of supported output formats
Cons:
- Annoying ads
People who simply want a converter that does its job well and doesn’t require you to register, download, or install anything — this is one of the best picks we can find. If you don’t want to mess around with any of the options, you’ll be able to convert videos in the span of a single click — easy and simple.
The only downside that we’ve noticed is that the website has quite a few ads.
9. Ontiva Converter
Next up, we’ve got another contender that’s more than worthy of a spot on our list — Ontiva. This converter comes in the form of modern-looking website service. There are half a dozen output formats, which is nothing to write home about — but it’s also very dependable in terms of functionality. You don’t have to register for an account, and you don’t have to pay for anything.
Pros:
- Unlimited number of conversions
- Free web service
- Modern interface
Cons:
- Only works with YouTube
The great thing about this software is that it’s not just great for MP3 files — you can get your YouTube videos in a wide variety of video formats as well — from AVI and MP4 to WAV. The conversion process is also surprisingly fast when you’re converting to a video format. Still, it only works on videos uploaded to YouTube — so don’t expect to use it with Dailymotion and similar websites.
10. Free YouTube Download
Our following pick is another piece of software that doesn’t have a wide range of features — but its focus allows it to be more high quality than it otherwise would. Free YouTube Download does just what it says in the name.
Pros:
- Straightforward design
- Video queuing enabled
Cons:
- A limited number of features in the free version
- Only works on YouTube
We have to warn you that the free version of this software won’t let you convert and download long videos — longer than three minutes, to be precise. That’s why it’s very limited in scope and function. Plus, you can only use it on YouTube.
Related: Best Free YouTube Downloader
11. Any Video Converter Free
This is one of the finest YouTube to MP3 converters out there. There’s no fuss if you don’t want it — but it also has a lot of options for advanced users. It’s quick, dependable, and utterly flexible. And sure, while its name may suggest that it only converts files to a video format, it actually has options for MP3 conversions as well.
You should know that this isn’t a tiny piece of software — it’s more like an entire suite. You get a lot of other options with this converter; though we should warn you that the installation offers some (probably unwanted) adware as well.
Still, the basic task that you want out of this is performed admirably well. Even though this is an incredibly versatile and powerful program, you can still easily use it to extract MP3 files from any YouTube video out there. In the end, it’s still about pasting the link of the video from YouTube that you want into the program and clicking a single button.
Once you choose MP3 as your output format of choice, there’s nothing else to do but click on the Convert button.
Pros:
- Versatile program
- A lot of effects and filters for videos
- Works on different devices
Cons:
- Unwanted adware
12. Apowersoft
Here’s another excellent website that you can use to easily convert YouTube videos to MP3 files. Many of the software solutions and web services that we’ve listed here can be used for the same purpose — but many of them are also quite limited in terms of the input website. Sure, in most cases, you’ll be able to find the videos that you want to convert on YouTube. But what if you want to tap into the video libraries of places like Vevo, DailyMotion, and even the oft-forgotten MySpace?
In that case, a converter like Apowersoft is just what you need. This software solution works with a majority of the video upload websites out there — meaning you’re not just limited to YouTube in search of the perfect MP3-to-be.
If you want, you can also choose from a variety of different output formats. Some of them are even video, meaning you don’t have to lose the picture in order to keep the sound. All you need to do is to find the video that you’re after and paste its link into the “Convert” box. The tool provided by Apowersoft will then lead you towards a handily-designed page where you can adjust the output settings for your new file. When you’ve done that, the conversion will commence and you’ll have your file within minutes. We should note that the website also has options for searching YouTube by keywords instead of copying an URL.
Pros:
- Video formats along with audio
- Clean interface
- Keyword searching
Cons:
- Conversion can take a while from more obscure video websites
13. Video Grabber
Video Grabber differs from most of the other tools on this list by virtue of one simple fact — it’s not primarily used for downloading from YouTube into the MP3 format. In fact, you’ll find that the name itself speaks to the fact that Video Grabber is used for downloading videos first and foremost. However, you can still use it to download MP3 files from YouTube videos, which is why it earns a spot on our list. All Video Grabber needs is the link to your file, and you’re all set — you’ll have your MP3 in no time at all. And best of all — unlike most of the programs here, there’s also an iOS version for Macs.
Pros:
- Works on Macs
- Video format options
Cons:
- Not primarily used for MP3
14. FLVto
Our next pick is FLVto — another tool that’s great at converting both audio and video files from YouTube links. This one is an online app, so you won’t be forced to download anything in order to use it. Just like with most other web apps of this sort, there’s a box where you’re supposed to paste your links, and voila — after you pick MP3 as your preferred format, you’ll have your file pretty much instantly.
The converter is also excellent because it provides you with other audio formats that aren’t MP3 — if you want something more particular, this is the converter you should be on the lookout for. On top of that, there’s another useful option that almost no other converter has; instead of downloading the output file to your PC, you can also send it to your email and save it there.
Pros:
- Send files via email
- Plenty of audio formats
Cons:
- None
15. ClipConverter
One of the all-time favorites when it comes to online file conversion is ClipConverter — one of the most well-known tools among budding music grabbers on the Internet. It’s a great web app because it allows you something that’s usually found in downloadable converters rather than in online ones; the option to adjust advanced settings like output quality.
You can also select from a couple of basic formats, such as M4a, MP4, and MP3 — not a huge selection, but it’s pretty much what the average user needs.
Pros:
- Simple
- Functional
Cons:
- A limited number of output formats
16. YTMP3
For those who need to perform a single conversion quickly, YTMP3 is one of those web services that will easily get you where you need to go. There are no advanced options here, and yet it’s still incredibly versatile. When you enter the website, you pick whether you want to download an MP3 or an MP4 — there are no hundreds of formats to choose from, this is something primarily used by the average Joe who wants his favorite song on his phone.
The best thing about YTMP3 is that it’s not limited to desktop browsers — the web service works on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. If you’re a beginner who’s not that intricately familiar with online tech, this is certainly a great choice for you. All you need to know in order to use it is to be capable of pasting a YouTube link into the right box.
Pros:
- Works on all platforms
Cons:
- A limited number of output formats
17. MP3 YouTube
Our final pick on this long list is MP3 YouTube. In many ways, this tool embodies the essence of what you’re trying to accomplish with a YouTube to MP3 converter. It’s efficient, free, and simple. Its functions are utterly easy for all users, and you even get nifty information such as the size and the duration of your converted video.
It downloads MP3 files in the highest possible quality from any source video. And interestingly enough, it doesn’t just work with YouTube and similar video content platforms. It’s also compatible with social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. Downloading videos from there is something not all converters can pull off — but this one does.
Pros:
- Downloading from social networks as well
Cons:
- A lot of ads
Picking The Right Converter
Considering everything that we’ve talked about above, you can see how many choices there are when it comes to YouTube to MP3 converters. So, how can you make a certain choice about this? Well, there are a few things to keep in mind. Mostly, you need to think about the number of videos that you’re looking to convert. There are simple and small tools that will do the job easily if you’re only looking to download a particular song or a music video from YouTube.
On the other hand, your media project may involve downloading a ton of videos and converting them all. If that’s the case, we recommend steering away from web-based apps and focusing on a desktop application. The latter is more powerful and offers more comprehensive features — though they’re also more likely to demand a price for premium features.
Still, there are upsides — desktop software tends to be faster than web-based apps because half of the work is performed on your own computer rather than on a cloud or server. Plus, desktop apps are known to have better bulk download capabilities.
You should also keep in mind that being careful is paramount in your search for the right converter. This is an extremely sought-after feature; meaning that plenty of malware programs like to disguise themselves as converters. Make sure you avoid them while finding what you’re after.
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Frequently Asked Questions About YouTube Converters
Now that we’ve recommended dozens of YouTube to MP3 converters, we’re going to answer a few frequently asked questions about the process of downloading videos from YouTube.
Is it illegal to download music from YouTube to mp3?
The answer to this question depends on what kind of video we’re talking about. Technically, the act of downloading a video from YouTube isn’t illegal in and of itself. However, if the video is copyrighted content — such as music videos — that’s not legal.
Bear in mind that any kind of download actually violates YouTube’s Terms of Service, as well as Google’s — they own YouTube — but that’s not really illegal or prosecutable in court. Still, Google and YouTube have shut down plenty of web services that were used for the downloading of YouTube videos.
If you do download music videos, you’re doing something that’s not in accordance with US and EU copyright laws. Still, most people do it anyway, as the prosecution of individual cases is next to impossible.
Is there a safe way to convert YouTube to mp3?
From a legal standpoint, you’re pretty safe no matter how you decide to download videos from YouTube and convert them to MP3; YouTube and Google go after the service providers for the conversions, not the end-user.
However, we’ve already mentioned that plenty of malware coders disguise their malicious creations as YouTube converters. For that reason, it’s important to stick to trustworthy and time-tested converters, such as some of the ones we’ve listed here. Don’t trust any converter that doesn’t have plenty of online reviews.
How do I save a YouTube video as an mp3?
While there are many different YouTube to MP3 converters out there, most of them function on a pretty simple premise from the user’s standpoint. You obtain the link of the video that you want to save as an Mp3 and paste it into the appropriate part of the converter’s user interface. That’s pretty much all there is to it.
Can I extract audio from YouTube video?
If you find a YouTube video downloader and extract an MP3 file from there, you’ll basically be doing this. MP3 files don’t have any video capabilities, so all you’ll be left with is the audio recording from your YouTube video. Bear in mind that there are other audio formats that you can use as the output, though MP3 is the most popular one due to a decent relationship between quality and size.
How can I download a song from YouTube?
This depends on whether you want to keep the music video as well. If that’s the case, you’ll have to use one of the video downloaders from our list. Conversely, any old MP3 downloader will serve you just fine.
A Final Word from Run Gun Shoot
As you can see, there is an astounding number of YouTube to MP3 converters out there. We hope that our list has provided you with everything you need in order to have a complete feature set and download the videos that you want in your preferred format!
