Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. But rest assured that all opinions remain my own. You can read my full affiliate disclaimer here.
A YouTube to MP3 converter comes in handy if you’re looking to extract audio from a YouTube video and convert it to MP3 format.
With one of these tools, you can download a YouTube video and convert it to MP3 audio. Some of these tools support other audio formats as well. Once you’ve ripped the audio, you can listen to it whenever you want, even if you’re offline.
Proceed with caution, though, since some videos are protected by copyright laws and YouTube’s terms of service prohibit users from unlawful video downloading. Plus, some YouTube to MP3 tools are riddled with bugs and malware, which could harm your computer.
To help you choose the right tool, I’ve listed my recommendations for the top YouTube to MP3 converter tools below. But first, let’s consider what to look for when choosing the best YouTube to MP3 converter.
- What to look for in a YouTube to MP3 converter
- 6 best YouTube to MP3 converter tools
- Risks/legals issues involved with converting YouTube to MP3
- Converting YouTube to MP3: Final thoughts
What To Look For in a YouTube to MP3 Converter Tool
The internet is flooded with YouTube to Mp3 converter tools, but only some are worth your time. Here’s what you need to consider when choosing a converter tool:
Conversion Speed
Speed matters — there’s nothing more frustrating than a slow download time.If your internet is stable, a good YouTube to MP3 converter should take less than a minute to download and convert a three-minute music video to Mp3 format.
The download speed also depends on the length of the video. It’s unrealistic to expect a two-hour-long video to download within a few seconds.
However, since most tools reveal how long it takes to process a YouTube video, it’s generally a good idea to opt for the fastest.
Batch download capabilities
Batch downloading involves fetching content from multiple links and downloading them simultaneously. While batch downloads aren’t necessarily a requirement, the top YouTube to MP3 converters can support batch downloads without compromising speeds.
If you intend to download multiple files at the same time, prioritize this feature. If you’re only looking to convert individual videos once in a while, then this feature might not be so important.
Security Standards
A good YouTube to Mp3 converter tool should be safe to use on your device. Unsafe tools could infect your device with malware, spyware, or adware.
User reviews can help you determine if a tool is safe to use or not. If you want to be extra careful, opt for a paid tool over a free online YouTube converter.
Ease of Use
A good tool shouldn’t complicate the process of downloading content from YouTube. Instead, it should let you copy and paste a link from YouTube and initiate the conversion process without much hassle.
Better still, some tools integrate directly with YouTube as add-ons and can capture content directly on the site. All you need to do is click on the download button that will appear below a YouTube video to convert it to MP3 format.
The tool may also indicate how long it will take to process the YouTube video by providing a download speed estimate.
Cost
There are plenty of free YouTube to Mp3 converter tools online, but some bombard you with ads. If you want to avoid the ads (and optimize security), consider opting for a paid version, especially if you’re planning to convert YouTube video to Mp3 audio on a regular basis.
Make sure to check the features and maximum downloads allowed per day before choosing a premium converter tool. Some tools limit your daily downloads, which might not be suitable if you’re looking for unlimited downloads.
Type of Converter
There are two main types of YouTube video converters: online converters and desktop converters. Online tools don’t require any installation, and they don’t take up storage space on your device. With one of these tools, all you need to do is copy and paste a YouTube link to convert the YouTube video to MP3 format.
Desktop converters, on the other hand, require installation and consume some space on your device. But they tend to be faster than online tools and can often support batch downloads. That said, desktop converters can be more prone to security risks, so you want to make sure you trust the tool before downloading it onto your device.
Device Compatibility
Some YouTube to MP3 converter tools only work with certain browsers, devices, or operating systems. A tool that works well on Android devices might not work with iOS, for example. So you’ll need to select a tool that’s compatible with your device.
Additional Features
There are a few other features to consider when selecting a YouTube converter tool. These include:
- Quality of the output
- Bit rates
- In-built features such as audio trimmer or sound effects
- Compatibility with multiple file formats
Best YouTube to Mp3 Video Converters
Now that you know what to look for in a YouTube converter, here are my recommendations for the top YouTube to MP3 converter tools:
- YTD Video Downloader and Converter
- 4K Video Downloader SnapDownloader
- Snapdownloader
- iTubeGo
- VideoProc
- YTMP3
1. YTD Video Downloader & Converter
YTD Video Downloader is among the top YouTube to MP3 converter tools. It works for popular streaming sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo. Along with converting YouTube videos to MP3, you can also convert videos to Mp4, Avi, 3gp, and WMV.
Features of YTD
- Has various file conversion options
- Works on multiple devices and operating systems
- Has a built-in video player
- Offers a free video downloader
- Is easy to use
YTD Pricing
YTD Video Downloader has a free and paid version. The free version doesn’t support batch downloads and comes with ads. The paid version offers batch downloads and an ad-free experience.
The paid version has three plans:
- A one-year plan for $37.92 per year
- A two-year plan for $47.76 per year
- A two-year plan that includes VuzeVPN for $95.76
YTD offers new users a seven-day free trial of its paid plans. You can try its free trial here.
Try YTD Video Downloader for Free
2. 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is one of the best YouTube to MP3 converters for Mac. This tool supports major video sites such as YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. It can download playlists, channels, and videos from YouTube in high quality.
Features of 4K Video Downloader
- Supports over 50 languages
- Supports high-quality video download, e.g., HD, UHD, 4K and 8K
- Has a built-in proxy setup
- Works with popular devices and operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux
4K Video Downloader Pricing
4K Video Downloader allows users to install and try the tool for free. Once your free trial expires, you’ll be prompted to upgrade to a paid plan. This tool has three paid plans with different features:
- Personal plan costs $15 and allows up to three simultaneous downloads
- Pro plan costs $45 and allows up to seven simultaneous downloads
- Bundle Pro plan costs $65 and has all the Pro plan features plus 4K download applications
3. SnapDownloader
SnapDownloader is a YouTube video converter tool that supports over 900 video streaming sites and works well with Windows and MacOS.
Features of SnapDownloader
- Supports high-quality video download, like HD, UHD, 4K, and 8K
- Allows download of YouTube playlists, channels, and subtitles
- Has a built-in proxy setup used to download geo-restricted content
- Supports fast downloads
- Has a great user interface
- Supports batch downloads
- Comes with a video-cutter that lets you download only a specific version of the video or audio you need
SnapDownloader Pricing
SnapDownloader allows users to download and install it for free on their devices. It has three paid plans:
- One year license for one computer costs $19.99 per year
- Personal lifetime license for one computer costs $29.99 per year
- Family lifetime license for three computers costs $54.99 per year
4. iTubeGo
iTubeGo is a fast YouTube converter tool for Mac or Windows that supports over 1,000 video streaming sites. You can use it to convert video files into audio files and download high-quality videos of up to 8K resolution.
Features of iTubeGo
- Supports fast downloads
- Supports audio and video conversions in various formats
- Works well with popular devices and operating systems
- Has a built-in browser setup
- Supports batch downloads
- Has a private video mode with password protection
iTubeGo Pricing
iTubeGo has a free plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also has four paid plans:
- One-month plan for one PC for $9.95 per month
- One-year plan for one PC for $19.95 per year
- Lifetime plan for one PC for $29.95
- Family lifetime plan for up to five PCs for $39.95
5. VideoProc
VideoProc is a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) accelerated YouTube video converter and editing software. It’s among the best YouTube to MP3 converter tools and offers up to 47x faster processing speed than other video converters. In addition, you can use this tool to download high-quality YouTube videos of up to 4K resolution.
Features of VideoProc
- Supports popular audio and video file formats
- Supports over 1,000 video streaming sites
- Can record YouTube live videos
- Allows users to download, convert and edit videos
- Tons of editing features, such as cut, rotate, merge, and crop
VideoProc Pricing
This tool has a free version that allows you to convert and edit short videos. Its paid plans all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee offer.
VideoProc has three premium plans:
- One year license for one PC for $29.95
- Lifetime license for one PC for $42.95
- Family license for multiple PCs for $57.95
6. YTMP3
YTMP3 is a free online YouTube converter tool that supports the conversion of YouTube videos to MP3 or MP4 formats. You don’t need to register or subscribe to convert video files to audio files.
To use this tool, you can simply copy and paste a YouTube video URL, choose your preferred format, and click on the video conversion button.
Features of YTMP3
- Fast conversion and download speeds
- Works well with popular devices and operating systems
- Comes with a dark theme option
- Has an easy-to-use interface
One downside of YTMP3 is that it has a video length limitation of one hour. If you want to download audio that’s more than an hour long, this isn’t the right converter tool for you.
YTMP3 Pricing
YTMP3 is free.
Risks/Legal Issues Involved With Converting YouTube to Mp3
YouTube typically does not allow users to download content from its free platform. Instead, it has a premium service called YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red), where premium users can download YouTube videos.
It’s generally against YouTube’s terms and conditions to download copyrighted content from YouTube using a YouTube converter tool. You could especially run into issues if you download and convert YouTube content for commercial use, instead of just for personal consumption.
Also, it’s advisable to ensure that you download any YouTube converter tool from the tool’s official website to avoid security risks, such as infecting your device with malware. You might consider using an anti-virus tool to scan the software before installation.
If you don’t have anti-virus software, pay attention to how your device performs after installing the converter tool. Uninstall the tool immediately if there’s any negative change in performance, like if your device becomes slow.
Converting YouTube videos to Mp3: Final thoughts
YouTube to Mp3 converter tools provide an efficient and fast way to convert your favorite YouTube videos into audio file format.
Some of these tools are free, while others require a subscription. Unless they are online, free tools can be prone to malware, which may affect your device’s performance.
Paid tools, on the other hand, are usually free from malware and have additional features for smooth and speedy conversion.
Finally, remember that usability, security, and speed are important factors when looking for a YouTube to MP3 converter tool.
