How To Download Mp3 Youtube Mac

How To Download Mp3 Youtube Mac 9,2/10 5460 reviews

Convert YouTube videos to MP4 videos and MP3 audio supported by iPhone/ iPad/iPod on Mac. Most of video downloaders differ only in terms of customization capabilities. The flow of capturing a video will be pretty much the same — no matter what platform you take it from. It's easy to use AnyTrans to download youtube videos or convert youtube to mp3 in just 3 simple steps: copy-paste-save.

You may hate funny cat videos or game reviews, but the chances are you still use YouTube. A mammoth of video content, YouTube is a go-to spot for many. In fact, the platform has over 1 billion users which is one-third of all internet users. Huge.

Or, maybe your daily companions are Vimeo and Twitch. One way or another, video content is a part of your digital life. The question is how to utilize it.

In this article, we compare top YouTube downloaders for Mac and explain how you can legally save video to Mac to watch it anytime and anywhere.

Best YouTube downloaders

Get a huge set of top tools to download videos from Youtube. Most helpful utilities in one pack, give it a go!

Let us warn you in advance, all YouTube download tools reviewed in this article are worth a try. To help you narrow down the choice, check the nice-to-have assets every safe YouTube downloader should have:

  • Works with all major video streaming platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
  • Allows to save mp4 content and, optionally, convert to different formats.
  • Has support for audio output — allowing you to save music from videos.
  • Downloads entire playlists or channels in batch.
  • Caters for both professional and everyday use.
  • Guarantees data security, not collecting any of your personal information.

For sure, these are not one-size-fits-all qualities. You may need to batch download playlists, or this might be a totally useless feature for you. We made sure the reviewed tools satisfy the key needs — like security and integration with video streaming platforms. The rest is up to you and your priorities.

Quick navigation:

It’s not easy to step into the jungle of video downloaders and instantly pick the right fit – impossible if you’re new to Mac. There’s help, though.

How to download from YouTube

Whether to capture a few movies for an upcoming flight or save favorite clips to rewatch, Mac owners love to save content. The most basic tool should teach you how to download YouTube videos directly from URL. The problem is that it’s complicated to find an efficient free YouTube downloader. Not to mention they could be used for copyright infringement.

To legally save content from YouTube and video streaming services to Mac, as well as download music from videos, you can use third-party apps. As long as you’re not earning money from downloads or breach copyright, they are safe to use.

Download streaming video

Streaming content is a huge chunk of your internet traffic. Think Vimeo, Twitch, YouTube, Dailymotion, and other platforms where you can watch video displayed in real time. Relying on online streaming stymies your watching experience in many ways – from limited data usage to network issues. Plus Wi-Fi often fails you at the most crucial moments. Therefore, you need a reliable tool that helps you capture YouTube video.

If you’re wondering how to watch favorite YouTube videos offline without breaking any laws, let us help you.

  1. Choose the video and copy the URL (the app has in-build video search on YouTube/Vimeo/Dailymotion).
  2. Paste the link into the app and wait for the app to finish the download.
  3. Choose/customize the output format and storage location.

When using third-party tools, be careful about YouTube blocking downloads. If you comply with YouTube’s Terms of Service, you should be fine.

Download and save video from YouTube in mp4

Whether it’s native YouTube Premium or a third-party application, the tools you use to download mp4 from YouTube will by default save video files in mp4. There are different options on tweaking formats, though:

  • Retrieve only audio from your video file — tools like Downie and Folx will work for it.
  • Download video in mp4 with Elmedia Player.
  • Use Downie + Permute to download and convert to different formats — from FLV to MKV to AVI. The two work well together and are both available with Setapp subscription.
  • Customize the output before downloading and convert a poor-quality YouTube video to mp4 HD.

Grab YouTube video with YouTube Premium

Since recently, you can’t download YouTube video anymore. That’s because the service created a native tool for the job.

So if you ask YouTube for the best YouTube downloader, it will probably suggest you use YouTube Premium, a native paid subscription service to save content. For the monthly cost of $11.99, it allows you to keep YouTube videos on iPhone and Android devices. Here’s how it works:

  1. Open the video in your YouTube mobile app.
  2. Click on the download button below the video player.
  3. Customize the quality of the output.
  4. Once the video is downloaded, you’ll see the “download complete” icon below the player.

The app will automatically save YouTube videos you download to the Library or Account tab.

Top YouTube downloaders compared

Below you’ll find a small collection of best Youtube downloaders that we recommend you look into. Use the apps to play, manage, and automatically save videos.

Best of all, you can use the full toolkit of apps reviewed in this article for a flat fee. Have a look at the full collection. You’ll find extensive descriptions of every YouTube downloader below.

FeaturesPulltubeDownieFolxElmedia PlayerAnyTrans
yesyesyesyesyes
Multi-threaded and batch downloads
yesyesyesyesyes
yesyesyesyesyes
Customize video quality / 4K and HD video supportyesyesyesyesyes
Convert video to audio and other formatsyesyesyesyesyes
Extract audio from videoyesyesyesyesyes
Download from YouTube, Vimeo, and any other websitesyesyesyesyesyes
3D and 360 degree video supportyesyesyesyesyes
Schedule downloadsyesyesyesyesyes
Customize speednonoyesnono
Browser extensionnoyesyesnono
Built-in searchyesyesyesyesyes
Built-in video and audio editing yesnonoyesno
Save to external storage, cloud, and other devicesyesyesyesyesyes
Totally free with Setapp subscription
Price$14.99 for Standart License$19.99 if purchased separately $26.99 Downie + Permute converter$19.95 Folx Pro license$19.95 Elmedia Player Pro license$39.99 AnyTrans Single license
AppPrice
Pulltube$14.99 for Standart License
Downie$19.99 if purchased separately $26.99 Downie + Permute converter
Folx$19.95 Folx Pro license
Elmedia Player$19.95 Elmedia Player Pro license
AnyTrans$39.99 AnyTrans Single license

Downie: Save YouTube videos within seconds

The easiest version of a YouTube downloader you can imagine. Grab a link, drag it onto the app icon, wait a few seconds for the content to travel to your Mac.

While you don’t really do much, you can do even less with the browser extension. Downie already has it, so you don’t have to install the extension separately – check the box in your browser preferences and you’re good to go. Magically, Downie can also scan text files for links and download video content from there.

In other words, Downie is a media downloader that commits to cherishing your time. Here are the key ways to align the app with your workflow:

  1. Enable Simple mode to get rid of distractions in Preferences > General. Perfect for those who are annoyed by a progress bar showing up each time a download takes place.
  2. Downie is also a search machine. You can find YouTube videos on for download by searching right in the app, without opening a browser.
  3. If you love YouTube concerts and music videos, you can download audio only. To set Downie to the MP3 mode, open Preferences > Postprocessing > Enforce MP3.

This downloader automatically converts all videos to MP4, but if you need more options there’s Permute to help. It covers virtually all media formats and works both for video and audio. The app is basically Downie’s cousin, created by the same team of developers, Charlie Monroe Software. So you get a discount if you buy the two. Also, Downie and Permute are both available on Setapp.

Pros:

  • Simple and clean interface
  • Customizable functionality
  • 4K support
  • Integrates with YouTube video converter

Cons:

  • Limited file conversion options

Price:

$19.99 if purchased separately

$26.99 Downie + Permute

Starting at $9.99 per month Downie, Permute and 150+ apps on Setapp

Play and download video content with Elmedia Player

Elmedia Player is one of the best tools to entrust your movie watching experience to. Not only does it tell you how to save videos from YouTube, it also enables viewing content ad-free, right from the app. Download audio, convert to different media formats, or stream via AirPlay – it solves tons of problems.

Not limitless, but the functionality is pretty impressive. It’s a good idea to work with Elmedia Player if you want to:

  1. Organize downloads and bring them into curated playlists.
  2. Play Vimeo, Dailymotion, and YouTube videos in the app, without downloading.
  3. Open and convert files to different formats – from MP3 TO MKV.
  4. Extract audio tracks from YouTube videos.
  5. Stream media content to all Apple devices that support AirPlay.

Compared to Apple’s native QuickTime, Elmedia Player supports a bigger number of formats and is generally a decent alternative to the default program.

Pros:

  • Intuitive interface
  • Covers virtually all video and audio formats
  • Streaming capabilities

Cons:

  • Lots of features confusing for a beginner

Price:

$19.95 Elmedia Player Pro license

Starting at $9.99 per month Elmedia Player Pro and 150+ apps on Setapp

Swiftly download large videos with Folx app

There’s no better option than Folx if you’re big on big downloads. Combining the functionality of a download manager and torrent client, the app brings large videos to your Mac in a matter of minutes.

With your browser and Folx open, you can download any video from YouTube by URL. Once you have the URL, paste it directly into the search bar or click on the plus button > YouTube > paste the link. Give the app a few seconds to prepare a download, and click OK. Before you know it, the video is on your Mac.

The in-built torrent client that is available to Pro plan users works in a similar way – simple and lightning fast. Navigate to the Torrent tab via the plus button. In the top search field, click on the three dots to select a torrent file, customize default preferences if needed, and click OK.

To accelerate the process, Folx splits downloads in up to 20 streams. The app also cleverly adjusts download speed to your online activities, so that not to hamper important programs and processes running on your Mac. To tweak the default speed settings in Folx, access Preferences > Smart Speed.


Pros:

  • Torrent search right in the app
  • Speed optimization
  • Download scheduling and auto-resume

Cons:

  • No free trial for Pro features

Youtube Mp3 Converter For Mac

Price:

$19.95 Folx Pro license

Starting at $9.99 per month Folx and 150+ apps on Setapp

AnyTrans to download and transfer content

Many think of AnyTrans as an alternative to iTunes, but it’s much more than that. The app is an all-mighty file manager that works with all your devices. So whether you want to copy images from iPhone to Mac, or transfer from Android to iOS, AnyTrans has you covered.

Apart from cleverly managing your content, the app also helps you grab some new. Using an in-built Media Downloader, you can save video from 900+ websites, including Vimeo, Dailymotion, and YouTube.


Capturing and instantly sharing media is why you should pick AnyTrans over the other options. It has limited functionality in terms of download preferences, but is pretty good for capturing short videos.

Pros:

  • Clean and understandable interface
  • Excellent file control
  • Media transferring options

Cons:

  • Limitations in terms of integration with iTunes library.

Price:

$39.99 AnyTrans Single license

Starting at $9.99 per month AnyTrans and 150+ apps on Setapp

It’s ok if you have a hard time choosing your favorite. Some of the apps complement each other – like you could use Folx to capture large videos and transfer with AnyTrans. With Setapp subscription, you can try every mentioned YouTube downloader for free and choose what suits your flow. Or, don’t choose. Your Mac deserves all of them.

Setapp lives on Mac and iOS. Please come back from another device.

Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.

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by Christine Smith • 2020-09-21 16:04:25 • Proven solutions

MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) is a convenient, versatile, and popular way of storing music and other audio files. One of the main advantages lies in its comparatively small file size that saves storage space and bandwidth while sharing data. There are times, however, when you need to convert MP3 files into other audio formats such as WAV, AAC, FLAC, or OGG on your Mac due to compatibility issues with media players and devices. If you are looking for some good MP3 converters for Mac, you are in the right place. The sections in this piece not only inform you about some of the most robust and efficient audio converters, but they also give you a fair idea about the drawbacks those apps may have. This would help you decide which program to pick to fulfill all your conversion-related needs, and which among them is not suitable due to some missing ingredients or features that you feel are essential for your work-specific tasks.

Part 1. Best MP3 Converter for Mac

Wondershare UniConverter tops this list as the best MP3 Converter for Mac available today. It quickly and efficiently converts MP3 to numerous file formats for Windows, Apple devices, Blackberry, Zune, Android, video game consoles, YouTube to MP3 converter Mac and many more. Its main attractions are its quick conversion speeds and high-quality output while being economical on system resources. It also features an intuitive interface that is easy to use and allows for batch MP3 conversion as well.

Wondershare UniConverter - Best MP3 Converter for Mac/Windows

  • Supports the most popular video and audio formats, including MP3, MOV, WMV, and device-specific formats.
  • Convert to optimized preset for almost all of the devices.
  • 30X faster conversion speed than any conventional converters.
  • Edit, enhance & personalize your video files.
  • Burn and customize your video to DVD with free DVD menu templates.
  • Download or record videos from 10,000+ video sharing sites.
  • Versatile toolbox combines with video metadata fix, GIF maker, video compressor, and screen recorder.
  • Supported OS: Mac OS 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6, Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista.
Security Verified, 5,942,222 people have downloaded it.

How to Convert Video to MP3 on Mac

Now let's have a quick overview of how Wondershare MP3 converter functions on Mac within three simple steps. Before getting started, install the video to MP3 Converter and

Step 1 Add Target Video into the best MP3 Converter.

Launch Wondershare MP3 converter, click the to import your target video to the program. You can also add your favorite YouTube video for MP3 extraction as long as you download YouTube videos on your Mac beforehand.

Step 2 Select Output Format.

Click the Output Format: and you'll get a full list of output formats, which consists of Recently, Video, Audio, Device and Editing. If you want to convert video to MP3, just go to Audio > MP3 and select a resolution in the right. The same goes for other video or audio formats.

Step 3 Start MP3 Conversion.

Once you're satisfied with the output format, just hit on the Start All buttons in the right bottom corner to start converting video to MP3 or vice verse.

Pros:

  • Apart from MP3, Wondershare provides support for over 1000 video and audio formats to which you can convert your media files easily.
  • A ton of customization tools is not found in most of the other products on this list.
  • Super fast conversion.
  • High-quality output.

Cons:

  • While Wondershare Converter is easy to use, it may take some time to discover all of its features and use them to their maximum potential.

Conclusion: Mac and Windows users alike will enjoy using this all-purpose software to prepare MP3 files for instant playback on any device easily. Simply select the desired audio format or device from the extensive list of supported options, and your MP3 file will be ready in no time.

Availability: Paid or free trial version

Part 2. Other 7 Top MP3 Converters for Mac

1. Handbrake

Handbrake is an open-source video to MP3 converter for Mac that supports a wide range of formats. Apart from Mac, it is also available for Windows and Linux.

Features: Handbrake comes with a decent amount of features that allow for the conversion of MP3 audio files. It works with the most common audio files and formats and leverages tools such as Libav, x264, and x265. Handbrake is the right choice if you're looking to convert YouTube to MP3 Mac free.

Pros:

● It is open-source and widely available for free download.

● It gives users advanced control with customization settings.

Cons:

● The main disadvantage of using Handbrake is its intimidating interface that is difficult to navigate, especially for first-time users.

Conclusion: Other converters featured in this article have user-friendly interfaces, but the same cannot be said of Handbrake. The program is robust but utilitarian and will take some getting used to.

Clean my mac high sierra download. Availability: Free

2. FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a cross-platform solution to convert audio and video. It's the odd one out in this list as it lacks a graphical user interface. Users are forced to input instructions from the command line/terminal. FFmpeg is a truly free MP3 converter for Mac.

Features: FFmpeg can convert your MP3 files to and from most audio formats. It uses the free FFmpeg encoder and supports many audio and video formats, including MKV, AVI, WAV, MPEG4, ASF, Quicktime, WMV, M4A, MOV and more. FFmpeg also supports batch conversion.

Pros:

● It supports a wide range of codecs and filters.

● It supports most audio/video formats.

Cons:

● Difficult to use for beginners.

● Its official documentation is not clear and can be quite confusing.

Conclusion: While a powerful tool, FFmpeg's lack of a graphical interface makes it unsuitable for the average user. It is not recommended for anyone interested in learning how to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac.

Availability: Free

3. Movavi Video Converter

Movavi is a good YouTube to MP3 converter for Mac that will help you to convert your MP3 files to a wide range of formats. It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Features: Movavi Video Converter supports MP3 format well and is quite user friendly. Its user interface has improved in usability and navigation and can convert most of the common video and audio file types. This video converter also comes with predefined settings for various media players such as Windows Media Player and iTunes.

Pros

● Easy to use user interface

● It supports a wide range of audio and video formats

● It allows users to convert YouTube to MP3 Mac

Cons

● Poor support

● Limited period trial version

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Conclusion: While a good choice if you're searching for a YouTube MP3 converter Mac, its trial version isn't free. Some users have complaints against its asking for payment, even in trial versions.

Availability: Paid or free trial version

4. Leawo Video Converter

Leawo Video Converter is a multifunctional converter that allows Mac users to convert MP3 files to most audio formats. Popular among users searching for free YouTube to MP3 converter for Mac. It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Features: This YouTube MP3 converter for Mac is compatible with most audio and video formats. One of the best things about Leawo Video Converter is its ability to convert media files in any combination. For example, you can convert MKV to MP3, MOV to 3GP, etc. It also allows you to optimize videos for playback on specific devices, including media players, iPads, iPods, gaming consoles, etc.

Pros:

● Easy to use interface.

● It allows users to customize conversion settings.

Cons:

● It lacks many out-of-the-box tools and features found in other converters on this list.

● It asks that you buy additional features.

● Slow conversion speeds.

Conclusion: Leawo is a capable converter that produces good quality results. However, it comes with a limited feature set and requires that you buy extra features such as disc burning and online video downloading tools as separate modules. Unless you have hours to spare while waiting for Leawo to convert video to MP3 on Mac, we recommend you use a different program.

Availability: Paid or free trial version

5. Xilisoft Audio Converter

Available for both Mac and Windows platforms, Xilisoft Audio Converter holds a renowned place in the market.

Youtube To Mp3 Mac Free

Features: Xilisoft Audio Converter can accept audio and video files, and convert them to formats like AAC, AC3, AU, FLAC, MP3, OCG, etc. It is even capable enough to produce lossless output post-conversion.

Pros:

● It can export output files directly to the target devices.

Cons:

● It offers a limited number of output formats.

Conclusion: Even though the basic version can convert audio files, Xilisoft Audio Converter allows you to access many advanced features only in its Pro variant.

Availability: Paid or free trial version

6. Aiseesoft Audio Converter

Audio Converter by Aiseesoft is an efficient tool for Mac and Windows computers and is available for trial, so you can check its features before investing your funds in.

Features: In addition to being an efficient MP3 converter for Mac, the tool can also extract audio from video files, trim the video and audio clips before conversion, and even lets you choose your output preferences.

Pros:

● It supports almost all major formats for conversion.

● It supports batch conversions.

Cons:

● It comes with a price tag.

Conclusion: The tool is, of course, efficient and robust, but the interface lacks many options that are usually available in other similar programs.

Availability: Paid or free trial version

7. Switch Audio File Converter

Developed by one of the renowned vendors, NCH Software, Switch Audio Converter comes for Windows, macOS, and Android platforms. For PCs, it can run on a 64-bit operating system, thus giving you comparatively better performance.

How

Features: The tool is capable of extracting audio from video files and DVD, can obtain song details from the online database, allows batch conversion, can be used as a CLI plugin for automated conversions, and much more.

Pros:

● It offers fast conversion.

Youtube To Mp3 On Mac

● It performs automatic normalization.

Cons:

● Advanced features are available only in the Pro version of the app.

Conclusion: Even though the app is pretty robust and extremely efficient if you are new to computers or conversions, all the options the interface and the boxes are populated with may scare you. However, with regular use, you will get familiar with the tool and will learn to use it seamlessly.

Availability: Paid or free trial version

Conclusion

How To Download Mp3 From Youtube On Mac

Converting audio files is not as complicated as it may sound to some people. In fact, the process is extremely simple if you have a decent MP3 converter for Mac that is efficient enough to get the task done quickly and without errors. Thankfully Wondershare UniConverter is available for both Mac and Windows platforms with an almost identical interface that helps you locate and access the features, options, and windows without any separate training or learning resources for the two variants.