YouTube to MP3 converters let you rip audio from videos posted online. Once downloaded you can listen to them offline. Here are the ten best free and paid YouTube to MP3 converters of 2022.
YouTube boasts an enviable 2 billion monthly active users. To put that in perspective, that’s a quarter of the world’s population!
The platform is insanely popular and there is a massively diverse range of material posted each day.
Incredibly, over 500 hours of video content is uploaded to YouTube every minute! Let’s pause a moment to take those stats in! Wow!
With a YouTube to MP3 converter, you can access any video from that massive library of content, download it, and convert it into MP3 format to listen to later.
Here are the ten best free and paid YouTube to MP3 converters of 2022 so far.
Table of contents
YouTube Terms of Service
First off, let’s get it out there. YouTube has fairly comprehensive Terms of Service that govern anyone using the content that’s uploaded to their site. These explicitly prohibit unauthorized downloading.
In general, you always need the copyright owner’s permission to download material.
To repeat: YouTube explicitly prohibits the unauthorized downloading of material from the site.
Installation
There are two main options here: software-based that you install on your device; web-based platforms that require no installation.
When installing software on any device be careful. Some less reputable free YouTube to MP3 converters may contain malware that can infect your computer with a virus. Consider one of the paid options – as these tend to be safer.
You can read our guide to the seven steps to improved cybersecurity here.
The Best YouTube to MP3 Converters of 2022
1. YouTubetoMP3Music
First up is a free option. With a range of platforms supported including Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone, YouTubetoMP3 wins hands-down in the compatibility charts.
In addition to YouTube, it supports most popular video websites. It offers no-registration downloads and support for uploading content to the cloud.
Need To Know:
- Supports the widest range of platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone
- Supports all popular video websites: YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Dailymotion
- No registration required
- No limits on conversions or downloads
- Upload to the cloud with support for Dropbox or Google Drive
What We Loved:
- It’s free and completely web-based – no installation required
- Offers high-quality download for personal use with a range of file size options
- Support for searching by keyword and YouTube playlist
What We Didn’t Love:
- Annoying advertising popup windows appear after you’ve download
Pricing:
- Free to use but displays ads
2. AVC: Any Video Converter Freeware & Ultimate
Any Video Converter is available in two versions: Freeware & Ultimate (Freeware version shown) and is a popular choice with over 600 million users.
Available for download for both Windows and Mac, it requires installation.
AVC offers a comprehensive toolkit to download videos from most popular platforms including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Dailymotion.
The paid version has everything the free version has plus it’s reportedly 30X faster and includes additional output options. It also includes acceleration for 4K UHD video conversion.
Need To Know:
- Supports Windows and Mac
- Requires installation on a PC or Mac computer
- Supports a massive range of format conversions, including MP4, MPEG, VOB, WMV, H264, H265, 3GP, 3G2, MKV, MOD, M2TS, RMVB, AVI, MOV, FLV, F4V, DVR-MS, TOD, DV, MXF, OGG, WEBM
- Supported output devices include iPhone, Google Android, Kindle Fire HD, Sony PS5, Xbox One, iPad, TV console, social media, and more.
What We Loved:
- The free version is free and supports a huge range of format conversions
- You can apply different filters and effects to the output
- You can edit videos, change the frame rate & audio quality
- Supports profiles for different devices
- 100% lossless quality conversions for supported graphics cards
What We Didn’t Love:
- Requires installation on a PC or Mac computer
- The free version includes additional bundled software, however, is claimed to be 100% Ad, spyware & malware-free
Pricing:
- Free to download and install the Freeware version
- The paid option is currently $49.95 for Any Video Converter Ultimate
3. YtMp3: YouTube to MP3
YtMp3 is a simple – does what it says on the box – option that just gets it done. A fairly recent addition to the list, it supports both mp3 (audio) conversion and mp4 (video) conversion of YouTube videos.
YtMp3 is web based and also has addons for Chrome & Firefox.
This simplistic no-frills option is great for those who don’t necessarily require the highest of quality, it supports 320kbps & 128kbps outputs.
Need To Know:
- Supported on any compatible device with a web browser
- Support for mp3 (audio) & mp4 (video) output formats
- Addons for popular browsers: Chrome & Firefox
What We Loved:
- Simple and effective tool for fast conversions in MP3 & MP4 formats
- No registration required
- Does not have annoying pop-ups or advertisements
- No limits on conversions or downloads for audio files
What We Didn’t Love:
- No batch conversion functionality
- Has a cap on videos of no more than 60 minutes
- Only videos freely & publicly available can be converted
Pricing:
- Free to use
4. 4K Video Downloader
Next up is 4K Video Downloader, offering fast and easy conversions for Mac, Windows, and Linux users. The application needs to be downloaded and installed.
You can download and convert videos, playlists, sub-titles and channels.
The process is fast and the slick interface easily guides you through converting into video or audio formats.
Need To Know:
- Multi-platform support for Mac, Windows & Linux
- Supports all popular video websites: YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Dailymotion
- The licensed version has no limits on conversions or downloads
- Capable of supporting video resolutions of up to 8K in MP3, MP4, 3GP, MKV, M4A formats
- Includes an app-proxy tool to allow you to avoid geo-restrictions
What We Loved:
- The batch downloading functionality & ability to create slideshows right out of the box
- Ability to save YouTube titles and extract them in an SRT format
- A 14-day money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied
What We Didn’t Love:
- Once the trial expires these is no free option
Pricing:
- Free to try
- Personal: (all features required for video & audio downloads & conversions) $15
- Pro: (currently discounted, includes additional features) $45
- Bundle: (includes full suite of products) $65
5. YTD Video Downloader
YTD Video Downloader is a feature-rich tool used by 200,000 plus trusted users. It allows you to download and convert entire playlists and channels in MP4, MKV, M4A, MP3, and AVI formats.
Available for download for both Windows and Mac, it requires installation.
The interface is intuitive and easy to use and the tool claims to support downloads from 50 websites.
Need To Know:
- Supports Windows and Mac
- Requires installation on a PC or Mac computer
- Supports a large range of format conversions, including MP4, MKV, M4A, MP3, and AVI
- An Advanced Panel allows you to monitor downloads and conversions
What We Loved:
- Intuitive user interface that supports downloading from a wide range of sources
- Free email support is included
- Support for batch downloading with the paid options
- The ability to pause and resume downloads is useful
What We Didn’t Love:
- No batch conversion functionality in the free version
- No batch downloading for the free version, you can only convert one video at a time
Pricing:
- Free to download and install the Freeware version
- 6-month plan for $2.99 per month
- 1-year plan for $1.99 per month (billed annually)
- 1 month plan $9.99 per month (no-commitment )
6. MediaHuman
MediaHuman has been around for a number of years, and allows you to download and listen to music from YouTube, SoundCloud, or Bandcamp.
Available for download for both Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu, it requires installation.
You can download an entire playlist or channel and it offers up to a modest 320 kbps output. It’s a no-frills free option that is regularly updated.
Need To Know:
- Supports Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu and requires installation
- Output quality of up to 320 kbps
- Support for downloading an entire playlist or channel
- Includes a tag editor that automatically detects the artist’s name and track title, and allows you to apply cover art
What We Loved:
- It’s free to install and use
- The tag editor is a great feature not found in other software
- It can download several tracks simultaneously and integrates with Apple Music
What We Didn’t Love:
- It does feel a little dated and offers a maximum output quality of 320 kbps
Pricing:
- Free to download and install
7. Free YouTube to MP3 Converter
Free YouTube to MP3 Converter is a safe and functional tool that requires installation on your Mac or PC.
Out of the box functionality feels natural and intuitive with an easy to use interface. There is no messing around with endless settings options. You simply drop your URL, and click download. Done.
Claiming to be the very first YouTube to MP3 converter they have over 200 million installs since 2006.
Need To Know:
- Supports Windows and Mac
- Requires installation on a PC or Mac computer
- Also available for Android
- Supports MP3 output at up to 320 kbps with a range of format conversions including AAC, OCG, M4A, FLAC & WAV
- Can convert any YouTube playlist to MP3
What We Loved:
- One of the original players, offering a no-frills solid product that’s easy to use with a well-designed interface
- Great support for bulk video downloads
- The Android option is a bonus for mobile users
What We Didn’t Love:
- Not much, limited functionality compared to some paid options
Pricing:
- Free to download and install
8. ClickMp3
ClickMp3 YouTube to MP3 video converter allows you to download high quality MP3 files from YouTube.
The download speeds are great thanks to its ability to work completely asynchronously. The encoding rate is also kept consistent through the duration of the download.
The tool is online and free for everyone, forever. No installation is required.
Need To Know:
- Supported on any compatible device with a web browser
- Support for mp3 (audio) & mp4a (video) output formats
- No registration required
What We Loved:
- Simple to use with fast conversions thanks to its asynchronous implementation
- No registration required
- No limitations to the number of conversions, complete a captcha if you go crazy
What We Didn’t Love:
- Only videos on YouTube can be converted
- No annoying pop-ups but contains ads
Pricing:
- Free to use
9. ClipGrab
ClipGrab is an easy-to-use tool that offers one-click downloads for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The app is powered by dotSetup and includes third-party offered software.
Converts and downloads videos to both MP4 & MP3 formats. As well as YouTube to MP3 downloads it also works with Vimeo, Facebook, and many others.
Free support is provided with an option to donate for generous benefactors.
Need To Know:
- Multi-platform support for Mac, Windows & Linux
- Requires installation on a PC or Mac computer
- Support for MP4, MP3, WMV, OGG Vorbis & OGG Theora (open source)
What We Loved:
- Visually appealing and super easy to use, it is absurdly easy to get started with this converter
- Integrated video search, right there in the App
- Broad support for a number of video sites
- Support for open-source output formats such as OGG Vorbis & OGG Theora
What We Didn’t Love:
- Bundled third-party software
Pricing:
- Free to download and install
- Includes third-party software offers
10. Wondershare UniConverter
Wondershare UniConverter is another paid offering, that you can try for free. It is feature-rich and one of the safest platforms upon which to download and convert YouTube video to MP3.
Support for PC and Mac is provided out-of-the-box once you’ve installed the software. Claims to be 30X faster at conversions than other software.
UniConverter has been downloaded and installed over 50 million times and has over 542 reviews you can checkout before you try.
Need To Know:
- Supports Windows and Mac, requires installation on a PC or Mac computer
- Converts more than 1,000 video and audio formats. including support for converting multiple formats at once
- Batch processing with multiple compression options with support for 8K video
- Integrated video editor functionality
What We Loved:
- Probably the most feature-rich of any of the YouTube to MP3 platforms we have looked at
- Integrated streaming software built-in, allows you to stream output to Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and other devices
- 30-day trial with lifetime updates and support
What We Didn’t Love:
- Perhaps more than you need for YouTube to MP3 conversion
Pricing:
- Annual plan for $39.95 per year (automatic renew, cancel anytime)
- Other plans available over various durations with discounts, see website
How to Choose a YouTube to MP3 Converter?
Choosing a YouTube to MP3 converter can be easy, or it can be difficult. There are a bewildering array of options out there, both free and paid.
If you’re just looking to do a couple of simple conversions of your favorite videos to MP3 audio then simples, any of the free options will suffice.
Those wishing to download and convert multiple videos from a range of websites should consider one of the paid options. Here you have a lot to choose from.
Batch processing and asynchronous encoding, as well as other powerful features, mean that demanding users will get the most out of the paid options.
The key features to look out for are:
- Audio Quality: best to aim for a quality of 320 kbps
- Batch Downloading & Speed: some tools allow batch downloading asynchronously: this means you can download and convert multiple videos at once
- File Formats Compatibility: look for popular formats including MP3/MP4/FLAC/AAC (of course depending on your needs)
- Built-In Video/Audio Editors: some tools offer built-in editors for professional video/audio editing
- Paid or Free: top of the list for some, the paid options tend to be more feature-rich and support more video sites and more output options.
- Convenience: Online tools which do not require registration may be preferred by some and are more convenient. Click-and-go.
Final Thoughts: YouTube to MP3
There are a number of YouTube to MP3 converters out there. All of them allow you to rip audio from videos posted to most video streaming websites, including YouTube.
The main decision is whether to go with a free or paid option.
The free options are generally great for basic functionality and tend to be browser-based which means no installation.
For those requiring a richer feature set for YouTube to MP3 and even MP4 conversions, it is worth considering the paid options. With some providing a blistering 8K output and other advanced features – it really does come down to your requirements.
Remember to respect the YouTube Terms of Service, and the copyright of other websites mentioned.