Some may say, (when we say ‘some’ - we mean ‘us’) that the biggest drawback of YouTube is that unless you are a YouTube Premium user you will not be able to play videos in the background.
Not only will you have to keep your screen on constantly, quickly draining your phone battery, you will not be able to send messages, scroll through social media, check your emails, etc. while using YouTube. Standard membership currently comes out to $11.99 per month and some people are just not ready to shell out that kind of money for that type of service.
If you prefer to listen rather than watch YouTube - be it for music, your favourite YouTube channels, discussions, reviews, or podcasts - while driving, jogging, walking, doing housework, etc. your best option is to convert YouTube videos to MP3.
Then, you can listen to them at your own convenience, whenever and wherever you want, without having to rely on an Internet connection or having to drain your phone battery.
In order to do that, you will have to use an MP3 converter, a tool which allows you to download HD videos from YouTube, and then save them as high-quality, small-size audio-only files. Basically, it’s like downloading a YouTube video, but without the video. Audio-only.
Most of the converters work similarly - the first step is to copy the link to a YouTube video of your choice, then set the MP3 format, and let the software download and convert the video.
So, here are some of the best, most reliable, and safest YouTube to MP3 converters to try out:
Subly
When it comes to converting your YouTube videos to MP3 files, Subly comes out ahead of the competition for several reasons.
- It’s extremely easy to use
- It allows downloads not only in MP3 but many other formats and aspect ratios
- With its snippet tool, you can edit or shorten clips that you can also upload to social media
Among its many other features, Subly generates accurate captions and subtitles in a whole range of formats compatible with all of the major social media platforms. Subly can also translate your videos into a truly astonishing number of languages.
And for your further convenience, you can download your files directly to Google Drive, rather than having to download them on your desktop and then upload them to Google Drive.
YouTube is not the only video/audio platform that you can download MP3 files from. Everything that has a public URL will do. Yes, that means Vimeo, Facebook, TikTok, and even Zoom. If it has a video on a public URL, Subly will convert it to MP3. (And also MP4, but that’s a different story)
4K Download MP3 Converter
4K Download MP4 converter is software-based (available for both Mac and Windows) and works with not only YouTube, but also Vimeo, SoundCloud, VEVO, Flickr, Facebook, and many other websites. Simply drag and drop a video, pick your preferred audio quality, format, and voilà. It also allows OGG and M4A download formats, depending on your preferences.
It’s sleek-looking, fast and reliable, you don’t need to register, and you can have your MP3 files delivered quickly and easily. Or if you prefer, you can utilise a built-in player to listen to your downloaded files.
It does require you to download an external application, but it’s worth it if you use it often. The downside is you can convert only one video at a time unless you switch to a premium version that requires a one-time €48 fee and it unlocks a whole slew of additional features.
YTMP3
The best thing about YTMP3 is that it’s completely free and strictly web-based, meaning that it doesn’t require installing any additional software, app or plug-in.
Its interface is concise and operation extremely simple. You can use YTMP3 to quickly convert any YouTube video to MP3 (audio) or MP4 (video) to your desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Similarly to 4K Download, you can only convert one video at a time and only ones up to 90 minutes in length. On the downside, some users have reported issues with sound after conversion, so we recommend you thoroughly check your converted videos to ensure consistent audio quality. Sometimes there are also annoying ads that don’t allow downloads to work properly.
Easy MP3 Converter
Another converter with a tidy interface, simple operation and risk-free process is Easy MP3 Converter. There is also an extremely helpful option that allows you to search for the video of your choice right inside the converter rather than going over to YouTube, and then copying and pasting the link. It’s also web-based, so there is no software download required.
There are 5 audio quality options for download (up to 320kbps), which means you can either choose higher quality but larger file or lower quality but smaller file, depending on your preferences. It’s compatible with all browsers (including mobile ones), there are no limits to downloads (other than videos that are longer than 60 minutes), and the conversion and download process is quite fast.
Wondershare UniConverter
If you’re looking for a converter that is filled to the brim with features and 100% reliable, Wondershare UniConverter is your ideal pick. This software-based converter features a sleek interface and all the features you can ask for, including the ability to convert and compress videos in over 1000 formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC and more.
You can download files from more than 10,000 sites, burn them to DVD or Blu-ray discs, as well as edit and enhance them. For example, you can trim and rotate them, adjust brightness and contrast, apply effects, or add watermarks on videos. What’s more, the conversion speed is 30 times faster than traditional converters, all without quality loss. However, to access all of the features, you will have to spring for a paid version which costs $29.99 per quarter, $39.99 per year, or $69.99 as a one-time fee.
These are some of the best YouTube to MP3 converters online and you can choose one that suits your needs the best - be it free, simple ones perfect for occasional use, or those more advanced and filled with helpful features for regular use.
There are many other converters out there but be warned. Some are filled with ads, and some are built with malware and adware intended to take over your computer or phone.
So, use your best judgement. You’ve used Internet before - you know the drill. Do your research and pick your best option to safely and reliably convert and download YouTube videos of your choice into MP3 files.
