Forum Discussion
Any good youtube mp3 converter for mac in 2025?
Not a tech savvy and need some help here. The apple community is too sketch. This place is much better to look for help as people are very nice here. Do you know any good youtube mp3 converter for mac? These are totally free public youtube videos. I want to save the videos to my Mac so I can listen offline free on my cars as the internet connection is not always good.
8 Replies
- LoyesIron Contributor
I am using this on my MacBook Pro M4 and it works great. You can test it out on your Mac:
https://www.safedowns.com/youtube-mp3-converter-for-mac
- LinxfbbdIron Contributor
Fast YouTube Video Downloader, a free chrome browser extension for youtube mp3 download and conversion. It is a lightweight and free extension that adds a download button below YouTube videos.
- Open Google Chrome (or Edge with Chrome extensions enabled).
- Go to the Chrome Web Store and find Fast YouTube Video Downloader.
- Click "Add to Chrome" > "Add Extension".
- Open a YouTube video (e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...).
- Look below the video player—you'll see a new "Download" button.
- Click the Download button and select your preferred quality (e.g., 1080p MP4).
- The video will save to your default downloads folder.
❌ No download button appears?
Refresh the page or restart Chrome.
Ensure the extension is enabled (chrome://extensions/).
Try a different video (some are DRM-protected).
❌ Download fails or is slow?
YouTube may throttle downloads—try a different resolution.
If it does not work, then go and find a dedicated safe youtube mp3 converter for Mac instead. There are many good options out there in 2025.
- LossibleParfaitIron Contributor
Set up a virtual machine (Windows 10) on your Mac and use the IDM to download and convert youtube videos for offline usage. IDM is one of the best video downloaders for Windows, but it has some limitations on Mac. Here's a detailed breakdown:
✅ Pros
Blazing Fast Downloads – Uses multi-threading to accelerate downloads.
Browser Integration – Works with Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc. (via extension).
Resumable Downloads – Pause and resume interrupted downloads.
Batch Downloads – Download multiple videos at once.
High-Quality Support – Grabs 4K, 8K, and 1080p MP4 from YouTube.
Automatic Detection – Recognizes embedded videos on most sites.
❌ Cons
Windows Only – No official Mac version.Not Free – free 30 days, then paid (~$25).
Thought IDM is not the best youtube mp3 converter for mac, it is still a safe solution for doing this in 2025.
- OlaannIron Contributor
An online website is not the best option when you are finding a YouTube MP3 converter on Mac. If you opt for an online converter, choose a reputable, well-reviewed site and be cautious about sharing personal info or downloading files. For better security and quality, dedicated desktop tools might be a preferable choice.
Potential Downsides:
* Some sites may pose risks of malware or unwanted ads.
* Free online YouTube MP3 converter on Mac can vary in output quality and may have limitations or ads.
* Downloading copyrighted content without permission may violate YouTube’s terms of service and copyright law.Alternatives to Consider:
* Dedicated desktop software (e.g. CllipGrab, YTMMP3 for Mac) which can be safer and more reliable.
* Browser extensions (with caution and from reputable sources).
* Using YouTube’s own paid services or subscription options for offline listening, like YouTube Premium. - LoyesIron Contributor
I did this a couple of times in the past and you don't need any dedicated app for doing this though. The Edge browser from Microsoft can be used as a valid youtube mp3 converter for mac and it is totally free.
Step 1: Go to the YouTube video you want to download.
Step 2: Press F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows) / Cmd + Opt + I (Mac).
Step 3: Go to the Network tab. Click the Filter box and type: mime: video/mp4
Step 4: Play the video (or refresh the page).
Step 5: Look for the largest file (usually the highest quality). Right-click it and select Open in new tab.
Step 6: The video will open in a new tab. Right-click and choose Save as... (Ctrl + S / Cmd + S).
⚠️ Limitations:
- Work only for non-DRM youtube videos.
- Sometimes YouTube splits videos into small chunks (fragmented .ts files), making this method unreliable.
- WaomsunIron Contributor
YTMP3,cc is a popular online service sites, so that you can use it as a youtube mp3 converter for Mac. If you're planning to use it on a Mac, here are some important points to consider:
Pros:
- Ease of Use: No need to install software; you just visit the website, paste the video URL, and download the MP3.
- Compatibility: Works well on any browser on macOS, including Safari, Chrome, or Firefox.
Cons and Risks:
- Legal and Ethical Concerns: Downloading youtube content may violate youtube's terms of service and copyright laws if you don’t have permission.
- Website Reliability: Free online youtube mp3 converters for Mac like YTMP3,cc can sometimes be unreliable, slow, or disrupted by ads and pop-ups.
- Security Risks: Some similar sites may pose security risks, such as malware or phishing. Always ensure you're visiting legitimate and secure sites.
- Deeperberry8435Iron Contributor
Record the youtube video on mac with QuickTime player first. After that, convert them for mp3 audio.
Part 1: Record Youtube Video as MP4
1. Open QuickTime Player on your Mac and click File > New Screen Recording.
2. In the recording toolbar, click the dropdown arrow (▼) next to the record button.
3. Select Record Selected Portion and drag a box around the YouTube video player.
4. Open the YouTube video in Safari/Chrome and maximize the player.
5. Click Record in QuickTime, then play the YouTube video.
6. When done, click the Stop button in the menu bar (or press ⌘ + ⌃ + Esc). QuickTime will save the recording as a .mov file.
Part 2: Convert .mov to .mp3 on Mac
1. Open the Music app (formerly iTunes).
2. Drag the .mov or .m4a file into your library.
3. Right-click the file > Song Info > Options.
4. Set Import As: MP3 Encoder.
5. Go to File > Convert > Create MP3 Version.
This is indirect way to get it done without using youtube mp3 converter on mac. The only problem is that it takes too much time and the audio quality is not that good.
- thickthstreatIron Contributor
aria2 is a lightweight, open-source command-line youtube mp3 converter mac utility that supports multiple protocols (HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, BitTorrent, etc.) and features high-speed downloads through multi-threaded and segmented file transfers, making it useful for accelerating downloads when paired with tools.
You can use aria2 and ypt-dlp combination for faster youtube mp3 audio downloads on Mac.
brew install aria2 ypt-dlp --external-downloader aria2c --external-downloader-args "-x16 -s16 -k1M" "YOUTUBE_URL"
--external-downloader aria2c: Uses aria2 for downloading.
-x16: Uses 16 connections per download (adjustable).
-s16: Splits the file into 16 segments for parallel downloading.
-k1M: Sets chunk size to 1MB for better performance.
Why This Method is Faster?
aria2 splits downloads into multiple parts, maximizing bandwidth usage. Works well with the built-in extraction features for efficient youtube MP3 conversion on mac.