If you just want to download the audio of a few YouTube videos and don't have very high requirements for quality, then these online free websites are perfect for you. However, if you have a large amount of audio content from YouTube that you need to download, whether from YouTube itself or YouTube Music, then a paid YouTube converter is your best option.

1. Quick Results of Different YouTube to MP3 Converters

YouTube to MP3 Converter Showdown
Feature MusicFab (Software) YTMP3 (Online) YT-DLP (Command-Line)
Best For Regular Users Quick, Single Songs Tech Experts
Ease of Use Very Easy Very Easy Very Hard
Malware Risk    
Max Quality 320kbps 320kbps Best Available
Ad Intrusion    

2. Top 11 Online Free YouTube to MP3 Converters 

Here's my honest breakdown of converting YouTube videos to MP3 tools that stand out from the crowd.

YT-DLP

yt-dlp is a command-line tool, so the interface is not good for beginners. For tech-savvy users, it's the ultimate choice; it's completely free, open-source, ad-free, and incredibly powerful. For beginners, however, the learning curve is very steep. It's a fantastic tool, but only if you're comfortable working in a terminal window.

Pros Cons
 

powerful and clean option available, completely free

 

Requires technical knowledge and is not user-friendly for beginners.

CnvMP3

CnvMP3

CnvMP3 is a fantastic free and safe YouTube music downloader that can convert YouTube videos to MP3. Its simple interface makes downloading YouTube videos and the Shorts URL without ads easy. It is absolutely safe and has high download quality at a rapid speed. While CnVMP3 does offer many bitrate options (up to 320kb/s), it has only two download formats: MP3 and MP4.

Reddit review of CnvMP3 - CnvMP3 is one of the most famous tools on Reddit. Users recommend it for high-speed downloads, no ads, no viruses, and great operation. Even users in the U.K. can use the site with a VPN to extract anything from YouTube.

cnvmp3 from reddit comments

Pros Cons
 

Very easy to use, free

 

Ad-supported, no advanced features like playlist conversion.

Y2mate.com

Y2mate.com

Unlike other free online tools, Y2mate.com has many audio and video bitrate options. It can download your chosen YouTube content in MP3 and MP4 formats in only a few clicks. However, it has many inappropriate ads and may redirect you to third-party websites, questioning the tool's safety. Plus, the unavailability of batch downloads and low download speeds may not appeal to you.

Reddit review of Y2mate.com - Y2Mate is another highly recommended tool for users as it is free of cost and offers many output (audio and video) formats.

Pros Cons
 

No installation needed, fast for single files.

 

Low quality 128 kbps.

YTMP3

YTMP3

YTMP3 is also one of the safest and best YouTube to MP3 converters with a simple user interface. While the site has no ads and boasts a very high download speed, you also get high download quality for an immersive viewing and listening experience. However, there are no bitrate options; only MP3 and MP4 output formats are available. Use YTMP3 seamlessly on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices with ease.

Reddit review of YTMP3 - Many users have recommended YTMP3, with upvotes from those who vouch for its safety, high speed, and quality.

Pros Cons
 

Free

 

Intrusive ads are part of the experience.

EzMP3

EzMP3

Similar to YTMP3, EzMP3 focuses on one job: converting a YouTube video link to an MP3 file. Not only does it have an easy UI for anyone to use, but this safe tool also has a high download quality, making it a popular option. You can quickly convert videos up to 12 hours long into MP3 at a high speed. Additionally, you can trim your audio and select a bitrate from 64 kbps to 320 kbps.

Reddit review of EzMP3 - EzMP3 is one of the popular YouTube to MP3 converters on Reddit. It is renowned for its lightning speed and for converting videos into audio files in seconds.

Pros Cons
 

You can select the quality

 

Only support YouTube video link

Cobalt.tools

Cobalt.tools

Cobalt.tools extracts MP3 files without ads in seconds. However, unlike other available web-based tools, the Cobalt. The tool's user interface appears slightly confusing. The main interface has three options: Auto, Audio, and Mute. You also get high download quality with a rapid speed. However, there are neither download formats to choose from nor bitrate options.

Reddit review of Cobalt tools - Among other tools, Cobalt.tools have also received fair recommendations from Reddit users due to its ad-free, high-speed, and high-quality results.

Reddit review of Cobalt tools

Pros

Cons
 

Support batch download

 

Confusing UI

Yout

Yout

Yout is lets you safely convert your YouTube video into MP3, MP4, WAV, or GIF formats. It has various bitrate options from 32 kbit/s to 320 kbit/s and offers fast speed downloads for high-quality output. With a simple, ad-free user interface, Yout also helps you crop and adjust the track length of your video clip. Unlike other online tools, it has additional features where you can normalize, remove silence, and discover metadata to enhance your output.

Reddit revie of Yout - Yout has a special fan base, and many users have recommended it on Reddit for its various bitrate options, available download formats, and other customization parameters.

Pros Cons
 

Various bitrate options

 

slow speed

Gettvid

Gettvid

Gettvid is a fantastic, ad-free online tool to extract videos in MP3 format from YouTube. It provides 2 download formats (MP3 and MP4) with no bitrate options. Plus, you may get moderate-quality downloads with a seemingly low download speed. It's a safe and simple UI that offers a quick way to extract any video on the web in audio/video format. It also works on any browser, such as Safari, Firefox, Chrome, etc.

Reddit review of Gettvid - Some users find Gettvid to be the best online tool, as it can download audio and video from all sites in decent quality.

Pros Cons
 

YouTube video & audio support

 

Slow speed

AMP3

AMP3

AMP3 can download a YouTube playlist and shorts for up to 4 hours (240 minutes). The site provides a safe and neat UI with a batch download facility and many bitrate options (up to 320k). It has no ads, and its blazing speed works wonders to download content in high quality. AMP3 also has additional features where you can trim videos, change the page theme (dark/light), and adjust the language according to your needs.

Pros Cons
 

Support YouTube playlists

 

Sometimes fails to download, unstable

YTBMP3

YTBMP3

YTBMP3 is a simple, ad-free, secure, and reliable tool that can extract a decent quality output in MP3 format at a comparatively low download speed.  While it supports 2 bitrate options (128kbps and 320kbps), only 128 kbps works. YTBMP3 is entirely free and safe, and your downloads are kept confidential.

Pros Cons
 

Support podcasts & playlists

 

Only 128 kbps, not as it advertised.

TubeMP3

TubeMP3

TubeMP3 can safely convert and download videos from YouTube to MP3 format without requiring skills or technical knowledge. It has only 2 Bitrate options (128kbps and 320kbps), where only 128 kbps is working as of now. Also, the download speed and quality of TubeMP3 are not that impressive. While the site has no ads, it often redirects to third-party websites, raising safety concerns among users.

Pros Cons
 

No sign-up needed

 

Unstable

3. Limitations of Free Online YouTube to MP3 Converters

 
Undoubtedly, most casual listeners prefer online and free YouTube music converters. However, for those music hoarders and audiophiles, the free option has its limits. The download quality, format, and speed of online downloaders cannot support them to download a large number of music in batches, which will waste a lot of their time. Therefore, paid desktop software has become an excellent alternative.

Here's how online tools can compromise your rhythmic, offline listening experience.

  • Risk of viruses, trojans, adware, and malware
  • It can be unsafe and redirect to third-party websites with malicious links
  • Annoying ads can interrupt a seamless music-downloading experience
  • Lack of batch download facility
  • Low or moderate-quality output
  • Limited options for download formats and bitrate
  • Lack of customization and editing options
  • Slow conversion/download speed
  • Lack of updates, occasional glitches, and no customer support

These limitations are enough to compel you to seek a more reliable, safe, and trusted YouTube Music Converter software. Here's where MusicFab YouTube Music Converter can come in handy. Its advanced features not only curb the limitations of free online tools but also enhance their downloading experience with additional functionalities.

Let's explore the best YouTube to MP3 converter to understand its offerings and how it works. 

4. MusicFab YouTube Music Converter -  Best Overall for Quality & Ease of Use

MusicFab is a premium, paid software. For that investment, you get a completely clean, ad-free experience. The interface is simple, and the conversion speed is the fastest among all paid converter software, since it downloads rather than records. If you convert music regularly and value your time and security, this is the one to get. It offers you a free trial, allowing you to download 3 entire songs before you decide to pay. 

Whether you intend to save individual songs, albums, playlists, music videos, or radio, this YouTube music downloader can be your preferred option. With support for extensive digital formats and high speed, it can also preserve ID3 information.

  •   Converts audio tracks into FLAC, WAV, or compatible MP3 (up to 320 kbps)
  •   Provides a blazing, 20x faster speed for high-speed conversion and downloads
  •   Supports a built-in browser, curbing the need to use a separate YouTube app
  •   Supports customizable output bitrates to meet your unique audio preferences

5. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Convert YouTube to MP3 Safely

5.1 Using online free tools

  • Find the source you want to rip audio from YouTube, then copy the link.
  • Paste the link on the search bar
  • Click download to start and then save the files.

5.2Using a dedicated, safe paid tool

Here's how you do it with a top-tier app like MusicFab:

Step 1: Install and launch the MusicFab YouTube Music Converter on your PC or Mac OS. On the main interface, select the YouTube Music service under VIP Services. Ensure that you use your active credentials to log into your YouTube account.

select the YouTube Music service under VIP Services

Step 2: Use MusicFab's built-in web browser to search and select your favorite YouTube music directly. This saves you the hassle of opening the YouTube app separately.

Select a song, and click the analyze button in the bottom right corner. MusicFab will quickly analyze it and retrieve all the music information within a few moments.

elect your favorite YouTube music video

Step 3: After completing the analysis, you can find various download options on the software's main page. Locate the available audio formats and select your desired one (MP3). Similarly, adjust your audio output's quality and bitrate (up to 320 kb/s).

select your desired one (MP3)

Step 4: Once all the parameters are set, hit Download Now. By doing so, your music file will start downloading at high speed instantly. You can also select Add to Queue to download and save the content to download later, whenever you like.

hit Download Now

6. Comparison of Online YouTube to MP3 Converters

If you are overwhelmed with our suggestions and find it complex to find and settle on the best YouTube music downloader, this detailed comparison table can help you compare them on common parameters. Take a look to make a well-informed decision.

  
Online YouTube to MP3 Converters Exclusive Features Reddit Popularity
CnvMP3
  • Rapid conversion
  • No installation
  • Many bitrate options
  • Safe and speedy downloads
  • Speed and simplicity
Y2Mate.com
  • Many bitrate options
  • Moderate download speed
  • Ads with third-party redirections
  • No registration required
  • Ease of use, various bit rates, and versatility
YTMP3
  • Downloads in MP3 and MP4
  • No ads or bitrate options
  • Safe and speedy downloads
  • Speed and user-friendly interface
  • Simplicity and efficiency
EzMP3
  • Supports trimming the video clip
  • High speed and downloads
  • No ads; ensures safety
  • Clean interface and lack of intrusive ads
  • Speed and reliability

Cobalt.tools

  • No bitrate options and formats
  • High download speed and quality
  • No ads; ensures safety
  • Versatility and cross-platform availability
  • Various output formats
Yout.com
  • Many bitrate options and download formats
  • Additional features
  • No ads; ensures safety
  • Simple conversion and various formats support
  • Convenience and ease of use
Gettvid.com
  • Simple UI with no ads
  • Slow download speed
  • Low download quality
  • No bitrate options
  • Supports various video platforms
  • Flexibility and ease of use
AMP3
  • Many bitrate options with batch downloads
  • High speed and downloads
  • Trim lengthy tracks
  • No ads, ensuring safety
  • High-quality and quick audio conversion
  • Efficient and easy to use
YTBMP3
  • Slow download speed
  • Low download quality
  • 2 bitrate options
  • No ads, ensuring safety
  • Simple interface and features ease of use
TubeMP3
  • Slow download speed
  • Low download quality
  • 2 bitrate options
  • No ads, ensuring safety
  • High-quality audio conversion
  • User-friendly interface

7. How We Tested for the Best YouTube to MP3 Converter Reviews

To give you a trustworthy recommendation, my team and I didn't just look at features. We focused
on what truly matters to you. Each tool was tested against this four-point checklist:

 
  • Safety & Security: We used security software to scan every downloaded file for malware.
    We also monitored how many ads and pop-ups appeared, noting any that were deceptive.
  • Audio Quality: We checked if the converters could genuinely deliver on their promise of
    high-quality audio, testing outputs at both 128kbps and 320kbps from a high-fidelity source
    video.
  • Speed & Efficiency: We timed how long it took to convert a standard 3-minute video. Time
    is valuable, and you shouldn't have to wait forever for one song.
  • Ease of Use: A great tool should be intuitive. We measured how many clicks it took to get
  • from pasting the link to downloading the file.

8. FAQs

1. Are online YouTube to MP3 converters safe?

Depending on your tool, the safety of each online software can differ. Some online tools have no ads despite being free. They do not redirect you to malicious links or third-party websites. However, others may have a deceptive platform with ads and pop-ups, posing a threat and risk to your personal data.

2. What is the most trusted YouTube music downloader for PC?

Among many options available, MusicFab YouTube Music Converter stands out for its versatility. It can bypass DRM protection and download bulk songs at 20x faster speed. It preserves ID3 tags and converts YouTube music into different digital formats.

3. How can I convert/download YouTube Music to MP3 online?

Regardless of the online YouTube to MP3 converter you use, the process of extracting audio files is the same for all. Here's how to use it.

  • Step 1: Launch and search the YouTube Music app for a video you wish to convert and download. Copy its URL from the browser or using Share > Copy Link.
  • Step 2: Open your online tool and paste the YouTube song's URL into the search bar.
  • Step 3: Choose your output format as MP3 and click Start to convert and download your video.
  • Step 4: Once the music file downloads, open and play it from your device's local storage.

4. Is it legal to convert YouTube videos to MP3?

This is the most common question and it exists in a legal gray area. According to YouTube's Terms of Service, you are not supposed to download content without permission from the platform or the copyright holder. While converting public domain or non-copyrighted material for personal use is widely considered low-risk, downloading and saving copyrighted music without paying for it is illegal in most countries. This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.