Converting YouTube videos to mp3 format is a very popular thing to do. It allows you to take the audio from videos and listen to them offline or on the go as an mp3 file that you can put on your phone, MP3 player, or other device. In this blog post, I’ll walk through the different methods to convert YouTube videos to mp3 using online converters as well as software you can download onto your computer.
Why Convert YouTube to MP3?
There are many reasons you may want to convert a YouTube video to an mp3 file. Here are some of the top reasons:
- Listen offline – Once the YouTube video is converted to an mp3, you can listen to the audio without needing an internet connection. Great for when traveling or commuting.
- Save data – Streaming YouTube videos uses more data than listening to the audio only as an mp3 file. Converting to mp3 saves data usage.
- More portable formats – MP3 files work with more devices like phones, tablets and MP3 players whereas streaming YouTube videos do not always work on all devices, especially with limited storage and processing power.
- Skip Video – If you just want to listen to the audio portion and not watch the video, converting to MP3 allows that. You don’t need the video with an audio-only file.
Online YouTube to MP3 Converters
The easiest way to convert YouTube to mp3 is using an online converter tool or website. Here are some of the top options:
1. YoutubeMp3.org
This is one of the most popular and easiest-to-use YouTube video to mp3 sites. To use it, go to YoutubeMp3.org, paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to convert into the input box and click “Convert Video”. After a short bit, you can then download the mp3 file to your computer.
Advantages of YoutubeMp3.org:
- Very simple and easy-to-use interface
- Supports many video sites besides YouTube
- Fast conversion speeds
2. OnlineVideoConverter.com
OnlineVideoConverter.com allows you to convert videos from not just YouTube but also from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Twitch and more. After pasting in a video URL, it gives you options on what format to convert to including mp3.
Advantages include:
- Wide format support for converting many video types
- Video editing options to trim or crop videos
- Batch processing to convert multiple videos
3. Video2MP3.net
Video2MP3.net is another option focused solely on YouTube. Paste a YouTube video URL and select mp3 as the desired format to convert to. One handy feature is it shows the estimated download time so you know how long you need to wait.
Pros of Video2MP3.net:
- Clean interface without any ads
- Support for high-quality 320kbps mp3 downloads
- Fast and free conversion speeds
Desktop Software to Convert YouTube Videos
If you need to convert multiple YouTube videos or want faster batch processing, downloading software to your computer is a good option. Here are some top YouTube to mp3 converter programs:
1. 4K YouTube to MP3
This is one of the most popular pieces of software for downloading YouTube videos as mp3s. After installing on Windows or Mac, you can paste video links or drag and drop videos for conversion. Supports extracting audio from multiple videos in batches.
Features:
- Convert to common audio formats like mp3, m4a, wav
- Download entire YouTube playlists
- ID3 metadata tagging of files
- Playlist creation from downloads
2. iTubeGo YouTube Downloader
iTubeGo is a versatile program for Windows and Mac that can download YouTube videos in their original format or convert them to mp3 or other audio formats. Has a built-in media library for managing your downloads.
Benefits include:
- Downloads entire playlists
- Batch converts multiple videos to mp3 fast
- Simple click-and-drag interface
- Extract audio tracks from videos
3. 4k Video Downloader
While the name might only say video, 4K Video Downloader also quickly converts YouTube to mp3 audio files. It captures metadata like song and artist names automatically during conversion.
Features include:
- Multi-language support
- Configurable naming of downloaded files
- Subtitle extraction from videos
- Scheduling downloads
Additional Tips for Converting YouTube Videos to MP3
Here are some extra pointers to help you easily convert YouTube videos to mp3 files:
- When using an online converter, make sure to avoid sites loaded with ads or popups as they could contain malware. Stick to well-established sites.
- For desktop programs, perform virus scans if downloading from lesser-known sites. Use trusted sources like CNET download.com or FileHippo.com.
- YouTube download helper browser extensions like Video DownloadHelper can integrate right into your Chrome or Firefox browser for quick on-demand conversions.
- If you want higher quality audio at 320kbps vs standard 192kbps mp3 downloads, look for sites and software that support this.
- For creating MP3s from very long YouTube videos like concerts or speeches, look for converters that support multi-part file downloads.
Conclusion
As you can see, converting YouTube videos to mp3 audio files is useful and easy to do through online sites or downloaded software tools. You can enjoy your favorite YouTube music offline, listen without video, save data usage and so much more. Just avoid shady sites, use trusted programs and you’ll be listing to mp3s downloaded from YouTube videos in no time!
