Best Free Methods to Download YouTube Music on Your Mac

YouTube offers a wide range of digital content, including music videos, audiobooks, movie soundtracks, and podcasts. Often, you may want to download audio from these videos for offline use.

However, YouTube Premium only allows you to download videos for offline viewing—not in an audio-only format or to save files directly to your device.

In this guide, I’ll show you the best free methods to download high-quality audio from YouTube on your Mac, using both apps and online tools. This way, you can enjoy YouTube audio without ads or internet access, and easily transfer it to platforms like iTunes, iMovie, or other devices.

Solution 1: Download YouTube Music on Mac Using Free Apps

Here are three free apps you can use to download audio from YouTube on your Mac:

Method 1: Use EaseUS Video Downloader

EaseUS Video Downloader is a professional tool for downloading both video and audio. By pasting the YouTube URL into the app, you can download audio tracks in high quality with just a few clicks.

How to Use EaseUS Video Downloader:

1. Launch the EaseUS Video Downloader on your Mac.
2. Use the “Quick Search” feature to find the video you want to download.
3. After selecting the video, click the “Download” button to analyze it.
4. Choose either “MP3” or “WAV” in the Audio section, select the desired quality, and click “Download” to save the audio file.

Method 2: Use VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is an open-source media player that can also be used to download and convert YouTube videos to audio files. It’s free and available for both macOS and Windows.

Steps to Download YouTube Audio with VLC:

1. Open VLC and navigate to “File” → “Open Network.”
2. Enter the YouTube video URL and click “Open.”
3. Go to “Window” → “Media Information” and copy the location link.
4. Paste the link into your browser, right-click the video, and choose “Save Video As” to download it to your Mac.
5. In VLC, go to “File” → “Convert/Stream,” drag the downloaded video file into the box, and select “Audio – MP3” to convert it.

Method 3: Use 4K Video Downloader+

4K Video Downloader+ allows you to download audio from YouTube videos in the highest quality available. It also offers the convenience of an in-app browser.

Steps to Use 4K Video Downloader:

1. Install and launch the app on your Mac.
2. Set the Smart Mode settings to download audio in MP3, M4A, or OGG format.
3. Copy the YouTube video URL and paste it into the app by clicking the “Paste Link” button.
4. The app will process the video, and you can download the audio file in your chosen format.
5. You can also use the in-app browser to search for and download videos directly without leaving the application.

Solution 2: How to Download YouTube Audio on Mac Without Installing Apps

Wondering if it’s possible to download YouTube videos or audio without any apps? Absolutely! The quickest way to save audio from YouTube is through online tools that work directly in your web browser. Below are four free websites that allow you to download YouTube audio using Chrome, Safari, or any other browser on your Mac.

Method 1: Y2Mate

Y2Mate is a versatile online service that lets you download audio or video files from YouTube. After pasting the video link, click “Start” to initiate the download process. You can save files in multiple formats, including MP3, MP4, M4V, and more. It also offers various resolutions to choose from.

Method 2: YTMP3

YTMP3 is a free website that allows you to download audio from YouTube as MP3 or MP4 files. Simply paste the video link, select “MP3,” click “Convert,” and choose your preferred audio quality before downloading.

Method 3: 320YouTube

320YouTube is a simple, user-friendly option for downloading YouTube audio without the need for apps. Just paste the video link into the site, and you can download the audio file. It’s easy to use and requires no technical skills.

Method 4: Converto

Converto is another effective online tool that allows you to converting YouTube videos by simply entering the video URL. It converts the video into an audio file that you can download directly to your Mac.

Conclusion

These online tools provide a fast and easy way to download YouTube audio on a Mac without installing additional software. For quick downloads, services like Y2Mate and YTMP3 are convenient and straightforward. However, if you need to download multiple files at once or want to maintain higher quality, a dedicated app like Cisdem Video Converter may be the better option for Mac users.