"YouTube to MP3" is one of the most searched phrases on the web. Yet YouTube has no MP3 files at all. The sound of every video is stored as M4A (AAC) and as Opus. A converter that hands you an MP3 has to squeeze that sound a second time, and every squeeze costs quality. Downloading the audio as it is gives you the best sound there is, and it is faster.
How to download audio from YouTube
- Copy the link of the video or the song.
- Paste it into the YouTube downloader and press Download.
- Open the Audio list, or press the quick button Download audio.
- Pick M4A for a file that plays everywhere, or Opus for the smallest file.
M4A, Opus or MP3: which one?
| Format | Sound at the same size | Plays on |
|---|---|---|
| M4A (AAC) | Better than MP3 | Phones, computers, cars, TVs, iTunes |
| Opus | Best | Android, browsers, VLC, most new players |
| MP3 | Good | Everything, including very old players |
The usual M4A from YouTube has about 128 kbps, the best Opus about 160 kbps. Both sound as good as a 192 kbps MP3 or better. A "320 kbps MP3" made from a YouTube video is only a bigger file. It cannot sound better than its source.
When MP3 still makes sense
A few car radios and old MP3 players read nothing else. In that case download the M4A and convert it once on your computer with a free tool such as VLC or Audacity. You keep control over the quality, and you have the better original as well.
Music is protected by copyright. Download songs only when you are allowed to, for example your own recordings or music under a free licence.
Audio in another language
If a video has dubbed sound tracks, you can save the audio in any of them. Read how to download dubbed audio from YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
Is M4A better than MP3?
At the same bitrate, yes. AAC, the sound inside an M4A file, is the newer technology and keeps more detail than MP3.
Will an M4A file play on my phone?
Yes. Android and iPhone play M4A without any extra app, and so do Windows and macOS.
What is the highest audio quality on YouTube?
For most videos it is Opus at about 160 kbps or AAC at about 128 kbps. Nothing higher is stored, whatever a converter promises.
