YouTube to MP3: Pull the Audio From Any Video
Paste a YouTube link, pick a bitrate from 64 to 320 kbps and save just the soundtrack as an MP3 file.
Audio (MP3)
Video (MP4)
The file opens in a new tab. If it starts playing, save it from the browser menu (⋮ then Download) or long-press it and choose Download.
If nothing happens, open this page in Chrome or Safari.
- Five MP3 bitrates
- No sign-up
- Phone and desktop
MP3 Bitrate vs File Size
Bitrate is the amount of audio data stored per second, so it sets both the file size and how much detail the MP3 can hold.
| Bitrate | Size per minute | 4-minute track | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 320 kbps | about 2.4 MB | about 9.6 MB | Music on good headphones or speakers |
| 256 kbps | about 1.9 MB | about 7.7 MB | Music with a little less storage use |
| 192 kbps | about 1.4 MB | about 5.8 MB | Everyday listening on phones and in the car |
| 128 kbps | about 0.96 MB | about 3.8 MB | Podcasts, talks and casual music |
| 64 kbps | about 0.48 MB | about 1.9 MB | Speech only, very long recordings |
Sizes are calculated from the bitrate (kbps x 60 / 8). A higher bitrate cannot add detail that the original YouTube audio never had, so 320 kbps mainly matters for well-produced music.
What a YouTube to MP3 File Is Good For
An MP3 keeps only the sound of a video, which makes it far smaller and easier to carry around than the MP4.
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Lectures and podcasts
Long talks compress well at 64 or 128 kbps, so a multi-hour recording stays small enough to keep on your phone for the commute.
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Language practice
Replay a dialogue or pronunciation lesson in any audio player, with no screen needed and no video eating your battery.
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Music you have rights to
Your own performances, Creative Commons tracks or public domain recordings sound clean at 256 or 320 kbps.
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Older players and car stereos
MP3 is the format almost every device understands, from USB car radios to basic media players.
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Editing projects
Drop permitted audio into a video editor or DAW as a separate track instead of stripping it from a full video file.
Quick Facts About the MP3 Option
- Format
- Standard MP3 audio, offered at 320, 256, 192, 128 and 64 kbps.
- Links that work
- Regular watch links, youtu.be short links, Shorts, mobile links and YouTube Music links.
- Length
- Long videos work too, from a short clip to a full-length lecture.
- Cost and setup
- Free, with no account, app or browser extension to install.
- Devices
- Any modern browser on Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac, Linux or Chromebook.
- Privacy
- Video details are looked up live for each request and never saved; no files are hosted and no download history is kept.
Private, age-restricted, members-only, removed or region-blocked videos may not work, and live streams that are still running can't be saved.
How to Save YouTube Audio as MP3
Getting the soundtrack takes three short steps in the box at the top of this page.
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Paste the video link
Copy the link from the YouTube app or browser, paste it into the box and tap the button. The title and length appear, so you can confirm it's the right video.
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Choose a bitrate
Pick one of the MP3 options from 64 to 320 kbps, using the table above to balance sound detail against file size.
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Save the file
The MP3 opens in a new tab. If it starts playing, use the browser menu (three dots, then Download) or long-press and choose Download or Save; on a computer, right-click and save it.
YouTube to MP3 Questions
Will 320 kbps always sound better than 128 kbps?
Not always. The MP3 can only be as good as the audio YouTube streams, which is already compressed. For music on decent headphones the higher bitrates can sound fuller, but for speech you will rarely hear a difference between 128 and 320 kbps.
Which bitrate makes sense for a two-hour podcast?
Speech holds up well at low bitrates, so 64 or 128 kbps keeps the file small. At 64 kbps two hours comes to roughly 58 MB, while 320 kbps would be about five times larger with little audible gain for voices.
Can I get an MP3 from a Shorts or YouTube Music link?
Yes. Shorts and YouTube Music links work the same way as normal watch links. Paste the link and the MP3 options appear just like for any other video.
How do I keep the MP3 on an iPhone?
Open this page in Safari rather than an in-app browser. After tapping a bitrate, the audio may start playing in a new tab; use the share or download option, or long-press and choose Download, and the file lands in the Files app under Downloads.
Can I turn a whole playlist into MP3 files?
No. If the link comes from a playlist, only the one video in that link is saved. Open each video separately and paste its link to get the other tracks.
Is it legal to extract audio from YouTube videos?
It depends on the content. Save audio only from videos you own, that are in the public domain, that carry a licence allowing it, or that you have permission to keep, and use it personally. This tool is not affiliated with YouTube or Google.
Get the Audio, Leave the Video
Paste a link in the box above, choose a bitrate that suits your ears and your storage, and keep the MP3 on any device you use.