Convert YouTube to MP3 on Mac: Easy & Free Guide with CapCut

Ever found yourself wanting to save the audio from a YouTube video on your Mac? Maybe it’s a cool song, a helpful tutorial, or a funny clip—but you only want the sound, not the video. Well, you’re not alone! Lots of people want to learn how to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac, and luckily, it’s easier than you might think.

There are tons of tools out there that let you convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac, but not all of them are safe, fast, or easy to use. Some might even harm your computer! That’s why it’s super important to pick the right one. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know—from what makes a good converter to the best tools available. Plus, we’ll show you how to use one of the coolest tools out there: CapCut. Let’s dive in!

What Makes a Good YouTube to MP3 Converter for Mac?

Before you download anything, it’s smart to know what to look for. Here are some key things to keep in mind when you want to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac:

Compatibility with macOS
This might sound obvious, but it’s super important! Make sure the software works well with your Mac’s operating system. If it doesn’t, it might crash, run slowly, or not work at all.

User-Friendly Interface
You don’t want to waste time figuring out a complicated menu. The best converters let you paste a YouTube link and get your MP3 with just a few clicks. A clean, simple design makes everything easier.

Fast Conversion Speed
Nobody likes to wait around. A good converter should work quickly, even if you’re dealing with long videos or converting multiple files at once.

High-Quality Output
You want your MP3 to sound just as good as the original video. Look for tools that keep the audio clear and crisp, without any weird noises or loss of quality.

Batch Conversion
If you often convert lots of videos, batch conversion is a lifesaver. It lets you convert multiple files at the same time, saving you tons of time and effort.

Extra Features
Some converters offer bonus tools like audio editing, volume adjustment, or trimming. These can be really handy if you want to customize your MP3 files.

Keeping these points in mind will help you find the perfect tool to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac.

Top Tools to Convert YouTube Video to MP3 on Mac

Ready to check out some specific software? Here are five popular options that can help you convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac:

Allavsoft

Allavsoft is a powerful downloader and converter that works on both Mac and Windows. It’s not just for YouTube—it can grab videos from lots of other websites too. One of its best features is batch downloading, which is great if you have a lot of videos to convert. It also supports many different formats, so it’s very versatile.

The interface is pretty straightforward. Just paste a link, choose MP3 as your output format, and you’re good to go. The conversion speed is also quite good.

However, the free version has some limitations. You might only be able to convert a few videos before you need to buy the full version. Some users also say it can be a bit unstable at times.

Airy

Airy is another great choice for converting YouTube to MP3 on Mac. It’s simple, efficient, and has a clean interface. Just paste the YouTube URL, choose your quality, and hit download. It also offers browser integration, so you can download videos directly from your web browser without switching apps. Plus, it lets you download entire playlists, which is super convenient.

The downside? Airy is a paid application. You can use it for free for a short time, but after that, you’ll need to buy a license. It also doesn’t have many advanced customization options.

iTubeGo

iTubeGo is a feature-packed tool that works as both a downloader and a converter. It supports a huge range of sites and formats, so whether you want MP3, MP4, or something else, iTubeGo can handle it. It offers high download speeds and even has a basic built-in video editor.

But the free version is quite limited. To access all the features, you’ll need to purchase the software. Some people also find the interface a bit cluttered because it has so many options.

Downie

Downie is a popular downloader among Mac users. People love it for its simplicity and reliability. The interface is minimal and easy to use—you can even drag and drop a YouTube link right into the app. It supports batch processing and gives you several options for extracting audio.

Like many of these tools, Downie is not free. You’ll have to buy it after a trial period. It also focuses more on downloading than editing, so it doesn’t have advanced audio customization features.

Pulltube

Pulltube is a modern, versatile converter for Mac. It has a sleek design and is very user-friendly. It works with YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, and other platforms. You can choose the output format and quality, and it supports batch downloading.

One thing Pulltube can’t do is preview videos before converting them. But it makes up for it with smart features like keyboard shortcuts and gestures to make downloading faster.

All of these are great options if you want to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac. But if you’re looking for something that does more than just converting, there’s another awesome tool you should check out.

The Easiest Way: Convert YouTube Video to MP3 on Mac with CapCut

If you want more than just a basic converter, CapCut is the way to go. It’s a free desktop video editor that also makes it super easy to convert YouTube videos to MP3. It’s safe, fast, and packed with features.

Why choose CapCut? Well, for starters, it offers one-click video-to-audio conversion. That means you can extract audio from any video file really quickly. It’s perfect for turning a YouTube tutorial into a podcast or saving a music video as an MP3.

But CapCut is much more than a simple converter. It has amazing audio enhancement tools. For example, the “Enhance voice” feature can clean up your audio by removing background noise, static, and other annoying sounds. This ensures your MP3 sounds crystal clear.

Ever wanted to get just the vocals from a song? Or just the music without the singing? CapCut’s vocal isolation tool can do that with high precision. It’s great for musicians or anyone who wants to remix audio.

It also has sound normalization, which automatically balances the volume levels across your audio clip. So if some parts are too loud and others too quiet, it fixes that. Your finished MP3 will have consistent volume from start to finish.

For those who like to get creative, CapCut offers fun voice filters and characters. You can change your voice to sound like a robot, an elf, or something else entirely. It’s a cool way to add a unique touch to your audio projects.

On top of all this, CapCut is a full video editor. It has AI-powered features like text-to-speech and cool effects. You can edit your videos, add subtitles, and do so much more. It’s an all-in-one tool for content creators.

Using CapCut to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac is not only easy but also gives you professional-level results. You end up with a high-quality MP3 file that sounds amazing.

CapCut — Your all-in-one video & photo editing powerhouse! Experience AI auto-editing, realistic effects, a huge template library, and AI audio transformation. Easily create professional masterpieces and social media viral hits. Available on Desktop, Web, and Mobile App.

Download App | Sign Up for Free

How to Convert YouTube Video to MP3 on Mac Using CapCut: Step-by-Step

Let’s walk through the process of how to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac with CapCut. It’s really simple!

Step 1: Download and Install CapCut
First, you need to get CapCut on your computer. Go to the official CapCut website or the Mac App Store, search for “CapCut,” and download it. The installation is straightforward—just follow the instructions on the screen. Once it’s installed, open the application.

Step 2: Sign Up and Import Your Video
If you’re a new user, you’ll need to sign up for an account. Don’t worry—it’s free! Just click the “Sign Up” button and create your account. After logging in, you’ll see the main editing interface.

Now, you need to get your YouTube video. Important: You must download the YouTube video to your Mac first. CapCut works with video files on your computer. You can use one of the converters we talked about earlier, like Downie or Allavsoft, for this step. Once the video is saved on your Mac, you’re ready for the next part.

In CapCut, click the “Import” button. Find the YouTube video file you just downloaded and select it. The video will now appear in your CapCut media library.

Step 3: Convert the Video to Audio
Drag the video from the library down to the timeline at the bottom of the screen. This is where you do all your editing.

To convert this video to MP3, you need to extract the audio. Right-click on the video clip in the timeline. A menu will pop up—look for the option that says “Extract audio” and click it.

In just a second, CapCut will separate the audio from the video. You’ll now see an audio track in your timeline. The video track will still be there, but you can ignore it or delete it since you only want the sound.

Now’s your chance to edit and improve your audio. Want to make it sound better? Click on the audio track and look for the “Enhance voice” option. This will reduce background noise and make voices clearer.

You can also adjust the volume, add fade-ins or fade-outs, or even use the voice changer if you’re feeling creative. Play around with the tools to get the sound just right.

Step 4: Export as MP3
When you’re happy with your audio, it’s time to export it as an MP3 file. Click the “Export” button in the top right corner of the window.

A settings window will appear. Here, you can choose what you want to export. Since we want an MP3, change the format to “MP3.” You can also name your file and choose where to save it on your computer.

There might be other settings, like audio bitrate. A higher bitrate means better quality but a larger file size. For most people, the default setting is just fine.

Once everything is set, click the “Export” button again. CapCut will now process your file and save it as an MP3. The time this takes depends on the length of your audio. When it’s done, you’ll have a brand new MP3 file ready to use!

And that’s it! You’ve successfully learned how to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac using CapCut. It might seem like a few steps, but it’s actually very quick and gives you a lot of control over the final sound.

Wrapping Up: Your Best Choice for YouTube to MP3 on Mac

So, we’ve looked at several ways to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac. There are many great dedicated converters like Allavsoft, Airy, and Downie. They’re fantastic for quickly grabbing audio from videos.

But if you want the best overall package, CapCut is an outstanding choice. It’s more than just a converter—it’s a complete editing studio. You get high-quality MP3 conversion plus powerful tools to make your audio sound professional. The ability to remove noise, isolate vocals, and normalize sound is just awesome. And the fact that it’s free makes it even better.

Whether you’re a student, a musician, or just someone who loves saving audio from videos, knowing how to convert YouTube video to MP3 on Mac is a useful skill. With the right tool, it’s a simple and safe process.

CapCut — Your all-in-one video & photo editing powerhouse! Experience AI auto-editing, realistic effects, a huge template library, and AI audio transformation. Easily create professional masterpieces and social media viral hits. Available on Desktop, Web, and Mobile App.

Download App | Sign Up for Free

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I convert YouTube audio to MP3 on my Mac for free?

There are a few ways to do this for free. You can use online converters, but be careful—some websites can be unsafe. A better and safer free option is to use the CapCut desktop video editor. It lets you extract audio from videos you’ve downloaded and save them as MP3 files without any cost.

What is the fastest way to convert YouTube to MP3 on a Mac?

For the fastest conversion, you want a tool that’s built for speed. CapCut’s one-click audio extraction is very quick. Just import your downloaded video, extract the audio, and export it as an MP3. The whole process takes just a minute or two for most videos.

Which free YouTube to MP3 converter for Mac is the best?

While there are many free options, the best one is arguably CapCut’s desktop video editor. It’s not just a simple converter—it’s a powerful tool that gives you high-quality audio output. It’s safe, easy to use, and doesn’t have hidden limits. It provides a smooth experience for converting YouTube videos to MP3 on your Mac.

Some images sourced from CapCut.