10 Best YouTube Music Downloaders for PC, Android, iPhone in 2025

ScreenApp Team
10 Best YouTube Music Downloaders for PC, Android, iPhone in 2025

🎯 Quick Answer

Whether you're building an offline playlist for a road trip, need music for your video project, or just want to listen without ads, downloading music from YouTube is a common goal. We've tested the top 10 YouTube music downloaders across PC, Android, and iPhone to bring you this definitive guide for 2025.

💻

All Platforms Covered

PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone solutions

🎵

High-Quality Audio

Up to 320kbps MP3 downloads

📋

Playlist Support

Download entire playlists at once

🔒

Safe & Tested

Only malware-free, trusted tools

Top Picks: The Best YouTube Music Downloader for Each Device

YouTube video player interface showing music video with download button converting to MP3 audio file format

🏆 Our Top Recommendations

Category Our Pick Why It Wins
Best for PC & Mac 4K Video Downloader Powerful, high-quality, and downloads playlists
Best for Android TubeMate Feature-rich app with built-in browser
Best for iPhone Documents by Readdle Reliable workaround using browser feature
Best Online Site YTMP3.nu Simple, fast, and clean web-based converter
⚖️

Important Legal Information

Downloading music from YouTube exists in a legal gray area. Here's what you need to know:

  • Legal: YouTube Premium offline downloads, YouTube Audio Library content
  • Gray Area: Personal use of copyrighted content for backup purposes
  • Illegal: Distributing copyrighted music, commercial use without permission

According to U.S. Copyright Office guidelines, fair use may apply in limited circumstances, but downloading copyrighted music typically violates YouTube's Terms of Service.

Complete Comparison: All YouTube Music Downloaders

📊 Side-by-Side Comparison

Compare all 10 YouTube music downloaders at a glance

Tool Platform Price Max Quality Playlist Support Ease of Use Safety Rating Best For
By Click Downloader Windows Free/Premium 256kbps MP3 ❌ No ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🛡️ Good Windows users
YTMP3.nu Web Browser Free 320kbps MP3 ❌ No ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🛡️ Good Quick downloads
NewPipe Android Free 256kbps MP3 ✅ Yes ⭐⭐⭐ 🛡️ Excellent Privacy-focused
Shortcuts App iPhone Free 256kbps MP3 ❌ No ⭐⭐ 🛡️ Good Tech-savvy users
YouTube Premium All Platforms $11.99/month High Quality ✅ Yes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🛡️ Perfect Official solution
yt-dlp Command Line Free Lossless ✅ Yes ⭐⭐ 🛡️ Excellent Advanced users
YouTube Audio Library Web Browser Free High Quality ✅ Yes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🛡️ Perfect Content creators
Top Recommendations
Official/Legal Solutions

How We Tested & Ranked the Best Music Downloaders

We evaluated each YouTube music downloader based on these critical criteria:

📱

Platform & Ease of Use

Cross-platform compatibility and user-friendly interface

🎧

Quality Options

Support for high-quality audio (320kbps MP3 and above)

Features

Playlist downloads, batch processing, format options

🛡️

Safety & Ads

Malware-free experience with minimal intrusive advertising

💰

Value

Free tier functionality vs. premium features balance

Top 5 YouTube Music Downloaders for PC or Mac

Desktop users have access to the most powerful and feature-rich YouTube music downloaders. Here are our top picks:

1. 4K Video Downloader (Best Overall Desktop App)

2. By Click Downloader (Easiest to Use for PC)

By Click Downloader

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Most User-Friendly

One-click downloading with automatic detection

Windows Only

Known for its simplicity, this PC-only app allows you to download from YouTube with a single click via its auto-detect feature. Perfect for Windows users who want a hassle-free experience.

🎯 Best For
  • Windows users seeking simplicity
  • One-click download experience
  • Users who browse YouTube frequently
  • Quick single-track downloads
✅ Pros
  • Extremely easy to use
  • Automatic detection of YouTube videos
  • Fast download speeds
  • Clean interface
❌ Cons
  • Windows only
  • Limited format options
  • Premium features require payment

3. YTMP3.nu (Best Online Site)

🌐

YTMP3.nu

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best Online

Quick browser-based YouTube to MP3 converter

Web-Based

For quick, one-off downloads without installing software, this site is a clean and efficient YouTube to MP3 converter. Works on any device with a web browser.

🎯 Best For
  • Quick conversions of single tracks
  • Users who don't want to install software
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Occasional downloaders
✅ Pros
  • No installation required
  • Works on any device
  • Fast conversion speeds
  • Clean, minimal interface
❌ Cons
  • Contains some advertisements
  • Limited to single downloads
  • Dependent on internet connection

The Best YouTube Music Downloaders for Android

Android users have several excellent options for downloading YouTube music directly to their devices:

Android YouTube music downloader apps interface

4. TubeMate (Most Feature-Rich App)

5. NewPipe (Best Ad-Free & Open-Source)

🛡️

NewPipe

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Privacy-Focused

Open-source YouTube client with download capabilities

Open Source

NewPipe is a lightweight, privacy-focused, and completely ad-free alternative YouTube client that includes robust download features. Perfect for users who value privacy and an ad-free experience.

🎯 Best For
  • Privacy-conscious users
  • Ad-free YouTube experience
  • Open-source software advocates
  • Lightweight app preference
✅ Pros
  • Completely ad-free
  • Open-source and transparent
  • Privacy-focused design
  • Regular community updates
  • Background audio playback
❌ Cons
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Not available on Play Store
  • Less user-friendly interface

The Best YouTube Music Downloaders for iPhone

iPhone users face more restrictions, but these workarounds provide reliable solutions:

6. The “Documents by Readdle” App Method

7. The “Shortcuts” App Method

Shortcuts App Method

⭐⭐⭐ Tech-Savvy Users

Automated workflow using Apple's Shortcuts app

Automation

For more tech-savvy users, a custom Siri Shortcut can automate the process of downloading a YouTube video's audio from the share menu. Requires some setup but provides seamless workflow.

🎯 Best For
  • Users who enjoy automation
  • Seamless workflow preference
  • Share menu integration
  • Tech-savvy iPhone users
✅ Pros
  • Integrates with share menu
  • Automated process
  • Uses official Apple app
  • Customizable workflow
❌ Cons
  • Complex initial setup
  • May break with iOS updates
  • Requires technical knowledge

The Official & Community-Approved Methods

For users who prefer official or community-endorsed solutions:

Professional YouTube music download solutions

8. YouTube Premium (The Official Method)

▶️

YouTube Premium

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Official Solution

The only legal way to download YouTube music offline

Official

The only official, legal, and guaranteed safe way to download music from YouTube is by subscribing to YouTube Premium, which allows for offline downloads within the YouTube and YouTube Music apps.

💰 Pricing
  • Individual: $11.99/month
  • Family: $17.99/month (up to 6 members)
  • Student: $5.99/month (with verification)
✅ Pros
  • Completely legal and safe
  • Supports artists and creators
  • Ad-free experience
  • Background playback
  • YouTube Music included
❌ Cons
  • Monthly subscription fee
  • Downloads expire if subscription ends
  • Limited to YouTube apps

9. The Reddit Consensus: yt-dlp

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yt-dlp

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reddit Favorite

Command-line tool recommended by tech communities

Command Line

On communities like Reddit, the overwhelming recommendation for advanced users is yt-dlp—a powerful command-line tool that is fast, ad-free, and can download virtually anything from YouTube and other platforms.

🎯 Best For
  • Tech-savvy users
  • Command-line interface comfort
  • Batch processing
  • Maximum customization
✅ Pros
  • Completely free and open-source
  • Extremely powerful and flexible
  • Regular updates
  • Supports many platforms
  • No ads or limitations
❌ Cons
  • Command-line only
  • Steep learning curve
  • Not user-friendly for beginners

10. YouTube’s Audio Library (For Creators)

🎬

YouTube Audio Library

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Creator Tool

Free music library for content creators

For Creators

For video creators looking for music to use in their own content, YouTube's own Audio Library offers thousands of copyright-free tracks to download. Perfect for content creation without copyright concerns.

🎯 Best For
  • Content creators
  • Video production
  • Copyright-free music needs
  • Commercial use projects
✅ Pros
  • Completely copyright-free
  • High-quality audio
  • Various genres available
  • Safe for commercial use
❌ Cons
  • Limited to library content
  • Not popular music tracks
  • Requires YouTube account

Professional Screen Recording for Content Creation

For content creators who need to capture YouTube music for video projects, professional screen recording tools like ScreenApp’s screen recording features offer a copyright-compliant way to capture audio for creative projects. This method ensures you maintain high audio quality while staying within legal boundaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free YouTube music downloader?

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For desktop users, 4K Video Downloader offers the best free experience with high-quality downloads. Android users should consider TubeMate for its comprehensive features. For online use, YTMP3.nu provides a clean, ad-minimal experience.

How can I download high quality audio from YouTube?

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For the highest quality audio, use desktop applications like 4K Video Downloader or yt-dlp which support up to 320kbps MP3 or even lossless formats. Always select the highest available quality option when downloading.

Is it safe to use online YouTube downloaders?

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While some online YouTube downloaders are safe, many contain malicious ads or malware. Stick to well-reviewed sites like YTMP3.nu and always use ad blockers. Desktop applications are generally safer than online converters.

Can I download entire YouTube playlists?

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Yes, several tools support playlist downloads. 4K Video Downloader and yt-dlp excel at downloading entire playlists automatically. Simply paste the playlist URL instead of individual video URLs.

What's the best YouTube music downloader for iPhone?

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iPhone users have limited options due to App Store restrictions. The Documents by Readdle method is most reliable, using the app's built-in browser with online converters. For the most seamless experience, consider YouTube Premium.

Conclusion: The Best Downloader for Your Needs

After testing dozens of YouTube music downloaders, here are our final recommendations:

🏆 Final Recommendations

Choose the perfect YouTube music downloader based on your device and needs

💻

Desktop Power Users

Best Overall
4K Video Downloader

Offers the best combination of features, quality, and reliability. Perfect for users who want to download playlists and need the highest audio quality.

High Quality Playlist Support Cross-Platform
🤖

Android Users

Mobile Choice
TubeMate

Provides the most comprehensive mobile experience with its built-in browser and multiple format options. NewPipe is ideal for privacy-focused users.

Built-in Browser Multiple Formats Free
🍎

iPhone Users

iOS Solution
Documents by Readdle

The most reliable workaround for iOS users. For the best experience, consider YouTube Premium for official offline downloads.

App Store Safe No Jailbreak Reliable
🌐

Quick Downloads

Online Tool
YTMP3.nu

Offers the cleanest online experience for occasional downloads without software installation. Perfect for one-off conversions.

No Installation Fast Clean Interface

💡 Quick Decision Guide

Need the best quality? → 4K Video Downloader
Using Android? → TubeMate or NewPipe
Using iPhone? → Documents by Readdle
Want official solution? → YouTube Premium
Quick one-time download? → YTMP3.nu

Remember the Alternatives

For content creation needs, consider using professional recording tools and the best screen recording software to capture audio legally. For more video-related guides, check out our video editing software reviews and Windows screen recording tutorials.

The landscape of YouTube music downloading continues to evolve. According to Statista, YouTube processes over 2 billion logged-in users monthly, making it the world’s largest music discovery platform. While downloading methods exist, always prioritize legal alternatives and consider supporting artists through official channels.

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