What is the best app to download free music from YouTube?

The desire to be able to download music for free from YouTube is driven by a few factors. First, downloading music from YouTube allows people to acquire songs without having to pay. Instead of purchasing music on iTunes or subscribing to a streaming service like Spotify, YouTube offers an avenue to get songs for free. This is appealing, especially to younger demographics who may not have as much disposable income.

Additionally, downloading from YouTube allows people to get specific songs, recordings, remixes or covers that may not be available on paid sites or services. YouTube has a massive array of user-generated content and remixes that gives consumers access to a wider selection of music.

However, there is a legal grey area around downloading copyrighted content from YouTube without permission. While YouTube’s Terms of Service allow personal, non-commercial use, downloading copyrighted content without permission from the rights holder could constitute copyright infringement. There are legal methods to download music from YouTube, such as using paid converter sites or apps that properly license the content. But free converter sites often operate in ethically dubious territory when it comes to copyright law.

Overview of Options

There are many apps and services people use to download music from YouTube. Here are some of the most popular options:

YouTube Converter – This web-based service allows you to paste in a YouTube URL and convert the video to MP3 audio. It offers high quality downloads and is free to use.

youtube-dl – This open source command-line program can download videos and audio from YouTube and many other sites. It offers a wide range of formats and customization options.

4K Video Downloader – Available for Windows, Mac and Linux, this easy-to-use desktop app can download YouTube videos and playlists in MP3, M4A, and other formats.

KeepVid – KeepVid.works is a free online tool that allows downloading YouTube videos and audio in MP3 format. It’s easy to use but limited in features.

YouTube Converter

YouTube Converter is a website that allows you to convert YouTube videos into MP3 audio files to download. It works by you entering the URL of the YouTube video into the site, and the website converts and processes the video file into an MP3 audio version. Some pros of using YouTube Converter include:

  • Simple and easy to use interface
  • Fast conversion speeds
  • Supports downloading full playlists
  • Option for high quality 320kbps MP3s

Some cons of using YouTube Converter are:

  • Contains advertisements
  • May download malware without proper protections
  • Violates YouTube’s terms of service

Overall, YouTube Converter can be a quick and convenient option for downloading YouTube videos as MP3 files. However, the legal uncertainty, ads, and security risks are downsides to consider (1). There may be better and safer converter options available.

youtube-dl

youtube-dl is an open source command line program that allows users to download videos from YouTube and over 1000 other websites. The software is written in Python and works by extracting video URLs from websites and downloading the video files. Here are some key features:

Pros:

  • Free and open source with active development
  • Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
  • Supports a wide range of formats and quality options
  • Can download entire playlists and channels
  • Customizable with scripts and plugins

Cons:

  • Command line interface is not user friendly for beginners
  • May require FFmpeg/VLC for format conversion
  • Downloading copyrighted content is illegal without permission

While youtube-dl offers advanced functionality for tech savvy users, its lack of GUI and command line requirement limit its accessibility. Still, for downloading YouTube videos it remains a popular choice.

4K Video Downloader

4K Video Downloader is a free program that can download videos from YouTube, as well as other video sites. It works by allowing you to copy and paste the URL of a YouTube video, and then select the video format quality to download. The options range from 720p to 4K resolutions.

Some pros of using 4K Video Downloader include:

  • It’s free and easy to use
  • Downloads high quality videos up to 4K resolutions
  • Supports many popular video sites beyond just YouTube
  • No ads or spyware according to reviews ([“4K Video Downloader review,” techradar, 2022] [‘4K Video Downloader Review – Is It Any Good? [2024]’, techjury, 2023])

Potential cons are:

  • May download slower than a paid solution
  • Lacks some advanced features of premium downloaders
  • Downloading copyrighted content without permission is illegal

Overall, 4K Video Downloader is a great option for easily downloading YouTube videos for free without hassle or malware according to expert reviews.

KeepVid

KeepVid is an app and website that allows users to download videos from popular social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Users simply paste the URL of the video they want to download into the KeepVid interface, and it converts the video into a downloadable file for the user. According to the KeepVid app page, it supports downloading videos in MP3, MP4, and other formats.

One of the pros of using KeepVid is that it’s free and easy to use. Users don’t need to create an account or sign up to download videos. KeepVid also allows users to download videos in specific file formats and resolutions to optimize for playback on different devices. Some of the cons are that users have reported issues with converting or downloading very long videos, and that KeepVid injects ads and watermarks into the downloaded videos.

Overall, KeepVid is a simple way for users to download videos off social platforms, especially shorter clips that they want to save for personal use. However, questions have been raised about KeepVid enabling potential copyright infringement by allowing downloads of copyrighted material. Users should be cautious about republishing or distributing downloaded content without permission.

Recommendation

Based on the pros and cons discussed for each of the options, the best YouTube music downloader app overall would be Snappea’s online downloader platform. As explained in one of the sources, “Snappea Online Downloader is an online platform designed for iPhone and computer users” that is easy to use and allows downloading to your device (source).

The primary reason Snappea’s online downloader platform stands out as the best option is its legality and security. Unlike other options that operate in a legal gray area, Snappea explicitly states that it follows copyright laws and is safe to use. The online format also avoids security issues inherent with mobile apps. Finally, the Snappea platform provides a top quality user experience by making the download process fast, simple, and free.

Downloading Copyrighted Content

There are legal concerns regarding downloading copyrighted music from YouTube or other online platforms without permission. According to copyright law principles like fair use, downloading a song solely for your own personal use may qualify as fair use if it is not being distributed or monetized. However, downloading multiple songs or albums instead of just one song is less likely to be considered fair use (source). In general, reproducing and distributing copyrighted content without permission is technically illegal.

The fair use doctrine allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research. Downloading a song for private personal enjoyment pushes the boundaries of fair use protections. While lawsuits are rare, the record labels, publishers and PROs view unauthorized downloading as copyright infringement. YouTube’s terms of service also prohibit downloading audio or video content from the platform.

The safest approach is to avoid downloading entire albums or discographies without permission and only download one or two songs under fair use principles. Streaming music through authorized services is also an alternative to downloading that avoids legal risks. Ultimately, reproducing significant portions of copyrighted content without permission crosses ethical if not always strictly legal boundaries.

Alternatives to Downloading

While downloading music from YouTube can seem convenient, there are legal and ethical concerns with this practice. Instead, consider using the following alternatives:

  • Stream music legally with services like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and others. These services have licensed agreements with record labels and artists to provide access to vast music libraries.

  • Purchase and download music ethically from stores like Amazon Music, iTunes, and Bandcamp. This compensates artists directly for their work.

  • Support artists you love by attending live concerts and events. This provides significant and direct support.

While the convenience of downloading may be tempting, using legitimate streaming services and purchases is the ethical way to enjoy music. This properly compensates those who create the music we all enjoy.

Conclusion

To summarize, there are some helpful apps and services to download YouTube videos and convert them to music. YouTube Converter and youtube-dl are good desktop-based options, while 4K Video Downloader and KeepVid are decent download apps that can save YouTube audio.

The best option by far is 4K Video Downloader. It provides the easiest way to save YouTube content as video and audio, with fast download speeds, ad removal, and numerous formats supported. The basic functions of the app are free to use while still offering a smooth downloading experience.

Consider supporting the music artists you enjoy by listening to their work in authorized platforms or purchasing their songs/albums. However, if you decide to download from YouTube, be careful not to violate any copyright laws.

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