10 Best MP3 Downloaders for Mac in 2026 (Free & Tested)

Looking for the best MP3 downloader for Mac or MacBook in 2026? We tested 10 options to find the best ways to download MP3 songs for free, save streaming music, or convert videos to MP3. We compared audio quality, batch downloads, free limits, metadata preservation, Mac compatibility, and potential safety concerns to help you choose the right tool. You'll also learn how to download music on macOS with step-by-step instructions for each tool.

Quick Answers About MP3 Downloading on Mac

10 Best MP3 Downloaders for Mac Compared

Note: MP3 bitrate values refer to supported output settings, not the original audio quality. Converting a 128 kbps audio source to 320 kbps MP3 won't improve its sound quality.

How We Tested These MP3 Downloaders for Mac

1. Sidify – Best Overall MP3 Downloader for Mac

Website: https://www.sidify.com/all-in-one-mac.html

Best For: Downloading streaming music to MP3

Sidify All-In-One Music Converter is our overall pick for Mac users who want to download streaming music to MP3 from multiple services in one desktop app. It's especially suited to users who regularly save full albums, playlists, or larger music libraries.

Sidify All MP3 Downloader App for Mac

• Supports music downloads from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, YouTube Music, and other supported platforms.
• Converts music to MP3 at up to 320 kbps, with conversion speeds of up to 10X.
• Batch downloads songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks.
• Preserves ID3 tags, album artwork, playlist order, and lyrics when available.
• Includes additional tools for free downloading podcasts and radio to MP3, plus a built-in vocal remover.

How to Download MP3 from Any Music Site on Mac?

Step 1 Select a Music Platform

Download and launch Sidify All-In-One Music Converter for Mac. Select the music platform you want to download from, such as Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music. Here, we'll use Spotify as an example.

Step 2 Choose MP3 as the Output Format

Open Settings, select MP3 as the output format, and choose your preferred audio quality (128–320 kbps). You can also customize the output folder and file organization.

Step 3 Add Songs or Playlists

Browse Spotify in Sidify, select a song, album, or playlist, and add the tracks you want to download to the conversion list.

Step 4 Download MP3 Music to Mac

Click Convert to start downloading the selected songs as MP3 files. Sidify will process the tracks and save them to your chosen output folder.

Step 5 Find Downloaded MP3 Files

Once the conversion is complete, open History and click the folder icon to locate your downloaded MP3 songs on your Mac.

Our Sidify Test Results (October 2026)

Our Test Result:

Sidify delivered fast batch conversions, 320 kbps MP3 output, and well-preserved song metadata in the reported tests.

Test Item	Result
Download Speed	50 Spotify tracks in ~5 minutes (40×); 50 YouTube tracks in ~20 minutes (10×).
Audio Quality	MP3 output up to 320 kbps, with high-frequency content extending toward 22 kHz in the spectrum analysis.
Metadata Preservation	ID3 tags retained, including title, artist, album, cover art, and genre.
Batch Downloads	Successful in reported tests

Our Test Output Quality:

2. Downie – Best MP3 Downloader for a Native Mac Experience

Website: https://software.charliemonroe.net/downie/

Best For: Mac users who prefer a native desktop experience

Downie is our pick for Mac users who want to download audio from YouTube, Vimeo, and other supported websites without using Terminal. We like its clean macOS interface, browser extensions, and convenient Finder integration.

What sets Downie apart from basic video-to-MP3 converters is its User-Guided Extraction feature. When a website isn't directly supported, its built-in browser can help with media extraction.

How to Download MP3s on Mac with Downie

Step 1 Download and open Downie on your Mac.

Step 2 Open Downie's settings, enable audio-only postprocessing, and select MP3 as the output format.

Step 3 Copy a video URL from YouTube or another supported website.

Step 4 Paste or drag the URL into Downie. Add more URLs if you want to download multiple files.

Step 5 Wait for the download to finish, then click Reveal in Finder to locate the MP3 file.

Our Downie Test Results (October 2026)

Our Test Result:

Downie successfully downloaded both tested YouTube videos as playable MP3 files. Both output files were encoded at 320 kbps, although we also encountered a YouTube sign-in verification prompt.

Test Item	Result
MP3 Bitrate	320 kbps CBR
Sample Rate	44.1 kHz and 48 kHz
Metadata	Embedded artwork detected; complete ID3 preservation not confirmed
Issues Encountered	YouTube sign-in verification prompt

Our Test Output Quality:

3. PullTube – Best Downie Alternative for Mac

Website: https://setapp.com/apps/pulltube

Best For: Mac users who want to trim videos or audio before downloading

PullTube is a good Downie alternative for Mac if you want to trim audio or video before downloading. Its built-in trimming tool lets you select part of a video or audio track before downloading, while MP3, M4A, playlist, and multi-URL support make it useful for everyday media downloads on Mac.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3s on Mac with PullTube

Step 1 Download and open PullTube on your Mac.

Step 2 Copy the URL of a video from YouTube or another supported website.

Step 3 Paste or drag the link into PullTube.

Step 4 Select the audio-only option and choose MP3 as the output format.

Step 5 If you only need part of the audio, use the trimming tool to select the desired segment. Start the download and locate the saved file when it finishes.

Our PullTube Test Results (October 2026)

Our Test Result:

PullTube successfully downloaded our test YouTube video as a 128 kbps MP3. Its MP3/M4A bitrate setting was set to Keep original, so output bitrate can depend on the source.

Test Item	Result
Output Format	MP3
Bitrate	128 kbps
Sample Rate	44.1 kHz
Metadata	Title, artist, and embedded artwork detected
Issues Encountered	No download failure recorded in the supplied screenshots

Our Test Output Quality:

4. ClipGrab – Best Free MP3 Downloader for Mac

Website: https://clipgrab.org/

Best For: Mac users who want a free and simple YouTube to MP3 downloader

ClipGrab is a free, open-source MP3 downloader for Mac that can download and convert videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Dailymotion, and other sites. It also includes a built-in YouTube search, so you can find a video without first opening your browser.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3s on Mac with ClipGrab

Step 1 Download and open ClipGrab on your Mac.

Step 2 Paste a YouTube video URL into the Downloads tab, or use the built-in search.

Step 3 Select MP3 (audio only) as the output format.

Step 4 Choose the available quality and click Grab this clip!

Step 5 Select where to save the file and wait for the download to finish.

Our ClipGrab Test Results (October 2026)

Our Test Result:

ClipGrab successfully downloaded our YouTube test track as an MP3. The finished file was a 256 kbps stereo MP3 at 44.1 kHz, although we did not detect embedded title, artist, or artwork metadata.

Test Item	Result
Test Version	ClipGrab 4.0.0-beta2
Output Format	MP3
Bitrate	256 kbps
Sample Rate	44.1 kHz
Channels	Stereo
Metadata	No title, artist, or artwork tags detected
Download Result	Successful
Issues Encountered	yt-dlp had to be downloaded during setup

Our Test Output Quality:

5. MP3ify – Best Online MP3 Downloader for Mac

Website: https://www.mp3ify.io/

Best For: Mac users who want to convert online videos to MP3 without installing software

MP3ify is an online MP3 downloader for Mac that lets you search for videos or paste a URL and convert supported content directly in your browser. With no desktop app to install, it's best suited to Mac users who only need occasional MP3 downloads.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3s on Mac with MP3ify

Step 1 Open MP3ify in your browser.

Step 2 Search for a supported video or paste its URL into the search field.

Step 3 Select the video and choose Audio (MP3).

Step 4 Select an available bitrate. In our test, 192 kbps was selectable, while 256 and 320 kbps required an upgrade.

Step 5 Click Convert to MP3 and wait for the conversion to finish.

Step 6 Open the completed conversion and click Download MP3. Check the saved file in your Mac's Downloads folder and verify its audio properties.

Our MP3ify Test Results (October 2026)

Our Test Result:

MP3ify successfully converted both supplied YouTube test samples to MP3. Both downloaded files were stereo MP3 audio at 192 kbps, but neither contained embedded title, artist, or artwork tags.

Test Item	Result
Output Format	MP3
Bitrate	192 kbps
Sample Rate	44.1 kHz and 48 kHz, respectively
Metadata	No embedded title, artist, or artwork tags detected
Issues Encountered	Initial email verification showed an expired OTP error; both supplied MP3 files were readable

Our Test Output Quality:

Want a More Stable Desktop MP3 Downloader for Mac?

For regular downloads, full playlists, and music from multiple streaming platforms, try Sidify All-in-One Music Converter for Mac. It supports batch conversion to MP3, output quality up to 320 kbps, and metadata preservation without relying on a browser-based converter.

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How to Download Music from YouTube to Mac

Explore practical ways and tested tools for downloading music from YouTube to a Mac, including desktop apps, free online tools, and command-line options.

Learn More →

6. yt-dlp – Best Free Open-Source MP3 Downloader for Advanced Mac Users

Website: https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp

Best For: Mac users who want a free, customizable MP3 downloader and don't mind using Terminal

yt-dlp is a powerful free MP3 downloader for Mac that gives you more control than most browser-based tools. It supports thousands of websites and lets you customize audio extraction, output quality, filenames, and metadata. The trade-off is usability. You'll need Terminal, and FFmpeg is required when you want yt-dlp to convert downloaded audio into MP3.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3s on Mac with yt-dlp

Step 1 Install Homebrew if you don't already have it. Open Terminal and install yt-dlp and FFmpeg:

brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg

Step 2 Copy the URL of a video you have permission to download.

Step 3 Run the following command, replacing the example URL with your own:

yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 192K "VIDEO_URL"

This extracts the audio and converts it to MP3 at a target quality of 192 kbps. The final encoding and available source quality can affect the resulting audio; conversion cannot restore quality that is missing from the original.

Step 4 Wait for the command to finish. By default, yt-dlp saves the resulting file in the current working directory, unless you configure a different output path.

Step 5 Open the MP3 in your preferred audio player and check its duration, bitrate, and playback quality.

Optional: If you want to embed available metadata and artwork, try:

yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 192K --embed-metadata --embed-thumbnail "VIDEO_URL"

Metadata and thumbnail embedding depend on the source information and available post-processing support. Check the resulting file rather than assuming every tag was added successfully.

Our yt-dlp Test Results (October 2026)

7. Stacher – Best yt-dlp GUI for Mac

Website: https://stacher.io/

Best For: Mac users who want a graphical interface for yt-dlp

Stacher gives you a graphical interface for yt-dlp, so you can paste a URL, choose audio-only downloads, and change formats without writing Terminal commands. It's a more approachable option for Mac users who want yt-dlp's capabilities without working directly in the command line.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3s on Mac with Stacher

Step 1 Install and open Stacher on your Mac.

Step 2 Let Stacher install yt-dlp and FFmpeg when prompted.

Step 3 Paste the URL of the video you want to download.

Step 4 Enable Download Audio Only and select your preferred audio format.

Step 5 Start the download and check the output in your Downloads folder. If Stacher shows FFMPEG NOT FOUND, you may need to install or configure FFmpeg manually before audio conversion can finish.

Our Stacher Test Results (October 2026)

Our Test Result:

Stacher downloaded the source audio data in our test, but it failed during post-processing because FFmpeg and ffprobe were not available. We also tried Stacher's recommended automatic FFmpeg installation, which failed with an unsupported ZIP format error. As a result, we could not verify a finished MP3.

Test Item	Result
Tested Version	Stacher 7.1.12
Source Download	Completed; 8.37 MiB WebM downloaded
MP3 Output	Not completed
Bitrate / Sample Rate	Not verified
Metadata	Not verified
Issues Encountered	FFmpeg/ffprobe not found; automatic FFmpeg installation failed

Our Test Output Quality:

We couldn't verify MP3 quality because the FFmpeg error prevented conversion from completing.

8. 4K YouTube to MP3 – Easy-to-Use MP3 Downloader for Mac

Website: https://www.4kdownload.com/products/youtubetomp3-72

Best For: Mac users who want a simple desktop interface for video-to-MP3 downloads

4K YouTube to MP3 is a desktop downloader built around a simple paste-and-download workflow. It supports multiple audio formats and includes controls for audio quality, playlists, channels, and simultaneous downloads.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3s on Mac with 4K YouTube to MP3

Step 1 Install and open 4K YouTube to MP3 on your Mac.

Step 2 Open Settings and choose MP3 as the audio format.

Step 3 Select an available quality level. In our unactivated version, 128 kbps was available while higher settings were restricted.

Step 4 Copy a supported video URL and click Paste Link.

Step 5 Wait for the app to retrieve the video information and download the MP3. If you see “can't parse this link,” the download cannot proceed.

Our 4K YouTube to MP3 Test Results (October 2026)

9. MediaHuman YouTube to MP3 – Multi-Site MP3 Downloader for Mac

Website: https://www.mediahuman.com/youtube-to-mp3/32/

Best For: Mac users who want one MP3 downloader for YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and other music sites

MediaHuman YouTube to MP3 stands out for source variety. Its Mac app lists YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Mixcloud, TikTok, Twitch, Apple Podcasts, and many other supported services. We also like that it combines link pasting, download tracking, and TurboBoost in a fairly simple desktop interface.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3s on Mac with MediaHuman

Step 1 Install MediaHuman YouTube to MP3 for your Mac.

Step 2 Copy a track or video URL from a supported site.

Step 3 Click Paste link or drag the link into the app.

Step 4 Choose your MP3 and quality preferences, then start the download.

Step 5 Check the completed file and its metadata. If MediaHuman cannot retrieve the source information, retrying or updating the app may be necessary.

Our MediaHuman Test Results (October 2026)

Our Test Result:

We tested MediaHuman 3.9.24 but couldn't complete the supplied downloads. YouTube returned video-information and connection errors, while our SoundCloud attempt returned a source-information error.

Test Item	Result
Tested Version	3.9.24
YouTube	Failed in our test
SoundCloud	Failed in our test
Output MP3	Not produced
Bitrate / Sample Rate	Not verified
Metadata	Not verified
Issues Encountered	“Failed to get video information,” “Failed to get information,” connection refused, and iframe API error

Our Test Output Quality:

We couldn't verify MP3 quality because none of our test sources produced a completed audio file.

10. Jamendo – Best for Free & Legal Music Downloads on Mac

Website: https://www.jamendo.com/start

Best For: Mac users who want free music that artists have made available for legal download

Jamendo is different from the other MP3 downloaders we tested. Instead of extracting audio from YouTube or other sites, you download music directly from independent artists who distribute their work under Creative Commons licenses.

This makes it useful if your priority is finding music that artists have explicitly made available for download rather than converting online videos.

Quick Facts

How to Download MP3 Music on Mac with Jamendo

Step 1 Open Jamendo Music in your browser.

Step 2 Find a track with the download icon.

Step 3 Click Download and log in or create an account when prompted.

Step 4 Choose Free Download for Personal Use – MP3 Quality.

Step 5 Save the MP3 to your Mac and check the track's Creative Commons license before using it elsewhere.

Our Jamendo Test Results (October 2026)

MP3 Downloaders for Mac We Don’t Recommend

We also checked several popular MP3 download sites that we wouldn't recommend because of failed downloads, intrusive ads, or redirects.

Our Take: KeepVid actually reached the conversion stage in our test, but the failed download and redirect were enough for us to leave it out of the top 10. For ad-heavy online converters such as Y2Mate, SaveFrom.net, and YT1s, we'd choose a cleaner alternative instead.

How to Choose an MP3 Downloader for Mac

The best MP3 downloader depends on what you want to download and how much setup you're comfortable with. Based on our tests, we recommend checking these five things:

Music source: Choose a downloader that supports the streaming service or website you actually use.

MP3 quality: 192–320 kbps is common, but a higher output bitrate cannot improve a low-quality source.

Batch and playlist downloads: If you regularly save albums or playlists, look for tools that can process multiple tracks at once.

Free limits: Some tools are completely free, while others limit track length, daily downloads, output quality, or trial duration.

Download experience: Avoid tools with frequent failures, pop-ups, fake download buttons, or redirects.

Use the comparison table above to see how each downloader performs across these five areas.

Are Free MP3 Downloaders for Mac Safe?

Some are safe to use, but free MP3 downloaders vary widely. The biggest warning signs are fake download buttons, excessive pop-ups, redirects, unexpected browser extensions, and downloads you didn't request.

To reduce risk:

Download Mac apps from the official website.

Avoid sites that open multiple ads or redirect you after clicking Download.

Don't install unknown extensions or extra software just to download an MP3.

Keep macOS and your browser updated.

In our tests, we preferred tools with a clear download flow and no aggressive redirects. This was one reason we ranked desktop tools such as Sidify higher than ad-heavy online converters.

Conclusion

Here is our list of the best MP3 downloaders for Mac in 2026. Each tool has its own strengths, and which one to choose depends on where you download music from, whether you need batch downloads, and how much control you want over MP3 output.

Our go-to choice is Sidify. It supports major music streaming services, batch downloads, up to 320 kbps MP3 output, and metadata preservation, making it a well-rounded option for most Mac users. Still, we recommend comparing the tools above and choosing the MP3 downloader that best fits your needs.

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Note:

Sidify works for both Spotify Premium and free users. The trial version of Sidify Music Converter enables you to convert the first minute of each audio file for sample testing. You can purchase the full version to unlock the time limitation.