In this digital information age, music lovers have a lot of ways through which they can discover and enjoy their favorite tunes. One of the famous platforms transforming the way in which we consume music is YouTube. With its rich library of songs, it has become a place to be for a music lover.
And this tempts the users to download the songs or videos from the YouTube by using some YouTube to MP3 converter.
However, you need to be aware of legal and illegal YouTube to MP3 converters that will keep you on the right side of the law.
Keep reading, keep learning!
Understanding the Legality of YouTube to MP3 Converters
Understanding the Legality of YouTube to MP3 Converters
You must bear in mind that copying or downloading of copyrighted content without permission may be open to prosecution.
Well on the legality of YouTube to MP3 converters, everything is pretty complicated and depends both on the tool itself and the location of the user. While some work within the bounds of legality, others sometimes violate copyright laws and the Terms of Service set by YouTube.
Alright, let’s check some Legal and Illegal YouTube to MP3 Converters.
Legal YouTube to MP3 Converters
While there are plenty of tools out there to convert YouTube to MP3, a majority of these happen to be illegal. So, a couple of legal options could be used to convert videos from YouTube into MP3 format. They include:
YouTube Premium
1. YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is the official way to download videos from YouTube for offline playback. It lets you download any video in MP4 format. The videos are kept in the YouTube app but may be listened to with a locked screen or app minimized.
The main benefits of using YouTube Premium include the following:
- Official YouTube feature – Downloads come authorized by YouTube
- High-quality MP4 downloads
- Downloads stored in official YouTube app
- No ads in downloaded videos
- Includes access to YouTube Music Premium
The downside is it costs $11.99/month. YouTube Premium is really designed for downloading videos to watch later, not specifically for converting to MP3. But it is the only fully legal way to download YouTube videos.
YouTube Music Premium
2. YouTube Music Premium
YouTube Music Premium is the music sibling to YouTube Premium targeted especially at music. For $9.99 a month, YouTube Music Premium offers downloads for any song or album in high-quality MP3.
Key features of YouTube Music Premium include:
- Official YouTube music service
- Downloads are authorized by YouTube
- Downloads in high-quality MP3
- Downloads stored in YouTube Music app
- No ads in downloaded music
- Includes access to YouTube Music’s full catalog
The downside again is the subscription fee. YouTube Music Premium is the only legal route for downloading YouTube music videos as MP3s.
Illegal YouTube to MP3 Converters
Illegal YouTube to MP3 Converters
Apart from the legal ways you can also convert and download YouTube videos to MP3 in not so legal way. There are number of illegal YouTube to MP3 converter websites and apps that will let you do it free. Of course, these are not authorized by YouTube and violate the terms of service.
Some examples of such illegal YouTube to MP3 converters include:
- SaveFrom.net
- KeepVid.com
- YTMP3.cc
- OnlineVideoConverter.com
- MP3Juices.cc
These websites operate based on having users enter the URL of a YouTube video. After doing so, the audio from the video is extracted and one can download it in MP3 file format. Some even offer options for downloading the actual video in MP4 format.
Major benefits associated with illegal YouTube to MP3 converters include the following:
- Free to use
- Enables download of any video from YouTube in MP3 format
- No subscription needed
However, there are major disadvantages:
- Violates YouTube’s Terms of Service
- Exposure to malware
- Poor quality download
- Unreliable websites
- Legal cases
Conclusion
Whereas a number of tools exist for the purpose of YouTube to MP3 conversion, only YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium are the legal ways for doing so. These official services let one download high quality videos and songs from YouTube but charge for the subscription.
The remaining sites and applications for YouTube to MP3 converters are illegal, infringing on YouTube’s terms of service. Sure, they might be convenient and free, but they come with such major risks as malware, poor quality downloads, and legal issues. It’s simply not worth the risks.
In summary, just use the legal options, steer clear of the dodgy YouTube to MP3 converter sites, and enjoy your YouTube downloads safely and responsibly. Yes, the extra cost is very much worth it to download YouTube videos in the right way with a YouTube Premium subscription.
