The short answer is yes, YouTube Music is free to download if you are using the ad-supported version of the app. However, there are some limitations to keep in mind.
Using the Free Version of YouTube Music
The free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music allows you to download music to listen to offline. This means you can download songs, albums, playlists, and more directly from the YouTube Music app without having to pay anything.
There are a few important limitations to note with the free downloading option:
- You can only download up to 500 songs total across all your devices
- Downloaded songs will expire after 30 days and need to be refreshed
- You cannot download videos, just the audio track of songs and music
- Downloads are supported on Android and iOS mobile apps only
- There will be ads while listening to downloaded music
As long as you stay under the 500 song limit and refresh any expired downloads every 30 days, you can continue using YouTube Music for free to download as much music as you want.
How to Download Music with the Free Version
Downloading music for offline listening using the free version of YouTube Music is easy to do:
- Open up the YouTube Music app on your Android or iOS device
- Find a song, album, playlist, or other content you want to download
- Tap the download icon next to it (a downward facing arrow)
- Select “Download” to save it offline
You’ll see downloaded content marked with a check mark. You can access downloads by going to “Library” and then “Downloads”.
Keep in mind that any downloads not played for 30 days will expire. You’ll see an expiration date under each downloaded item.
Limits of Downloaded Music Quality
With the free YouTube Music downloads, the maximum audio quality you can get is 128 kbps. This is noticeably lower than premium music streaming services, which offer 256 kbps or higher quality.
128 kbps is still reasonably good audio quality, but it will not be as crisp and clear as higher bitrate audio files. If you are used to listening to high fidelity music, the quality from YouTube Music free downloads may be disappointing.
There is no way to increase the audio quality of downloads when using the free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music unfortunately.
Downsides of YouTube Music Free Downloads
While being able to download music for free from YouTube Music is great, there are some downsides to be aware of:
- 500 song download limit can be restrictive for heavy music listeners
- Having to refresh downloads every 30 days is inconvenient
- No way to download videos or control audio quality
- Ads interrupt the listening experience
- Lacks advanced features of paid music streaming services
For casual music listeners, the free YouTube Music download option is great for accessing songs offline whenever needed. But the limitations may be too restrictive for hardcore music fans.
YouTube Music Premium Benefits
Paying for YouTube Music Premium provides several enhancements to the downloading experience:
- Unlimited downloads with no caps on quantity
- Higher 256 kbps audio quality for downloads
- Downloads don’t expire for offline listening
- Can download music videos instead of just audio
- No ads during listening
YouTube Music Premium costs $9.99/month for an individual membership. There are also family plans and student discounts available.
Premium allows unlimited, high-quality music and video downloads that don’t expire over time. This gives greater flexibility for listening offline and creating music libraries.
Using YouTube-to-MP3 Sites
In addition to the official YouTube Music app, there are also many websites and apps that allow downloading YouTube videos as MP3s.
However, most of these sites operate in a legal gray area, and YouTube actively works to shut them down and block downloads through them.
YouTube’s terms of service prohibit downloading videos from their platform, so using third-party YouTube ripping sites comes with risks:
- Legal action from copyright holders
- Viruses and malware from fishy sites
- Unreliable video conversion with low audio quality
While tempting, it’s generally not recommended to use YouTube-to-MP3 rippers. The safest way to download music from YouTube is through the official YouTube Music app.
Can You Download Regular YouTube Videos?
Through the YouTube Music app, you can only download the audio track of songs and music content. Downloading regular YouTube videos is not possible.
However, YouTube Premium does allow saving YouTube videos offline for viewing without an internet connection. This requires a paid $11.99/month membership.
So with a YouTube Premium subscription, you can download both music (through YouTube Music) and regular videos for offline use. But video downloading is not possible with the free version.
Using the YouTube Go App
YouTube Go is a specialized YouTube app designed for regions with limited connectivity and slower mobile data speeds. It has an offline feature that lets you download videos.
However, YouTube Go has stricter download limits. You can only save up to 20 videos offline at once, and downloads expire after 48 hours.
While YouTube Go enables basic offline video access, for most users the free YouTube Music app will be better for downloading music to listen offline.
Other Ways to Save YouTube Videos
If you want to archive YouTube videos beyond the official downloading options, there are some alternative methods:
- Use a YouTube to MP4 converter site to download videos to your computer (quality and legality may be questionable)
- Use screen recording software to record videos as you play them and save the captures
- Use a YouTube downloader browser extension to save videos from YouTube to your device
However, these workaround methods may violate YouTube’s terms of service if done excessively and carry risks of malware or legal threats. Use carefully and sparingly.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Music Free allows limited music downloads for offline listening
- Premium provides unlimited, high-quality downloads that don’t expire
- YouTube video downloading requires a paid YouTube Premium subscription
- Third-party downloaders involve risks and violate terms of service
- For most users, the free YouTube Music app is best for music downloads
While not perfect, the free YouTube Music download feature provides a legal and convenient way to save music offline. Just be aware of the limitations compared to paid options. For most casual listeners, it will cover the basics of downloading music from YouTube.
