I'm an Apple Music subscriber and want to download and convert Apple Music to MP3. I've found that my portable MP3 player doesn't recognize the files from my Apple Music subscription. My goal is to convert and transfer Apple Music songs to my MP3 player for offline listening.Apple Music's DRM protection prevents standard downloads from playing on unauthorized MP3 players, USB drive, car stereos, or other devices. Furthermore, if you log out of your Apple Account, all downloaded offline music is immediately removed from your device until you sign back in. To secure flexible, permanent personal backups, you need a dedicated Apple Music to MP3 converter.
These tools fall into three categories: desktop converters, audio recording software, and online free tools. In this guide, I tested and compared popular methods to convert Apple Music to MP3 online free, on Mac, Windows, Android, and iPhone based on conversion success, output quality, metadata handling, speed, and ease of use to help you find the option that fits your needs.
Key Takeaways from Test Results
- Best Overall Performance: DRmare delivers the fastest processing (30X batch speed), retains original ID3 metadata, and preserves lossless audio quality without relying on the desktop Apple Music client.
- Best Free Option: Audacity provides a zero-cost, open-source recording path, but real-time 1X recording and manual ID3 tag entry make it practical only for single tracks.
- Online/Mobile Alternatives: AAPLmusicDownloader and APLMate work across all operating systems via browser, but free tiers feature strict daily limits (3 tracks/day) or require manual one-by-one downloading with watermarked filenames.
Note:
Always make sure your use of converted MP3 music follows Apple Music's terms and applicable copyright regulations. Converted files should generally be kept for personal use rather than redistribution.
Quick Answer: Can You Convert Apple Music to MP3?
Yes, Apple Music songs can be converted to MP3 using third-party tools, but Apple Music does not provide a built-in option to export subscription downloads as MP3 files. However, with dozens of Apple Music MP3 converters available, finding a safe, fast, and reliable option can be overwhelming. To separate effective solutions from unstable tools, we put these methods through a series of hands-on tests.
How We Tested Apple Music MP3 Converters
Instead of judging tools only by advertised features, I compared them using the same practical requirements that most Apple Music users care about. The testing process focused on:
| Testing Factor | What Was Checked |
|---|---|
| Conversion success | Whether Apple Music songs could be processed successfully |
| Audio quality | Available MP3 quality settings and output consistency |
| Metadata retention | Whether artist, album, title, and cover information remained available |
| Batch processing | Whether playlists and albums could be converted efficiently |
| Speed | Time required for converting multiple tracks |
| User experience | Difficulty level for beginners |
For testing, I used a Windows 11 computer with an Apple Music subscription and a playlist containing 50 tracks. The results below combine hands-on testing with feature comparisons to show which tools work best for different types of users.
1. DRmare Apple Music Converter — Best Overall Apple Music to MP3 Converter
Basic Info:
- Website: https://www.drmare.com/
- Support OS: Windows/Mac
- Output Format: MP3/FLAC/AIFF/M4A/M4B/WAV
- Conversion Speed: 30X
- Output Quality: Lossless
- Price: Free trial; start from $19.95
- Recommend Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨Best for: Users who want to convert Apple Music playlists, albums, and large music collections to MP3 with better control over output settings.
DRmare Apple Music Converter is designed for users who need more than occasional song conversion. A major advantage is its built-in web player integration; it operates independently without needing you to synchronize with external desktop client apps. Compared with recording-based methods, it focuses on processing entire Apple Music libraries while keeping audio settings and metadata organized.
The software supports converting Apple Music content into MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B on Mac and Windows PC. It also provides adjustable output settings such as bitrate, sample rate, and audio channel, which can be useful when preparing files for different playback devices.
How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 on Mac and Windows with DRmare
Step 1. Please download and install the DRmare Apple Music Converter on your computer. Then open it and you will see there is a built-in Apple Music Web Player in its main interface. Click the 'Sign In' button to authorize your Apple Account.
Step 2. The default output format is Lossless. To download Apple Music as MP3, you can click the 'menu' icon from the top-right corner or the 'DRmare Apple Music Converter' from the Apple menu bar to open the settings window. Now, you can customize the output format and other audio parameters, like bit rate, sample rate, audio channel, and more. Finally, click 'OK' to confirm all settings.
Step 3. When all settings are ready, tap the 'Convert' button to launch the conversion process. DRmare Apple Music Converter will run at a super-fast 30X speed. Once converted, you can locate the unprotected MP3 songs on the target 'Output' folder. You can also directly listen to Apple Music offline in this software by clicking the 'Converted' list with a red spot.
My Testing Experience of DRmare
During testing on a Windows 11 machine, a 50-track Apple Music playlist finished in just minutes. Most importantly, it keeps lossless audio quality and fully preserves original ID3 tags (such as artist, cover, and album details), allowing you to edit them further if needed.
Video Tutorial: How to Convert Apple Music to MP3
Pros
Ultra-fast batch conversion (30X)- No need for the external Apple Music app
- Keeps highly organized metadata and lossless quality
- Beginner-friendly interface
Cons
Free trial has usage limitations- Requires desktop installation
2. Audacity — Best Free Way to Record Apple Music to MP3
Basic Info:
- Website: https://www.audacityteam.org/
- Support OS: Windows/Mac/Linux
- Output Format: MP3/WAV/AIFF/FLAC
- Conversion Speed: 1X
- Output Quality: Lossy
- Price: Free
- Recommend Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨Best for: Users who want a completely free method and do not mind recording songs in real time.
Audacity is a popular open-source audio editor available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unlike dedicated converters, it does not directly process Apple Music downloads. Instead, it records Apple Music playback and other streaming music services, and allows users to export the recording as MP3.
This approach avoids installing paid software, but it comes with trade-offs. Since songs must be played while recording, converting a large playlist can take the same amount of time as listening to the music. However, it allows you to edit Apple Music MP3 files as you want.
How to Record Apple Music to MP3 Free on Windows/Mac/Linux with Audacity
Step 1. Visit the Audacity website and download the latest version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Launch the Audacity program after installation on your computer.
Step 2. Click on the 'Edit' > 'Preferences' > 'Audio Host Box' > 'Windows WASAPI' button (on Windows) or 'Core Audio' (on macOS) to set the audio host.
Step 3. You need to set your computer's output device as the output sound card. Hit the 'recording' at the 'Audacity Preferences' to turn off the Software Playthrough.
Step 4. Touch the 'Record' button on the Audacity program. Launch the Apple Music app or iTunes on your computer and queue up the song or playlist you want to record. Audacity will record and export Apple Music to MP3 for free automatically.
Step 5. Once the track has finished playing, click the 'Stop' button to complete the recording process. Now, you can trim any unwanted silence or noise from the beginning and end of the Apple Music MP3 recording by using the Audacity's editing tool.
Step 6. When all things are ready, go to 'File' > 'Export' > 'Export as MP3'. Choose the desired bitrate and save Apple Music to MP3 file to your preferred location.
My Testing Experience of Audacity
Testing on Windows 11, I found Audacity's real-time recording to be a major bottleneck. A three-minute song takes exactly three minutes to process. I also had to mute all system notifications to prevent them from recording over the music.
Once finished, the MP3 lacked all metadata, forcing me to manually trim audio gaps and type in the song details. While the audio quality is solid and completely free, the heavy manual labor makes it practical only for one or two songs, not full playlists.
Pros
- Completely free
- Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Includes audio editing features
- Supports multiple export formats
Cons
- Real-time recording takes longer
- Requires more manual steps
- Metadata usually needs manual editing
3. AAPLmusicDownloader — Best Online Apple Music to MP3 Converter for Occasional Use
Basic Info:
- Website: https://aaplmusicdownloader.com/
- Support OS: Windows/Mac/Android/iPhone/Linux
- Output Format: MP3/M4A
- Conversion Speed: Fast
- Output Quality: 64-320kbps
- Price: Free for three songs per day or starts from $19.95
- Recommend Level: ⭐⭐⭐
✨Best for: Users who want a quick browser-based solution without installing software.
If you only need to convert a few Apple Music tracks to MP3 occasionally, an online Apple Music downloader may seem more convenient than installing a desktop application. AAPLmusicDownloader is one of the browser-based tools designed for this purpose. It works by analyzing an Apple Music link and generating an MP3 or M4A download option directly from a web browser.
The tool allows users to select different audio quality options, including higher bitrate settings. It can also process playlists and albums, although free usage limits may affect users who want to convert a large number of songs.
How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 Online Free with AAPLmusicDownloader
Step 1. Start the Apple Music app or Apple Music web player and copy the URL of the song you want to convert to MP3 by clicking the 'Share' > "Copy Link" option.
Step 2. Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device. Visit aaplmusicdownloader.com. Then paste the music URL into it.
Step 3. Click on the 'Download' and it will automatically recognize your Apple Music song. Once found, click 'Generate Download Link' or 'Download ZIP' button to generate download file.
Step 4. You can tap the 'Select Output Quality' tab to customize an output quality. It will immediately download MP3 from Apple Music on your device.
My Testing Experience of AAPLmusicDownloader
During testing, the workflow was simple: copy an Apple Music song or playlist link, paste it into the website, and wait for the tool to process the request. However, the experience was not always consistent.
Some conversion requests required additional attempts before the download process started successfully. Besides, the free version is restricted to three downloads per day. To remove this limit and unlock unlimited access, a subscription of $19.95 per month is required.
In many cases, the initial request fails to respond, forcing you to manually click the 'Download Again' button to successfully save the Apple Music track as an MP3.
Pros
- No software installation required
- Works on different devices
- Simple process for beginners
- Supports playlist links
Cons
- Free usage may be limited
- Conversion reliability can vary
- Not ideal for large music collections
4. APLMate — Simple Apple Music to MP3 Converter Free Online
Basic Info:
- Website: https://aplmate.com/
- Price: Free
- Support OS: Windows/Mac/iPhone/Android/Linux
- Output Format: MP3
- Conversion Speed: Fast
- Output Quality: 128kbps to 320kbps
- Recommend Level: ⭐⭐⭐
✨Best for: Users looking for a free online tool for quick conversions.
APLMate is another web-based Apple Music to MP3 converter that focuses on simplicity. It does not require users to install additional software or create an account, which makes it appealing for one-time conversions.
How to Download Apple Music to MP3 Free Online with APLMate
Step 1. Start the Apple Music app or Apple Music web player and copy the URL of the song, album, or playlist you want to convert to MP3 by clicking the 'Share' > 'Copy Link' option.
Step 2. Open a web browser and visit the aplmate website. Then, paste the Apple Music URL into the provided input field. Click the 'Download' button to load the music.
Step 3. Once the track is found, click 'Download MP3' to start the process. The converted MP3 file will be saved to your device.
My Testing Experience of APLMate
In testing, the basic conversion process worked as expected: after entering an Apple Music link, the tool identified the track and provided an MP3 download option. However, converting a complete playlist required more manual interaction because each track needed to be handled individually.
The service also uses advertising elements throughout the website, which may affect the overall user experience. On the technical side, the files retain basic ID3 tags, but the platform appends an "APLMate" watermark to every filename. For users who only need a single song, this may not be a major issue, but it becomes more noticeable when processing multiple tracks.
Pros
- Free browser-based solution
- No registration required
- Easy for beginners
- Works across different devices
Cons
- Manual downloads for multiple songs
- Advertising interruptions
- Limited output flexibility
- File names may require cleanup
Not Working Apple Music to MP3 Converters [Don't Waste Time]
To save you time and protect your device, we routinely test web-based tools that claim to offer free Apple Music conversion. The following popular online utilities are currently broken or unsafe to use:
1. apple-music-downloader.com — [Not Working]
Test Result: Failed search and broken URL parser.
Testing Findings: During our evaluation, we tested approximately ten different Apple Music track, album, and playlist URLs. Every single request failed to process, consistently throwing the same error message: "An error has occurred while searching. Please try again later." The tool's backend parser appears completely non-functional.
2. Soundloaders Apple Music Downloader — [Not Working / Security Risk]
Test Result: Malicious ad redirects and complete loss of functionality.
Testing Findings: Soundloaders Apple Music Converter no longer provides a functioning audio extraction engine for Apple Music. Upon pasting a URL, the site repeatedly redirects users to aggressive third-party ad networks and suspicious spam websites instead of downloading audio. For your device's security, we strongly recommend avoiding this platform entirely.
Important Technical Note on AM-DL:
If you are considering AM-DL, keep in mind that it extracts raw streams and strictly supports M4A format. It does NOT support native MP3 conversion.
Comparison of Methods to Convert Apple Music to MP3
Choosing the right Apple Music to MP3 converter depends on whether you prioritize ultra-fast batch downloads, zero-cost open-source recording, or quick browser-based processing. Key performance metrics, OS compatibility, output formats, and pricing across all tested options are compared below.
| Tool | Best For | Platform / OS | Output Format | Conversion Speed | Output Quality | Price | Batch Conversion | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRmare Apple Music Converter | Large music libraries, albums, & playlists | Windows, Mac | MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, M4B | 30X | Lossless | Free trial; From $19.95 | Yes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Audacity | 100% free recording & audio editing | Windows, Mac, Linux | MP3, WAV, AIFF, FLAC | 1X (Real-time) | Lossy (Captured audio) | 100% Free | No | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| AAPLmusic Downloader |
Quick online conversion without installation | Web Browser | MP3, M4A | Fast | 64 – 320 kbps | Free (3/day); $19.95/mo | Limited | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| APLMate | Single track quick downloads online | Web Browser | MP3 | Fast | 128 – 320 kbps | Free (Ad-supported) | No | ⭐⭐⭐ |
FAQs About Converting Apple Music to MP3
Why Can't You Convert Apple Music to MP3 Directly?
Apple Music encrypts offline downloads with FairPlay DRM, restricting playback strictly to authorized Apple apps. Because these protected files are deleted if you sign out of your account, you need a third-party converter to download Apple Music to MP3.
Is It Legal to Convert Apple Music to MP3?
Converting tracks for personal, offline listening on your own devices generally falls under fair use in most regions. However, sharing, distributing, or using converted files for commercial purposes is illegal.
Can Apple Music Be Converted to MP3 Without Losing Quality?
Yes. Professional desktop converters like DRmare parse the digital audio stream directly to preserve 100% lossless audio quality. Real-time recording tools like Audacity re-encode captured system audio, resulting in slight quality loss.
Can You Convert Apple Music to MP3 on iPhone?
Yes, but with heavy limitations. You can convert single songs directly using online tools in Safari, but processing entire playlists requires desktop software first before transferring the MP3 files to your iPhone.
Final Thoughts
The best method to convert Apple Music to MP3 depends entirely on your listening habits. For full playlists and organized libraries, a desktop Apple Music to MP3 converter like DRmare provides the fastest batch processing, lossless quality, and complete metadata retention. For occasional single tracks, browser-based tools offer instant access without installation, while Audacity remains a solid, zero-cost choice for manual real-time recording. Match the tool to your library size and workflow rather than feature count alone.
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