You saved a 120-video playlist on YouTube. You want it on your MacBook for a flight, a commute, or a spotty connection. Most “free” Mac apps stop you at 20 or 25 videos, then ask for payment. You can download a full playlist on Mac for free without a cap. Two routes work: a no-Terminal app, or the open-source tool yt-dlp. This guide covers both the real limits of popular apps and how to handle MP3, private, and age-restricted playlists.
Most “free” YouTube playlist downloaders for Mac are not free
Most popular Mac downloaders cap free downloads, then charge for the rest. The word “free” appears on the download page. The limit appears after you install.
| App | Free limit | The catch |
| 4K Video Downloader Plus | ~25 videos/day | Paid license removes the cap |
| Freemake | 50 videos | Adds a watermark, no MP3 on free |
| MediaHuman | 20 videos | Pay for unlimited downloads |
| Airy | 2 downloads | Trial only, then $19.95 |
Two types of tools stay genuinely uncapped: open-source software like yt-dlp, and apps that run no paid tier. The sections below cover both.
Download a YouTube playlist on Mac with TubeFetcher
TubeFetcher downloads YouTube content on Mac with no cap, no login, and no ads. The app runs as a Universal build, so it works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
The process uses four steps:
- Open your YouTube playlist in a browser and copy the URL.
- Paste the link into TubeFetcher.
- Choose your format (MP4 video or MP3 audio) and quality.
- Start the download and save the files to your Mac.
TubeFetcher stores files locally on your machine. It runs no tracking and requires no account. For large music playlists, MP3 extraction keeps file sizes near 10 MB per track instead of 80–120 MB for video.
Download TubeFetcher for Mac, Linux, Windows, or Android.
Download a YouTube playlist on Mac with yt-dlp
yt-dlp is a free, open-source command-line tool that downloads full playlists with no limit. It needs Terminal and Homebrew, so it suits users comfortable with commands.
Install yt-dlp
Install Homebrew first, then run:
brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg
yt-dlp needs FFmpeg for format conversion. Both are free.
Download the full playlist
yt-dlp -o “%(playlist_index)02d – %(title)s.%(ext)s” “PLAYLIST_URL”
This names each file by track number and title, which preserves playlist order.
Extract audio as MP3
yt-dlp –extract-audio –audio-format mp3 –audio-quality 192K -o “%(playlist_index)02d – %(title)s.%(ext)s” “PLAYLIST_URL”
For playlists over 100 videos, add –download-archive done.txt. The flag records finished tracks, so a stopped download resumes without repeating files.
Other Mac apps and their limits
Several GUI apps download playlists on Mac, each with trade-offs.
- 4K Video Downloader Plus handles full playlist URLs and downloads in MP4, MKV, or MP3. The free tier caps daily downloads.
- Stacher is a friendly interface for yt-dlp. It grabs 4K and audio, though 8K files over 1 GB can trigger errors.
- MediaHuman focuses on audio extraction with a simple layout. The free version stops at 20 videos.
These apps work for occasional use. For uncapped downloads, yt-dlp or a no-tier app removes the limit.
Download a YouTube playlist to MP3 on Mac
MP3 conversion turns a video playlist into audio files for car stereos, fitness watches, and offline players. A 100-song playlist uses about 600 MB at 192 kbps versus 8–12 GB as video.
Select 192 kbps for most music and 320 kbps for archival quality. Spoken content like podcasts sounds clear at 128 kbps. For bitrate detail and audio workflows, see our guide on downloading a YouTube playlist to MP3.
Download private or age-restricted playlists on Mac
Private and unlisted playlists need the right access. Unlisted playlists download through their direct link. Private playlists require a logged-in account with permission to view them.
Download only playlists you own or have permission to access. For the safe workflow, see our guide on downloading private and unlisted YouTube videos.
Is it safe and legal to download YouTube playlists on Mac?
Safety depends on the tool. Local apps keep your data on your Mac. Online converters route playlist data through third-party servers and often display deceptive ad buttons.
YouTube’s Terms of Service permit downloads only through official features like Premium offline mode. Downloading your own content, Creative Commons material, or content with the creator’s permission carries minimal risk. Redistribution of copyrighted material creates legal exposure. For a full breakdown, see our guide on whether YouTube downloaders are safe.
Which TubeFetcher build to use
TubeFetcher runs on four platforms. Pick the build that matches your device.
- Mac: Universal app for Intel and Apple Silicon.
- Linux: AppImage that runs with no installation.
- Windows: Standard installer.
- Android: Universal APK for all devices.
Get every build on the TubeFetcher downloads page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best YouTube playlist downloader for Mac?
The best tool depends on your comfort level. yt-dlp downloads full playlists with no cap but needs Terminal. TubeFetcher downloads on Mac with no cap, no login, and no command line.
Can I download full playlists free without a limit?
Yes. yt-dlp downloads unlimited playlists for free. TubeFetcher runs no paid tier and no download cap. Freemium apps like 4K and MediaHuman limit free downloads to 20–25 videos.
Does TubeFetcher work on Apple Silicon?
Yes. TubeFetcher ships as a Universal build that runs on both Apple Silicon (M-series) and Intel Macs.
Can I watch downloaded playlists offline?
Yes. Downloaded files save to your Mac and play in any media player without an internet connection.
What is the safest YouTube-to-MP3 method on Mac?
Local desktop tools are safest because files stay on your machine. Online converters expose playlist data to third-party servers and carry ad-based risks.
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