Apple Music has revolutionized the streaming experience by offering a vast catalog of tracks in high-fidelity formats, including Lossless and exclusive content. However, due to DRM (Digital Rights Management) protections, downloading songs for use in universal formats like MP3, FLAC, or WAV is not natively supported. This has led many users to search for reliable Apple Music rippers on platforms like Reddit, asking questions such as, "What is the best way to rip ALAC from Apple Music on Windows?"
For many, the ability to store tracks offline in non-proprietary formats is essential. Professional Apple Music rippers have emerged as a popular solution, allowing users to bypass playback restrictions and enjoy their music libraries without relying on the official app.
In this guide, we'll cover the best Apple Music rippers for Mac, Windows, and online platforms. We'll also address frequently asked questions, provide tips for ripping Apple Music entire playlists, and discuss compatibility with high-quality audio formats, including Spatial Audio and Hi-Res Lossless.
Part 1. Best Apple Music Ripper for Mac/Windows
First, we want to highlight two powerful tools that stand out as the best Apple Music rippers for Mac and Windows. Unlike online converters or community-built GitHub scripts, these standalone applications allow you to rip songs directly from your library into universal formats like MP3, M4A, and FLAC. These professional programs typically offer superior stability, faster speeds, and a more user-friendly experience.
1. AudFree Apple Music Converter
The AudFree Apple Music Converter is our #1 pick for a reason. It's a powerful all-in-one solution that rips Apple Music to MP3, FLAC, and more without touching the original audio quality. You can even customize the technical specs, like bit rate, sample rate, and audio channels, to match your specific hardware.
With its lightning-fast 17X conversion speed, you can process entire playlists in minutes. Best of all, it keeps your metadata intact, ensuring every song retains its album art, track number, and genre for a seamless listening experience.
Below are some key features of the powerful tool.
✅ Rip All Content from Apple Music as Local Files Losslessly: AudFree Apple Music Ripper supports to rip all content from Apple Music such as songs, playlists, albums, and even podcasts with lossless quality.
✅ Convert Apple Music to FLAC/WAV/MP3/AIFF/M4A/M4B/Lossless: This powerful tool can rip and convert audio from Apple Music to various formats like MP3, FLAC, WAV, etc. This way, you can play Apple Music on any device or player you want at any time.
✅ Fast and Batch Conversion (17x): This feature-rich software also supports you to rip Apple Music audio at a 17X faster speed. Besides, it can convert multiple tracks together in batches, which saves you much time.
✅ Customize Output Format and Parameters: The default output format is MP3. You can customize to other formats by personalizing its output settings. Besides, you can also adjust the bitrate, sample rate, audio channel, and more parameters.
✅ Remove DRM from Apple Music: Strip DRM from Apple Music tracks and export them to common formats for unlimited playback across all your platforms and devices.
✅ Keep Full ID3 Tags for Apple Music: Our advanced decoding engine preserves every detail, including ID3 tags, artist info, and genre, for a perfectly synced library.
View also: How to Make Apple Music Louder
How to Rip Apple Music to MP3 Losslessly with AudFree Auditior
Ready to start ripping your Apple Music library? The steps are super easy to follow. Whether you're on a Windows PC or a Mac, this software has you covered. It's a safe, reliable option for personal archiving and offline listening. Now, let's jump right into the user guide!
- Step 1. Import Apple Music Songs to AudFree Auditior
- Once you install and launch AudFree Auditior, log in to your Apple Music. Then browse the songs you'd like to add them to the conversion list by tapping the '+' icon, then click 'Add to list'. The app supports batch conversion and you can add multiple files simultaneously without any limitation.
- Step 2. Change Apple Music Output Format to MP3
- When you finish adding files to the AudFree Apple Music Converter, hit the top-right 'menu' button. Then choose 'Preferences > Conversion' and choose the output format you prefer (MP3 is fine for the universal compatibility). Likewise, you can define the audio properties like channel, bit rate, and sample rate here.
- Step 3. Rip Apple Music Lossless Locally to Computer
- First, double-check your settings and click 'Convert' to start the process. After that, you can find all your finished songs by clicking the 'Converted' button at the top of the app. And lastly, since these files are now in a universal format, you can move them to any device and start listening immediately.
Simple, user-friendly interface;
Works with both Mac and Windows;
Export all content from Apple Music;
Support multiple output audio formats like MP3, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, Lossless, M4A, and M4B;
Allow to change output audio quality, bitrate, sample rate, etc;
Rip Apple Music losslessly with all ID3 tags kept;
Lightning-fast rip speed of up to 17X;
Keep Dolby Atmos from Apple Music
Limited features in the free version;
Not available for Android or iOS device
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
2. AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder
AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder is a versatile, professional-grade ripper that goes far beyond Apple Music. It supports over 10 major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Qobuz, Tidal, and Spotify.
Designed to capture and convert streaming audio into universal formats, it preserves both lossless sound quality and full metadata. For instance, it excels at recording Apple Music in high-fidelity 24-bit/192kHz audio, ensuring you maintain the original studio-quality detail.
AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder
- Rip Apple Music to FLAC, MP3, WAV, and more Losslessly
- Download Apple Music entire albums or playlists in bulk up to 17X speed
- Automatically recognize and retain ID3 tags
- Fully compatible with Windows & Mac
How to Rip MP3 from Apple Music via AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder
Step 1. Launch and Activate AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder
Download and install AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder on your Windows or Mac computer. Launch the program and activate it via a license to get full conversion and other features.
Step 2. Set Output Format of Apple Music as MP3
Click the menu icon > Preferences > Conversion, then choose MP3 as the output format. Here, you can also customize bitrate, sample rate, and audio channels. Under the Output tab, select your preferred destination folder and enable ID3 tag retention.
Step 3. Add Apple Music Tracks, Albums, or Playlists for Conversion
Return to the main interface and click the Apple Music icon to open the built-in web player. Sign in to your account, browse songs, albums, or playlists, and click the green '+' button to add them to the conversion list. There's no limit to how many tracks you can add.
Step 4. Start Ripping MP3 From Apple Music
Go to the Converting section and click Convert. Once completed, your Apple Music MP3 files will be available in the Converted section or the output folder you selected.
Compatible with over 10 major streaming services;
Download expansive Apple Music playlists in one click;
Ultra-fast conversion speeds ranging from 10x to 100x;
Preserves 100% lossless audio quality and all original metadata;
A safe, ad-free experience that offers excellent long-term value
Higher initial cost compared to single-platform downloader;
The free version includes restricted features for testing
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐
There is another powerful ripper for Apple Music from AudFree - AudFree Audio Capture. It will perfectly capture any music track, including the Apple Music playing on your computer, almost losslessly. You can capture and record any album or tracks from any browser and music site via it. And you can also easily save them to popular output formats like AIFF, WMA, AAC, WAV, M4A, etc., and play them on any device and player.
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Part 2. Best Apple Music Ripper Online
If you prefer to use a web-based tool without installing any software, online Apple Music rippers offer a convenient alternative. While these tools generally offer fewer features than desktop applications, they are easy to use and do not require any downloads.
1. AAPLmusicDownloader
It is a free and online website to help Apple Music users to download Apple Music songs, playlists and albums to M4A or MP3. Moreover, it can output audio files in 320kbps audio quality. Besides, it allows you to download music tracks in batches. Now, learn how it works to rip music from Apple Music online.
Link: https://aaplmusicdownloader.com/
How to Rip Song from Apple Music with AAPLmusicDownloader
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app or Apple Music web player on your device. Then copy the link of the track or playlist that you want to rip.
Step 2. Visit aaplmusicdownloader official website and put the link into the blank box.
Step 3. Click on the 'Download' button to generate the download link, choose the audio quality (M4A or 320kbps MP3) to start the conversion process.
Step 4. Soon, you will get the download files on the downloads folder of your computer.
Support to download Apple Music playlists, songs and albums;
Output Apple Music to 256kbps M4A and 320kbps MP3;
Simple interface and workflow;
No installation or login required;
Free to use
Lack of advanced audio configuration or output settings;
Frequent pop-up ads and unexpected browser redirects;
Only support MP3 and M4A format;
Potential vulnerability of personal information;
Restricted number of tracks per 24 hours
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐
2. APLMate
APLMate is also an online and free Apple Music ripper to help rip Apple Music songs, playlists and albums to MP3 with high quality. It is also easy to use just like the tool above. Here follow the simple steps below.
Link: https://aplmate.com/
How to Rip MP3 from Apple Music with APLMate
Step 1. Go to the Apple Music app or Apple Music web player on your computer or mobile phone. Later, find the song, playlist or album that you want to rip from and click Copy Link.
Step 2. Visit aplmate.com via the web browser on your device. Then insert the copied link address into the text box on the screen.
Step 3. Touch the 'Download' button and wait for the process.
Step 4. Choose MP3 quality to rip Apple Music in MP3 audio format.
Support to rip songs, albums and playlists from Apple Music;
Free and easy to use;
Access all features without needing an accoun
Cannot adjust bitrates or sample rates;
Contains intrusive pop-ups and redirects;
Only supports the MP3 format, with no lossless options;
Possible exposure of user data on less secure platforms
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐
3. Apowersoft Online Audio Recorder
This popular tool offers a convenient way to record MP3 audio directly from your computer. With just a stable internet connection, you're ready to start. It is fully compatible with all major web browsers, including Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.
Link: https://www.apowersoft.com/free-audio-recorder-online
How to Rip from Apple Music with Apowersoft
Step 1. Play Apple Music on your computer, go to the Apowersoft website, and then click on the "Start Recording" button.
Step 2. Now, in the new window, select the audio source by clicking on 'System Sound'.
Step 3. Next, click on 'Entire Screen' > 'Share'.
Step 4. Easily control your audio recording by using the "Start", "Pause", or "Stop" buttons.
Step 5. Finally, locate your recorded file in the "Output directory" section by clicking the "Show in Folder" option.
Step 6. Freely listen to your Apple Music audio as you wish.
Use it to save your chats and voice meetings;
Easily share audio to various platforms like YouTube;
No installation or account registration required;
Free to use
Output audio quality is lossy;
Only supports the MP3 format;
Need to record audio in real time
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐
Part 3. Apple Music Ripper GitHub
For users seeking an open-source solution, Freyr is a popular Apple Music ripper hosted on GitHub. This versatile tool is capable of downloading and ripping content from Apple Music, Spotify, and Deezer while preserving original metadata and album artwork. While it is free to use, it is important to note that the output quality is capped at 320kbps.
If you are comfortable with a higher technical entry barrier, Freyr is an excellent GitHub-based alternative for your ripping needs.
How to Rip Apple Music with Freyr
Step 1. Download and install either Freyr-js (CLI) or Freyr-gui from the official GitHub repository.
Step 2. Open Apple Music and copy the URL of the track or playlist you wish to rip.
Step 3. Launch Freyr and paste the URL into the interface or command line, for example, freyr https://music.apple.com/us/album/im-sorry-im-not-sorry-ep/1491795443.
Step 4. Initiate the process. Your Apple Music tracks will be automatically saved in AAC format.
View also: How to Convert Apple Music to AAC
Open-source and free to use;
Works with Apple Music, Spotify, and Deezer;
Supports album or playlist download;
Keeps original ID3 tags and high-resolution artwork intact
No longer actively maintained, making it prone to compatibility issues;
The command-line interface (CLI) can be difficult for beginners to install and navigate;
Only supports the AAC format;
Requires technical expertise;
Output is restricted to 320kbps with fewer format options than professional tools
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐
Part 4. Best Free Apple Music Ripper
Audacity is a must-mention when discussing the best free Apple Music rippers. As a free, open-source, and cross-platform audio editor, it is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. While it is significantly easier to set up than GitHub-based tools like Freyr, it is not as "plug-and-play" as an online converter, nor does it offer the high-speed efficiency of professional tools like AudFree.
Audacity captures Apple Music and other live audio through your system's sound card or a mixer in real-time. The resulting audio quality is excellent, as the software supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit depths, accurately reflecting the fidelity of the original source.
How to Get Apple Music Rip for Free with Audacity
Step 1. First, launch the Audacity program on your computer.
Step 2. Then click on the "Edit" tab from the top toolbar of the screen to open a new window.
Step 3. From the window, draw down the "Host" tab and choose "Windows WASAPI".
Step 4. From the 'Playback Device' option, select your computer's default speaker or headphones.
Step 5. Go to the main interface, play an Apple Music song, and click on the red 'Record' button. After that, save recorded Apple Music files to your computer.
View also: Top Audacity Alternative [Hot Review]
Open-source software with no hidden costs;
View the waveform and monitor audio levels as you record;
Save your recordings in a wide range of formats (MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc.);
Easily trim, cut, or apply effects to your recordings directly within the app;
Capable of recording live audio, digitizing old media, or capturing any system sound
The interface can be overwhelming for beginners;
Does not support high-speed conversion (you must play the song in its entirety);
Requires manual starting/stopping and metadata entry for each song
Recommends: ⭐️⭐️⭐
Part 5. FAQs about Apple Music Ripper
We answered some frequently asked questions about Apple Music ripper below. You can get a quick look if you still have questions.
Is it Possible to Rip an Entire Apple Music Playlist in One Click?
Yes, most premium Apple Music rippers, such as AudFree, support batch conversion, allowing you to rip entire playlists at once. However, free or online tools may have limitations on the number of tracks you can convert at once.
Do Apple Music Rippers Preserve Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos?
Yes, premium rippers such as the AudFree Apple Music Converter are capable of preserving Dolby Atmos during the ripping process. However, because Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos rely on specific hardware and software ecosystems, you will need professional-grade players or a high-end DAC to truly experience these immersive features.
How Do I Rip Apple Music to MP3?
It is important to note that Apple Music does not natively support MP3 output. To convert your tracks, you will need a third-party solution like the AudFree Apple Music Converter. Beyond MP3, this tool allows you to rip Apple Music into high-fidelity lossless formats such as FLAC or AIFF. There is no need to manually download protected M4P files to MP3 beforehand; you can access and convert your entire library directly through the software's intuitive interface.
Can You Rip Apple Music Tracks in 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res Lossless?
Yes, some Apple Music rippers support lossless audio formats, including 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio. However, you may need a premium version of the software to access this feature (e.g., AudFree Auditior).
Can Apple Detect if I am Using a Ripper to Download My Library?
Apple's DRM protections make it difficult for users to download music outside of the official Apple Music app. While using a ripper may bypass these protections, Apple is unlikely to detect this activity unless the ripper violates their terms of service.
Is There Any Way to Rip Music from Apple Music on Android or iOS?
If you prefer using Apple Music on a mobile device, you can still rip tracks using specialized Telegram bots, such as Music Downloader (@MusicHuntersbot). Alternatively, various web-based tools allow you to rip songs directly through your mobile browser. These options provide a convenient way to save your favorite music without needing a desktop computer.
Part 6. Comparison of Best Apple Music Rippers
Above are the tools that we show you to rip songs from Apple Music. But which one is the best? Now, you can check the comparison table below to learn more among them and pick the one you like.
| Feature | AudFree Auditior | AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder | Audacity | Freyr | Apowersoft | APPLmusicdownloader | APLMate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported Input | All content from Apple Music | Content from 10 major streaming services | All audio playing on computer | Apple Music; Spotify; Deezer |
All audio playing on computer | Apple Music songs/playlists/albums | Apple Music songs/playlists/albums |
| Max Audio Quality | 24-bit 192kHz FLAC | 24-bit 192kHz FLAC | Varies (Depends on the source) | 320kbps AAC | 128kbps MP3 | 320kbps MP3 or 256kbps M4A | 128kbps MP3 |
| Supported Output | MP3, Lossless, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, M4B | MP3, Lossless, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, M4B | WAV, AIFF, MP3, AU, FLAC, OGG, etc. | AAC | MP3 | MP3, M4A | MP3 |
| Keep ID3 Tags | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Conversion Speed | 17X | 17X | Real-time | Low | Real-time | Real-time | Real-time |
| Batch Process | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Customize Quality | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Compatibility | Mac, Windows | Mac, Windows | Mac, Windows, Linux | Mac, Windows | Online | Online | Online |
| Price | Monthly: $14.95 Yearly: $44.95 Lifetime: $89.95 |
Monthly: $29.95 Yearly: $69.95 Lifetime: $159.95 |
Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Ease of use | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Rating | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
In Conclusion
Whether you are a Mac or Windows user, or if you prefer online or open-source options, there is a variety of tools available to help you rip music from Apple Music. While paid software like AudFree Apple Music Converter and AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder offer superior features, free and open-source alternatives like Audacity and APPLmusicdownloader can also be effective for basic ripping needs. Ultimately, the best Apple Music ripper for you depends on your specific needs, including audio quality, ease of use, and the number of tracks you need to convert.
James Blair
Staff Editor
