Best Apple Music converter for Mac in 2026 — what to look for

There are a dozen apps that save Apple Music songs as files: TuneFab, Sidify, NoteBurner, ViWizard, DRmare, UkeySoft and more. At first glance they all promise the same thing. The differences show up in the free trial, lyrics, tags and price. Here's what to check — and how Music File Lab compares.

Updated October 27, 2026 · 6 min read

1. Free trial: full songs or the first few minutes?

Many converters only save the beginning of each song in their trial — usually the first one or three minutes. That makes it hard to tell whether the file is complete, whether the tags are right and how the whole thing sounds.

Music File Lab gives you 3 full songs free, no card required — so you can test the whole flow, from a link to a finished file with artwork and lyrics.

2. Formats: is there lossless ALAC and FLAC?

For an archive or good audio gear you'll want a lossless format: ALAC (Apple's native one) or FLAC (open and supported almost everywhere). For the car, older players and phones — MP3 or AAC. For editing — WAV.

Music File Lab saves all five: ALAC, FLAC, WAV, AAC and MP3. See the format guide for a comparison.

3. Lyrics: plain text or synced .LRC?

Some apps save lyrics as a plain text file, or not at all. A synced .lrc file has a timestamp on every line, so a player can highlight the words karaoke‑style.

Music File Lab saves lyrics in the file's tags and, if you like, as a separate synced .lrc file. More in the .LRC guide.

4. Tags, artwork and tidy folders

A good file carries its title, artist, album, track number and high‑resolution artwork — otherwise your library turns messy in any other player. Also check whether you can choose folders and file names.

In Music File Lab every file gets full tags and artwork, and in Settings you choose artist and album folders, separate folders for playlists and formats, and file naming such as Artist - Title.

5. A real Mac app or a cross‑platform port?

Many converters are one program ported to Windows and Mac. Music File Lab is built only for the Mac: a native app for macOS 14 and later, on Apple Silicon and Intel, signed and notarized by Apple. Your Apple Music sign‑in stays on your Mac.

6. Price and payment model

In this category you'll find monthly and yearly subscriptions and lifetime licenses. Based on prices listed on software directories (October 2026), typical figures are around $15 a month, $45–80 a year and $60–130 for a lifetime license for one Mac. Prices change often — check with each vendor.

Music File Lab Premium is €9.99 a month or €59.99 a year, with no limit on songs, albums or playlists. Cancel anytime.

Summary

What you can use the files for

Whichever app you choose, downloaded files are for your private listening. Don't share or publish them. Use the app in line with the law in your country and Apple Music's terms.

TuneFab, Sidify, NoteBurner, ViWizard, DRmare and UkeySoft are trademarks of their respective owners. Music File Lab is not affiliated with them. The description of other apps is general and may change — check their websites for details.