Online FLAC Converter - Convert to Lossless FLAC Audio
Preserve the full quality of your audio by converting it to the FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format. Use our free online tool to convert from uncompressed formats like WAV or AIFF, or even from lossy formats like MP3 or AAC (though quality won't be regained) to FLAC. You can also convert FLAC files to other formats if needed. Our converter is free, secure (files deleted within 1 hour), requires no sign-up, and has no conversion limits.
How to Convert Files to FLAC Online
Create or convert FLAC files easily:
- Upload Your Audio: Use the upload box above to select or drag and drop your source audio file (WAV, AIFF, MP3, etc.) or video file.
- Select Output Format: Choose
FLAC from the 'Convert to:' dropdown list.
- Convert: Press the 'Convert' button to start the lossless encoding.
- Download: Click the 'Download' button when it appears to save your high-quality FLAC file.
What is a FLAC File?
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an open-source audio coding format for lossless compression of digital audio. Unlike lossy codecs such as MP3 and AAC, FLAC compresses audio data without discarding any information. This means the decoded audio is mathematically identical to the original source, ensuring perfect fidelity.
FLAC achieves compression ratios typically between 30% and 70% compared to uncompressed PCM audio (like WAV or AIFF), depending on the complexity of the music. It supports metadata tagging (like artist, album, track title), album cover art, and fast seeking. Being open-source and royalty-free makes it a popular choice for archiving high-quality music collections and for distribution among audiophiles.
FLAC vs. WAV/AIFF and Lossy Formats
- Quality: FLAC is lossless, meaning it provides the exact same audio quality as the original uncompressed source (like WAV or AIFF). It is vastly superior in quality retention compared to lossy formats (MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA).
- File Size: Significantly smaller than uncompressed WAV or AIFF (typically 30-70% smaller). However, FLAC files are considerably larger than lossy files offering similar playback duration.
- Compression: Uses lossless compression algorithms. No audio data is lost.
- Use Cases: Ideal for archiving digital music collections (e.g., ripping CDs), storing master recordings, and distributing high-fidelity audio where quality is paramount.
- Compatibility: Support is widespread among audiophile communities and software players (VLC, Foobar2000, many others). Support on hardware devices (portable players, streamers) is common but not as universal as MP3 or AAC. Native support in Windows and Android has improved significantly. iOS requires third-party apps.
How to Open a FLAC File
Playing FLAC files is well-supported by many applications:
- VLC Media Player (Cross-platform)
- Foobar2000 (Windows, popular among audiophiles)
- Winamp (Windows)
- Windows 10/11 (Native support in Media Player/Groove Music)
- Android (Native support on most recent versions)
- Many dedicated music players and server software (Plex, Roon, etc.)
- Third-party apps on iOS (e.g., VOX, Flacbox)
While not as universally plug-and-play as MP3, support for FLAC is common on modern systems and audio-focused software.
Explore Specific Converters
Need detailed information or want to set a different default format? Visit our specific converter pages: