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 about an hour), requires no sign-up, and accepts files up to 50 MB. Our FLAC output keeps the source bit depth, sample rate and channels, so 24-bit audio stays 24-bit.
Create or convert FLAC files easily:
FLAC from the 'Convert to:' dropdown list.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 files are usually 40% to 70% of the size of 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.
Playing FLAC files is well-supported by many applications:
While not as universally plug-and-play as MP3, support for FLAC is common on modern systems and audio-focused software.
| Full name | Free Lossless Audio Codec |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Developed by | Xiph.Org Foundation |
| Introduced | 2001 |
| File extension | .flac |
| Typically used for | Archiving CDs, hi-res music collections |
| Plays on | Android, Windows 10+, macOS, iOS Files app, VLC; not many older players |
| Our output | Lossless FLAC, source bit depth and sample rate kept |
Yes. FLAC compresses without throwing any audio away, so when your source is lossless (WAV, AIFF or another FLAC), decoding our FLAC gives back exactly the same samples. The sample rate and channel layout are kept too. The only thing that changes is the file size.
Yes. Our FLAC output keeps the source bit depth, so 24-bit stays 24-bit, and the sample rate and channels are kept as well. That makes FLAC the right choice for high-resolution files. By contrast, our WAV and AIFF outputs are 16-bit, so they would reduce a 24-bit source.
A FLAC file is usually 40 to 70 percent of the size of the same audio as WAV. The exact ratio depends on the material: quiet, sparse recordings such as solo piano or speech compress well, while loud, dense music compresses less. Uncompressed 44.1 kHz stereo WAV is about 10.1 MB per minute for comparison.
Usually not. FLAC preserves whatever it is given, but it can't restore detail an MP3 encoder already removed, so the FLAC sounds exactly like the MP3 while being several times larger. Only do it if a program or device specifically requires FLAC input; for genuine lossless quality, start from a CD rip, WAV or other lossless source.
Android, Windows 10 and 11, VLC, foobar2000, Plex and most network music players and hi-fi streamers play FLAC natively. iPhones can play FLAC from the Files app, but Apple's Music app won't import it, so Apple users often rely on a third-party player. Older portable players and car stereos may not support it.
You keep lossless quality while saving a lot of disk space, which matters for music libraries and archives. FLAC is open and royalty-free and supports tags like artist and album. If you later need WAV again, a FLAC converts back without loss, subject to our 16-bit WAV output for 24-bit files.
Need detailed information or want to set a different default format? Visit our specific converter pages: