FLAC vs MP3
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is lossless compression, roughly half the size of WAV with identical sound. MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is plays on practically every device, car stereo and app made since the late 1990s.
MP3 is the safest choice when a file has to play on an old car stereo, a smart TV, a website player or a podcast host.
FLAC is lossless. MP3 at 256–320 kbps is transparent for most listeners, but keep the FLAC if you archive music.
Settings that work
- Voice memos, lectures, podcasts: 96–128 kbps, Mono ticked.
- Music: 192 kbps for everyday listening, 320 kbps if you are picky.
Questions
How do I convert FLAC to MP3?
Drop your FLAC files into the converter above. MP3 is pre-selected; press Choose files and each converted file downloads automatically.
Will converting FLAC to MP3 lose quality?
MP3 is lossy, so a small amount of detail is discarded. At 192 kbps or higher this is very hard to hear.
Is it safe to convert private recordings here?
Yes. Conversion runs entirely in your browser with the Web Audio API and a JavaScript encoder, and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Related conversions
MP4 to MP3M4A to MP3WAV to MP3OGG to MP3AAC to MP3OPUS to MP3