Convert FLAC to Opus
We turn FLAC into Opus right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
- Compression becomes lossy: the original quality cannot be restored
How they differ
| FLAC | Opus | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | yes | no |
| Lossy | no | yes |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | yes | yes |
| Released | 2001 | 2012 |
| Author | Xiph.Org | Xiph.Org, IETF |
FLAC
Good at
- Lossless, yet half the size of WAV
- Proper tags and cover art
- Handles multichannel audio
Awkward about
- Still heavy for sending and streaming
- Some consumer devices will not open it
- The point only shows on good equipment
Use it when
- A home collection you do not want to re-encode
- An archive of recordings — a master for later
- You need the original quality with tags
Opus
Good at
- The best quality at low bitrates — speech stays clear at 24 kbps
- The standard for voice: messengers, calls, streams
- Free, with no licensing fees
Awkward about
- Older devices and editors do not know it
- Car stereos and consumer players usually refuse it
- Lossy — not a master format
Use it when
- Voice: a podcast, an interview, a voice message
- You need the smallest size that still sounds clear
- The file is listened to in a browser or a messenger
Common questions
- Does the file get uploaded to a server?
- Yes, this pair needs the server: browsers cannot encode that format. The file and the result are deleted within a couple of hours and never shared.
- Will surround sound survive?
- Yes, Opus carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- No. Opus is lossy, and the discarded detail cannot be recovered. Keep the original if you may still need it.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 10 files at a time, 200 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.