Convert AAC to FLAC
We turn AAC into FLAC right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
Nothing to lose, and nothing to gain: {to} keeps exactly what {from} hands over, and the file grows several times over.
How they differ
| AAC | FLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | no | yes |
| Lossy | yes | no |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | yes | yes |
| Released | 1997 | 2001 |
| Author | MPEG | Xiph.Org |
AAC
Good at
- Noticeably better than MP3 at the same size
- The native format for Apple gear and most phones
- Handles multichannel audio and tags
Awkward about
- Older devices and car stereos may refuse it
- Lossy — the original cannot be recovered from it
- Encumbered by patents, unlike Opus
Use it when
- Listening on a phone without wasting quality
- A voice memo, or a track pulled out of a video
- You want a balance between size and sound
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
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, FLAC carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- Nothing is lost, but nothing is gained either. FLAC stores exactly what AAC hands over, including the gaps AAC left behind when it compressed. No tool can bring those back, and the file grows several times over. This conversion makes sense for editing, not for quality.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 10 files at a time, 200 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.