Turn FLAC files into AAC
This makes an AAC out of the FLAC you already have. FLAC keeps every detail of the original recording while taking around half the space of a WAV, and it stores artwork and track information properly. The usual reason to do it is size, because AAC is far smaller for this sort of thing. Your file never leaves your computer.
Need the other direction? Convert AAC to FLAC
How to convert FLAC to AAC
- 1 Drop your FLAC .flac file onto the page, or click to browse for it.
- 2 Set the quality, or leave the default, which keeps the file small without anything showing.
- 3 Convert. The work happens on your own machine, so how long it takes depends on your computer and the file.
- 4 Download the AAC, or add more files and do the whole set in one go.
Why convert FLAC to AAC
- AAC files come out much smaller, which is the difference between a page that loads straight away and one that keeps people waiting.
- Better quality than MP3 at any comparable file size.
- Plays everywhere without draining the battery.
- Apple ecosystem music and podcasts.
- FLAC: much larger than MP3, AAC or Opus.
FLAC compared with AAC
How the two formats differ on the things that decide whether a conversion is worth making.
| Property | FLAC | AAC |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .flac | .aac |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Typical file size | Larger | Smaller |
| Browser support | All current browsers | Every browser |
| Introduced | 2001 | 1997 |
| Developed by | Xiph.Org Foundation | ISO/IEC MPEG |
Quality and what changes
This is the step where information is discarded, and it cannot be undone by converting back later. AAC throws away detail the eye is least likely to notice, which is invisible at sensible settings and shows as blocking around sharp edges and text when pushed hard. Keep the FLAC as your master and treat the AAC as a delivery copy.
- One AAC limitation to keep in mind: opus sounds better in very small files.
Questions about FLAC to AAC
Is my FLAC file uploaded anywhere?
No. The whole thing runs inside the browser tab you already have open. Your FLAC is read straight from your own disk, converted on your machine and handed back as an AAC. Nothing is sent anywhere, nothing is stored and there is no account.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no server-side limit because no server sees the file. The real ceiling is your device memory, since the input and the output both have to fit in the tab. A few hundred megabytes is usually fine on a desktop machine and considerably less on a phone.
Can I convert several FLAC files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like and they are processed one after another, then offered as separate AAC downloads or as a single ZIP. Speed depends on your own processor rather than on a queue.
Does the converter work offline?
Yes, after the page has loaded once. The engine is cached by the browser, so you can disconnect, reload and keep converting. That falls out of doing the work locally rather than being a separate mode you switch on.