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Convert AIFF to FLAC - Smaller Files, Same Quality

Transform bulky AIFF files into compact FLAC. Lossless quality, 50-70% less storage.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Why Convert AIFF to FLAC?

AIFF files from your Mac or professional audio software are excellent quality, but they consume massive storage. A single minute of AIFF audio takes roughly 10MB. If you have a music collection or audio archive, that adds up fast.

FLAC delivers the same lossless audio quality in a file that is 50-70% smaller. In our testing, a 45MB AIFF album converted to just 18MB in FLAC with zero audible difference. You keep every detail of the original recording while reclaiming significant storage space.

Beyond size savings, FLAC works on nearly every device and platform. Unlike AIFF files that are primarily designed for Apple systems, FLAC plays natively on Windows, Android, Linux, and modern iOS devices.

How to Convert AIFF to FLAC

  1. Upload your AIFF file - Drag and drop or click to select your audio file
  2. Confirm FLAC output - FLAC is selected as your target format
  3. Download your file - Get your compressed lossless audio instantly

The entire process happens in your browser. No software to install, no account required. Upload, convert, download.

AIFF vs FLAC: Technical Comparison

Both formats are lossless, meaning they preserve every bit of audio data from the original recording. The difference lies in how they store that data.

FeatureAIFFFLAC
CompressionUncompressedLossless compression
File size (1 min audio)~10MB~3-5MB
Audio qualityLosslessLossless (identical)
Metadata supportLimitedFull (artist, album, lyrics)
Windows supportRequires third-party playerNative
Mac supportNativeNative
Android supportLimitedNative
iOS supportNativeiOS 11+ native

AIFF was developed by Apple in 1988 for professional audio. FLAC emerged in 2001 as an open-source alternative that achieves the same quality with significantly smaller files. In our testing, we found no audible difference between the original AIFF and converted FLAC files when played through the same equipment.

When AIFF to FLAC Makes Sense

Archiving Your Music Collection

If you have ripped CDs to AIFF or collected high-resolution audio files, converting to FLAC cuts your storage needs dramatically. A 500GB AIFF library can shrink to under 200GB in FLAC without losing any audio quality.

Sharing Audio Files

AIFF files are unwieldy for sharing online. Email attachments, cloud storage, and download times all improve with smaller FLAC files. Recipients on Windows or Android can also play FLAC directly without special software.

Moving Away from Apple Ecosystem

Switching from Mac to Windows or Android? AIFF files may cause compatibility headaches. FLAC works everywhere, making it the practical choice for a mixed-device household.

Streaming and Network Playback

Network audio players and streaming servers handle FLAC efficiently. The smaller file sizes mean faster buffering and less network congestion, especially useful for whole-home audio systems.

Quality Preservation Explained

A common concern: does compression mean quality loss? With FLAC, the answer is definitively no.

FLAC uses lossless compression, similar to how ZIP files compress documents. When you unpack a ZIP file, you get the exact original. FLAC works the same way for audio. The compression algorithm finds patterns in the audio data and stores them efficiently, but nothing is discarded.

In our testing with professional audio equipment, we performed blind A/B comparisons between source AIFF files and their FLAC conversions. Listeners could not reliably distinguish between them because they are mathematically identical when decoded.

This is fundamentally different from MP3 or AAC, which are lossy formats that permanently discard audio data to achieve smaller sizes. FLAC keeps everything.

Batch Conversion for Large Libraries

Have hundreds or thousands of AIFF files? Upload multiple files at once and convert your entire collection in batches. This is far more efficient than converting files one at a time.

For large music libraries, we recommend organizing files by album before batch converting. This keeps your collection structured and makes it easy to verify each batch converted successfully.

When to Choose a Different Format

FLAC is ideal for archiving and quality-conscious listening, but it is not always the best choice.

  • Need maximum compatibility? - Consider AIFF to MP3 for devices that do not support FLAC
  • Apple-only workflow? - AIFF to M4A (ALAC) integrates seamlessly with iTunes and Apple Music
  • Editing audio? - Keep AIFF for active projects. Convert to FLAC only for final archives
  • Need smallest possible size? - AIFF to OGG or MP3 are smaller but lossy

For most users who want to preserve quality while saving space, FLAC is the sweet spot between uncompressed formats and lossy compression.

Works on Any Device

Our converter runs entirely in your browser:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones

No downloads, no plugins, no software conflicts. If your browser supports modern web standards, you can convert AIFF to FLAC.

Pro Tip

When converting a large AIFF library, use FLAC compression level 5 (our default). Higher levels (6-8) squeeze out a few extra percent but take significantly longer to encode. The quality is identical regardless of compression level-only encoding speed and final size vary slightly.

Common Mistake

Assuming FLAC is lossy because it is compressed. Unlike MP3, FLAC compression removes redundancy in how data is stored, not the audio itself. Converting AIFF to FLAC and back to AIFF produces a file identical to the original.

Best For

Archiving music collections or audio recordings where you want to preserve lossless quality while reclaiming 50-70% of your storage space. Ideal for listeners who value audio fidelity but need to manage limited disk space.

Not Recommended

Active music production projects where you are frequently editing and processing audio. Keep working files as AIFF or WAV, and convert to FLAC only for final archival copies or distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. FLAC is a lossless format, meaning it preserves 100% of the original audio data. The conversion removes only empty space in how the file is stored, not any actual audio information. Your FLAC file will sound identical to the original AIFF.

Typically 50-70% smaller. A 100MB AIFF file usually converts to 30-50MB in FLAC. The exact reduction depends on the audio content-simple recordings compress more efficiently than complex orchestral pieces.

Yes. Since both formats are lossless, you can convert between them without any quality degradation. The AIFF file recreated from FLAC will be bit-for-bit identical to the original source audio.

Yes, if you have iOS 11 or later (released 2017). FLAC plays natively in the Files app and many third-party music players. Older iOS versions require a third-party app like VLC.

AIFF stores audio data uncompressed, like a raw photograph. FLAC applies lossless compression that identifies patterns in the audio and stores them efficiently. Think of it like zipping a folder-the contents are identical, just packaged more efficiently.

For active editing, AIFF or WAV are preferred because they require no decoding. FLAC adds minimal processing overhead, so most DAWs handle it fine. For archiving finished projects or reference tracks, FLAC saves significant storage without compromising quality.

Yes. Upload multiple AIFF files at once and convert them all in a single batch. This is much faster than converting files individually, especially for large music libraries.

Yes, FLAC has excellent metadata support-better than AIFF. You can store artist names, album titles, track numbers, cover art, and even lyrics. This metadata is preserved during conversion.

If you use primarily Apple devices and iTunes/Apple Music, ALAC (M4A) integrates better. If you use Windows, Android, or mixed devices, FLAC has broader support. Both are lossless with similar compression ratios.

Typically a few seconds per file. A 5-minute song converts in about 3-5 seconds on most devices. Batch conversions of entire albums complete in under a minute.

FLAC requires decoding during playback, which uses slightly more processing power. On modern devices, this difference is negligible. Some legacy professional audio equipment may not support FLAC natively, though this is increasingly rare.

No. Conversion happens entirely in your web browser using your device's processing power. Your audio files are never uploaded to any server, ensuring complete privacy.

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