How the free online audio converter works
Audio formats split into lossless and lossy. WAV, AIFF, FLAC and ALAC keep every sample, and converting between them is exact. MP3, AAC, M4A, OGG and Opus throw away sounds the ear is unlikely to notice in exchange for files a tenth of the size. Converting lossless to lossy is where space is saved; converting lossy to lossless makes a larger file but cannot bring back what was discarded.
Bitrate is the main setting. 192 kbps is transparent for most listeners in MP3 and AAC; 128 kbps is fine for speech and podcasts; 320 kbps is the highest MP3 allows. Opus sounds good at far lower bitrates than MP3, which is why voice apps use it.
Which audio format should you use?
The right audio format depends on whether you are listening, editing or archiving. For listening on any device, MP3 is the universal choice, and M4A with AAC is the native format of iPhones and Apple Music. For editing, WAV and AIFF are uncompressed and open in every audio program. For archiving a music collection, FLAC and ALAC keep every sample while taking roughly half the space of WAV.
Voice recordings are a special case. Opus and AAC at 64 to 96 kbps keep speech perfectly clear in a fraction of the space, which is why messaging apps and podcast platforms use them. If a phone system, alarm panel or sampler asks for a particular format, use that one; those devices are usually strict about it.
Converting between lossless formats is exact in both directions. Converting to a lossy format is a one-way trade: the file gets much smaller, and what the encoder removes does not come back if you convert again later.
Audio formats compared
| Format | Compression | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3GA | Lossy | voice memos and call recordings from Samsung and other Android phones |
| AAC | Lossy | iTunes and Apple Music, YouTube audio and streaming |
| AC3 | Lossy | DVD and Blu-ray soundtracks and TV broadcasts |
| AIF | Lossless | sample packs and Mac audio software |
| AIFC | Lossy or lossless | older Mac software and some sound effect libraries |
| AIFF | Lossless | Logic Pro, GarageBand and Mac audio production |
| ALAC | Lossless | lossless music in the Apple Music app and iTunes libraries |
| AMR | Lossy | call recordings and voice notes on older Android and Nokia phones |
| CAF | Lossy or lossless | GarageBand loops, iOS app sounds and long recordings |
| FLAC | Lossless | CD rips, hi-res music stores and audio archives |
| M4A | Lossy or lossless | iTunes purchases, iPhone voice memos and Apple Music downloads |
| M4B | Lossy | audiobooks from iTunes and Audible-style downloads |
| M4R | Lossy | custom ringtones and alert tones on iPhone |
| MP1 | Lossy | Digital Compact Cassette recordings, early digital audio systems and test files |
| MP2 | Lossy | broadcast radio, DVB television and Video CDs |
| MP3 | Lossy | music libraries, podcasts and anything that has to play everywhere |
| OGA | Lossy or lossless | Linux audio tools and some messaging apps |
| OGG | Lossy | video games, desktop streaming apps and open-source software |
| OPUS | Lossy | WhatsApp and Telegram voice notes, Discord and video calls |
| WAV | Lossless | recording, editing, sound effects and CD audio |
| WEBA | Lossy | audio saved from YouTube and voice recordings made in a browser |
| WMA | Lossy | CDs ripped with Windows Media Player and old music stores |
Tips for converting audio files
- Keep a lossless copy of anything you care about, and make MP3 or AAC copies from it for everyday listening.
- Do not convert MP3 to WAV or FLAC expecting better sound; the result sounds the same and is several times larger.
- For podcasts and spoken word, 96 kbps is plenty, and mono halves the size again.
- If an audio file will be used in a video project, 48 kHz matches the video standard and avoids a resampling step later.
Is it safe to convert audio files online?
With most online tools, "online" means your file is uploaded to a company's server, processed there and kept for a while before it is deleted. Here it is not. The page downloads the converter code to your browser, and your file is read and processed inside the tab on your own device. It is never sent to TapToConvert or anyone else.
You can check this yourself: once the page and, for audio and video, the converter engine have loaded, turn off Wi-Fi and the tool still works. That also means there is no queue, no daily limit and no size cap set by a server. The only limit is the memory your browser gives a single tab.
Audio Converter FAQ
What is the best audio format for quality?
Any lossless format, such as FLAC, ALAC, WAV or AIFF, keeps the original exactly. FLAC and ALAC do it at about half the size of WAV.
What bitrate should I choose for MP3?
192 kbps is transparent for most listeners and is the default here. Choose 320 kbps for critical listening and 96 to 128 kbps for speech.
Can I convert audio on my iPhone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari, choose the files from the Files app, and the converted audio is saved to Downloads in Files.
Does converting audio keep song titles?
Tags such as title and artist are copied when the target format can store them. Cover art is not carried over.
Is the audio converter free?
Yes, with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on the number of files. It is supported by advertising, and because files are converted on your device there is no server cost per conversion.
Does the audio converter work on phones?
Yes. It works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to your Downloads folder.